Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 695: Georgia Aquarium; commend
Last action February 5, 2026 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution commends the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta on its 20th anniversary, recognizing its role in tourism, education, conservation, and community programs.
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 the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate honoring the Georgia Aquarium on its 20th anniversary since opening in 2005. It does not change any law; instead it formally recognizes the aquarium's history, starting as a gift to the City of Atlanta from the late Bernie Marcus, and its impact as a major tourist attraction and economic driver in downtown Atlanta. The resolution highlights the aquarium's education programs for students, its animal rescue and conservation research, its accessibility recognitions such as being a Certified Autism Center, and its Veterans Immersion Program offering therapeutic dives for veterans and patients from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center. The Senate directs its Secretary to send a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Aquarium as a keepsake of the recognition.
What the bill does
- Formally congratulates the Georgia Aquarium on its 20th anniversary and commends its work in education, animal care, inclusion, and conservation.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and deliver a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Aquarium.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement since it is a commendatory resolution rather than a bill amending Georgia statutes.
Who it affects
The Georgia Aquarium and its staff, who receive the formal recognition; Atlanta's tourism and business community, mentioned as benefiting from the aquarium's presence; and Georgia students, veterans, and patients from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center who take part in its programs.
Why it matters
The resolution carries no legal or financial effect but serves as an official statement from the Georgia Senate recognizing the aquarium's economic and educational role in the state, which may be used publicly by the aquarium to mark the milestone.
Key provisions
- The whereas clauses recount the aquarium's 2005 opening as a gift from Bernie Marcus and its status as a major tourist attraction and economic driver for downtown Atlanta.
- The resolution notes the aquarium's STEM education programs, animal rescue and research work, and accessibility recognitions including Certified Autism Center status.
- It describes the Veterans Immersion Program, which offers therapeutic dives for veterans and has expanded to children from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center patients.
- The resolving clause has the Senate congratulate the aquarium and commend its work in education, animal care, inclusion, and conservation.
- The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Aquarium.
From the bill
“the members of this body congratulate the Georgia Aquarium on the occasion of its 20th anniversary and commend its enduring leadership in education, animal care, inclusion, and conservation”
“Veterans Immersion Program-therapeutic dives for wounded and recovering veterans-now extended to children from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and patients from Shepherd Center”
Discussed in meetings (1)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
Senate floor session, February 12, 2026 (legislative day 18)
From 0:46:20 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate adopted the resolution recognizing the Georgia Aquarium's 20th anniversary without objection. The presenting senator highlighted the aquarium's tourism, science education, conservation, accessibility and therapeutic diving programs. The aquarium's president and CEO thanked the Senate and said the nonprofit had welcomed nearly 45 million guests over two decades.
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Sonya Halpern (D, SD-39)
- Drew Echols (R, SD-49)
- Nan Orrock (D, SD-36)
- Larry Walker, III (R, SD-20)
- Elena Parent (D, SD-44)
- RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-38)
- Lee Anderson (R, SD-24)
- Jaha Howard (D, SD-35)
- Josh McLaurin (D, SD-14)
- Ed Harbison (D, SD-15)
- Freddie Powell Sims (D, SD-12)
- David Lucas (D, SD-26)
Topics
- Georgia Aquarium
- Atlanta tourism
- legislative commendation
- STEM education
- veterans programs