--- title: SR 833. Burns, Honorable Willie E.; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr833 cite_as: SR 833, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr833 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr833.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr833/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73510 date: 2026-02-24 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/sr832.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr834.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr833.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 833 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-24 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Tonya Anderson - Lee Anderson - Harold Jones - Gail Davenport - Ed Harbison - Derek Mallow - Freddie Sims - Nikki Merritt - Sheikh Rahman - Nabilah Islam Parkes - Jaha Howard - Michael Rhett - Donzella James - Randal Mangham text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR833/2025 upstream_id: 2121403 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - honorary resolution - Georgia Senate - Washington Georgia - community leadership --- # SR 833. Burns, Honorable Willie E.; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 833 By: Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Anderson of the 24th, Jones II of the 22nd, Davenport of the 17th, Harbison of the 15th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Honorable Willie E. Burns; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Honorable Willie E. Burns, of Washington, Georgia, has long been recognized by the citizens of this state for the vital role that he has played in leadership and his deep personal commitment to the welfare of the citizens of Georgia; and WHEREAS, he has served his state and country in the United States Army, the Elberton Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol; and WHEREAS, in 2003, he was elected as the first Black Mayor of Washington, Georgia; and WHEREAS, during his tenure as mayor, he executed his vision of economic development to his community and region by founding and launching the Wilkes County Community Development Corporation; and WHEREAS, he strengthened the City of Washington's economic base by developing the first affordable housing community where low and moderate-income individuals and families were able to obtain the American Dream by becoming homeowners and built the first and only state of the art multipurpose event venue; and WHEREAS, his significant organizational and leadership talents, remarkable patience and diplomacy, keen sense of vision, and sensitivity to the needs of the citizens of this state have earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues and associates; and WHEREAS, a dedicated member of his community, he is a member of the NAACP, Washington, Georgia Branch; a lifetime member of the American Legion; past President of the Georgia Conference of Black Mayors (GCBM), Inc.; and is an active volunteer at his church and local schools; and WHEREAS, he is a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness; 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 the Honorable Willie E. Burns for his efficient, effective, unselfish, and dedicated public service to the State of and extend the most sincere 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 the Honorable Willie E. Burns. ## 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 Willie E. Burns of Washington, Georgia, for his public service and community leadership, including his time as the city's first Black mayor. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a law that changes any rules. It recognizes the Honorable Willie E. Burns of Washington, Georgia, listing his service in the United States Army, the Elberton Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol, as well as his 2003 election as the first Black mayor of Washington, Georgia. The resolution describes his work founding the Wilkes County Community Development Corporation, developing affordable housing, and building a multipurpose event venue in the city. It also notes his community involvement, including memberships in the NAACP and the American Legion, and his past leadership of the Georgia Conference of Black Mayors. The Senate directs its Secretary to prepare a copy of the resolution for Burns. ### What it does - Formally commends Willie E. Burns for his public service and leadership on behalf of the Georgia Senate. - Recites his career history in the United States Army, Elberton Police Department, and Georgia State Patrol. - Credits him with founding the Wilkes County Community Development Corporation and developing affordable housing and an event venue in Washington, Georgia. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Burns. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Willie E. Burns, a former mayor of Washington, Georgia. It also references the City of Washington, Wilkes County, the Georgia Conference of Black Mayors, and the Secretary of the Senate, who must prepare the commemorative copy. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or regulatory effect and changes no Georgia law. Its practical result is a formal, public statement of recognition from the Senate, along with an official printed copy given to Burns as a keepsake of his service. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount Burns's military and law enforcement service and his 2003 election as Washington, Georgia's first Black mayor. - The resolved clause formally commends Burns for his public service and offers well wishes for his health and happiness. - A further resolved clause instructs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to Burns. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-24) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-24) - Sponsors: Tonya Anderson, Lee Anderson, Harold Jones, Gail Davenport, Ed Harbison, Derek Mallow, Freddie Sims, Nikki Merritt, Sheikh Rahman, Nabilah Islam Parkes, Jaha Howard, Michael Rhett, Donzella James, Randal Mangham - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73510 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr833.md?full=1