Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 300: Sims family; commend
Last action February 28, 2025 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution commends the Sims family of Newton County for generations of business, farming, and civic leadership, recognized during Black History Month.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This resolution from the Georgia Senate honors the Sims family of Newton County for their long history of entrepreneurship and community service. It traces the family's story from Cary Sims, who purchased 110 acres of farmland in 1947 despite the barriers facing Black landowners at the time, through his son Eddie Roy Sims and daughter-in-law Mildred Sims, who built landscaping, grading, and janitorial businesses starting in the 1960s and 1970s, to grandson Lanier Sims, who runs Sims Excavating Inc. and served as a Newton County Commissioner from 2011 to 2018. The resolution formally states the Senate's recognition of the family's contributions to economic development, mentorship, and philanthropy in Newton County, including Lanier Sims' role in creating the Newton County Miracle League for children with disabilities. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for the family. It does not change any Georgia law.
What the bill does
- Formally commends the Sims family of Newton County for their business and civic contributions across three generations.
- States the Senate's recognition of the family's role in economic development, including advocacy tied to over 15,000 jobs in Newton County.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the Sims family.
- Creates no new law, funding, or legal requirement; it is a ceremonial statement by the Senate.
Who it affects
The resolution directly names the Sims family of Newton County, including Cary Sims, Eddie Roy Sims, Mildred Sims, and Lanier Sims. It has no legal effect on other Georgians, businesses, or government agencies beyond the Senate's administrative act of distributing the honor.
Why it matters
The resolution has no binding legal effect and changes no law, funding, or policy. Its significance is symbolic: it places an official Senate record recognizing the Sims family's decades of business, farming, and public service contributions to Newton County.
Key provisions
- The whereas clauses recount the family history, starting with Cary Sims' 1947 purchase of 110 acres of farmland for $3,000 in cash.
- The resolved clause has the Senate commend the Sims family for their impact on Newton County's economic development and community service.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available to the Sims family.
From the bill
“he overcame significant barriers facing Black landowners by purchasing the land for $3,000 in cash, establishing a foundation for future generations”
“his advocacy has played a direct role in bringing over 15,000 jobs to Newton County and fostering sustainable economic development”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Tonya Anderson (D, SD-43)
- Gail Davenport (D, SD-17)
- Kenya Wicks (D, SD-34)
- Michael 'Doc' Rhett (D, SD-33)
- Ed Harbison (D, SD-15)
- Freddie Powell Sims (D, SD-12)
- Derek Mallow (D, SD-2)
- Harold Jones II (D, SD-22)
- Elena Parent (D, SD-44)
- Randal Mangham (D, SD-55)
- Nikki Merritt (D, SD-9)
- Jason Esteves (D, SD-35)
Topics
- Black History Month
- Newton County
- commendation resolution
- community leadership
- economic development