--- title: SR 596. Big Brothers Big Sisters Agencies across Georgia; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr596 cite_as: SR 596, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr596 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr596.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr596/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72339 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/sr595.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr597.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr596.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 596 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: - Nan Orrock - Bo Hatchett - Kenya Wicks - Sam Watson - Drew Echols - David Lucas - Chuck Hufstetler - Donzella James - Ed Setzler - RaShaun Kemp - Freddie Sims - Jason T. Dickerson - Ed Harbison text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR596/2025 upstream_id: 2091274 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - youth mentoring - school attendance - education - Big Brothers Big Sisters - Georgia Senate resolution --- # SR 596. Big Brothers Big Sisters Agencies across Georgia; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 596 By: Senators Orrock of the 36th, Hatchett of the 50th, Wicks of the 34th, Watson of the 11th, Echols of the 49th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across Georgia and commending their work in supporting students and families across the state of Georgia; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across Georgia are dedicated to helping young people realize their full potential through positive, sustained mentor relationships that support academic success, strengthen families, and build safer, more connected communities; and WHEREAS, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta has long served youth and families throughout the metropolitan region, operating 1:1 mentoring programs that pair young people with caring adult role models who provide long-term guidance, stability and encouragement; and WHEREAS, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta also serves students through its workplace mentoring program, that transports students from high schools to corporate partners’ campuses, and the innovative Level Up school-based program, where mentors are embedded throughout the school day for the entire school year; and WHEREAS, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Chattahoochee Valley, in Columbus, likewise delivers high-quality mentoring programs that support student engagement, foster confidence, and strengthen academic and social outcomes for children and families throughout the Columbus area; and WHEREAS, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Northwest Georgia Mountains has a profound impact on the educational system and the students of Whitfield and Murray County, where mentors serve as role models and advocates helping students reconnect to their schools, overcome barriers to achievement, and build essential life skills; and WHEREAS, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia, in Macon, further extends this critical work throughout central Georgia, providing relationship-centered programming that supports school attendance, family stability, and long-term academic success for youth in Laurens, Peach, Wilkinson and Baldwin counties; and WHEREAS, chronic absenteeism poses a significant threat to student learning, graduation rates, and long-term economic opportunity; the Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies’ school- based and community-based programs have produced measurable improvements in student attendance, academic performance, and sense of belonging; and WHEREAS, additionally, the findings from a longitudinal economic study showed that the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentees, known as Littles, grow up to earn 15 percent more over their lifetime than their peers and that being a Little closes 2/3 of the economic gap, demonstrating that mentorship is a powerful tool for strengthening Georgia's workforce pipeline and promoting lifelong success; and WHEREAS, together, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chattahoochee Valley, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Northwest Georgia Mountains, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia serve as vital partners in ensuring that children across Georgia have access to caring adult mentors and evidence-based support that helps them thrive. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across Georgia for their leadership in supporting youth, families, and schools across the state; commend the Level Up program for its proven impact in reducing chronic absenteeism and strengthening student success in Georgia's schools; acknowledge the essential role of mentorship in promoting academic achievement, family stability, and long-term community well-being; and support the continued expansion of this mentorship-based program that increases attendance, improves engagement, and builds brighter futures for children across the State of Georgia. 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 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chattahoochee Valley, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Northwest Georgia Mountains, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia. ## 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 Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring agencies across the state for their work supporting students, families, and school attendance. ### Plain-language summary This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It is a formal statement from the Senate honoring four Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies: the Metro Atlanta, Chattahoochee Valley, Northwest Georgia Mountains, and Heart of Georgia chapters, for their mentoring programs that pair young people with adult role models. The resolution highlights specific programs, including a workplace mentoring program and the school-based Level Up program, and cites a study finding that mentored youth earn 15 percent more over their lifetimes than peers. The Senate resolves to recognize these agencies, commend the Level Up program for reducing chronic absenteeism, and support continued expansion of mentorship programs. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to the four named agencies. ### What it does - Formally recognizes four named Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in Georgia for their mentoring work with youth and families. - Commends the Level Up school-based mentoring program specifically for reducing chronic absenteeism and improving student engagement. - Expresses Senate support for continued expansion of mentorship-based programs in Georgia schools. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the four named agencies. - Does not create any new funding, legal requirement, or program; it is a symbolic statement of recognition. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, Chattahoochee Valley, Northwest Georgia Mountains, and Heart of Georgia. It also references the students, families, and schools these agencies serve, particularly in Whitfield, Murray, Laurens, Peach, Wilkinson, and Baldwin counties. ### Why it matters While the resolution carries no legal force or funding, it publicly signals state-level support for youth mentoring programs and highlights their reported effects on school attendance and long-term earnings, which could help these agencies with visibility, partnerships, or future funding requests. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause recognizes the four named agencies for their leadership supporting youth, families, and schools. - It commends the Level Up program specifically for reducing chronic absenteeism and strengthening student success. - It states Senate support for continued expansion of the mentorship program described in the resolution. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies to the four named agencies. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-01-27) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-01-27) - Sponsors: Nan Orrock, Bo Hatchett, Kenya Wicks, Sam Watson, Drew Echols, David Lucas, Chuck Hufstetler, Donzella James, Ed Setzler, RaShaun Kemp, Freddie Sims, Jason T. Dickerson, Ed Harbison - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72339 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr596.md?full=1