--- title: SR 82. National Guard Day; recognize February 6, 2025 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr82 cite_as: SR 82, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr82 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr82.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr82/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69751 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/sr81.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr83.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr82.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 82 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: - Chuck Payne - Shawn Still - Lee Anderson - Max Burns - Greg Dolezal - Steve Gooch - Ricky Williams - Timothy Bearden - Brian Strickland - Blake Tillery - Jason Anavitarte - John Kennedy - Russ Goodman - Colton Moore text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR82/2025 upstream_id: 1949634 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - National Guard - military recognition - Georgia Department of Defense - hurricane response - state capitol ceremonies --- # SR 82. National Guard Day; recognize February 6, 2025 ## Text Senate Resolution 82 By: Senators Payne of the 54th, Still of the 48th, Anderson of the 24th, Burns of the 23rd, Dolezal of the 27th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing February 6, 2025, as National Guard Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Defense provides ready and relevant military forces to combatant commanders to defend our nation and to the governor to support homeland defense and defense support to civil authorities; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Defense is headquartered at the Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Georgia, and it includes the Georgia Army National Guard, the Georgia Air National Guard, and the Georgia State Defense Force; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Defense consists of more than 11,000 army national guard soldiers; 2,800 air national guard airmen; 450 state defense force volunteers; and 500 state employees; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Army National Guard is the sixth largest in the nation, trains in nearly 70 hometown armories and regional facilities in almost 60 counties across the state, and includes combat, combat support, and combat service support units; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Army National Guard is organized into five major subordinate commands, which are the Macon-based 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team; the 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at Fort Moore; and the 78th Troop Command, 78th Aviation Troop Command, and 201st Regional Support Group at the Clay National Guard Center in Marietta; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Air National Guard is the air power component of the State of Georgia with airmen and officers assigned to the 116th Air Control Wing in Warner Robins, the 165th Airlift Wing in Savannah, and geographically separated units throughout Georgia, playing an active role in supporting combatant commanders and Georgia's homeland defense and emergency response; and WHEREAS, the Georgia State Defense Force is a wholly volunteer unit of the Georgia Department of Defense, serving in support of the national and state constitutions under direction of the governor and the adjutant general, notably during hurricane response operations in 2024; and WHEREAS, the Georgia National Guard has deployed more than 33,000 soldiers and airmen throughout all geographic combatant commands since September 11, 2001; maintained a steady overseas presence in support of contingency operations; maintained state partnerships with the Country of Georgia and Republic of Argentina; and supported homeland response missions within the State of Georgia due to winter storms, hurricanes, COVID-19, and civil unrest; and WHEREAS, in 2024, more than 2,000 Georgia guard soldiers, airmen, and state defense force personnel responded in the wake of hurricanes Debbie, Milton, and Helene, the last of which was the Georgia National Guard's largest domestic storm response in more than 30 years, encompassing more than 100 missions in 35 counties ranging from debris clearance to humanitarian support; and WHEREAS, the selfless actions of the Georgia Department of Defense and its components at home and abroad in 2024 stands as an example of putting service before self, and it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of these remarkable and distinguished Georgians be appropriately recognized. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize February 6, 2025, as National Guard Day at the state capitol and commend the men and women of the Georgia National Guard for their strength, leadership, courage, and selfless service. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press. ## 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 recognizes February 6, 2025 as National Guard Day at the Georgia state capitol, honoring the Georgia National Guard and State Defense Force for their service. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes any state code. It designates February 6, 2025 as National Guard Day at the state capitol and formally commends the members of the Georgia National Guard for their service at home and abroad. The resolution describes the structure of the Georgia Department of Defense, including the Georgia Army National Guard, Georgia Air National Guard, and Georgia State Defense Force, and highlights their recent work, including hurricane response in 2024 and deployments since September 11, 2001. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ### What it does - Designates February 6, 2025 as National Guard Day at the Georgia state capitol. - Formally commends members of the Georgia National Guard for their strength, leadership, courage, and service. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press. - Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties; it is a ceremonial recognition rather than a change to Georgia law. ### Who it affects The resolution primarily honors members of the Georgia Army National Guard, Georgia Air National Guard, and Georgia State Defense Force, along with the Georgia Department of Defense that oversees them, and involves the Secretary of the Senate in distributing copies. ### Why it matters While the resolution does not change any law or provide funding, it gives official state recognition to the roughly 14,000 soldiers, airmen, and volunteers who serve in Georgia's National Guard and State Defense Force, publicly acknowledging their 2024 hurricane response and other service. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause recognizes February 6, 2025 as National Guard Day at the state capitol and commends Georgia National Guard members. - The whereas clauses describe the Georgia Department of Defense's structure, including more than 11,000 army guard soldiers, 2,800 air guard airmen, and 450 state defense force volunteers. - The text notes the Georgia National Guard deployed more than 33,000 soldiers and airmen since September 11, 2001, and describes 2024 hurricane response involving more than 2,000 personnel. - A final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-03) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-03) - Sponsors: Chuck Payne, Shawn Still, Lee Anderson, Max Burns, Greg Dolezal, Steve Gooch, Ricky Williams, Timothy Bearden, Brian Strickland, Blake Tillery, Jason Anavitarte, John Kennedy, Russ Goodman, Colton Moore - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69751 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr82.md?full=1