--- title: HR 1651. Senator Joey Brush Memorial Intersection; Columbia County; dedicate collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1651 cite_as: HR 1651, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1651 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1651.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1651/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73997 date: 2026-03-12 status: introduced corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1650.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1652.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1651.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1651 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-09 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Rob Clifton - Alan Powell - Gary Richardson - Lee Hawkins - Danny Mathis text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1651/2025 upstream_id: 2131415 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Columbia County - memorial dedication - Department of Transportation - road naming --- # HR 1651. Senator Joey Brush Memorial Intersection; Columbia County; dedicate ## Text House Resolution 1651 By: Representatives Clifton of the 131st, Powell of the 33rd, Richardson of the 125th, Hawkins of the 27th, and Mathis of the 133rd A RESOLUTION Honoring the life of Senator Ben Joseph "Joey" Brush, Jr., and dedicating an intersection in his memory; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Senator Ben Joseph "Joey" Brush, Jr., has long been recognized by the citizens of this state for the vital role that he has played in leadership and his deep personal commitment to the welfare of the citizens of Georgia; and WHEREAS, a graduate of Southern Polytechnic State University, Senator Brush built a respected career as a real estate broker and home builder, contributing to the growth and development of communities throughout Georgia; and WHEREAS, Senator Brush devoted over a decade to serving the people of Georgia in the General Assembly, first as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1992 to 1993 and from 1995 to 1996, and then as a member of the Georgia State Senate representing District 24 from 1997 to 2004; and WHEREAS, during his tenure in the Senate, he was appointed chairperson of the Senate Education Committee, where he worked to promote excellence in education across the state and championed policies to strengthen opportunities for Georgia's students; and WHEREAS, he served on numerous legislative committees and was an advocate for public safety, education, and the interests of his constituents in Columbia County and beyond; and WHEREAS, he was known for his principled leadership, collaborative spirit, and commitment to public service, earning respect from colleagues and citizens alike; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized by dedicating an intersection in his memory. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the intersection of State Route 232/Columbia Road and Louisville Road in Columbia County is dedicated as the Senator Joey Brush Memorial Intersection. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the Senator Joey Brush Memorial Intersection. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the family of Senator Ben Joseph "Joey" Brush, Jr., and to the Department of Transportation. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution would honor former state Senator Ben Joseph "Joey" Brush, Jr. by naming an intersection in Columbia County after him and directing the state to post signs marking it. ### Plain-language summary This resolution recognizes the career of Ben Joseph "Joey" Brush, Jr., who served in the Georgia House of Representatives in the 1990s and later represented District 24 in the Georgia State Senate from 1997 to 2004, where he chaired the Senate Education Committee. The resolution's operative effect is to officially dedicate the intersection of State Route 232/Columbia Road and Louisville Road in Columbia County as the "Senator Joey Brush Memorial Intersection." It directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to put up and maintain signs marking the dedication, and it directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to Brush's family and to the Department of Transportation. ### What it does - Names the intersection of State Route 232/Columbia Road and Louisville Road in Columbia County the Senator Joey Brush Memorial Intersection. - Directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs marking the dedicated intersection. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send copies of the resolution to Brush's family and the Department of Transportation. ### Who it affects The resolution mainly affects the Georgia Department of Transportation, which must install and maintain signage, and Columbia County residents and drivers who use the intersection of State Route 232/Columbia Road and Louisville Road. It also formally honors Brush's family. ### Why it matters The resolution has no regulatory or funding effect beyond directing signage; its practical impact is a permanent public marker in Columbia County commemorating a former state senator's service, which local drivers will see at the named intersection. ### Key provisions - Recites Brush's biography, including service in the Georgia House (1992-1993, 1995-1996) and the Georgia Senate representing District 24 (1997-2004) and his chairmanship of the Senate Education Committee. - Officially dedicates the intersection of State Route 232/Columbia Road and Louisville Road in Columbia County as the Senator Joey Brush Memorial Intersection. - Authorizes and directs the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain appropriate signs marking the dedication. - Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to Brush's family and the Department of Transportation. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2026-03-09) - Last action: House Second Readers (2026-03-12) - Sponsors: Rob Clifton, Alan Powell, Gary Richardson, Lee Hawkins, Danny Mathis - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73997 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1651.md?full=1