--- title: SR 695. Georgia Aquarium; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr695 cite_as: SR 695, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr695 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr695.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr695/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72820 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/sr694.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr696.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr695.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 695 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: - Sonya Halpern - Drew Echols - Nan Orrock - Larry Walker - Elena Parent - RaShaun Kemp - Lee Anderson - Jaha Howard - Josh McLaurin - Ed Harbison - Freddie Sims - David Lucas text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR695/2025 upstream_id: 2106796 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia Aquarium - Atlanta tourism - legislative commendation - STEM education - veterans programs --- # SR 695. Georgia Aquarium; commend ## Text Senate Resolution 695 By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Echols of the 49th, Orrock of the 36th, Walker III of the 20th, Parent of the 44th and others A RESOLUTION Commending the Georgia Aquarium on its 20th Anniversary; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Georgia Aquarium opened in 2005 as a philanthropic gift to the City of Atlanta, made possible through the generosity and vision of the late Bernie Marcus, and has since become one of Georgia's most beloved cultural institutions, welcoming millions of guests and inspiring curiosity, stewardship, and a lasting appreciation for the ocean; and WHEREAS, Georgia Aquarium stands as one of the state of Georgia's most significant tourist attractions, drawing visitors from around the nation and the world, and serving as a catalyst for economic development, revitalization, and sustained growth in downtown Atlanta; and WHEREAS, Georgia Aquarium's transformative experiences have reimagined what an aquarium can be, as awe-inspiring habitats and immersive galleries are paired with science-based storytelling so families, students, and visitors of all ages connect deeply with aquatic life and leave with a renewed sense of wonder; and WHEREAS, its profound community impact reaches downtown Atlanta and classrooms across the state, as accessible programs and field experiences strengthen tourism, support local businesses, and expand hands-on STEM learning opportunities for Georgia's students; and WHEREAS, as an animal well-being champion, the aquarium advances best practices through collaborative research and responds to urgent rescues, demonstrating expertise that saves animals and informs conservation worldwide; and WHEREAS, Georgia Aquarium strives to make every experience welcoming and accessible and is designated as a Certified Autism Center and recognized as KultureCity's Sensory Inclusive Venue of the Year; and WHEREAS, the aquarium also runs the 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, creating restorative, unforgettable connections with marine life; and WHEREAS, as research and conservation experts, the aquarium and its partners conduct and apply cutting-edge science to advance knowledge of threatened species, restore critical habitats, and turn evidence into action for healthier oceans and stronger ecosystems. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that 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. 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 the Georgia Aquarium. ## 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 commends the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta on its 20th anniversary, recognizing its role in tourism, education, conservation, and community programs. ### Plain-language summary 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 it 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. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-05) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-05) - Sponsors: Sonya Halpern, Drew Echols, Nan Orrock, Larry Walker, Elena Parent, RaShaun Kemp, Lee Anderson, Jaha Howard, Josh McLaurin, Ed Harbison, Freddie Sims, David Lucas - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72820 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr695.md?full=1