SR929: SR929 Georgia Forestry Commission's Telfair/Wheeler County Unit and the Emanuel/Candler Unit; recognize

This resolution is a formal statement from the Georgia Senate recognizing specific award winners within the Georgia Forestry Commission for 2025. It commends the Telfair/Wheeler County Unit for being named the 2025 Unit of the Year for Service, based on work like firebreak plowing and prescribed burn assistance for landowners. It also commends the Emanuel/Candler Unit for being named the 2025 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement, citing programs such as Smokey Bear events and educational outreach. The resolution further recognizes Will Dale as the 2025 Wildland Firefighter of the Year for his work in wildfire mitigation and suppression, and Matthew O'Connor as the 2025 Forester of the Year for his forest management work. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. The resolution does not change any Georgia law.

• Formally recognizes and commends the Georgia Forestry Commission's Telfair/Wheeler County Unit as the 2025 Unit of the Year for Service.
• Formally recognizes and commends the Emanuel/Candler Unit as the 2025 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement.
• Recognizes Will Dale as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2025 Wildland Firefighter of the Year.
• Recognizes Matthew O'Connor as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2025 Forester of the Year.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and the press.

The resolution directly names and honors the Georgia Forestry Commission's Telfair/Wheeler County Unit, the Emanuel/Candler Unit, wildland firefighter Will Dale, and forester Matthew O'Connor, all connected to the state agency that manages forestry and wildfire response in Georgia.

The resolution carries no legal or funding changes; its main effect is a public, official acknowledgment of these individuals and units for their forestry, wildfire, and community outreach work in 2025, which the Senate will distribute publicly.

• The preamble describes the Georgia Forestry Commission's role in wildfire prevention, emergency response, forest management, and community assistance across Georgia.
• The resolved clause formally names the Telfair/Wheeler County Unit and Emanuel/Candler Unit as 2025 award winners for Service and Community Engagement respectively.
• The resolved clause also names Will Dale as 2025 Wildland Firefighter of the Year and Matthew O'Connor as 2025 Forester of the Year.
• A final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press.

1. 2026-03-09Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2026-03-06Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Max Burns (R, SD-023)Primary sponsor
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Emanuel Jones (D, SD-010)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Steven McNeel (R, SD-018)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)

• forestry
• wildfire prevention
• Georgia Forestry Commission
• legislative recognition