---
title: SR 707. Georgia State University; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr707
cite_as: SR 707, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr707
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr707.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr707/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72872
date: 2026-02-06
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/sr706.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr708.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 94
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr707.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 707
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-02-06
last_action: Senate Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Max Burns
  - Michael Rhett
  - Jason Anavitarte
  - Tonya Anderson
  - Nabilah Islam Parkes
  - Marty Harbin
  - Freddie Sims
  - Clint Dixon
  - Nikki Merritt
  - Sally Harrell
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR707/2025
upstream_id: 2110024
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - higher education
  - Georgia State University
  - legislative recognition
  - university research
---

# SR 707. Georgia State University; recognize

## Text

Senate Resolution 707
By: Senators Burns of the 23rd, Rhett of the 33rd, Anavitarte of the 31st, Anderson of the
43rd, Parkes of the 7th and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending Georgia State University; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Georgia State University, founded in 1913, is a premier R1 research university
focused on academic excellence and career-readiness for more than 53,000 students; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University operates its flagship campus in downtown Atlanta
with satellite campuses in DeKalb, Fulton, and Newton counties; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has been ranked the nation's number one public
university for excellence in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report for six
consecutive years; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has been ranked a top-five "Most Innovative" public
university in the country by U.S. News & World Report for 11 consecutive years; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University is recognized as a national leader in student success
and has, since 2003, raised its four- and six-year graduation rates by 20 percentage points;
and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University is undergoing a bold campus transformation to create
a vibrant, accessible and connected college town, linked by the 3.7-mile GSU Blue Line; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has invested more than $1.88 billion in research over
the past 10 years; and
WHEREAS, construction of Georgia State University's new, nine-story, $100 million
Research Tower is slated for completion in late spring 2026, further expanding its capacity
for innovation and discovery; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University announced $6 million in funding from Google to
collaborate on the establishment of the new GSU AI Innovation Lab, expanding access to
computer science and artificial intelligence education for students in Atlanta and across
Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University opened the new Student Success Center anchored in
part by the National Institute for Student Success, consolidating a number of student services
under one roof; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University Athletics posted a historic academic performance
during the spring 2025 semester, achieving a record-breaking 3.38 cumulative GPA across
all programs; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University's highly active research community earned nearly
$186 million in research funding in fiscal year 2024; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has a $3.2 billion annual economic impact on Georgia;
and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has adopted a 10-year strategic plan, BluePrint to
2033, focused on four pillars: Student Success 2.0; Identity, Placemaking and Belonging;
Innovating Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity; and Beyond College to Career; and
WHEREAS, 16 of 20 initiatives set forth in the BluePrint to 2033 strategic plan are now in
the implementation phase.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
recognize and commend Georgia State University for its all-around success in 2025 and the
pride and prestige it brought to the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Georgia State
University.
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 Georgia State
University.

## 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 Senate resolution formally recognizes and commends Georgia State University for its academic rankings, research growth, and campus developments in 2025.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It recognizes Georgia State University for a list of achievements, including national teaching rankings, rising graduation rates, over $1.88 billion in research investment over a decade, a new Research Tower, an AI Innovation Lab funded partly by Google, and a $3.2 billion annual economic impact on the state.
The resolution formally commends the university's students, faculty, staff, and alumni for these accomplishments. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare an official copy of the resolution for the university to keep. It does not create any new funding, requirement, or legal obligation.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes and commends Georgia State University for its academic, research, and economic accomplishments in 2025.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to produce an official copy of the resolution for distribution to the university.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a ceremonial statement by the Senate.

### Who it affects

Georgia State University and its students, faculty, staff, and alumni, who are named as the recipients of this ceremonial recognition from the Georgia Senate.

### Why it matters

The resolution carries no legal or financial effect; it is a symbolic honor. Its main real-world consequence is a formal, official copy of the Senate's commendation delivered to Georgia State University for its own records and recognition purposes.

### Key provisions

- The resolution lists the university's achievements, including national rankings, research funding growth, and campus expansion projects like the Research Tower and AI Innovation Lab.
- The resolving clause states the Senate recognizes and commends the university for its 2025 successes.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Georgia State University.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-02-06)
- Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-06)
- Sponsors: Max Burns, Michael Rhett, Jason Anavitarte, Tonya Anderson, Nabilah Islam Parkes, Marty Harbin, Freddie Sims, Clint Dixon, Nikki Merritt, Sally Harrell
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72872

> The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr707.md?full=1