--- title: SR 1054. Atlanta Botanical Garden; recognize and commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr1054 cite_as: SR 1054, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1054 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1054.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1054/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74504 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/sr1053.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1055.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1054.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 1054 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: - Sonya Halpern - Nikki Merritt - RaShaun Kemp text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR1054/2025 upstream_id: 2138861 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Atlanta Botanical Garden - legislative commendation - Georgia Senate resolution - conservation - Atlanta history --- # SR 1054. Atlanta Botanical Garden; recognize and commend ## Text Senate Resolution 1054 By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Merritt of the 9th and Kemp of the 38th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Atlanta Botanical Garden on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, incorporated in 1976, the Atlanta Botanical Garden is celebrating 50 years of excellence as one of the nation's premier public gardens and a treasured cultural and environmental asset; and WHEREAS, what began as a grassroots vision in 1973 has grown into a 30-acre urban oasis in Midtown Atlanta, serving as a space for education, conservation, and community engagement; and WHEREAS, over the decades, the garden has expanded significantly, including the addition of the Children's Garden in 1999 and the Fuqua Orchid Center in 2002, enhancing its role as a leader in horticulture and public education; and WHEREAS, continued innovation led to the completion of the Canopy Walk, now known as the Kendeda Canopy Walk, a 600-foot elevated pathway through Storza Woods that offers visitors a unique perspective of Atlanta's natural landscape; and WHEREAS, in 2015, the garden broadened its impact by opening a second campus in Gainesville, further extending its mission across the region; and WHEREAS, the Atlanta Botanical Garden has remained deeply committed to conservation and research, operating the Southeastern Center for Conservation and serving as a founding member of the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance to protect native plant species and biodiversity; and WHEREAS, the garden has received numerous accolades for its excellence, including the Iseli Award for its Southern Conifer Garden, a United States Fish and Wildlife Service grant supporting habitat restoration, and the American Public Gardens Association's Award for Garden Excellence; and WHEREAS, through dynamic programming and seasonal exhibitions, including community-centered events such as "Tulips at Twilight," the garden continues to provide enriching experiences for residents and visitors alike; and WHEREAS, for five decades, the Atlanta Botanical Garden has inspired environmental stewardship, fostered education, and contributed significantly to the cultural and ecological landscape of the region. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend the Atlanta Botanical Garden for its 50 years of outstanding service, growth, and commitment to conservation and community enrichment as well as extend best wishes for continued success in the years to come. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. ## 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 recognizes and commends the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Atlanta for reaching its 50th anniversary, praising its history, growth, and conservation work. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia Senate honors the Atlanta Botanical Garden on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. It recounts the garden's history, from its founding in 1973 and incorporation in 1976 through major milestones like the Children's Garden, the Fuqua Orchid Center, the Kendeda Canopy Walk, and the opening of a second campus in Gainesville in 2015. It also highlights the garden's conservation work, including its role in the Southeastern Center for Conservation and the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, along with awards it has received. The resolution does not create any new law, spending, or regulation. It simply states that the Senate recognizes and commends the garden for its 50 years of service and growth, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends the Atlanta Botanical Garden for reaching its 50th anniversary. - Recounts the garden's history and milestones, including its founding, expansions, and conservation programs, without changing any law. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. - Extends the Senate's best wishes to the garden for continued success, a ceremonial statement with no legal effect. ### Who it affects This resolution mainly affects the Atlanta Botanical Garden itself, which receives the formal recognition, and the Secretary of the Senate, who is directed to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to the garden. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial consequences; it does not change any law, fund any program, or impose any requirement. Its practical effect is a formal, symbolic gesture from the Georgia Senate honoring a well-known Atlanta institution's anniversary. ### Key provisions - The resolved clause states the Senate recognizes and commends the Atlanta Botanical Garden for 50 years of service, growth, and commitment to conservation and community enrichment. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make an appropriate copy of the resolution available for distribution to the garden. - The whereas clauses describe the garden's founding in 1973, incorporation in 1976, and major additions such as the Children's Garden (1999), Fuqua Orchid Center (2002), and Kendeda Canopy Walk. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-27) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-03-27) - Sponsors: Sonya Halpern, Nikki Merritt, RaShaun Kemp - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74504 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr1054.md?full=1