SR 40: Georgia Center for Civic Engagement and ENGAGE: Youth in Government; recognize

This resolution does not change any Georgia law. Instead, it is a formal statement from the Georgia Senate recognizing the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement and its ENGAGE: Youth in Government program, which supports high school students interested in government and public administration as well as JROTC units across the state. The resolution highlights the Georgia Youth Assembly, a model state legislature for high school students founded in 1946, now marking its 81st year. Students in the program take on roles such as legislators, judges, attorneys, media members, and lobbyists, and can run for offices like Youth Governor. The resolution commends the organization's work and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement.

• Formally commends the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement and ENGAGE: Youth in Government for their civic education work in Georgia.
• Recognizes the Georgia Youth Assembly's 81st anniversary as a model state legislature for high school students.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement.
• Does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute or allocate any state funding.

The resolution directly names the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement, the ENGAGE: Youth in Government student organization, JROTC units in Georgia, and the high school students who participate in the Georgia Youth Assembly, including several named student officers.

While the resolution carries no legal or financial effect, it publicly acknowledges a long-running program that introduces Georgia high school students to legislative and government processes, potentially raising the program's visibility and recognition among students and educators statewide.

• The resolution states ENGAGE: Youth in Government is a Career Technical Student Organization supporting students in the government and public administration field and JROTC units in Georgia.
• It notes the Georgia Youth Assembly was established in 1946 and is celebrating its 81st anniversary as a model state legislature for high school students.
• It names specific 2025 student officers, including the Youth Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and Speaker Pro Tem.
• The final resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement.

1. 2025-01-29Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-01-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)Primary sponsor
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Brandon Beach (R, SD-021)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)

• civic education
• youth programs
• JROTC
• Georgia Youth Assembly
• legislative recognition