Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 531: Freedom; recognize
Last action April 2, 2025 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Senate resolution honors Freedom, the live bald eagle mascot of Georgia Southern University, who died on March 29, 2025, and offers condolences to the university community.
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 Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia Senate rather than a change to state law. It recognizes Freedom, a male bald eagle rescued in 2004 from Florida after a permanent beak injury left him unable to survive in the wild, who then lived at Georgia Southern University's Center for Wildlife Education and Lamar Q. Ball Jr. Raptor Center. The text recounts Freedom's role flying over Allen E. Paulson Stadium before home football games and appearing at events like the Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade and commencement ceremonies, describing his work as a wildlife education ambassador. The Senate formally honors his life and contributions and expresses condolences following his death on March 29, 2025. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to Georgia Southern University.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes and honors the life and contributions of Freedom, the bald eagle mascot of Georgia Southern University.
- Expresses the Georgia Senate's condolences on Freedom's passing on March 29, 2025.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to Georgia Southern University.
- Does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia law, since it is a commemorative resolution rather than binding legislation.
Who it affects
This resolution primarily concerns Georgia Southern University, its Center for Wildlife Education and Lamar Q. Ball Jr. Raptor Center, and the university's students, alumni, and faculty, often referred to collectively as Eagle Nation.
Why it matters
While the resolution has no legal effect, it provides an official state record acknowledging Freedom's role in wildlife education and university tradition, and it gives Georgia Southern University a formal expression of recognition from the Senate following the eagle's death.
Key provisions
- The resolving clause recognizes and honors Freedom's life and contributions and expresses condolences on his passing.
- A further resolution clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to Georgia Southern University.
- The whereas clauses describe Freedom's 2004 rescue in Maitland, Florida, his permanent beak injury, and his placement at Georgia Southern under federal Fish and Wildlife Service permission.
From the bill
“Freedom, a male Southern bald eagle, became an integral part of Georgia Southern University in 2004 after being rescued from a nest in Maitland, Florida, where he sustained a permanent beak injury that prevented his release into the wild”
“the members of this body recognize and honor the life and contributions of Freedom, the esteemed live bald eagle mascot of Georgia Southern University, and express their deepest condolences upon his passing”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
- Max Burns (R, SD-23)
- Ben Watson (R, SD-1)
- Blake Tillery (R, SD-19)
- Derek Mallow (D, SD-2)
Topics
- Georgia Southern University
- commemorative resolution
- wildlife conservation
- state symbols