--- title: HR 452. Georgia Forestry Commission and others; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr452 cite_as: HR 452, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr452 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr452.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr452/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71036 date: 2025-02-28 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-12 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/hr451.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr453.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr452.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 452 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-28 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Bill Yearta - Johnny Chastain - Stan Gunter - Noel Williams - Gary Richardson - Robert Dickey text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR452/2025 upstream_id: 1989278 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - forestry - wildfire response - emergency management - legislative commendation --- # HR 452. Georgia Forestry Commission and others; commend ## Text House Resolution 452 By: Representatives Yearta of the 152nd, Chastain of the 7th, Gunter of the 8th, Williams of the 148th, Richardson of the 125th, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Georgia Forestry Commission for serving the State of Georgia as an emergency response agency; the Worth County Unit on being named the 2024 Unit of the Year for Service; the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit on being named the 2024 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement; Clark Rountree for being named 2024 Wildland Firefighter of the Year; and Kevin Lee for being named 2024 Forester of the Year; and for other purposes. 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 burning 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, employees of the Georgia Forestry Commission are trained to meet national standards as Firefighter Type 1 and Firefighter Type 2 or are POST-certified law enforcement officers, undergoing specific and rigorous training and assignments to maintain qualifications to respond to wildfires and all-hazards incidents; and WHEREAS, the Worth County Unit was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2024 Unit of the Year for Service due to its outstanding accomplishments in serving landowners through firebreak plowing, prescribed burn assists, and other services; and WHEREAS, the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2024 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement due to its exemplary outreach efforts, including Smokey Bear programs, educational programs, and other community initiatives; and WHEREAS, Clark Rountree was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2024 Wildland Firefighter of the Year in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in all areas of wildfire mitigation and suppression; and WHEREAS, Kevin Lee was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2024 Forester of the Year in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in all areas of forest management; and WHEREAS, employees of the Georgia Forestry Commission serve the citizens of the State of Georgia with dedication, heart, and determination, ensuring the safeguarding of communities as well as the protection and conservation of our forest resources for the next generation. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize the Georgia Forestry Commission as an emergency response agency. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body commend the Worth County Unit, the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit, Clark Rountree, and Kevin Lee for their outstanding achievements and recognition as the 2024 Unit of the Year for Service, Unit of the Year for Community Engagement, Wildland Firefighter of the Year, and Forester of the Year. 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 commends the Georgia Forestry Commission and honors several of its units and employees for their 2024 achievements in wildfire response and forest management. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives rather than a change to state law. It recognizes the Georgia Forestry Commission, which has operated since 1921, as an emergency response agency for its work fighting wildfires and helping landowners with prescribed burning. The resolution also commends specific award winners from 2024: the Worth County Unit for Unit of the Year for Service, the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit for Unit of the Year for Community Engagement, 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. ### What it does - Formally recognizes the Georgia Forestry Commission as an emergency response agency within the Georgia House of Representatives. - Commends the Worth County Unit for being named the Commission's 2024 Unit of the Year for Service. - Commends the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit for being named the Commission's 2024 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement. - Commends Clark Rountree as the Commission's 2024 Wildland Firefighter of the Year and Kevin Lee as its 2024 Forester of the Year. - Directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to State Forester John Sabo. ### Who it affects The Georgia Forestry Commission, its employees, and the specific honorees named (the Worth County Unit, the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit, Clark Rountree, and Kevin Lee) are the direct subjects of this recognition, along with State Forester John Sabo, who receives a copy. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or funding changes; it is a symbolic honor. Its practical effect is public recognition of the Georgia Forestry Commission's wildfire and forest management work and specific individuals and units within it for 2024. ### Key provisions - Opening whereas clauses describe the Georgia Forestry Commission's mission, history since 1921, and average annual wildfire response of about 3,000 fires and 18,500 acres. - First resolving clause formally recognizes the Georgia Forestry Commission as an emergency response agency. - Second resolving clause commends the four named award recipients for their 2024 honors. - Final resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to State Forester John Sabo. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-28) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-28) - Sponsors: Bill Yearta, Johnny Chastain, Stan Gunter, Noel Williams, Gary Richardson, Robert Dickey - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71036 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr452.md?full=1