---
title: O.C.G.A. § 1-4-26. “First Responders Appreciation Day.”
collection: code
id: 1-4-26
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 1-4-26 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/1-4-26
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/1-4-26.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/1-4-26/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t1-3-(v3)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d5cb9302_0#page=17
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: GENERAL PROVISIONS / HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 1-4-26. “First Responders Appreciation Day.”

(a) September 11 of each year is designated as “First Responders Appreciation Day” in Georgia.

(b) Officials and departments of the state, educational institutions, members of the media, and all citizens of Georgia are encouraged to participate in programs, displays, and activities that show appreciation to Georgia’s first responders and the sacrifice they make in the service of their communities.

## History

Code 1981, § 1-4-26, enacted by Ga. L. 2023, p. 92, § 2/HB 373, effective July 1, 2023.

## Code Commission Notes

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2023, Code Section 1-4-25.1, as enacted by Ga. L. 2023, p. 92, § 2/HB 373, was redesignated as Code Section 1-4-26.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2023, p. 92, § 1/HB 373, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: “The General Assembly finds that:

“(1) On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the United States, killing 2,977 people and injuring thousands more at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Somerset County, Pennsylvania;

“(2) First responders risked and sacrificed their lives on September 11, 2001, in order to render aid to victims of the terrorist attacks;

“(3) The sacrifice made by those first responders on September 11, 2001, exemplifies the heroic and dangerous work that first responders carry out every day in their communities;

“(4) Throughout the country, courageous and dedicated men and women work to protect and aid the public during emergencies as both professional and volunteer first responders, risking their own safety in the performance of their duty to protect the citizens of their communities;

“(6) First responders are the first and best defense against all emergencies that threaten communities around the country and in this state; and

“(7) It is abundantly fitting and proper that the State of Georgia appropriately recognize and honor the sacrifices made by first responders in the service of their communities by designating September 11 of each year as ‘First Responders Appreciation Day’ in Georgia.” There was no paragraph (5) in Section 1 of HB 373 as passed by the General Assembly.

## Effective Date

This Code section became effective July 1, 2023.