--- title: HR 509. Cotten, Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Judith L.; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr509 cite_as: HR 509, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr509 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr509.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr509/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71177 date: 2025-03-04 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/hr508.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr510.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr509.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 509 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-04 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Sandra Scott - Viola Davis - Kim Schofield - Lynn Heffner text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR509/2025 upstream_id: 1991528 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - veterans - military service - community recognition - Jonesboro Georgia --- # HR 509. Cotten, Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Judith L.; commend ## Text House Resolution 509 By: Representatives Scott of the 76th, Davis of the 87th, Schofield of the 63rd, and Heffner of the 130th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Judith L. Cotten; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Judith L. Cotten valiantly and courageously served as a guardian of this nation's freedom and liberty with the United States Army for 21 years, retiring as a Non-Commissioned Officer in 2001; and WHEREAS, she is a lifetime member of the National Association of Black Military Women Inc., currently serving as the national secretary and a second term president for the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter; and WHEREAS, as further testament to her dedication to the community, Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Cotten is the founder and national president of the Omicron Nu Xi Military Sorority Inc., founder of the Omicron Nu Xi Military Auxiliaries Inc., a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and more; and WHEREAS, a woman of deep and abiding faith, Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Cotten is a faithful member at Shiloh Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Georgia, where she serves as the executive administrator, trustee chairwoman, and media department streaming facilitator; and WHEREAS, she has diligently and conscientiously devoted innumerable hours of her time, talents, and energy toward the betterment of her community and state, as evidenced dramatically by her superlative service as a licensed realtor, life and health insurance producer, and real estate instructor; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this passionate community leader and veteran 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 Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Judith L. Cotten for her effective, unselfish, and dedicated public service to the State of Georgia and this nation 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 Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Judith L. Cotten. ## 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 retired Army Staff Sergeant Judith L. Cotten of Jonesboro for her 21 years of military service and community work. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial honor from the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It recognizes Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Judith L. Cotten for her 21 years of service in the United States Army, from which she retired as a Non-Commissioned Officer in 2001. The resolution also highlights her community involvement, including leadership roles in the National Association of Black Military Women, the Omicron Nu Xi Military Sorority she founded, her church in Jonesboro, Georgia, and her work as a licensed realtor and insurance producer. The House directs its Clerk to prepare a copy of the resolution for her. ### What it does - Formally commends Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Judith L. Cotten for her 21 years of military service and community leadership. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to her. - Extends the House's best wishes for her continued health and happiness. - Does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute; it is a ceremonial statement only. ### Who it affects The resolution names and honors Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Judith L. Cotten specifically. It has no legal effect on the general public, government agencies, or any broader group of Georgians. ### Why it matters This resolution has no practical or legal effect on Georgians; it is a symbolic gesture by the House of Representatives recognizing one individual's military service and community contributions. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe her 21 years of Army service and retirement as a Non-Commissioned Officer in 2001. - The whereas clauses detail her leadership roles, including founding the Omicron Nu Xi Military Sorority Inc. and its Auxiliaries. - The resolved clause formally commends her for public service and offers well wishes. - The final clause directs the House Clerk to make a copy available for distribution to her. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-04) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-04) - Sponsors: Sandra Scott, Viola Davis, Kim Schofield, Lynn Heffner - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71177 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr509.md?full=1