Georgia CommonsSR 680: Georgia School of Orthodontics; recognize
Last action February 3, 2026 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Senate resolution honors the Georgia School of Orthodontics on its 10th anniversary, praising its education and community service work, and invites its leaders to be recognized on the Senate floor.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes anyone's rights or obligations. It recounts the history of the Georgia School of Orthodontics (GSO), founded in 2014 by Chris Lazzara and Gasper Lazzara, including its accreditation, clinic openings in Atlanta and Duluth, its Purple Heart Smiles program for military families, and its research and scholarship programs, including the $8.5 million John Lewis Legacy Scholarship. The resolution formally congratulates the school for its contributions to healthcare access, professional education, and community service in Georgia. It invites the school's founders, leadership, faculty, residents, and staff to appear on the Senate floor on a date chosen by the Secretary of the Senate, and directs the Secretary to provide the school with a copy of the resolution.
What the bill does
- Formally commends and congratulates the Georgia School of Orthodontics on its 10th anniversary for its work in education, healthcare access, and community service.
- Invites the school's founders, leadership, faculty, residents, and staff to appear on the floor of the Georgia Senate on a date set by the Secretary of the Senate.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the Georgia School of Orthodontics.
- Creates no new legal requirements, funding, penalties, or changes to Georgia law; it is a ceremonial statement of recognition.
Who it affects
The Georgia School of Orthodontics and its founders, leadership, faculty, residents, and staff are directly named for recognition. The resolution also references Purple Heart recipients' families and past community outreach recipients, though it creates no obligations for them.
Why it matters
The resolution has no legal or financial effect; it does not change any law, create funding, or impose requirements. Its practical effect is a public, on-the-record honor for the school and an invitation for its representatives to be recognized by the Senate.
Key provisions
- The resolution recounts GSO's founding in 2014 and its history of accreditation, clinic expansions, and community programs through 2025.
- The first resolving clause has the Senate commend and congratulate GSO for its contributions to healthcare, education, and public service.
- The second resolving clause invites GSO's founders, leadership, faculty, residents, and staff to appear on the Senate floor on a date set by the Secretary of the Senate.
- The final resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available to GSO.
From the bill
“the members of this body commend and congratulate the Georgia School of Orthodontics on the occasion of its 10th anniversary and recognize its outstanding contributions to public service, healthcare access, professional education, and community impact”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Emanuel Jones (D, SD-010)
- Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
- RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
- Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
- Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
- Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
- Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
- Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
- Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
- Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
- Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
- Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
Topics
- Georgia Senate resolution
- orthodontic education
- dental healthcare access
- ceremonial recognition