--- title: SR 986. Salem High School Band; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr986 cite_as: SR 986, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr986 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr986.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr986/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74203 date: 2026-03-19 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/sr985.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr987.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr986.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 986 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-19 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Tonya Anderson - Gail Davenport - Kenya Wicks - Harold Jones - Sonya Halpern - RaShaun Kemp - Jaha Howard - Michael Rhett - Donzella James - Freddie Sims text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR986/2025 upstream_id: 2135860 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Salem High School - marching band - Georgia Senate resolution - school recognition --- # SR 986. Salem High School Band; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 986 By: Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 17th, Wicks of the 34th, Jones II of the 22nd, Halpern of the 39th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Salem High School Band; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Salem High School Band has demonstrated exceptional teamwork, dedication, and discipline throughout the 2025 season; and WHEREAS, its members have dedicated innumerable hours to rehearsals, performances, and competition while maintaining a proud tradition of excellence with equal emphases on character and academics; and WHEREAS, in October 2025, in a comprehensive ranking of top marching programs across the Metro Atlanta area, Salem was recognized as one of the Top 15 programs, securing a high placement among dozens of competing schools; and WHEREAS, this ranking is a testament to the band's technical precision and showmanship on a regional scale; and WHEREAS, the band has participated in various evaluations throughout the 2025 season, consistently earning Superior ratings in categories including music, visual execution, and general effect; and WHEREAS, these evaluations are the "gold standard" for measuring a program's success against state-wide criteria; and WHEREAS, due to their high scores throughout the season, Salem was featured in the discussions for the "Red Lobster Band of the Year" finalists, a prestigious recognition often reserved for programs that demonstrate elite, HBCU-style marching excellence at the high school level; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the Salem High School Band be appropriately honored. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend the Salem High School Band for its outstanding achievements and commitment to excellence as well as extend their sincere best wishes for the band's continued success. 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 Salem High School Band. ## 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 recognizes and commends the Salem High School Band for its 2025 season achievements, including a top-15 Metro Atlanta ranking and multiple Superior ratings. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a formal honor from the Georgia Senate rather than a change to state law. It recognizes the Salem High School Band for its performance during the 2025 marching season, citing the band's teamwork, discipline, and academic focus. The resolution notes that Salem was ranked among the Top 15 marching programs in the Metro Atlanta area in October 2025 and that the band earned Superior ratings in music, visual execution, and general effect at various evaluations. It also notes the band was discussed as a finalist candidate for the 'Red Lobster Band of the Year' recognition. The Senate resolves to commend the band and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the band for distribution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends the Salem High School Band for its achievements during the 2025 marching season. - States that the band ranked among the Top 15 marching programs in the Metro Atlanta area in October 2025. - States that the band earned Superior ratings in music, visual execution, and general effect at various evaluations. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the band. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names the Salem High School Band, its members and directors. It does not create obligations for the general public, other schools, or state agencies beyond the Secretary of the Senate's task of distributing a copy. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial effect and changes no Georgia law. Its practical impact is symbolic: it gives the band and its community formal, public recognition from the state Senate for a successful competitive season. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses describe the band's 2025 season, including a Top 15 Metro Atlanta ranking and Superior ratings in multiple judged categories. - The resolved clause has the Senate formally recognize and commend the band and wish it continued success. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to the band. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-19) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-03-19) - Sponsors: Tonya Anderson, Gail Davenport, Kenya Wicks, Harold Jones, Sonya Halpern, RaShaun Kemp, Jaha Howard, Michael Rhett, Donzella James, Freddie Sims - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74203 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr986.md?full=1