SR 851: Georgia Senate; creation of a life sciences caucus; encourage

This resolution does not create a new law or spend state money. It is a formal statement from the Georgia Senate encouraging its members to set up a life sciences caucus, an informal group of senators who would meet to learn about and discuss the life sciences sector, which includes biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, and agricultural biotechnology. The resolution explains why senators think this matters: Georgia has research universities, medical centers, and manufacturers tied to life sciences, and the sector supports jobs and public health. It says a caucus would give lawmakers a bipartisan forum to learn from industry leaders, academic institutions, and patient groups through briefings and site visits. The only binding instructions are procedural: the Senate resolves to encourage the caucus's creation, and it directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

• Formally encourages Georgia senators to establish a life sciences caucus within the Senate.
• Describes the caucus as a bipartisan forum for legislators to learn about biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and agricultural biotechnology.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
• Does not create any new agency, program, funding, or legal requirement; it only expresses the Senate's encouragement.

Georgia state senators, who would be encouraged to join or form the caucus, and by extension life sciences companies, research universities, academic medical centers, and workforce partners the caucus might engage with through briefings and site visits.

If senators act on this encouragement, it could lead to a standing group focused on life sciences policy, giving industry and academic stakeholders a more direct line to lawmakers. On its own, though, the resolution changes no law, funding, or rules.

• The whereas clauses lay out the Senate's reasoning, citing the life sciences sector's role in Georgia's economy, workforce, and public health.
• The resolving clause states the Senate encourages creation of a life sciences caucus in the Georgia Senate.
• A further resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press.

1. 2026-02-25Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-24Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)Primary sponsor
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)

• life sciences
• biotechnology
• economic development
• legislative caucus
• healthcare policy