---
title: SR 585. Washington, Booker T.; honoring
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr585
cite_as: SR 585, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr585
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr585.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr585/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72326
date: 2026-01-27
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
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/sr584.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr586.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 94
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr585.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 585
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-01-27
last_action: Senate Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Donzella James
  - RaShaun Kemp
  - Kim Jackson
  - Freddie Sims
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR585/2025
upstream_id: 2089561
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - Booker T. Washington
  - Georgia Senate resolution
  - civil rights history
  - education history
  - Atlanta Exposition
---

# SR 585. Washington, Booker T.; honoring

## Text

Senate Resolution 585
By: Senators James of the 28th, Kemp of the 38th, Jackson of the 41st and Sims of the 12th
A RESOLUTION
Honoring Booker T. Washington; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, born a slave in 1856, Booker T. Washington, was a visionary educator, leader,
and advocate for African American advancement, who made enduring contributions to the
State of Georgia and the nation through his tireless work in education, civil rights, and
economic empowerment; and
WHEREAS, in 1895, Booker T. Washington served as a presenter at the historic Atlanta
Exposition to the Cotton States, where he managed the Negro Building, oversaw its
construction and workmanship, and delivered a landmark address that emphasized dignity,
self-reliance, and interracial cooperation; and
WHEREAS, Booker T. Washington traveled with Georgia leaders to Washington, D.C., to
advocate for legislative support for the Atlanta Exposition, and successfully persuaded
President Grover Cleveland to spend one hour touring the Negro Building, thereby elevating
national awareness of African American craftsmanship and achievement; and
WHEREAS, further supporting the State of Georgia, he was a featured presenter at the
Georgia Christian Worker Conference, where he inspired faith-based leaders and community
builders with his message of moral leadership, education, and service; and
WHEREAS, he personally contributed $1,000 toward the desegregation of schools in
Augusta, Georgia, a gift that led to the naming of the first African American school in the
city as Booker T. Washington High School, a lasting tribute to his commitment to education;
and
WHEREAS, he served as a trusted advisor to President William McKinley, President
Theodore Roosevelt, and President William Howard Taft, and accepted an invitation to dine
at the White House—an unprecedented honor that symbolized progress in race relations; and
WHEREAS, he founded the National Business League in 1900, an organization that
continues to empower Black entrepreneurs, and recently celebrated its 125th anniversary in
Atlanta, affirming his legacy of economic uplift; and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this exemplary educator, leader, and
advocate for African American advancement be appropriately recognized.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
honor and uplift the legacy of Booker T. Washington.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the
press.

## 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 honors Booker T. Washington, recognizing his work in education, civil rights, and economic empowerment, including his historic ties to Georgia.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution is a ceremonial measure passed by the Georgia Senate to honor Booker T. Washington, the educator and civil rights leader born into slavery in 1856. It recounts his contributions to Georgia, including his role at the 1895 Atlanta Exposition to the Cotton States, his advocacy that brought President Grover Cleveland to tour the Negro Building, his appearance at the Georgia Christian Worker Conference, and his $1,000 gift toward desegregating schools in Augusta, which led to a school there being named after him.
The resolution also notes his role as an advisor to three U.S. presidents and his founding of the National Business League. It does not change any Georgia law; it simply directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

### What it does

- Formally states that the Georgia Senate honors and uplifts the legacy of Booker T. Washington.
- Recites historical facts about Washington's contributions to education, civil rights, and Georgia specifically.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press.
- Creates no new law, funding, or enforceable requirement, as a ceremonial resolution.

### Who it affects

This resolution primarily affects the historical record and public recognition of Booker T. Washington. It does not impose obligations on any group of Georgians, though it involves the Georgia Senate and its Secretary, who must distribute copies of the resolution.

### Why it matters

As a ceremonial resolution, this measure has no legal effect on Georgians' daily lives. Its significance is symbolic, marking official recognition by the Georgia Senate of a historical figure's contributions to education and civil rights in Georgia and the nation.

### Key provisions

- The resolution's whereas clauses detail Washington's biography, including his role at the 1895 Atlanta Exposition to the Cotton States and his $1,000 gift toward school desegregation in Augusta.
- The resolved clause states the Senate's intent to honor and uplift Washington's legacy.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-01-27)
- Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-01-27)
- Sponsors: Donzella James, RaShaun Kemp, Kim Jackson, Freddie Sims
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72326

> The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr585.md?full=1