--- title: SR 817. Clayton State University Day; recognize March 4, 2026 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr817 cite_as: SR 817, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr817 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr817.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr817/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73406 date: 2026-02-19 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/sr816.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr818.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr817.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 817 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-19 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Gail Davenport - Kenya Wicks - Elena Parent - Emanuel Jones - Brian Strickland - Tonya Anderson - Nan Orrock - Ricky Williams - Jaha Howard - Donzella James - Randal Mangham - Kim Jackson - Harold Jones - RaShaun Kemp text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR817/2025 upstream_id: 2119562 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - higher education - Clayton State University - state capitol recognition - Georgia Senate resolution --- # SR 817. Clayton State University Day; recognize March 4, 2026 ## Text Senate Resolution 817 By: Senators Davenport of the 17th, Wicks of the 34th, Parent of the 44th, Jones of the 10th, Strickland of the 42nd and others A RESOLUTION Commending Clayton State University and recognizing March 4, 2026, as Clayton State University Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Clayton State University is an institution committed to social mobility and improving the lives of its students through teaching, scholarship, and service; and WHEREAS, Clayton State University was named number 21 by the U.S. News & World Report in social mobility, marking a third year in a row of increase; and WHEREAS, in 2025, Clayton State University earned national recognition for its commitment to first-generation student success by the FirstGen Forward Network; and WHEREAS, students in the Clayton State University School of Nursing earned a 100 percent pass rate on the most recent NCLEX nursing board exam; and WHEREAS, a new bachelor's degree in cybersecurity was established in 2025 to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in one of Georgia's fastest-growing fields; and WHEREAS, Clayton State University partnered with Clayton County to launch a data-sharing partnership to boost workforce and economic growth; and WHEREAS, the Laker Wildlife Initiative was launched at Clayton State University to study and explore wildlife crime investigation and conservation; and WHEREAS, the economic impact of Clayton State University reached nearly $300 million; and WHEREAS, Spivey Hall on the campus of Clayton State University continues to be an internationally recognized concert hall. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend Clayton State University and recognize March 4, 2026, as Clayton State University Day at the state capitol. 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 President Georj L. Lewis. ## 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 commends Clayton State University and designates March 4, 2026 as Clayton State University Day at the state capitol. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate honoring Clayton State University. It lists a series of achievements the university has reached recently, including a rise in national social mobility rankings, recognition for supporting first-generation students, a perfect nursing board exam pass rate, a new cybersecurity degree, a data-sharing partnership with Clayton County, a wildlife conservation research initiative, and an economic impact of nearly $300 million. The resolution formally recognizes March 4, 2026 as Clayton State University Day at the state capitol and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the university's president, Georj L. Lewis. It does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose any requirements on any person or agency. ### What it does - Formally commends Clayton State University for a list of recent academic, workforce, and community achievements. - Designates March 4, 2026 as Clayton State University Day at the state capitol. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to the university's president. ### Who it affects Clayton State University, its students, faculty, and administration, particularly President Georj L. Lewis, who receives a copy of the resolution. The resolution has no direct effect on the general public, other institutions, or Georgia law. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial consequences; it is a symbolic honor from the Georgia Senate recognizing the university's achievements and giving it a designated day of recognition at the state capitol. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recite specific achievements, including a No. 21 U.S. News & World Report social mobility ranking, a 100 percent NCLEX nursing exam pass rate, and an economic impact of nearly $300 million. - The resolving clause formally commends the university and designates March 4, 2026 as Clayton State University Day at the state capitol. - A further resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to the university's president. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-19) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-19) - Sponsors: Gail Davenport, Kenya Wicks, Elena Parent, Emanuel Jones, Brian Strickland, Tonya Anderson, Nan Orrock, Ricky Williams, Jaha Howard, Donzella James, Randal Mangham, Kim Jackson, Harold Jones, RaShaun Kemp - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73406 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr817.md?full=1