--- title: HR 717. Patton, Maureen; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr717 cite_as: HR 717, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr717 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr717.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr717/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71675 date: 2025-03-25 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/hr716.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr718.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr717.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 717 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-25 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - John Carson - David Wilkerson - Martin Momtahan - Kimberly New - Joseph Gullett - Matthew Gambill text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR717/2025 upstream_id: 2014685 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Kennesaw State University - legislative commendation - higher education - retirement honors --- # HR 717. Patton, Maureen; commend ## Text 25 LC 112 3500 House Resolution 717 By: Representatives Carson of the 46th, Wilkerson of the 38th, Momtahan of the 17th, New of the 40th, Gullett of the 19th, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Maureen Patton; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Maureen Patton will retire in May 2025 after 28 years of dedicated service to2 Kennesaw State University, having begun her distinguished caree r with the institution in3 February 1997; and4 WHEREAS, in her current role as director of presidential events, Maureen leads a team of5 six professionals, oversees large-scale operational teams, and manages university-wide6 signature events with exceptional attention to detail and organizational excellence; and7 WHEREAS, during her exemplary tenure, she has coordinated count less ribbon cuttings,8 ground-breakings, board meetings, campus visits, presidential g atherings, and9 commencement ceremonies; and10 WHEREAS, Maureen has successfully directed two presidential investitures and provided11 devoted service to every university president from former President Betty Siegel to current12 President Kathy Schwaig; and13 H. R. 717 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3500 WHEREAS, Maureen's efforts have strengthened community partners hips, enhanced14 stakeholder engagement, and contributed to the celebration of t housands of student15 graduates; and16 WHEREAS, she is a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation for17 integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness; and18 WHEREAS, Maureen has served with honor and distinction, and her vision and unyielding19 commitment to Kennesaw State University will be sorely missed upon the occasion of her20 retirement; and21 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this22 remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized.23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that24 the members of this body recognize and commend Maureen Patton for her years of dedicated25 service to Kennesaw State University; congratulate her upon the grand occasion of her26 retirement; and extend the most sincere best wishes for continued health and happiness.27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized28 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution ava ilable for distribution to29 Maureen Patton.30 H. R. 717 - 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 Georgia House resolution formally commends Maureen Patton, a longtime Kennesaw State University administrator, on her retirement after 28 years of service. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honoring Maureen Patton, who is retiring in May 2025 after 28 years working at Kennesaw State University. She began working there in February 1997 and most recently served as director of presidential events, leading a team of six staff members and organizing large university events like ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings, board meetings, and commencement ceremonies. The resolution recounts her work under several university presidents, from former President Betty Siegel to current President Kathy Schwaig, including directing two presidential investitures. It formally recognizes and commends her for her service, congratulates her on retiring, and wishes her continued health and happiness. It also directs the Clerk of the House to give her an official copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Maureen Patton for 28 years of service to Kennesaw State University. - Congratulates her on her retirement, which begins in May 2025. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute an official copy of the resolution to Patton. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory change; it is a ceremonial statement by the House of Representatives. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Maureen Patton, a Kennesaw State University administrator. It also involves the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who must prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to her. ### Why it matters This resolution has no legal or regulatory effect on Georgians generally. Its practical impact is limited to publicly recognizing one university employee's career and providing her with an official keepsake document from the state legislature. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Patton's 28-year career at Kennesaw State University, including her role as director of presidential events overseeing a six-person team. - The resolved clause has the House of Representatives recognize, commend, and congratulate Patton on her retirement. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Patton. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-25) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-25) - Sponsors: John Carson, David Wilkerson, Martin Momtahan, Kimberly New, Joseph Gullett, Matthew Gambill - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71675 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr717.md?full=1