---
title: HR 210. Georgia Forestry Commission; serving the State of Georgia as an emergency response agency; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr210
cite_as: HR 210, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr210
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr210.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr210/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70143
date: 2025-02-10
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/hr209.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr211.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr210.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 210
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-10
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Jesse Petrea
  - James Hatchett
  - John Corbett
  - James Burchett
  - Charles Cannon
  - Danny Mathis
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR210/2025
upstream_id: 1964643
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - Georgia Forestry Commission
  - wildfire response
  - forest conservation
  - emergency response
  - legislative commendation
---

# HR 210. Georgia Forestry Commission; serving the State of Georgia as an emergency response agency; commend

## Text

House Resolution 210
By: Representatives Petrea of the 166th, Hatchett of the 155th, Corbett of the 174th, Burchett
of the 176th, Cannon of the 172nd, and others
A RESOLUTION
Commending the Georgia Forestry Commission for serving the State of Georgia as an
emergency response agency; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the Georgia General Assembly established the Forestry Act of 1921, providing
for a State Board of Forestry, to protect Georgia's forest resources; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission has worked diligently toward its mission "to
provide leadership, service, and education to protect and conserve Georgia's forest resources"
and its vision of "healthy and abundant forests that support a robust industry while providing
social, environmental, and financial benefits to all of Georgia" since 1921; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission has protected Georgia's forests and citizens
from an average of 3,000 wildfires that burn 18,500 acres per year and has responded to
historic wildfire events, including catastrophic fires in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2017; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission assists public and private landowners in the
established practice of prescribed burning to reduce hazardous fuels, protect communities
from extreme wildfires, minimize the spread of insects and diseases, and improve habitats
for threatened and endangered species; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission plays a vital role in the state's emergency
response during natural disasters and other events that require quick action to protect public
safety and environmental health; and
WHEREAS, employees of the Georgia Forestry Commission have responded to all-hazard
events, including but not limited to Hurricane Katrina, Winter Storm Pax, Hurricane Michael,
the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Helene, President Jimmy Carter's funeral, and Avian
Influenza response efforts; and
WHEREAS, employees of the Commission are trained to meet national standards as
Firefighter Type 1 and Firefighter Type 2 or are POST-certified law enforcement officers and
undergo specific, rigorous training and assignments to maintain qualifications to respond to
wildfires and all-hazard incidents; and
WHEREAS, employees of the Commission serve the citizens of the state with dedication,
heart, and determination to ensure the safeguarding of communities as well as the protection
and conservation of forest resources for the next generation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body commend the Georgia Forestry Commission for its decades of
dedicated, efficient, and effective service on behalf of the citizens of this state as well as
extend sincere best wishes for continued success.
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 State
Forester John Sabo.

## 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 the Georgia Forestry Commission for its work protecting the state's forests and responding to wildfires and other emergencies.

### Plain-language summary

This is a commemorative resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives rather than a law that changes anyone's rights or obligations. It recognizes the Georgia Forestry Commission, created under the Forestry Act of 1921, for its history of protecting Georgia's forests and responding to wildfires, averaging about 3,000 fires and 18,500 acres burned per year.
The resolution also highlights the Commission's broader emergency response role, noting its employees have helped during events like Hurricane Katrina, Winter Storm Pax, Hurricane Michael, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Hurricane Helene. It directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to State Forester John Sabo as a formal show of appreciation.

### What it does

- Formally commends the Georgia Forestry Commission for its decades of service protecting Georgia's forests and responding to emergencies.
- Recites the Commission's history since the Forestry Act of 1921 and its role in wildfire prevention and prescribed burning.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send a copy of the resolution to State Forester John Sabo.
- Does not create any new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a symbolic statement of appreciation.

### Who it affects

The Georgia Forestry Commission and its employees, particularly State Forester John Sabo, who receives the resolution. It has no direct legal effect on other Georgians, landowners, or agencies.

### Why it matters

The resolution carries no legal or financial consequences, but it publicly recognizes the Georgia Forestry Commission's role in wildfire response and disaster assistance, which may raise awareness of the agency's work among the public and lawmakers.

### Key provisions

- Recites the Commission's founding under the Forestry Act of 1921 and its mission to protect and conserve Georgia's forest resources.
- Notes the Commission responds to an average of 3,000 wildfires burning 18,500 acres per year, including major fires in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2017.
- Describes employee training standards as Firefighter Type 1 or Type 2, or as POST-certified law enforcement officers.
- Resolves that the House commends the Commission and extends best wishes for continued success.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to provide a copy of the resolution to State Forester John Sabo.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-10)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-10)
- Sponsors: Jesse Petrea, James Hatchett, John Corbett, James Burchett, Charles Cannon, Danny Mathis
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70143

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr210.md?full=1