--- title: SR 189. Mercer University Day; recognize February 20, 2025 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr189 cite_as: SR 189, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr189 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr189.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr189/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70330 date: 2025-02-18 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/sr188.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr190.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr189.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 189 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-18 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - John Kennedy - David Lucas - Ricky Williams - Russ Goodman - Shawn Still - Drew Echols - Sam Watson - Jason Anavitarte - Brian Strickland - Chuck Payne - Kay Kirkpatrick text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR189/2025 upstream_id: 1970319 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Mercer University - higher education - Georgia Senate resolution - Macon --- # SR 189. Mercer University Day; recognize February 20, 2025 ## Text Senate Resolution 189 By: Senators Kennedy of the 18th, Lucas of the 26th, Williams of the 25th, Goodman of the 8th, Still of the 48th and others A RESOLUTION Commending Mercer University and recognizing February 20, 2025, as Mercer University Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Mercer University was founded in 1833 and has provided 192 years of educational service in Georgia; and WHEREAS, the university moved its campus to Macon in 1871; and WHEREAS, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate, and professional education; and WHEREAS, the university enrolls more than 9,200 students across 12 schools and colleges, offering programs in liberal arts and sciences, law, pharmacy, medicine, health professions, business, engineering, education, theology, music, nursing, and professional advancement; and WHEREAS, Mercer University's mission is "To teach, to learn, to create, to discover, to inspire, to empower, and to serve"; and WHEREAS, the university challenges its community members to meet and exceed high standards in teaching, learning, research, scholarship, and service; and WHEREAS, Mercer University strives to change the world one student at a time through various domestic and international programs; and WHEREAS, the university has made a significant cultural impact in Macon and the surrounding Middle Georgia area; and WHEREAS, Mercer University's alumni have made substantial contributions to society and culture across a wide range of fields. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend Mercer University as well as its administration, faculty, staff, trustees, students, and alumni for the important contributions they have made to the State of Georgia and recognize February 20, 2025, as Mercer University Day at the state capitol. 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 Mercer University. ## 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 Mercer University and designates February 20, 2025, as Mercer University Day at the state capitol. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a change to state law. It recognizes Mercer University, founded in 1833 and based in Macon since 1871, for its history and contributions to education in Georgia. The resolution commends the university's administration, faculty, staff, trustees, students, and alumni, and it officially names February 20, 2025, as Mercer University Day at the state capitol. It also directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for Mercer University. The resolution does not create any new rules, funding, or legal requirements; it is a formal statement of recognition. ### What it does - Commends Mercer University and its administration, faculty, staff, trustees, students, and alumni for contributions to Georgia. - Designates February 20, 2025, as Mercer University Day at the state capitol. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Mercer University. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names Mercer University, including its administration, faculty, staff, trustees, students, and alumni. It has no regulatory effect on any other group, business, or government body in Georgia. ### Why it matters The resolution carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It gives Mercer University a formal day of recognition at the Georgia state capitol, which can be used for ceremonial events, but it does not change any law, create funding, or impose any obligation on the university or the state. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause commends Mercer University and its community for contributions to the State of Georgia. - The same clause recognizes February 20, 2025, as Mercer University Day at the state capitol. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available to Mercer University. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-18) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-18) - Sponsors: John Kennedy, David Lucas, Ricky Williams, Russ Goodman, Shawn Still, Drew Echols, Sam Watson, Jason Anavitarte, Brian Strickland, Chuck Payne, Kay Kirkpatrick - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70330 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr189.md?full=1