--- title: SR 329. Georgia Forestry Commission; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr329 cite_as: SR 329, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr329 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr329.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr329/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71097 date: 2025-03-04 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/sr328.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr330.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr329.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 329 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-04 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Steve Gooch - Bo Hatchett - Max Burns - Larry Walker - John Kennedy - Sam Watson - Russ Goodman text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR329/2025 upstream_id: 1990305 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - forestry - wildfire response - state agencies - legislative recognition --- # SR 329. Georgia Forestry Commission; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 329 By: Senators Gooch of the 51st, Hatchett of the 50th, Burns of the 23rd, Walker III of the 20th, Kennedy of the 18th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Georgia Forestry Commission for serving the State of Georgia as an emergency response agency; the Worth County Unit on being named the 2024 Unit of the Year for Service; the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit on being named the 2024 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement; Clark Rountree for being named 2024 Wildland Firefighter of the Year; and Kevin Lee for being named 2024 Forester of the Year; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission has worked diligently toward its mission "to provide leadership, service, and education to protect and conserve Georgia's forest resources" and its vision of "healthy and abundant forests that support a robust industry while providing social, environmental, and financial benefits to all of Georgia" since 1921; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission has protected Georgia's forests and citizens from an average of 3,000 wildfires burning 18,500 acres per year and has responded to historic wildfire events, including catastrophic fires in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2017; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission assists public and private landowners in the established practice of prescribed burning to reduce hazardous fuels, protect communities from extreme wildfires, minimize the spread of insects and diseases, and improve habitats for threatened and endangered species; and WHEREAS, employees of the Georgia Forestry Commission are trained to meet national standards as Firefighter Type 1 and Firefighter Type 2 or are POST-certified law enforcement officers, undergoing specific and rigorous training and assignments to maintain qualifications to respond to wildfires and all-hazards incidents; and WHEREAS, the Worth County Unit was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2024 Unit of the Year for Service due to its outstanding accomplishments in serving landowners through firebreak plowing, prescribed burn assists, and other services; and WHEREAS, the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2024 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement due to its exemplary outreach efforts, including Smokey Bear programs, educational programs, and other community initiatives; and WHEREAS, Clark Rountree was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2024 Wildland Firefighter of the Year in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in all areas of wildfire mitigation and suppression; and WHEREAS, Kevin Lee was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2024 Forester of the Year in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in all areas of forest management; and WHEREAS, employees of the Georgia Forestry Commission serve the citizens of the State of Georgia with dedication, heart, and determination, ensuring the safeguarding of communities as well as the protection and conservation of our forest resources for the next generation. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize the Georgia Forestry Commission as an emergency response agency. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body commend the Worth County Unit, the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit, Clark Rountree, and Kevin Lee for their outstanding achievements and recognition as the 2024 Unit of the Year for Service, Unit of the Year for Community Engagement, Wildland Firefighter of the Year, and Forester of the Year. 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 State Forester John Sabo. ## 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 the Georgia Forestry Commission as an emergency response agency and honors several of its units and staff for 2024 achievements. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It recognizes the Georgia Forestry Commission, which has operated since 1921, for its work fighting wildfires and helping landowners manage forestland through practices like prescribed burning. The resolution specifically commends the Worth County Unit for being named 2024 Unit of the Year for Service, the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit for being named 2024 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement, Clark Rountree for being named 2024 Wildland Firefighter of the Year, and Kevin Lee for being named 2024 Forester of the Year. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to State Forester John Sabo. ### What it does - Formally recognizes the Georgia Forestry Commission as an emergency response agency for the State of Georgia. - Commends the Worth County Unit for winning the 2024 Unit of the Year for Service award. - Commends the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit for winning the 2024 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement award. - Commends Clark Rountree as the 2024 Wildland Firefighter of the Year and Kevin Lee as the 2024 Forester of the Year. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to State Forester John Sabo. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names the Georgia Forestry Commission, its Worth County Unit and Fannin/Towns/Union Unit, employees Clark Rountree and Kevin Lee, and State Forester John Sabo, who receives the resolution copy. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or funding effect; it is a symbolic honor. Its practical impact is limited to public recognition of the Georgia Forestry Commission's wildfire response work and the individuals and units singled out for 2024 achievements. ### Key provisions - The resolution states the Georgia Forestry Commission's mission and notes it has existed since 1921. - It cites the Commission's response to roughly 3,000 wildfires burning 18,500 acres per year on average, including major fires in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2017. - The Senate resolves to recognize the Commission as an emergency response agency. - The Senate resolves to commend the two named units and two named individuals for their 2024 awards. - The final section directs that a copy of the resolution be distributed to State Forester John Sabo. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-04) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-04) - Sponsors: Steve Gooch, Bo Hatchett, Max Burns, Larry Walker, John Kennedy, Sam Watson, Russ Goodman - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71097 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr329.md?full=1