--- title: SR 851. Georgia Senate; creation of a life sciences caucus; encourage collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr851 cite_as: SR 851, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr851 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr851.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr851/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73605 date: 2026-02-25 status: introduced 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/sr850.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr852.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 95 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr851.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 851 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-24 last_action: Senate Read and Referred sponsors: - Chuck Hufstetler - Ben Watson - Drew Echols - Shawn Still - Carden Summers - Kenya Wicks - Frank Ginn - Michael Rhett text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR851/2025 upstream_id: 2123521 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - life sciences - biotechnology - economic development - legislative caucus - healthcare policy --- # SR 851. Georgia Senate; creation of a life sciences caucus; encourage ## Text Senate Resolution 851 By: Senators Hufstetler of the 52nd, Watson of the 1st, Echols of the 49th, Still of the 48th, Summers of the 13th and others A RESOLUTION Encouraging the creation of a life sciences caucus in the Georgia Senate; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Georgia Senate recognizes the life sciences sector as a critical component of this state's economic growth, workforce development, and public health infrastructure impacting urban, suburban, and rural communities in this state; and WHEREAS, the life sciences encompass the scientific study of living organisms and life related processes and span diverse fields, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, industrial biotechnology, and agricultural biotechnology; and WHEREAS, Georgia is home to world-class research universities, academic medical centers, technical colleges, innovative start-ups and established companies, and local, regional, national, and global manufacturers that focus on the life sciences and contribute significantly to this state's economic competitiveness; and WHEREAS, continued advancement in therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, and agricultural innovation by the life sciences sector is essential to improving patient outcomes, strengthening food security and sustainable practices, addressing unfulfilled medical needs, and enhancing quality of life; and WHEREAS, the life sciences sector provides high-income employment opportunities that require diverse skill sets and contribute significantly to this state's workforce development and long-term economic competitiveness; and WHEREAS, continued investments in infrastructure, talent development, education, and advanced manufacturing in the life sciences sector strengthen this state's position as a leader in innovation and enhance healthcare access, food security, environmental sustainability, and public health in this state; and WHEREAS, policymakers will benefit from ongoing education and engagement with life sciences industry leaders, academic institutions, workforce partners, and patient communities to better understand the opportunities and challenges facing this rapidly evolving sector; and WHEREAS, a life sciences caucus in the Georgia Senate will establish a bipartisan forum for legislators to develop a comprehensive understanding of this state's life sciences ecosystem and promote education and dialogue regarding workforce development, research, innovation, manufacturing, and commercialization; and WHEREAS, a life sciences caucus in the Georgia Senate will allow legislators to support policies that enhance the state's competitiveness and foster a strong environment for growth and investment in the life sciences sector and engage with stakeholders through briefings, site visits, and informational sessions to better inform legislative decision making. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body encourage the creation of a life sciences caucus in the Georgia Senate. 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 Georgia Senate resolution encourages senators to form a life sciences caucus, a bipartisan group meant to focus on biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and related industries in the state. ### Plain-language summary 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. ### What it does - 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. ### Who it affects 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. ### Why it matters 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. ### Key provisions - 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. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2026-02-24) - Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-02-25) - Sponsors: Chuck Hufstetler, Ben Watson, Drew Echols, Shawn Still, Carden Summers, Kenya Wicks, Frank Ginn, Michael Rhett - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73605 > The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr851.md?full=1