--- title: SR 542. Hembree, Bill; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr542 cite_as: SR 542, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr542 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr542.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr542/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71983 date: 2025-04-04 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 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/sr541.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr543.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr542.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 542 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-04-04 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Timothy Bearden - Jason Anavitarte text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR542/2025 upstream_id: 2019430 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - ceremonial resolution - Georgia Senate - Bill Hembree - Douglas County --- # SR 542. Hembree, Bill; recognize ## Text 25 LC 112 3599 Senate Resolution 542 By: Senators Bearden of the 30th and Anavitarte of the 31st A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Bill Hembree; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Bill Hembree has long been recognized by the citizens of this state for the vital2 role that he has played in leadership and his deep personal commitment to the welfare of the3 citizens of Georgia; and4 WHEREAS, he has diligently and conscientiously devoted innumerable hours of his time,5 talents, and energy toward the betterment of his community and state as evidenced6 dramatically by his superlative service as founder of Bill Hembree Insurance Agency and as7 a Representative in the Georgia House of Representatives; and8 WHEREAS, Bill Hembree Insurance Agency, founded in 2000, has three offices located in9 Douglasville, Marietta, and Kennesaw; and 10 WHEREAS, Bill was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives 1992, and selflessly11 served his community until 2012; and 12 WHEREAS, in July 2022, the Bridge over Dog River, in Douglas Co unty, Georgia, was13 dedicated in his name in recognition of his countless contributions to the community; and14 S. R. 542 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3599 WHEREAS, he is a Christian, husband, father of three, patriot a nd author of 16 Hours in15 Heaven, published in 2022; and16 WHEREAS, Bill's significant organizational and leadership talents, remarkable patience and17 diplomacy, keen sense of vision, and sensitivity to the needs of the citizens of this state have18 earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues and associates; and19 WHEREAS, this distinguished gentleman has given inspiration to many through his high20 ideals, morals, and deep concern for his fellow citizens, and he possesses the vast wisdom21 which only comes through experience and the strength of charact er which is achieved22 through overcoming the many challenges of life; and23 WHEREAS, he is a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation for24 integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness; and25 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this26 remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized.27 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body28 recognize and commend Bill Hembree for his efficient, effective, unselfish, and dedicated29 public service to the State of Georgia and extend the most sincere best wishes for continued30 health and happiness.31 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed32 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Bill Hembree.33 S. R. 542 - 2 - ## 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 Bill Hembree, a former state representative and Douglasville insurance agency founder, for his public service and community contributions. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It honors Bill Hembree, who founded Bill Hembree Insurance Agency in 2000 and served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1992 to 2012. The resolution recounts his business founded with offices in Douglasville, Marietta, and Kennesaw, the 2022 dedication of a bridge over the Dog River in Douglas County in his name, and his 2022 book '16 Hours in Heaven.' The Senate resolves to commend him for his service and directs the Secretary of the Senate to give him a copy of the resolution as a keepsake. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Bill Hembree for his public service to the State of Georgia. - States the Senate's best wishes for his continued health and happiness. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Bill Hembree. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is purely a ceremonial statement by the Senate. ### Who it affects This resolution names and honors Bill Hembree personally. It has no regulatory or legal effect on other Georgians, businesses, or government agencies. ### Why it matters The resolution has no practical legal effect on Georgians' daily lives. It serves as an official, public record of the Senate's appreciation for one individual's business and legislative career, mainly of ceremonial and historical significance. ### Key provisions - The preamble ('WHEREAS' clauses) recounts Hembree's founding of Bill Hembree Insurance Agency in 2000 and his service in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1992 to 2012. - Notes the July 2022 dedication of the Bridge over Dog River in Douglas County in his honor. - The resolving clause formally commends Hembree for his public service and extends wishes for his health and happiness. - A further resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide Hembree with an official copy of the resolution. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-04-04) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-04-04) - Sponsors: Timothy Bearden, Jason Anavitarte - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71983 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr542.md?full=1