---
title: SR 340. Georgia State University; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr340
cite_as: SR 340, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr340
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr340.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr340/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71124
date: 2025-03-06
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.
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next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr341.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 94
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr340.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 340
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-03-06
last_action: Senate Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Max Burns
  - Marty Harbin
  - Chuck Payne
  - Sally Harrell
  - Billy Hickman
  - Nan Orrock
  - Carden Summers
  - John Albers
  - Drew Echols
  - Shawn Still
  - Bo Hatchett
  - Ben Watson
  - Lee Anderson
  - Jason Anavitarte
  - Matt Brass
  - Randy Robertson
  - Bill Cowsert
  - Larry Walker
  - Mike Hodges
  - Ricky Williams
  - Chuck Hufstetler
  - Harold Jones
  - Donzella James
  - Michael Rhett
  - Sonya Halpern
  - Nabilah Islam Parkes
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR340/2025
upstream_id: 1991501
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - Georgia State University
  - higher education
  - legislative recognition
  - university research funding
---

# SR 340. Georgia State University; recognize

## Text

Senate Resolution 340
By: Senators Burns of the 23rd, Harbin of the 16th, Payne of the 54th, Harrell of the 40th,
Hickman of the 4th and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending Georgia State University; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Georgia State University, founded in 1913, is a premier urban research
university focused on research, service, and advanced educational opportunities for more
than 52,000 students; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University is an enterprising public research university in
downtown Atlanta with satellite campuses in DeKalb, Fulton, and Newton counties; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has been ranked the nation's number one public
university for excellence in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News and World Report for five
consecutive years; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University, a national leader in graduating students from widely
diverse backgrounds, has been named among the top five "Most Innovative" universities in
the country by U.S. News and World Report for a decade and counting; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University is recognized as a national leader in helping students
reach their academic goals and, since 2003, has raised its six-year graduation rate by 74
percent; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has received an $80 million gift from the Robert W.
Woodruff Foundation, the largest gift in university history, to embark on an ambitious
campus transformation to integrate its downtown footprint and create vibrant,
people-centered spaces for students and the city; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University continues its important role of producing new
knowledge that transforms lives and communities thanks to a research portfolio that has
invested more than $1.2 billion in research expenditures over the past six years; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has broken ground on a new, nine-story, $100 million
Research Tower on its Atlanta Campus that will expand its capacity for discovery and
learning; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University's National Institute for Student Success (NISS)
received a $2 million grant from the Ascendium Education Group that will enable the
institute to provide its services to six Georgia colleges and universities, helping them identify
and resolve institutional barriers to college completion; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Education (DOE) has awarded the National
Institute for Student Success (NISS) its first-ever Trailblazer Award, recognizing its success
in increasing graduation rates through data-driven, evidence-based interventions and its
impact on the field of student success nationally; and
WHEREAS, more than 200 Georgia State University student-athletes achieved Sun Belt
Conference academic honors for the 2023-24 academic year, including 130 student-athletes
who earned a place on the Commissioner's List with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher;
and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University's student-athletes collectively finished the year with
a 3.39 grade point average, higher than the overall Sun Belt GPA; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University continues its important role in addressing critical
quality-of-life issues through a highly active research community dedicated to uncovering
new knowledge in cancer, heart disease, mental health, public health, and more, earning
nearly $186 million in research funding in Fiscal Year 2024; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has a $3.2 billion economic impact on metro Atlanta
each year; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has adopted a ten-year strategic plan focused on four
initiatives: Student Success 2.0; Identity, Placemaking and Belonging; Innovating Research,
Scholarship and Creative Activity; and Beyond College to Career; and
WHEREAS, nearly two dozen initiatives have been launched under the BluePrint to 2033
strategic plan and are being implemented under each pillar.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
recognize and commend Georgia State University for its all-around success in 2024 and the
pride and prestige it brought to the students, staff, and alumni of Georgia State University.
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 Georgia State
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 formally recognizes and commends Georgia State University for its academic, research, and athletic achievements over the past year.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It recognizes Georgia State University, founded in 1913, for a wide range of achievements, including rankings from U.S. News and World Report, growth in graduation rates, a large research funding portfolio, a major gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, and academic performance by its student-athletes.
The resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy for distribution to Georgia State University. It does not create any new programs, spending, or legal requirements; it is an official statement of praise adopted by the Senate.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes and commends Georgia State University for its achievements during 2024.
- States that the Senate honors the university's students, staff, and alumni for the pride and prestige it brought them.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Georgia State University.
- Creates no new laws, funding, or regulatory requirements, since it is a commendatory resolution rather than a bill amending Georgia code.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names Georgia State University, including its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and student-athletes. It has no legal effect on other institutions, agencies, or the general public.

### Why it matters

Because this is a ceremonial resolution rather than a law, it does not change any rights, funding, or requirements for Georgians. Its main effect is an official, public statement from the Georgia Senate praising the university's recent accomplishments.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses list the university's achievements, including national teaching rankings, graduation rate growth, and an $80 million gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation.
- The resolution notes over $1.2 billion in research expenditures over six years and nearly $186 million in research funding in Fiscal Year 2024.
- The resolving clause formally commends Georgia State University for its 2024 successes.
- A further resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the university.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-03-06)
- Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-06)
- Sponsors: Max Burns, Marty Harbin, Chuck Payne, Sally Harrell, Billy Hickman, Nan Orrock, Carden Summers, John Albers, Drew Echols, Shawn Still, Bo Hatchett, Ben Watson, Lee Anderson, Jason Anavitarte, Matt Brass, Randy Robertson, Bill Cowsert, Larry Walker, Mike Hodges, Ricky Williams, Chuck Hufstetler, Harold Jones, Donzella James, Michael Rhett, Sonya Halpern, Nabilah Islam Parkes
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71124

> The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr340.md?full=1