--- title: HR 2093. Hutchings, Jacob "Jake"; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr2093 cite_as: HR 2093, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2093 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2093.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2093/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74706 date: 2026-04-02 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/hr2092.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2094.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2093.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 2093 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-04-02 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Carl Gilliard - Eric Bell - Derrick Jackson - Long Tran text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR2093/2025 upstream_id: 2141011 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia history - Black history - Jones County - legislative commendation --- # HR 2093. Hutchings, Jacob "Jake"; commend ## Text House Resolution 2093 By: Representatives Gilliard of the 162nd, Bell of the 75th, Jackson of the 68th, and Tran of the 80th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Jacob "Jake" Hutchings; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the "Original 33" were the first 33 African-American members of the Georgia General Assembly, elected into office in 1868; and WHEREAS, born a slave in 1831 in Virginia, Jacob "Jake" Hutchings was elected as the first Black State Representative for Jones County in 1868; and WHEREAS, although not formally remembered as a member of the "Original 33" Jacob "Jake" Hutchings was the 34th African-American member of the Georgia General Assembly; and WHEREAS, prior to his election, Jake was a skilled stone mason, cutting much of the stone in the county, including the granite in this retaining wall at the Jones County Court House; and WHEREAS, he was highly regarded as man of great strength, kindness, and respect; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper to honor the outstanding impact of this distinguished Georgian. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend Jacob "Jake" Hutchings. 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 public and the press. ## 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 recognizes and commends Jacob "Jake" Hutchings, an early Black state lawmaker from Jones County, for his historic election and legacy. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honors Jacob "Jake" Hutchings, who was born into slavery in Virginia in 1831 and later elected as the first Black State Representative for Jones County in 1868. The resolution notes that while he is not formally counted among the "Original 33," the first 33 African-American members of the Georgia General Assembly, he was effectively the 34th African-American member of that body. The text also recalls that Hutchings worked as a stone mason before his election, cutting stone used throughout the county, including granite in a retaining wall at the Jones County Court House. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press. It does not change any Georgia law; it is a ceremonial statement of recognition. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Jacob "Jake" Hutchings for his 1868 election as Jones County's first Black State Representative. - States that Hutchings, though not part of the formally remembered 'Original 33,' was the 34th African-American member of the Georgia General Assembly. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. - Creates no new law, funding, or penalties; it is a purely honorary statement by the House. ### Who it affects This resolution primarily affects the historical record and public recognition of Jacob "Jake" Hutchings and his descendants or community in Jones County. It also directs a specific administrative task to the Clerk of the House of Representatives. ### Why it matters While the resolution carries no legal or financial effect, it places an official state record behind the historical recognition of Hutchings as an early Black legislator, ensuring his story is documented and shared with the public and press through the Clerk's office. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses establish historical background, including Hutchings' birth into slavery in 1831 and his 1868 election as Jones County's first Black State Representative. - The resolution notes he was effectively the 34th African-American member of the Georgia General Assembly despite not being counted among the 'Original 33.' - The resolving clause formally commends Hutchings on behalf of the House of Representatives. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-04-02) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-04-02) - Sponsors: Carl Gilliard, Eric Bell, Derrick Jackson, Long Tran - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74706 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2093.md?full=1