Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 697: Colbert, Jason; recognize
Last action March 16, 2026 · Senate Passed/Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution formally recognizes Jason Colbert, a Southeastern Technical College nursing student, as the 2025 state winner of the Technical College System of Georgia's GOAL award.
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 from the Georgia Senate rather than a change to state law. It honors Jason Colbert, a nursing student at Southeastern Technical College, for being named the 2025 state recipient of the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL), a program run by the Technical College System of Georgia that recognizes outstanding technical college students. The resolution explains that Colbert was chosen from among 22 college-level GOAL winners across the state's technical college system, which serves more than 149,000 students. The Senate commends and congratulates him for his achievements and for promoting technical education in Georgia, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide him with an official copy of the resolution.
What the bill does
- Formally commends and congratulates Jason Colbert for winning the 2025 statewide GOAL award from the Technical College System of Georgia.
- States the facts behind the award, including that Colbert was selected from 22 college-level GOAL winners and studies nursing at Southeastern Technical College.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute an official copy of the resolution to Colbert.
- Does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute; it has no regulatory or budgetary effect.
Who it affects
The resolution directly names and honors Jason Colbert. It also references Southeastern Technical College, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the roughly 149,000 students enrolled across the system's 22 colleges, though it imposes no obligations on them.
Why it matters
This resolution has no legal or practical effect on Georgia residents; it is a public honor recognizing one student's achievement. Its main real-world consequence is a ceremonial Senate invitation and an official copy of the resolution given to Colbert.
Key provisions
- The resolved clause has the Senate commend and congratulate Jason Colbert for his technical college achievements and advocacy for technical education.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to Colbert.
- The preamble (whereas clauses) documents the background of the GOAL award and Colbert's selection but carries no operative legal force.
From the bill
“Jason Colbert is the state recipient of the Technical College System of Georgia's (TCSG) 2025 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL)”
“the members of this body commend and congratulate Jason Colbert for his technical college achievements and his efforts to promote technical education in the State of Georgia”
Discussed in meetings (8)
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 Higher Education Committee, February 19, 2026
From 0:18:13 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: A Technical College System of Georgia representative presented the resolution as part of the system's annual recognition of outstanding students and teachers. The representative said all 22 colleges select local honorees, who advance through regional and statewide competitions, and that winners serve as system ambassadors. The representative said Kia provides the statewide GOAL student winner with a free vehicle. The chair identified this resolution's honoree as the GOAL winner from Southeastern Technical College and described the honoree as a nontraditional student. The representative confirmed that the honoree had graduated from nursing studies. The chair encouraged members to attend an awards dinner. A motion to pass received a second, and members responded in favor during a voice vote. No opposition was heard.
Senate Rules Committee, March 9, 2026
From 0:17:22 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor identified the resolution as recognition of the Technical College System of Georgia's GOAL Award winner. In the joint presentation of two recognition resolutions, the sponsor said the recipients would appear in the chamber on March 25. No vote was recorded.
Senate Rules Committee, March 10, 2026
From 0:13:17 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor requested favorable consideration of SR 697 alongside another resolution, describing both as agency measures for Technical College System of Georgia awards that had been discussed the previous day. No further explanation or calendar placement was shown.
Senate Rules Committee, March 12, 2026
From 0:26:57 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair proposed placing SR 697 on Monday's floor calendar alongside another recognition resolution. The chair described the resolutions as honoring people, but no further explanation of this resolution was given. The committee unanimously approved the calendar containing it.
Senate floor session, March 16, 2026 (legislative day 32)
From 2:01:52 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SR 697 recognized a nontraditional nursing student at Southeastern Technical College in Vidalia who won the 2025 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership. The sponsor said the honoree and colleagues would visit the chamber the following week. There were no questions, and the Senate adopted the resolution 52 to 0.
Status timeline
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Max Burns (R, SD-23)
- Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
- Jaha Howard (D, SD-35)
- Sally Harrell (D, SD-40)
- Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-52)
- Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
- Carden Summers (R, SD-13)
- Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)
- Nan Orrock (D, SD-36)
Votes
- Senate voteMarch 16, 2026
52 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 2 excused)
Topics
- technical education
- legislative honors
- Georgia Senate resolution
- workforce development