--- title: HR 539. Nolan S. Smith, Jr. Bridge; Chatham County; dedicate collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr539 cite_as: HR 539, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr539 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr539.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr539/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71230 date: 2025-03-11 status: introduced 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/hr538.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr540.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr539.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 539 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-06 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Carl Gilliard - Edna Jackson - Ron Stephens text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR539/2025 upstream_id: 1994263 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - bridge dedication - Chatham County - Nolan Smith Jr. - commemorative resolution - Georgia Department of Transportation --- # HR 539. Nolan S. Smith, Jr. Bridge; Chatham County; dedicate ## Text House Resolution 539 By: Representatives Gilliard of the 162nd, Jackson of the 165th, and Stephens of the 164th A RESOLUTION Recognizing Mr. Nolan Sental Smith, Jr., and dedicating a bridge in his honor; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Nolan Sental Smith, Jr., was born on January 18, 2001, in Savannah, Georgia, and has shown the world what it means to dream big, work relentlessly, and rise above every challenge in pursuit of greatness; and WHEREAS, from his early days on the football field in youth leagues to his standout performances at IMG Academy and Calvary Day School, Mr. Smith's passion for the game of football and unwavering determination have been evident in every play he has made, earning him admiration and respect from coaches, teammates, and fans alike; and WHEREAS, Mr. Smith's time at the University of Georgia was nothing short of remarkable, where his relentless work ethic, leadership, and dedication to his football team helped secure two College Football Playoff National Championships, a testament to his commitment to excellence and his pivotal role in the success of the Georgia Bulldogs; and WHEREAS, Mr. Smith's dream of playing in the NFL became a reality when he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, representing not only his talent but the power of perseverance, hard work, and faith in himself; and WHEREAS, beyond the field, Mr. Smith is deeply committed to using his platform and influence to make a meaningful impact in his community and beyond, striving to be more than just a football player, but a role model, leader, and change-maker who inspires others to dream big, work hard, and give back to those who need it most; and WHEREAS, Mr. Smith has touched countless lives through his dedication to inspiring and mentoring others, particularly through the Nolan Smith Foundation, which uplifts young athletes, providing them with the guidance to overcome obstacles, achieve their goals, and positively impact their communities; and WHEREAS, Mr. Smith's story is not just one of athletic triumph, but a testament to the power of resilience, humility, and the profound impact one person can have on the lives of those around them, especially through his support of his family and their shared journey together; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkable and distinguished Georgian be recognized appropriately by dedicating a bridge in his honor. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the bridge on Interstate 95/State Route 405 at State Route 204/Fort Argyle Road in Chatham County is dedicated as the Nolan S. Smith, Jr. Bridge. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the Nolan S. Smith, Jr. Bridge. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to Mr. Nolan Sental Smith, Jr., and to the Department of Transportation. ## 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 House resolution would name a bridge on Interstate 95 at State Route 204/Fort Argyle Road in Chatham County the Nolan S. Smith, Jr. Bridge, honoring the Savannah native and NFL player. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia General Assembly, not a change to state law or regulations. It recognizes Nolan Sental Smith, Jr., a Savannah, Georgia native who played football at IMG Academy and Calvary Day School, then for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. The resolution also credits him for community work through the Nolan Smith Foundation, which supports young athletes. The resolution's operative effect is to dedicate the bridge on Interstate 95/State Route 405 at State Route 204/Fort Argyle Road in Chatham County as the Nolan S. Smith, Jr. Bridge. It directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to put up and maintain signs marking the dedication, and it directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to Smith and to the Department of Transportation. ### What it does - Formally dedicates the bridge on Interstate 95/State Route 405 at State Route 204/Fort Argyle Road in Chatham County as the Nolan S. Smith, Jr. Bridge. - Directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs identifying the bridge by its new name. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send copies of the resolution to Nolan Sental Smith, Jr. and to the Department of Transportation. - Contains no funding, penalties, or changes to existing Georgia statutes; it is a commemorative naming resolution. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Nolan Sental Smith, Jr. and directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to install signage; it also affects Chatham County residents and drivers who use the Interstate 95 bridge at Fort Argyle Road, which will carry his name. ### Why it matters For Georgians, the practical effect is limited to a new highway sign at a specific Chatham County bridge honoring a local athlete's career; it does not change any law, create funding, or impose requirements beyond the Department of Transportation's signage duty. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause dedicates the bridge on Interstate 95/State Route 405 at State Route 204/Fort Argyle Road in Chatham County as the Nolan S. Smith, Jr. Bridge. - A further resolution directs the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain appropriate signs for the dedication. - A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to Smith and the Department of Transportation. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-03-06) - Last action: House Second Readers (2025-03-11) - Sponsors: Carl Gilliard, Edna Jackson, Ron Stephens - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71230 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr539.md?full=1