--- title: SR 626. Georgia Utility Contractors Association Legislative Awareness Day; recognize February 3, 2026 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr626 cite_as: SR 626, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr626 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr626.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr626/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72475 date: 2026-01-29 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/sr625.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr627.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr626.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 626 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-01-29 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Emanuel Jones - Sonya Halpern - Harold Jones - Kenya Wicks - Donzella James text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR626/2025 upstream_id: 2100834 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - legislative recognition - utility contractors - state capitol events - trade associations --- # SR 626. Georgia Utility Contractors Association Legislative Awareness Day; recognize February 3, 2026 ## Text Senate Resolution 626 By: Senators Jones of the 10th, Halpern of the 39th, Jones II of the 22nd, Wicks of the 34th and James of the 28th A RESOLUTION Recognizing February 3, 2026, as Georgia Utility Contractors Association Legislative Awareness Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Georgia Utility Contractors Association is a 55-year old non-profit trade association representing the underground utility construction industry with the mission of promoting safety and responsible installation of new and rehabilitation of existing underground utility infrastructure to consist of water, sewer, gas, electrical, telecommunications, water and wastewater treatment plants, dams and landfills; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Utility Contractors Association brings the underground utility construction industry, policymakers and stakeholders together as they focus on long-range underground utility infrastructure development, encouraging adequate government services, catalyzing consensus on damage prevention issues, and convening discussion on responsible and safe installation; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Utility Contractors Association is composed of a diverse membership of recognized licensed utility contractors, site developers, engineers, heavy equipment dealers, equipment suppliers, law firms, insurance bonding agents, and anyone with an interest in underground utility contracting in Georgia; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Utility Contractors Association delivers this mission through the platforms of advocacy, education, and information by working with thousands of elected officials, administrators, and professional staff of all local governments and stakeholders, along with state agencies and legislative and executive leadership; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Utility Contractors Association is committed to the mission of promoting safe and responsible installation and is proactively involved in the formulation of policy and legislation critical to the utility construction industry by addressing safety issues; regulatory compliance; and, underground utility infrastructure needs within this state; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Utility Contractors Association continues to increase its influence among stakeholders, policymakers and elected officials statewide; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Utility Contractors Association will host its annual "Georgia Utility Contractors Association Legislative Awareness Day" on February 3, 2026, in order to bring awareness of the need for safety in the industry and resonate that message to members of the Georgia General Assembly and to allow interaction with policymakers at the state level. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize February 3, 2026, as Georgia Utility Contractors Association Legislative Awareness Day at the state capitol and commend the Georgia Utility Contractors Association for its efforts in promoting safe and responsible installation of underground utilities in the state of Georgia. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Georgia Utility Contractors Association. ## 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 Senate resolution recognizes February 3, 2026 as Georgia Utility Contractors Association Legislative Awareness Day at the state capitol, honoring the trade group's safety advocacy work. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a bill that changes any law. It formally recognizes February 3, 2026 as Georgia Utility Contractors Association Legislative Awareness Day at the state capitol, marking the day the association holds its annual event to meet with lawmakers. The resolution describes the association as a 55-year-old nonprofit trade group representing the underground utility construction industry, covering water, sewer, gas, electrical, and telecommunications infrastructure. It commends the group for promoting safety and responsible installation practices and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the association for its records. ### What it does - Officially designates February 3, 2026 as Georgia Utility Contractors Association Legislative Awareness Day at the state capitol. - Commends the Georgia Utility Contractors Association for its work promoting safe and responsible underground utility installation in Georgia. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the association. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a symbolic honor rather than a policy change. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names the Georgia Utility Contractors Association and its members, including licensed utility contractors, site developers, engineers, equipment suppliers, and related businesses. It also involves the Georgia Senate and the Secretary of the Senate, who must distribute the resolution. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal effect on Georgians beyond its ceremonial recognition. It gives the utility contractors association an official Senate acknowledgment and a formal opportunity to meet with legislators at the capitol on the designated day. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause recognizes February 3, 2026 as Georgia Utility Contractors Association Legislative Awareness Day at the state capitol. - The Senate commends the association for promoting safe and responsible installation of underground utilities in Georgia. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the association for distribution. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-01-29) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-01-29) - Sponsors: Emanuel Jones, Sonya Halpern, Harold Jones, Kenya Wicks, Donzella James - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72475 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr626.md?full=1