---
title: SR 652. Physician's Day; recognize February 4, 2026
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr652
cite_as: SR 652, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr652
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr652.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr652/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72600
date: 2026-02-02
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.
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previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr651.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr653.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 94
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr652.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 652
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-02-02
last_action: Senate Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Ben Watson
  - Kay Kirkpatrick
  - Chuck Hufstetler
  - Ed Setzler
  - Mike Hodges
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR652/2025
upstream_id: 2102349
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - physicians
  - health care
  - ceremonial resolution
  - Georgia Senate
  - medical associations
---

# SR 652. Physician's Day; recognize February 4, 2026

## Text

Senate Resolution 652
By: Senators Watson of the 1st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Setzler of
the 37th and Hodges of the 3rd
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing February 4, 2026, as Physician's Day at the state capitol and saluting the
physicians of Georgia; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the practice of medicine, and its embodiment in the clinical encounter between
a patient and a physician, is fundamentally a moral activity that arises from the imperative
to care for patients and to alleviate suffering; and
WHEREAS, the relationship between a patient and a physician is based on trust, which gives
rise to physicians' ethical responsibility to place patients' welfare above the physician's own
self-interest or obligations to others, to use sound medical judgment on patients' behalf, and
to advocate for their patients' welfare; and
WHEREAS, as of 2023, there are 27,750 physicians in Georgia who are trusted leaders and
have a positive and lasting impact on the health of their patients and the health of their
community as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia legislature has helped foster one of the strongest practice
environments in the country for both patients and physicians; and
WHEREAS, physicians have entered into their profession to offer services of care,
prevention, and surgical intervention when necessary for the physical and mental well-being
of their patients and are concerned with the overall well-being of the public's health; and
WHEREAS, this state recognizes the Medical Association of Georgia, and several specialty
societies including the Medical Association of Atlanta, Hall County Medical Society,
Medical Reserve Corps, Georgia Society of Anesthesiologists, Georgia Society of
Ophthalmology, Georgia Radiological Society, Georgia Orthopedic Society, Georgia
OBGYN Society, Georgia Chapter of the American College of Physicians, Georgia Chapter
of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association, Georgia
Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, American College of Cardiology,
Georgia Society of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Georgia College of Emergency Physicians,
Georgia Society on Interventional Pain Coverage, and Resurgens Orthopedics for their
contributions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
recognize February 4, 2026, as Physician's Day at the state capitol and saluting the physicians
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 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 designates February 4, 2026 as Physician's Day at the state capitol, honoring the roughly 27,750 physicians who practice in Georgia.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes any statute. It states that the practice of medicine is a moral activity built on trust between patients and physicians, and it cites 2023 data showing 27,750 physicians practice in Georgia.
The resolution names the Medical Association of Georgia and numerous specialty medical societies for their contributions to the state's health care environment. Its operative effect is to formally recognize February 4, 2026 as Physician's Day at the state capitol and to direct the Secretary of the Senate to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the public and the press.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes February 4, 2026 as Physician's Day at the Georgia state capitol.
- States the Senate's appreciation for the roughly 27,750 physicians practicing in Georgia as of 2023.
- Names the Medical Association of Georgia and more than a dozen specialty medical societies for their contributions.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

### Who it affects

The resolution names Georgia's physicians broadly, along with organizations such as the Medical Association of Georgia, the Medical Association of Atlanta, various specialty physician societies, and the Secretary of the Senate, who must prepare and distribute copies.

### Why it matters

The resolution has no legal effect on medical practice, licensing, or funding. It is a symbolic gesture of recognition, so its main real-world consequence is a ceremonial designation and public acknowledgment of physicians' role in Georgia rather than any change to daily practice or policy.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses describe medicine as a moral activity grounded in trust between patient and physician.
- Cites a 2023 figure of 27,750 physicians practicing in Georgia.
- Names the Medical Association of Georgia and numerous specialty societies for their contributions to the state's practice environment.
- The resolving clause designates February 4, 2026 as Physician's Day at the state capitol.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-02-02)
- Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-02)
- Sponsors: Ben Watson, Kay Kirkpatrick, Chuck Hufstetler, Ed Setzler, Mike Hodges
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72600

> The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr652.md?full=1