Georgia CommonsHR 1767: Herring, Robert McNeill (Neill); years of service at the Georgia General Assembly; commend
Last action March 18, 2026 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution commends longtime Statehouse lobbyist Robert McNeill (Neill) Herring for 47 years of advocacy work at the Georgia General Assembly.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This resolution is a ceremonial honor from the Georgia House of Representatives. It does not change any Georgia law. Instead, it recognizes Robert McNeill (Neill) Herring, a lobbyist who has worked at every session of the Georgia General Assembly since 1980, for his career representing public interest groups such as the Sierra Club, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, and the Georgia Water Coalition. The resolution recounts his role in defeating major road projects, helping pass the 1994 law creating the Office of State Administrative Hearings, defending Georgia's riparian water rights system, securing protections for Jekyll Island, passing the 2006 Landowners Bill of Rights, improving MARTA funding in 2015, and helping dedicate Georgia's Hazardous and Solid Waste Trust Funds. The House formally commends him and directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for him.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes and commends Robert McNeill (Neill) Herring for his service as a lobbyist at the Georgia General Assembly since 1980.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Herring.
- Creates no new law, funding, or penalty; it is a ceremonial statement of the House's appreciation.
- Lists specific legislative efforts Herring worked on, including the 1994 Office of State Administrative Hearings law and the 2006 Landowners Bill of Rights.
Who it affects
This resolution directly names and honors one individual, lobbyist Robert McNeill (Neill) Herring. It does not impose duties or create rights for any broader group of Georgians, businesses, or agencies beyond directing the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy of the resolution.
Why it matters
The resolution carries no legal or financial effect and changes nothing about how Georgia is governed. Its significance is symbolic, marking public recognition by the state legislature of one lobbyist's decades of advocacy work on environmental, transit, and property rights issues.
Key provisions
- The whereas clauses recount Herring's biography and career highlights, including his work since 1980 and his role with the Sierra Club since 1989.
- The resolved clause formally commends Herring for his public service and extends best wishes for his health and happiness.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a copy of the resolution available to Herring.
From the bill
“the members of this body recognize and commend Robert McNeill (Neill) Herring for his efficient, effective, unselfish, and dedicated public service to the State of Georgia”
“one of his biggest legislative disappointments has been the failure to have "Tutti Frutti" by Little Richard designated as the official rock and roll song of Georgia.”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
- Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
- Al Williams (D, HD-168)
- Scott Holcomb (D, HD-101)
- Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)
- Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
Topics
- legislative honor
- lobbying
- Georgia General Assembly
- environmental advocacy