--- title: HR 623. Lay, Tony; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr623 cite_as: HR 623, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr623 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr623.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr623/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71443 date: 2025-03-18 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 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/hr622.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr624.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr623.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 623 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-18 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Spencer Frye - Houston Gaines - Marcus Wiedower text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR623/2025 upstream_id: 2010586 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - commendation resolution - Athens community - senior services - retirement recognition --- # HR 623. Lay, Tony; commend ## Text 25 LC 112 3326 House Resolution 623 By: Representatives Frye of the 122nd, Gaines of the 120th, and Wiedower of the 121st A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Tony Lay; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Tony Lay has diligently and conscientiously devoted innumerable hours of his2 time, talents, and energy toward the betterment of his communit y and state, as evidenced3 dramatically by his 43 years of superlative service with the Athens Community Council on4 Aging (ACCA); and5 WHEREAS, beginning his c areer at the ACCA in 1982 as a driver, Tony Lay is the6 longest-serving director and employee in the agency's 58-year history; and7 WHEREAS, as transportation director, he has provided safe, reli able, and compassionate8 transportation for more than 7,500 seniors, ensuring they can a ccess essential services,9 remain engaged in the community, and live with dignity and independence; and10 WHEREAS, he has personally assisted seniors with chores after h ours, taken clients on11 special outings such as trips to Braves games, and provided mea ls for seniors during the12 holiday season by transporting and carrying thousands of frozen turkeys and Christmas hams13 over the past decade; and14 H. R. 623 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3326 WHEREAS, more than a driver and director, he has been a pillar of kindness, concern, and15 dependability, always going above and beyond to care for those he has served; and16 WHEREAS, this distinguished gentleman has given inspiration to many through his high17 ideals, morals, and deep concern for his fellow citizens, and he possesses the vast wisdom18 which only comes through experience and the strength of charact er which is achieved19 through overcoming the many challenges of life; and20 WHEREAS, he has served with honor and distinction with the ACCA , and his vision and21 unyielding commitment to the senior citizens of Athens will be sorely missed upon the22 occasion of his retirement; and23 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this24 remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately honored.25 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that26 the members of this body recognize and commend Tony Lay for his decades of efficient,27 effective, unselfish, and dedicated service to the Athens Commu nity Council on Aging;28 congratulate him upon the grand occasion of his retirement; and extend the most sincere best29 wishes for continued health and happiness.30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized31 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Tony32 Lay.33 H. R. 623 - 2 - ## 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 honors Tony Lay of Athens for 43 years of service with the Athens Community Council on Aging and congratulates him on his retirement. ### Plain-language summary This is a commendation resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, a formal statement of praise rather than a change to state law. It recognizes Tony Lay, who worked for the Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA) for 43 years, starting as a driver in 1982 and becoming the agency's longest-serving director and employee. The resolution describes his work providing transportation to more than 7,500 seniors, his personal acts of kindness such as running errands and delivering holiday meals, and his reputation for dependability and care. The House commends him for his service, congratulates him on his retirement, and directs the Clerk of the House to give him an official copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Tony Lay for 43 years of service with the Athens Community Council on Aging. - Congratulates Lay on his retirement and extends wishes for his continued health and happiness. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute an official copy of the resolution to Lay. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory change since it is a ceremonial honor rather than legislation. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Tony Lay, a longtime employee and director at the Athens Community Council on Aging, and touches the Clerk of the House, who must prepare a copy for him. It has no broader regulatory effect on other Georgians. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial effect; it is a public, official record of appreciation for one person's decades of community service in Athens, offering personal and civic recognition rather than any change to daily life for Georgians generally. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount Lay's 43-year career at the ACCA, including his start as a driver in 1982 and his role as the agency's longest-serving director. - The resolved clause formally commends Lay for his service and congratulates him on his retirement. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare an appropriate copy of the resolution for distribution to Lay. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-18) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-18) - Sponsors: Spencer Frye, Houston Gaines, Marcus Wiedower - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71443 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr623.md?full=1