--- title: SR 313. Cohen, Lawrence J. "Doc"; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr313 cite_as: SR 313, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr313 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr313.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr313/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71028 date: 2025-03-03 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-12 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/sr312.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr314.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr313.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 313 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-03 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Jason Esteves - Sonya Halpern - Nan Orrock - Josh McLaurin - RaShaun Kemp - Emanuel Jones - Donzella James - Kenya Wicks text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR313/2025 upstream_id: 1989285 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Senate resolution - franchise industry - ceremonial recognition --- # SR 313. Cohen, Lawrence J. "Doc"; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 313 By: Senators Esteves of the 35th, Halpern of the 39th, Orrock of the 36th, McLaurin of the 14th, Kemp of the 38th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Lawrence J. "Doc" Cohen; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Lawrence J. "Doc" Cohen is a pioneering entrepreneur and franchise leader who founded Deblan Corporation and Cookie Associates, developing 35 Great American Cookie Company (GACC) units across seven states and operating eight of the top ten highest-volume stores in the chain; and WHEREAS, he played a key role in the growth and success of the Great American Cookie Company franchise system, serving as the founding president of its Franchise Advisory Council and co-founding the Independent Association of Great American Cookie Franchisees, where he serves as a permanent member of the Executive Committee; and WHEREAS, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership within the International Franchise Association (IFA), serving as its treasurer for five years and earning distinction as the second franchisee in history to serve as chairman of its Board of Directors; and WHEREAS, he was the first franchisee in the world to earn the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the IFA Educational Foundation and has served as a trustee, chair of the Board of Trustees, and recipient of the foundation's highest honor, the William Rosenberg Leadership Award; and WHEREAS, he has further worked to advocate for the needs of small businesses and franchising, serving as a delegate representing the State of Texas at the Third White House Conference on Small Business, testifying before committees of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, and actively participating in IFA's legislative and advocacy efforts; and WHEREAS, he has contributed significantly to philanthropic and community initiatives, serving on the Board of Trustees for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, supporting educational initiatives such as the Hakeem Olajuwon BEST Campaign, and serving on numerous advisory and nonprofit boards; and WHEREAS, his leadership, innovation, and dedication to the franchise industry have left a lasting impact, making it abundantly fitting and proper that he be appropriately honored. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Lawrence J. "Doc" Cohen for his many outstanding career contributions to the franchise industry as well as extend best wishes for future health and happiness. 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 Lawrence J. "Doc" Cohen. ## 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 formally recognizes and commends Lawrence J. "Doc" Cohen, a franchise industry entrepreneur, for his career contributions and leadership. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate rather than a bill that changes state law. It honors Lawrence J. "Doc" Cohen, who founded businesses that developed dozens of Great American Cookie Company franchise locations and held leadership roles in national franchise organizations. The resolution recounts his business achievements, his advocacy work for small businesses and franchising before Congress, and his philanthropic involvement with groups like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It formally states that the Senate recognizes and commends him and directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for him. It does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Lawrence J. "Doc" Cohen for his career in the franchise industry. - States the Senate's best wishes for his future health and happiness. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare an official copy of the resolution for distribution to Cohen. - Does not create any new law, funding, requirement, or penalty; it is purely a commendation. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors one individual, Lawrence J. "Doc" Cohen. It has no regulatory or legal effect on any other Georgians, businesses, or agencies. ### Why it matters Resolutions like this carry no legal weight and change no law or funding; their significance is symbolic, offering public, official recognition of an individual's career and community contributions from the Georgia Senate. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Cohen's business career founding Deblan Corporation and Cookie Associates and developing Great American Cookie Company franchise locations. - The whereas clauses describe his leadership roles in the International Franchise Association and franchise advocacy organizations. - The resolved clause formally commends Cohen for his contributions to the franchise industry. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide Cohen a copy of the resolution. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-03) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-03) - Sponsors: Jason Esteves, Sonya Halpern, Nan Orrock, Josh McLaurin, RaShaun Kemp, Emanuel Jones, Donzella James, Kenya Wicks - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71028 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr313.md?full=1