--- title: SR 78. Trocheck, Kathy Hogan; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr78 cite_as: SR 78, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr78 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr78.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr78/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69738 date: 2025-02-03 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/sr77.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr79.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr78.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 78 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-03 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Ben Watson - Billy Hickman - Mike Hodges - John Kennedy - Max Burns - Michael Rhett - Harold Jones - Tonya Anderson - Ricky Williams - Nikki Merritt - Sam Watson - Nabilah Islam Parkes - David Lucas - Ed Harbison - Russ Goodman - Jason Esteves text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR78/2025 upstream_id: 1949646 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - ceremonial resolution - Georgia authors - Senate honors - Tybee Island --- # SR 78. Trocheck, Kathy Hogan; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 78 By: Senators Watson of the 1st, Hickman of the 4th, Hodges of the 3rd, Kennedy of the 18th, Burns of the 23rd and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Kathy Hogan Trocheck, who is also recognized internationally under the pen name Mary Kay Andrews; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Mary Kay Andrews earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Georgia and embarked on a 14-year career as a reporter at newspapers such as The Savannah Morning News, The Marietta Journal, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution before leaving journalism in 1991 to write fiction; and WHEREAS, Mary Kay Andrews is the New York Times bestselling author of 30 novels, including The Homewreckers; The Santa Suit; The Newcomer; Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach; The High Tide Club; The Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Ladies' Night; Christmas Bliss; Spring Fever; Summer Rental; The Fixer Upper; Deep Dish; Blue Christmas; Savannah Breeze; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues, as well as one cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook; and WHEREAS, after her first novel, Every Crooked Nanny, was published in 1992 by HarperCollins, she went on to write ten critically acclaimed mysteries under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck; and WHEREAS, in 2002, she assumed the pen name Mary Kay Andrews with the publication of Savannah Blues, and in 2006, her novel Hissy Fit became her first New York Times bestseller, followed by 15 more New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestsellers; and WHEREAS, her Georgia-based novels have promoted the state and Southern culture to the world, having been published in German, Italian, Polish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Dutch, Czech, and Japanese; and WHEREAS, she and her family divide their time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, Georgia, where they enjoy cooking up new recipes in three restored beach homes—The Breeze Inn, Ebbtide, and Coquina Cottage—all named after fictional places in Mary Kay Andrews' novels and available for rent through Tybee Vacation Rentals; and WHEREAS, in between cooking, spoiling her grandchildren, and plotting her next novel, Mary Kay Andrews is an intrepid treasure hunter who enjoys junking and fixing up old houses; and WHEREAS, she brings joy and happiness to her family, her many friends and neighbors who have the pleasure of knowing her, and millions of readers across the world who are transported by her novels to welcoming beaches, charming Southern towns, and large personalities who can really those who throw humdinger hissy fits; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Kathy Hogan Trocheck, also known worldwide as Mary Kay Andrews, for her many outstanding accomplishments and extend best wishes for continued health and happiness. 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 Kathy Hogan Trocheck. ## 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 honors author Kathy Hogan Trocheck, known worldwide by her pen name Mary Kay Andrews, for her career as a bestselling novelist with Georgia roots. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial honor from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It recognizes Kathy Hogan Trocheck, who writes under the pen name Mary Kay Andrews, describing her career from journalism at Georgia newspapers to becoming a New York Times bestselling novelist with 30 books. The resolution details her biography, including her University of Georgia journalism degree, her early mystery novels written under her real name, and her later bestsellers written as Mary Kay Andrews. It notes her ties to Atlanta and Tybee Island, Georgia. The Senate resolves to commend her for her accomplishments and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide her a copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Kathy Hogan Trocheck, also known as Mary Kay Andrews, for her writing career and accomplishments. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Kathy Hogan Trocheck. - Extends the Senate's best wishes to her for continued health and happiness. - Does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute or fund any program. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names and honors one individual, author Kathy Hogan Trocheck (Mary Kay Andrews). It has no regulatory or financial effect on any other group of Georgians. ### Why it matters This is a symbolic honor rather than a policy change, so it does not alter anyone's rights, obligations, or funding. Its main real-world effect is a formal Senate record and a keepsake copy of the resolution given to the honoree. ### Key provisions - The resolution recites her biography, including her journalism career and 30 published novels, as factual background (whereas clauses). - The resolved clause states the Senate recognizes and commends her for her accomplishments and wishes her continued health and happiness. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to her. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-03) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-03) - Sponsors: Ben Watson, Billy Hickman, Mike Hodges, John Kennedy, Max Burns, Michael Rhett, Harold Jones, Tonya Anderson, Ricky Williams, Nikki Merritt, Sam Watson, Nabilah Islam Parkes, David Lucas, Ed Harbison, Russ Goodman, Jason Esteves - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69738 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr78.md?full=1