--- title: HR 1723. Cochran, Pastor Raymond; retirement; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1723 cite_as: HR 1723, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1723 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1723.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1723/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74140 date: 2026-03-16 status: passed 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/hr1722.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1724.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1723.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1723 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-16 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Carolyn Hugley - Al Williams - Debbie Buckner - Vance Smith - Carmen Rice text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1723/2025 upstream_id: 2134465 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - ceremonial resolution - Georgia House of Representatives - community recognition - faith leaders --- # HR 1723. Cochran, Pastor Raymond; retirement; commend ## Text House Resolution 1723 By: Representatives Hugley of the 141st, Williams of the 168th, Buckner of the 137th, Smith of the 138th, and Rice of the 139th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Pastor Raymond Cochran upon his retirement; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Pastor Raymond Cochran has demonstrated his commitment to teaching the Gospel, witnessing Christ through word and deed, and addressing the physical, psychological, intellectual, and spiritual needs of others; and WHEREAS, born in Lee County, Alabama, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior at age seven and joined the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Salem, Alabama; and WHEREAS, Pastor Cochran has spent a lifetime answering God's call to be His messenger to do His will; and WHEREAS, he was the previous Pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church of Roanoke, Alabama; Rising Grove Baptist Church of LaGrange, Georgia; Springhill Missionary Baptist Church of Lineville, Alabama; Mt. Lovely Baptist Church of Camphill, Alabama; Friendship Baptist Church of Fairfax, Alabama; Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church of Salem, Alabama; Poplar Springs Baptist Church of Lafayette, Alabama; and is presently the Pastor of the Franchise Missionary Baptist Church of Phenix City, Alabama, where he has served for 54 years; and WHEREAS, he has diligently and conscientiously served his community on many civic committees and boards as well as served in leadership positions at numerous influential organizations and associations; and WHEREAS, his dedicated work has earned him many prestigious awards and recognitions, including but not limited to, being named the 2018 Citizen of the Year as well as one of 85 Most Influential Black Americans in Columbus and Phenix City area and having 10th Avenue officially dedicated in his honor; and WHEREAS, the unmatched spiritual assistance offered by Pastor Cochran is a source of strength and direction for persons in all walks of life; and WHEREAS, Pastor Cochran has served with honor and distinction and his vision and unyielding commitment will be sorely missed upon the occasion of his retirement. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend Pastor Raymond Cochran upon the occasion of his retirement and extend best wishes for his continued health and happiness. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Pastor Raymond Cochran. ## 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 formally commends Pastor Raymond Cochran of Phenix City, Alabama on his retirement after 54 years leading Franchise Missionary Baptist Church. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia House of Representatives honoring Pastor Raymond Cochran on his retirement. It recounts his life story, from accepting Christ at age seven in Lee County, Alabama, through decades of pastoral service at multiple Baptist churches in Alabama and Georgia, including 54 years at Franchise Missionary Baptist Church of Phenix City, Alabama. The resolution lists his community service, civic leadership roles, and awards, including being named 2018 Citizen of the Year and having a street dedicated in his honor. It does not change any Georgia law. The House resolves to recognize and commend Pastor Cochran and directs the Clerk of the House to provide him a copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Pastor Raymond Cochran by name for his career and retirement. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Pastor Cochran. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a ceremonial statement of the House's sentiment. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Pastor Raymond Cochran. It has no regulatory or financial effect on other Georgians, businesses, or government agencies. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial effect and changes no Georgia law. Its significance is symbolic, giving official recognition from the Georgia House of Representatives to an individual's decades of religious and civic service. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount Pastor Cochran's biography, his church leadership positions in Alabama and Georgia, and his community awards. - The resolving clause states the House recognizes and commends him upon his retirement and extends wishes for his health and happiness. - A further resolution directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to Pastor Cochran. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-16) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-16) - Sponsors: Carolyn Hugley, Al Williams, Debbie Buckner, Vance Smith, Carmen Rice - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74140 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1723.md?full=1