SR701: SR701 National Guard Day; recognize February 11, 2026

This resolution formally recognizes February 11, 2026, as National Guard Day at the Georgia State Capitol. It does not change any law; instead, it is a ceremonial statement from the Senate praising the Georgia Department of Defense, which includes the Georgia Army National Guard, the Georgia Air National Guard, and the Georgia State Defense Force. The resolution describes the size and structure of these forces, their recent deployments, training partnerships, and 2025 missions supporting the Department of Homeland Security and Joint Task Force-DC in Washington, D.C. It concludes by directing the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

• Designates February 11, 2026, as National Guard Day at the Georgia State Capitol.
• Commends the men and women of the Georgia National Guard for their service.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press.
• Does not create any new law, funding, or ongoing program; it is a one-time ceremonial recognition.

The resolution names and honors the Georgia Department of Defense and its components: the Georgia Army National Guard, the Georgia Air National Guard, and the Georgia State Defense Force, along with the soldiers, airmen, officers, and volunteers who serve in them.

The resolution carries no legal or budgetary effect but publicly marks a day of recognition at the Capitol for Georgia National Guard members, drawing attention to their state and federal service, including recent border and homeland defense missions.

• The resolution recites background on the Georgia Department of Defense, its Marietta headquarters, and its roughly 11,600 Army Guard soldiers, 2,900 Air Guard airmen, and 500 State Defense Force volunteers.
• It notes the Georgia Army National Guard's 2025 recognition as the best National Guard Command by the Association of the United States Army.
• The resolved clause formally names February 11, 2026, as National Guard Day at the state capitol.
• A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

1. 2026-02-05Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2026-02-04Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)Primary sponsor
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)

• National Guard
• military recognition
• state capitol ceremonies
• Georgia Department of Defense