---
title: HR 38. Murphy, Mary Kay; lifetime of distinguished service to education and community; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr38
cite_as: HR 38, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr38
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr38.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr38/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69439
date: 2025-01-16
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/hr37.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr39.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr38.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 38
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-01-16
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Scott Hilton
  - Arlene Beckles
  - Matt Reeves
  - Chuck Efstration
  - Reynaldo Martinez
  - Soo Hong
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR38/2025
upstream_id: 1925865
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - education leadership
  - Gwinnett County Schools
  - ceremonial resolution
  - community service recognition
---

# HR 38. Murphy, Mary Kay; lifetime of distinguished service to education and community; commend

## Text

House Resolution 38
By: Representatives Hilton of the 48th, Beckles of the 96th, Reeves of the 99th, Efstration of
the 104th, Martinez of the 111th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Honoring Mary Kay Murphy for a lifetime of distinguished service to education and
community; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Mary Kay Murphy has dedicated her life to the pursuit of excellence in
education, earning a PhD in education administration from Georgia State University, a
master's degree in education and English from Emory University, and a Bachelor of Arts in
English and philosophy from Loretto Heights College; and
WHEREAS, Mary Kay Murphy has exemplified an outstanding commitment to the teaching
profession, with seven years of experience as a public-school teacher in Georgia and
California, inspiring students in grades 9 through 12; and
WHEREAS, she has played a pivotal role in the advancement of educational institutions
through her extraordinary career in private fundraising, securing over $475 million in support
of academic programs, faculty research, and campus infrastructure, thereby enhancing
educational opportunities for countless students; and
WHEREAS, Mary Kay Murphy has shown exemplary dedication to her community, serving
as a volunteer teacher at Hopewell Baptist Church, a longtime member of Mary Our Queen
Catholic Church, and as President of the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta, becoming the first woman
to hold that office in 80 years; and
WHEREAS, her leadership has significantly impacted public education as an elected member
of the Gwinnett County School Board for over two decades, during which time she was
elected chairman five times and vice chairman five times, ensuring the continued growth and
success of the district; and
WHEREAS, Mary Kay Murphy has extended her service beyond education, contributing as
a civilian representative to the National Security Seminar at the United States Army War
College and as a member of numerous civic organizations, including Leadership Atlanta and
the Development Committee of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta; and
WHEREAS, her exceptional contributions have been recognized through numerous
prestigious awards, including the Scott Hudgens Distinguished Citizen Award, Paul Duke
Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Award for Service
in Public Education; and
WHEREAS, Mary Kay Murphy alongside her husband, Michael C. Murphy, a distinguished
retired attorney and civic leader, has raised three daughters and is a proud grandparent of
two, further demonstrating her dedication to family and community; and
WHEREAS, Mary Kay Murphy's lifetime of unwavering commitment to education, civic
leadership, and community service will leave a lasting legacy, and she stands as a beacon of
inspiration for future generations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body honor Mary Kay Murphy for her lifetime commitment to education
and community service as well as extend the most sincere best wishes for 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 Mary
Kay Murphy.

## 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 honors Mary Kay Murphy, a longtime Gwinnett County educator and civic leader, for her decades of work in education and community service.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It recognizes Mary Kay Murphy for her career as a teacher, fundraiser, and elected member of the Gwinnett County School Board, along with her civic and volunteer work across metro Atlanta.
The resolution recounts her educational background, her fundraising work that secured more than $475 million for academic programs, and her leadership roles including chairman of the Gwinnett County School Board and president of the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta. It closes by directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to provide her with an official copy of the resolution as a keepsake.

### What it does

- Formally commends Mary Kay Murphy for her career in education and community service on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Recites her academic credentials, teaching career, and record of raising over $475 million in private fundraising for educational institutions.
- Recognizes her two decades of elected service on the Gwinnett County School Board, including multiple terms as chairman and vice chairman.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute an official copy of the resolution to Murphy.
- Extends best wishes for her continued health and happiness; creates no new law, funding, or penalty.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names Mary Kay Murphy. It also references the Gwinnett County School Board, the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who is tasked with distributing a copy of the resolution to her.

### Why it matters

This measure carries no legal or financial effect; it does not change Georgia law, create funding, or impose requirements. Its significance is symbolic, giving the Georgia House of Representatives a formal way to publicly recognize an individual's decades of service.

### Key provisions

- Whereas clauses detail Murphy's education, teaching career, fundraising achievements, and civic and religious volunteer work.
- Whereas clauses describe her over two decades on the Gwinnett County School Board, including five terms as chairman and five as vice chairman.
- The resolving clause formally honors Murphy for her lifetime commitment to education and community service and wishes her continued health and happiness.
- A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to provide Murphy with an official copy of the resolution.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-01-16)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-01-16)
- Sponsors: Scott Hilton, Arlene Beckles, Matt Reeves, Chuck Efstration, Reynaldo Martinez, Soo Hong
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69439

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr38.md?full=1