--- title: SR 708. Kluender, Dr. Randy; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr708 cite_as: SR 708, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr708 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr708.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr708/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72894 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/sr707.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr709.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr708.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 708 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: - Emanuel Jones - Kenya Wicks - Nan Orrock - Kim Jackson - Tonya Anderson - RaShaun Kemp - Sonya Halpern - Elena Parent - Harold Jones - Gail Davenport - Randal Mangham - Sheikh Rahman - Jaha Howard text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR708/2025 upstream_id: 2109996 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - ceremonial resolution - dental education - Georgia Senate honors --- # SR 708. Kluender, Dr. Randy; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 708 By: Senators Jones of the 10th, Wicks of the 34th, Orrock of the 36th, Jackson of the 41st, Anderson of the 43rd and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Dr. Randy Kluender; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Dr. Randy Kluender serves as the President and Board of Trustees Member of the Georgia School of Orthodontics; and WHEREAS, Dr. Kluender began his distinguished career in 1979 in a private pediatric dental practice and later transitioned into dental education in 1985; and WHEREAS, he brings a wealth of expertise to the Georgia School of Orthodontics from his extensive experience as a clinician, educator, and administrator; his service at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine; and his dedicated leadership with the American College of Dentists and Omicron Kappa Upsilon; and WHEREAS, during his tenure as a faculty member and administrator at the University of Colorado, he secured over $2.5 million in grant funding, with the majority of those funds starting new programs to help people in need; and WHEREAS, Dr. Kluender passionately supports his community, working on legislative issues impacting oral health, informing legislators about the relationship between oral health and general health, diversity in the healthcare workforce, student indebtedness and financial aid, and funding for dental schools in the United States; and WHEREAS, these issues also include advocating for additional funding for oral health care for the underserved, the continuation of Graduate Medical Education (GME) funding for dental schools, and loan repayment strategies for students, dentists, and new dental faculty; and WHEREAS, he also advocates for increasing funding to the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, which provides significant financial support for research grants to health science centers and dental schools in the United States; and WHEREAS, Dr. Kluender's dedication, expertise, and leadership was recognized by the American Dental Education Association's Leadership Institute when he was selected for its Harry Bruce Legislative Fellowship in Washington, D.C; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the achievements of this outstanding educator, leader, advocate, and clinician be appropriately honored. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Dr. Randy Kluender and extend their sincere best wishes for his continued health, happiness, and success. 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 Dr. Randy Kluender. ## 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 formally recognizes and commends Dr. Randy Kluender, President and Board of Trustees Member of the Georgia School of Orthodontics, for his career in dental education and advocacy. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate honoring Dr. Randy Kluender, who leads the Georgia School of Orthodontics as its President and a Board of Trustees Member. It recounts his career starting in a private pediatric dental practice in 1979, his move into dental education in 1985, his work at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, and his fundraising of over $2.5 million in grants for programs helping people in need. The resolution also highlights his advocacy work on issues like oral health funding, dental school funding, student loan relief, and research funding through the National Institute of Health. It notes his selection for the Harry Bruce Legislative Fellowship in Washington, D.C. The Senate resolves to commend him and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide him a copy of the resolution. It does not change any Georgia law. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Dr. Randy Kluender by name for his career and advocacy work. - States the Senate's best wishes for his continued health, happiness, and success. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Dr. Kluender. - Creates no new statutes, funding, or legal requirements; it is a ceremonial honor only. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names and honors Dr. Randy Kluender, President and Board of Trustees Member of the Georgia School of Orthodontics. It has no legal effect on the public, agencies, or other institutions beyond this individual recognition. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial consequences and does not alter Georgia law or policy. Its significance is symbolic, providing public acknowledgment from the state Senate of an individual's professional career and advocacy work in dental education. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses detail Dr. Kluender's career history, including his roles as clinician, educator, and administrator. - It notes his securing over $2.5 million in grant funding while at the University of Colorado. - It describes his advocacy on oral health funding, dental school funding, and student loan repayment issues. - The resolving clause commends Dr. Kluender and extends the Senate's well wishes. - A final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to him. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-06) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-06) - Sponsors: Emanuel Jones, Kenya Wicks, Nan Orrock, Kim Jackson, Tonya Anderson, RaShaun Kemp, Sonya Halpern, Elena Parent, Harold Jones, Gail Davenport, Randal Mangham, Sheikh Rahman, Jaha Howard - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72894 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr708.md?full=1