--- title: SR 690. Alpha Day; recognize February 19, 2026 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr690 cite_as: SR 690, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr690 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr690.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr690/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72788 date: 2026-02-05 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/sr689.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr691.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr690.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 690 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-05 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - RaShaun Kemp - Jaha Howard - Russ Goodman - Tonya Anderson - Clint Dixon - Nikki Merritt - Kenya Wicks - Elena Parent - Donzella James - Harold Jones - Gail Davenport - Michael Rhett - Nan Orrock - Sally Harrell - Sonya Halpern - Freddie Sims - Derek Mallow - Randal Mangham text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR690/2025 upstream_id: 2106815 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity - Georgia Senate resolution - commemorative day - Capitol recognition --- # SR 690. Alpha Day; recognize February 19, 2026 ## Text Senate Resolution 690 By: Senators Kemp of the 38th, Howard of the 35th, Goodman of the 8th, Anderson of the 43rd, Dixon of the 45th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing February 19, 2026, as Alpha Day at the Capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men, was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, on December 4, 1906, by Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy; known as the "Jewels," these men recognized the need for a strong bond of brotherhood among African descendants in this country; and WHEREAS, for 119 years, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., has been a beacon of light to the community by staying true to its aims of manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind; and WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., has a membership of more than 70,000 college-educated men inducted into over 700 college and alumni chapters in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean; and WHEREAS, this esteemed fraternity continues to live out its mission of developing leaders, promoting brotherhood and academic excellence, and providing service and advocacy for our communities by contributing more than $2.3 million in educational scholarships and volunteering 850,000 community service hours; and WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., counts many renowned Georgians as members, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ambassador Andrew Young, Mayor Maynard H. Jackson, Senator Raphael Warnock, Congressman David Scott, W.E.B. Dubois, Dr. Louis Sullivan, Actor Omari Hardwick, John Hope, State Senator RaShaun Kemp, and State Senator Jaha Howard; and WHEREAS, the 19th Annual "Alpha Day at the Capitol" convenes under the leadership of Georgia District Director James Ford II, Assistant District Director Mark Nooks Jr., and Political Action Committee Chairman Aaron Johnson, representing 42 chapters across the state. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body urge all citizens to recognize and applaud the contributions of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and the Georgia District in their commitment to making our communities a better place as well as recognize February 19, 2026, as Alpha Day at the Capitol. 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 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 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 19, 2026, as Alpha Day at the Capitol, honoring Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and its Georgia chapters. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes anyone's rights or duties. It recognizes February 19, 2026, as Alpha Day at the Capitol, marking the 19th annual event held by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.'s Georgia District at the state Capitol. The resolution recounts the fraternity's founding in 1906 at Cornell University as the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity for African American men, its growth to more than 70,000 members in over 700 chapters worldwide, and its charitable work, including scholarships and community service hours. It also names notable Georgia members. The Senate directs its Secretary to distribute copies of the resolution to the fraternity, the public, and the press. ### What it does - Formally designates February 19, 2026, as Alpha Day at the Capitol in recognition of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - Urges Georgia citizens to recognize and applaud the fraternity's community contributions and its Georgia District's work. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the fraternity, the public, and the press. - Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties; it is a symbolic statement by the Senate. ### Who it affects The resolution mainly concerns Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and its 42 Georgia chapters, along with the Secretary of the Senate, who must distribute copies. It does not impose obligations on the general public or other institutions. ### Why it matters The resolution has no direct legal effect on Georgians' daily lives; its significance is symbolic, publicly honoring a fraternity's history, membership, and charitable contributions and marking an annual visit to the state Capitol by its members. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe the fraternity's 1906 founding at Cornell University and list its seven founders, known as the 'Jewels.' - The whereas clauses cite membership figures (more than 70,000 members, over 700 chapters) and charitable contributions ($2.3 million in scholarships, 850,000 service hours). - The resolved clause designates February 19, 2026, as Alpha Day at the Capitol and urges citizens to recognize the fraternity's contributions. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the fraternity, the public, and the press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-05) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-05) - Sponsors: RaShaun Kemp, Jaha Howard, Russ Goodman, Tonya Anderson, Clint Dixon, Nikki Merritt, Kenya Wicks, Elena Parent, Donzella James, Harold Jones, Gail Davenport, Michael Rhett, Nan Orrock, Sally Harrell, Sonya Halpern, Freddie Sims, Derek Mallow, Randal Mangham - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72788 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr690.md?full=1