--- title: HR 380. Gant, James and Patricia; retirement; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr380 cite_as: HR 380, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr380 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr380.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr380/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70762 date: 2025-02-24 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/hr379.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr381.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr380.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 380 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-24 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Carolyn Hugley - Teddy Reese - Debbie Buckner - Vance Smith text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR380/2025 upstream_id: 1982095 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - honorary resolution - Columbus Georgia - retirement recognition - State Farm --- # HR 380. Gant, James and Patricia; retirement; commend ## Text House Resolution 380 By: Representatives Hugley of the 141st, Reese of the 140th, Buckner of the 137th, and Smith of the 138th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending James and Patricia Gant upon their retirement; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, James and Patricia Gant have diligently and conscientiously devoted innumerable hours of their time, talents, and energy toward the betterment of their community, as evidenced dramatically by their superlative service with State Farm; and WHEREAS, during his distinguished career, James dedicated 46 years of service to State Farm, beginning as a dual claim adjuster from 1978 to 1983 and becoming the first African American to open a State Farm agency in Columbus, Georgia, in 1983; and WHEREAS, Patricia worked alongside her husband as his office manager for 41 years, beginning her tenure at the agency's opening in July 1983 and ending her career with their joint retirement on July 31, 2024; and WHEREAS, these distinguished individuals have given inspiration to many through their high ideals, morals, and deep concern for their fellow citizens, and they possess the vast wisdom which only comes through experience and the strength of character achieved through overcoming the many challenges of life; and WHEREAS, they are individuals of magnanimous strengths with unimpeachable reputations for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness; and WHEREAS, James and Patricia Gant have served with honor and distinction as part of the State Farm Insurance Company, and their vision and unyielding commitment to excellence will be sorely missed; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that these distinguished individuals be appropriately honored during this special time. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend James and Patricia Gant for their decades of service to State Farm; congratulate them upon the grand occasion of their retirement; and 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 James and Patricia Gant. ## 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 James and Patricia Gant of Columbus for their combined decades of service at State Farm upon their joint retirement in 2024. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It recognizes James and Patricia Gant of Columbus, Georgia for their long careers with State Farm Insurance Company. James worked 46 years for State Farm, starting as a claims adjuster in 1978 and becoming the first African American to open a State Farm agency in Columbus in 1983. Patricia worked alongside him as office manager for 41 years, starting when the agency opened and retiring together with James on July 31, 2024. The resolution has the House commend the couple for their service, congratulate them on retirement, and wish them continued health and happiness. It also directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for the Gants, a standard step for this type of honorary measure. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends James and Patricia Gant for their decades of combined service to State Farm Insurance Company. - Congratulates the couple on their joint retirement, which took effect July 31, 2024. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to James and Patricia Gant. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory change since it is a ceremonial resolution rather than legislation amending Georgia code. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors James and Patricia Gant, a Columbus, Georgia couple who worked for State Farm Insurance Company. It has no legal effect on other Georgians, businesses, or government agencies beyond the House Clerk's office, which handles distribution. ### Why it matters This resolution carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose requirements. Its practical effect is limited to a formal, public statement of recognition and a printed copy presented to the honorees. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses describe James Gant's 46-year State Farm career, including opening the first State Farm agency run by an African American in Columbus in 1983. - The whereas clauses also describe Patricia Gant's 41 years as the agency's office manager, ending with their joint retirement on July 31, 2024. - The resolving clause has the House commend and congratulate the Gants and wish them continued health and happiness. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to the Gants. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-24) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-24) - Sponsors: Carolyn Hugley, Teddy Reese, Debbie Buckner, Vance Smith - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70762 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr380.md?full=1