--- title: SR 818. Rabon, Commissioner Walter; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr818 cite_as: SR 818, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr818 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr818.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr818/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73413 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/sr817.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr819.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr818.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 818 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: - Lee Anderson - Russ Goodman - Sam Watson - Drew Echols - Jason T. Dickerson - Ben Watson - Sally Harrell - Tonya Anderson - Jason Anavitarte - Steve Gooch - Ricky Williams - Kay Kirkpatrick - Chuck Hufstetler - Matt Brass - Greg Dolezal - Carden Summers - Shawn Still - Chuck Payne - Randal Mangham - Kim Jackson - Kenya Wicks - Bill Cowsert - Randy Robertson - Marty Harbin - Mike Hodges - Billy Hickman - Jaha Howard - Nan Orrock - Nabilah Islam Parkes - Josh McLaurin - Harold Jones - Brian Strickland - Blake Tillery - Gail Davenport - Clint Dixon - Sonya Halpern - Elena Parent - Freddie Sims - Michael Rhett - Max Burns - Bo Hatchett - Emanuel Jones - Sheikh Rahman - David Lucas - John Albers - Larry Walker - Ed Setzler - Donzella James - RaShaun Kemp - Timothy Bearden text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR818/2025 upstream_id: 2119514 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - wildlife conservation - Georgia Department of Natural Resources - legislative honors - natural resources policy --- # SR 818. Rabon, Commissioner Walter; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 818 By: Senators Anderson of the 24th, Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th, Echols of the 49th, Dickerson of the 21st and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing Commissioner Walter Rabon as the recipient of the 2026 Conservation Trailblazer Award; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Dallas Safari Club, whose mission is to ensure the conservation of wildlife through public engagement, education, and advocacy for well-regulated hunting and sustainable use worldwide, has named Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon as the recipient of the 2026 Conservation Trailblazer Award; and WHEREAS, this prestigious award recognizes wildlife professionals whose work has significantly advanced conservation, applied research, habitat stewardship, and forward-looking policy; and WHEREAS, Commissioner Rabon has devoted decades of service to conserving Georgia's natural resources, beginning his career in 1993 as a Conservation Ranger and rising through the ranks of the Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division before faithfully serving as Deputy Commissioner from 2015 to 2023; and WHEREAS, in August 2023, he was appointed Commissioner by the Board of Natural Resources and assumed responsibility for guiding the state agency charged with protecting and enhancing Georgia's natural, historic, and cultural resources for present and future generations; and WHEREAS, his leadership has strengthened access to the outdoors, empowered youth and new participants, and advanced meaningful initiatives such as the DNR Career Academy and Outdoors Beyond Barriers, expanding conservation education and outdoor recreation opportunities for individuals of all abilities; and WHEREAS, this recognition reflects Commissioner Rabon's steadfast leadership, lifelong commitment to stewardship, and the collective dedication of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources team. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize Commissioner Walter Rabon as the recipient of the 2026 Conservation Trailblazer Award and express sincere appreciation for his decades of exemplary service to the conservation of Georgia's natural resources and the benefit of its citizens. 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 Commissioner Walter Rabon. ## 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 Walter Rabon, commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, for receiving the 2026 Conservation Trailblazer Award from the Dallas Safari Club. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia Senate honoring Walter Rabon, who has led the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as commissioner since 2023 after decades of service starting as a conservation ranger in 1993. It notes that the Dallas Safari Club named him the recipient of its 2026 Conservation Trailblazer Award for his work on wildlife conservation, habitat stewardship, and policy. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It simply states the Senate's recognition of Rabon's career and his contributions to programs like the DNR Career Academy and Outdoors Beyond Barriers, and it directs the Secretary of the Senate to send Rabon an official copy of the resolution as a keepsake. ### What it does - Formally recognizes Walter Rabon, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, as the 2026 Conservation Trailblazer Award recipient. - Expresses the Senate's appreciation for Rabon's decades of service, including his time as a conservation ranger and deputy commissioner. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Commissioner Rabon. - Does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute or appropriate any state funding. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Commissioner Walter Rabon and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. It has no binding legal effect on the public, businesses, or other state agencies; its impact is limited to ceremonial recognition. ### Why it matters The resolution has no practical legal effect on Georgians' daily lives since it does not change any law or fund any program. Its significance is symbolic, publicly honoring a long-serving state official's career in wildlife and natural resource conservation. ### Key provisions - The resolution recites Commissioner Rabon's career history, from starting as a Conservation Ranger in 1993 to being appointed Commissioner in August 2023. - It formally resolves that the Senate recognizes Rabon as the 2026 Conservation Trailblazer Award recipient and thanks him for his service. - A further resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available to Rabon. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-19) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-19) - Sponsors: Lee Anderson, Russ Goodman, Sam Watson, Drew Echols, Jason T. Dickerson, Ben Watson, Sally Harrell, Tonya Anderson, Jason Anavitarte, Steve Gooch, Ricky Williams, Kay Kirkpatrick, Chuck Hufstetler, Matt Brass, Greg Dolezal, Carden Summers, Shawn Still, Chuck Payne, Randal Mangham, Kim Jackson, Kenya Wicks, Bill Cowsert, Randy Robertson, Marty Harbin, Mike Hodges, Billy Hickman, Jaha Howard, Nan Orrock, Nabilah Islam Parkes, Josh McLaurin, Harold Jones, Brian Strickland, Blake Tillery, Gail Davenport, Clint Dixon, Sonya Halpern, Elena Parent, Freddie Sims, Michael Rhett, Max Burns, Bo Hatchett, Emanuel Jones, Sheikh Rahman, David Lucas, John Albers, Larry Walker, Ed Setzler, Donzella James, RaShaun Kemp, Timothy Bearden - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73413 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr818.md?full=1