--- title: SR 1029. Roadless Area Conservation Rule; recognize; United States Forest Service; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr1029 cite_as: SR 1029, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1029 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1029.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1029/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74425 date: 2026-03-27 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 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/sr1028.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1030.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1029.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 1029 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-27 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Bo Hatchett - Larry Walker - Jason Anavitarte - Randy Robertson - Matt Brass - Brian Strickland - Drew Echols text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR1029/2025 upstream_id: 2138481 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - public lands conservation - national forests - outdoor recreation - drinking water protection - wildfire prevention --- # SR 1029. Roadless Area Conservation Rule; recognize; United States Forest Service; commend ## Text Senate Resolution 1029 By: Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Walker III of the 20th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Robertson of the 29th, Brass of the 6th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule and commending the United States Forest Service for its management of Georgia's roadless areas; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, since 2001, the federal Roadless Area Conservation Rule ("Roadless Rule"), promulgated by the United States Department of Agriculture, has protected nearly 45 million acres of America's wildest public lands from unnecessary roadbuilding and development; and WHEREAS, the Roadless Rule is one of America's most important bipartisan conservation achievements and the result of record-breaking public support; and WHEREAS, over 63,000 acres of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest's 867,000 acres have been designated as roadless areas in the Blue Ridge mountains of north Georgia, including portions of the Appalachian Trail, Rabun Bald, and the Cohutta adjacent roadless area; and WHEREAS, Georgia's roadless areas provide irreplaceable benefits, including clean drinking water to local and downstream communities, crystal clear trout streams, support for local economies that depend on outdoor recreation and tourism dollars, iconic hiking trails, and habitat for wildlife; and WHEREAS, the United States Forest Service estimates that visitors to Georgia's national forests bring about $130 million to local economies each year and support nearly 2,000 local jobs; and WHEREAS, roadless areas are crucial for backcountry hunters and anglers, who are major contributors to Georgia's economy; and WHEREAS, Georgia's roadless areas are a haven for wildlife such as black bear, deer, wild turkey, grouse, and hundreds of bird species, and these areas provide the clean, cold water required for trout; and WHEREAS, Georgia's roadless areas contribute to the drinking water for over 3.3 million Georgians, including over 75,000 people in nearby communities such as Chatsworth, Ellijay, Blue Ridge, Blairsville, and Hiawassee as well as over 3 million more living farther downstream in Rome, Augusta, Savannah, metro Atlanta, and other communities; and WHEREAS, United States Forest Service data show that most wildfires start within 50 yards of a road, and the Roadless Rule thus provides a critical safeguard against wildfire; and WHEREAS, the United States Forest Service has managed roadless areas in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest responsibly and efficiently, to the benefit of all Georgians. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize the 25th anniversary of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, acknowledge the importance of the rule's continued application in Georgia, and commend the United States Forest Service for its management of roadless areas in Georgia. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the United States Forest Service, the public, and the press. ## 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 Senate resolution commends the U.S. Forest Service for managing the state's roadless national forest areas and marks the 25th anniversary of the federal Roadless Area Conservation Rule. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes anyone's rights or duties. It recognizes the 25th anniversary of the federal Roadless Area Conservation Rule, adopted in 2001, which limits roadbuilding on certain national forest lands nationwide. The resolution highlights that more than 63,000 acres of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in north Georgia are designated roadless areas, including parts of the Appalachian Trail and Rabun Bald. It notes these areas supply drinking water to over 3.3 million Georgians, support outdoor recreation bringing about $130 million and nearly 2,000 jobs to local economies, and help guard against wildfires since most fires start near roads. The Senate formally commends the U.S. Forest Service for its management of these lands and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to the Forest Service, the public, and the press. ### What it does - Formally recognizes the 25th anniversary of the federal Roadless Area Conservation Rule adopted in 2001. - Commends the United States Forest Service for its management of roadless areas within Georgia's Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the Forest Service, the public, and the press. - Does not create, change, or repeal any Georgia statute or impose any new legal requirement. ### Who it affects The resolution primarily concerns the United States Forest Service and its management of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. It also touches Georgians in north Georgia communities like Chatsworth, Ellijay, Blue Ridge, Blairsville, and Hiawassee, plus downstream cities such as Rome, Augusta, Savannah, and metro Atlanta who rely on forest watersheds. ### Why it matters Because this is a nonbinding resolution, it does not alter any law, funding, or land management policy. Its main effect is a public statement of the Georgia Senate's support for continued federal protection of roadless forest areas that supply drinking water and support outdoor recreation. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause recognizes the 25th anniversary of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule and acknowledges the importance of its continued application in Georgia. - The resolution commends the U.S. Forest Service for its management of roadless areas in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. - A further resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies to the Forest Service, the public, and the press. - The whereas clauses cite figures such as 63,000 roadless acres, $130 million in annual economic impact, and drinking water for 3.3 million Georgians, providing context but no binding requirements. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-27) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-03-27) - Sponsors: Bo Hatchett, Larry Walker, Jason Anavitarte, Randy Robertson, Matt Brass, Brian Strickland, Drew Echols - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74425 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1029.md?full=1