Georgia CommonsHouse · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HR 452: Georgia Forestry Commission and others; commend
Last action February 28, 2025 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution recognizes the Georgia Forestry Commission as an emergency response agency and commends specific units and employees for their 2024 achievements in wildfire response and forest management.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives rather than a bill that changes state law. It formally recognizes the Georgia Forestry Commission, which has operated since 1921, as an emergency response agency for its work fighting wildfires and assisting with prescribed burning across the state. The resolution also commends specific award winners from 2024: the Worth County Unit for its Unit of the Year for Service award, the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit for its Unit of the Year for Community Engagement award, Clark Rountree for Wildland Firefighter of the Year, and Kevin Lee for Forester of the Year. It directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to State Forester John Sabo. The resolution does not create any new requirements, funding, or penalties.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes the Georgia Forestry Commission as an emergency response agency within Georgia House proceedings.
- Commends the Worth County Unit for being named 2024 Unit of the Year for Service.
- Commends the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit for being named 2024 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement.
- Commends Clark Rountree as 2024 Wildland Firefighter of the Year and Kevin Lee as 2024 Forester of the Year.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to State Forester John Sabo.
Who it affects
This resolution directly names and honors the Georgia Forestry Commission, its Worth County and Fannin/Towns/Union units, and employees Clark Rountree and Kevin Lee. It does not impose obligations on the public, businesses, or other government agencies.
Why it matters
Because this is a commendation resolution, it has no legal effect and changes no Georgia law, funding, or agency duties. Its practical significance is symbolic: it gives official House recognition to the Forestry Commission's wildfire response work and to individual and unit award winners.
Key provisions
- The resolution's whereas clauses describe the Georgia Forestry Commission's mission since 1921 and its response to an average of 3,000 wildfires burning 18,500 acres per year.
- The first resolving clause has the House recognize the Georgia Forestry Commission as an emergency response agency.
- The second resolving clause commends the Worth County Unit, the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit, Clark Rountree, and Kevin Lee by name for their 2024 awards.
- The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to provide a copy of the resolution to State Forester John Sabo.
From the bill
“to provide leadership, service, and education to protect and conserve Georgia's forest resources”
“the members of this body recognize the Georgia Forestry Commission as an emergency response agency”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Bill Yearta (R, HD-152)
- Johnny Chastain (R, HD-7)
- Stan Gunter (R, HD-8)
- Noel Williams, Jr. (R, HD-148)
- Gary Richardson (R, HD-125)
- Robert Dickey (R, HD-134)
Topics
- Georgia Forestry Commission
- wildfire response
- legislative commendation
- forest management