--- title: HR 1709. Mary Davis "S.O.S. Band" Intersection; Chatham County; dedicate collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1709 cite_as: HR 1709, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1709 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1709.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1709/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74121 date: 2026-03-19 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/hr1708.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1710.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1709.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1709 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-16 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Carl Gilliard - Ron Stephens - Edna Jackson - Jesse Petrea text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1709/2025 upstream_id: 2134494 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - road dedication - Chatham County - Savannah history - music honors --- # HR 1709. Mary Davis "S.O.S. Band" Intersection; Chatham County; dedicate ## Text House Resolution 1709 By: Representatives Gilliard of the 162nd, Stephens of the 164th, Jackson of the 165th, and Petrea of the 166th A RESOLUTION Recognizing Ms. Mary Davis and dedicating an intersection in her honor; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Ms. Mary Davis has long been recognized for her musical talents and unique sound; and WHEREAS, a native of Savannah, Georgia, Ms. Davis is best known as the original lead vocalist and front woman of the iconic funk and rhythm and blues group, the S.O.S. Band; and WHEREAS, her smooth and powerful voice helped lead the band to multi-platinum success, selling millions of records world wide; and WHEREAS, Ms. Davis's voice and direction was a driving force behind the band's hits, "Take Your Time (Do It Right)," "Just Be Good To Me," "Tell Me If You Still Care," "The Finest," and "No One's Gonna Love You"; and WHEREAS, one of the most sampled and referenced groups in modern soul and hip-hop, the S.O.S. Band's influence extends beyond the 1970s and 1980s to future generations of music lovers; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkable and distinguished Georgian be recognized appropriately by dedicating an intersection in her honor. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the intersection of State Route 204 and Tibet Avenue in Chatham County is dedicated as the Mary Davis "S.O.S. Band" Intersection. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the Mary Davis "S.O.S. Band" 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 Ms. Mary Davis 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 Savannah native and S.O.S. Band lead singer Mary Davis by naming an intersection in Chatham County after her. ### Plain-language summary This is a commemorative resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives rather than a bill that changes state law. It recognizes Mary Davis, the original lead singer of the funk and R&B group the S.O.S. Band, for her career and influence on music. The resolution dedicates the intersection of State Route 204 and Tibet Avenue in Chatham County as the Mary Davis "S.O.S. Band" 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 Mary Davis and to the Department of Transportation. ### What it does - Dedicates the intersection of State Route 204 and Tibet Avenue in Chatham County as the Mary Davis "S.O.S. Band" 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 distribute copies of the resolution to Mary Davis and the Department of Transportation. ### Who it affects The resolution primarily affects the Georgia Department of Transportation, which must install and maintain signage, and residents and travelers in Chatham County who will see the newly named intersection. It also formally honors Mary Davis herself. ### Why it matters While it does not change any law, the resolution creates a lasting public honor for a Georgia musician by naming a specific roadway intersection after her, and it commits the Department of Transportation to install and maintain the associated signage. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause dedicates the intersection of State Route 204 and Tibet Avenue in Chatham County as the Mary Davis "S.O.S. Band" Intersection. - A further resolution directs the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain appropriate signs for the dedication. - A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to provide copies of the resolution to Mary Davis and the Department of Transportation. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2026-03-16) - Last action: House Second Readers (2026-03-19) - Sponsors: Carl Gilliard, Ron Stephens, Edna Jackson, Jesse Petrea - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74121 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1709.md?full=1