--- title: SR 859. Edwards, Dr. Yolanda J.; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr859 cite_as: SR 859, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr859 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr859.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr859/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73638 date: 2026-02-26 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/sr858.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr860.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr859.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 859 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-26 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Tonya Anderson - Kenya Wicks - Ed Harbison - Freddie Sims - Gail Davenport - Michael Rhett - Sheikh Rahman - Sonya Halpern text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR859/2025 upstream_id: 2124837 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - ceremonial resolution - military veterans - women in the outdoors - community recognition --- # SR 859. Edwards, Dr. Yolanda J.; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 859 By: Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Wicks of the 34th, Harbison of the 15th, Sims of the 12th, Davenport of the 17th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Dr. Yolanda J. Edwards for her outstanding leadership, humanitarian service, and community impact; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Dr. Yolanda J. Edwards has long been recognized by the citizens of this state for the vital role that she has played in leadership and her deep personal commitment to the welfare of the citizens of Georgia; and WHEREAS, she honorably served in the United States Army from January 18, 1983, to November 25, 1996, and she answered the call to serve again from September 23, 2001, to November 30, 2007, continuing her commitment to duty, leadership, and country; and WHEREAS, extending her lifelong service beyond the military, Dr. Edwards founded Her Waters, Inc., in January 2017; and WHEREAS, through this nonprofit organization, she has expanded access, skills development, leadership opportunities, and representation in water and outdoor spaces across the State of Georgia; and WHEREAS, through inclusive, hands-on fishing and fly-fishing programs, Her Waters, Inc., participants gain confidence, wellness support, mentorship, and environmental stewardship skills; and WHEREAS, the organization's signature initiative, "She Said YES to the Fly," encourages women, particularly women veterans and Black women, to say "yes" to fly fishing as a pathway to healing, leadership development, personal growth, and increased representation in outdoor spaces; and WHEREAS, this distinguished gentlewoman has given inspiration to many through her high ideals, morals, and deep concern for her fellow citizens, and she possesses the vast wisdom which only comes through experience and the strength of character which is achieved through overcoming the many challenges of life; and WHEREAS, she 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 Dr. Yolanda J. Edwards 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 Dr. Yolanda J. Edwards. ## 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 Dr. Yolanda J. Edwards, an Army veteran and founder of the nonprofit Her Waters, Inc., for her military service and community work. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial honor from the Georgia Senate. It does not change any law. Instead, it recognizes Dr. Yolanda J. Edwards for her military service in the United States Army from 1983 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2007, and for founding Her Waters, Inc. in 2017, a nonprofit that runs fishing and fly-fishing programs aimed at expanding access to outdoor spaces for women, particularly women veterans and Black women. The resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the honor for distribution to Dr. Edwards. It carries no funding, penalties, or changes to Georgia statutes; it is purely a formal statement of praise and appreciation adopted by the Senate. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Dr. Yolanda J. Edwards for her military service and community leadership. - States the Senate's praise for Her Waters, Inc., the nonprofit she founded to expand access to fishing and outdoor programs for women. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute an official copy of the resolution to Dr. Edwards. - Creates no new law, funding, or enforceable requirement; it is a symbolic honor only. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Dr. Yolanda J. Edwards. It also references her nonprofit organization, Her Waters, Inc., and the women, including women veterans and Black women, who participate in its fly-fishing and outdoor programs. ### Why it matters This resolution has no legal or budgetary effect on Georgians. Its significance is symbolic: it gives official Senate recognition to Dr. Edwards's military service and her nonprofit work expanding outdoor and fishing opportunities for women across Georgia. ### Key provisions - The resolution recites Dr. Edwards's military service in the U.S. Army from January 1983 to November 1996 and again from September 2001 to November 2007. - It describes her founding of Her Waters, Inc. in January 2017 and its programs promoting fishing, mentorship, and environmental stewardship. - The resolving clause formally commends Dr. Edwards and extends best wishes for her continued health and happiness. - A further clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to her. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-26) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-26) - Sponsors: Tonya Anderson, Kenya Wicks, Ed Harbison, Freddie Sims, Gail Davenport, Michael Rhett, Sheikh Rahman, Sonya Halpern - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73638 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr859.md?full=1