Georgia CommonsSenate · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 354: Smith, Ms. Catherine Ann; condolences
Last action March 10, 2025 · Senate Read and Referred
A Georgia Senate resolution honors the life and memory of Ms. Catherine Ann Smith, a longtime Democratic Party organizer, following her death on February 25, 2025.
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 Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This is a memorial resolution from the Georgia Senate, a formal statement that does not change any law. It recognizes the life of Ms. Catherine Ann Smith, who was born in 1957 in Columbus, Ohio, and who spent years training political organizers and activists in Michigan and Georgia through her work with the Democratic Party and progressive causes. The resolution states that the Senate joins in honoring her memory and expresses sincere regret at her passing. It also directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for her family. The resolution has no effective date requirements or funding attached, as is typical for this type of commemorative measure.
What the bill does
- Formally expresses the Georgia Senate's regret over the death of Ms. Catherine Ann Smith and honors her life and memory.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Smith's family.
- Recites biographical details about Smith's life, including her birth, family, and decades of political organizing work.
Who it affects
This resolution directly affects the family of Ms. Catherine Ann Smith, who will receive a copy of it, and the Georgia Senate, which formally records its condolences. It has no broader legal or regulatory effect on other Georgians.
Why it matters
The resolution carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It provides an official, permanent record of the Senate's recognition of Smith's community and political organizing work, and offers her family a formal token of the legislature's condolences.
Key provisions
- The resolution's preamble ('WHEREAS' clauses) recounts Smith's birth, family background, and her work training political organizers in Michigan and Georgia.
- The first resolving clause has the Senate join in honoring her life and memory and expressing regret at her passing.
- The second resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to her family.
From the bill
“the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Ms. Catherine Ann Smith and express their deepest and most sincere regret at her passing”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Jason Esteves (D, SD-35)
- Nan Orrock (D, SD-36)
- Josh McLaurin (D, SD-14)
- Elena Parent (D, SD-44)
- Kim Jackson (D, SD-41)
- Gail Davenport (D, SD-17)
- Kenya Wicks (D, SD-34)
- Michael 'Doc' Rhett (D, SD-33)
- Nabilah Parkes (D, SD-7)
Topics
- Georgia Senate resolution
- memorial resolution
- condolences