---
title: HR 242. Alpha Day at the Capitol; February 20, 2025; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr242
cite_as: HR 242, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr242
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr242.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr242/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70226
date: 2025-02-11
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/hr241.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr243.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr242.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 242
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-11
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Derrick Jackson
  - Teddy Reese
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR242/2025
upstream_id: 1965781
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
  - Georgia House resolutions
  - ceremonial recognition
  - Alpha Day at the Capitol
---

# HR 242. Alpha Day at the Capitol; February 20, 2025; recognize

## Text

House Resolution 242
By: Representatives Jackson of the 68th and Reese of the 140th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing February 20, 2025, as Alpha Day at the Capitol; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity
established for African American men, was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New
York, on December 4, 1906, by Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene
Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and
Vertner Woodson Tandy; known as the "Jewels," these men recognized the need for a strong
bond of brotherhood among African descendants in this country; and
WHEREAS, for 118 years, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., has been a beacon of light to
the community by staying true to its aims of manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all
mankind; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., has a membership of more than 70,000
college-educated men inducted into over 700 college and alumni chapters in the United
States, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean; and
WHEREAS, this esteemed fraternity continues to live out its mission of developing leaders,
promoting brotherhood and academic excellence, and providing service and advocacy for our
communities by contributing more than $2.3 million in educational scholarships and
volunteering 850,000 community service hours; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., counts many renowned Georgians as
members, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ambassador Andrew Young, Mayor
Maynard H. Jackson, Senator Raphael Warnock, Congressman David Scott, W.E.B. Dubois,
Dr. Louis Sullivan, Actor Omari Hardwick, John Hope, and newly elected State Senator
RaShaun Kemp; and
WHEREAS, the 18th Annual "Alpha Day at the Capitol" convenes under the leadership of
Georgia District Director James Ford II, Assistant District Director Mark Nooks Jr., and
Political Action Committee Chairman Aaron Johnson, representing 42 chapters across the
state.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body urge all citizens to recognize and applaud the contributions of
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and the Georgia District in their commitment to making our
communities a better place as well as recognize February 20, 2025, as Alpha Day at the
Capitol.
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 Alpha
Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 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 recognizes February 20, 2025, as Alpha Day at the Capitol, honoring Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and its Georgia chapters.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia House of Representatives. It does not change any Georgia law; instead it formally recognizes February 20, 2025, as Alpha Day at the Capitol, an annual event held by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
The resolution recounts the fraternity's founding in 1906 at Cornell University, its history of scholarship and community service, and its notable Georgia members. It directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the fraternity, the public, and the press.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes February 20, 2025, as Alpha Day at the Capitol in the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Urges Georgia citizens to recognize and applaud the contributions of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and its Georgia District.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the fraternity, the public, and the press.
- Creates no new law, funding, or penalty since it is a ceremonial resolution rather than a bill.

### Who it affects

Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and its Georgia District chapters, who are honored by the resolution, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who is directed to distribute copies of it.

### Why it matters

The resolution has no legal effect on Georgians generally; it is a symbolic gesture of recognition. Its practical effect is limited to marking the date, publicizing the fraternity's community service record, and directing the Clerk to distribute copies.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses describe the fraternity's 1906 founding at Cornell University and its founders, known as the 'Jewels.'
- The whereas clauses cite fraternity statistics, including more than 70,000 members and over $2.3 million in scholarships.
- The resolving clause formally designates February 20, 2025, as Alpha Day at the Capitol and urges public recognition of the fraternity.
- The final clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to the fraternity, the public, and the press.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-11)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-11)
- Sponsors: Derrick Jackson, Teddy Reese
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70226

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr242.md?full=1