Georgia CommonsSR 706: Hembree, Bill; condolences
Last action February 5, 2026 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution honors the life of Bill Hembree, a former state representative and Douglas County businessman who died on January 15, 2026.
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 resolution is a formal statement from the Georgia Senate marking the death of Bill Hembree, who represented Georgia in the House of Representatives from 1992 to 2012, chairing the Higher Education and Rules Committees. It recounts his life story: born in Villa Rica in 1966, his education and leadership through DECA, his founding of Hembree Insurance Agency in 2000, and the scholarship he and his wife established with the National DECA Program in 2024. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally expresses the Senate's condolences to Hembree's family and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send them an official copy of the resolution.
What the bill does
- Formally expresses the Georgia Senate's condolences on the death of former state representative Bill Hembree.
- Recites biographical details of Hembree's life, education, business career, and legislative service.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Hembree's family.
Who it affects
The resolution directly affects the family of Bill Hembree, who will receive an official copy, and serves as a formal record for the Georgia Senate and the public regarding his life and service in the General Assembly.
Why it matters
While the resolution carries no legal or regulatory effect, it provides an official, lasting public record honoring a former legislator's decades of service and creates a formal gesture of sympathy for his family from the state government.
Key provisions
- The resolution's preamble (whereas clauses) details Hembree's birth, family, education, DECA leadership, business founding, and House service from 1992 to 2012.
- The first resolving clause has the Senate join in honoring Hembree's life and express regret at his passing.
- The second resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to his family.
From the bill
“the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Bill Hembree and express their deepest and most sincere regret at his passing.”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
- Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
- Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
Topics
- Georgia Senate resolution
- Bill Hembree
- legislator tribute
- condolence resolution