SR 300: Sims family; commend

This resolution from the Georgia Senate honors the Sims family of Newton County for their long history of entrepreneurship and community service. It traces the family's story from Cary Sims, who purchased 110 acres of farmland in 1947 despite the barriers facing Black landowners at the time, through his son Eddie Roy Sims and daughter-in-law Mildred Sims, who built landscaping, grading, and janitorial businesses starting in the 1960s and 1970s, to grandson Lanier Sims, who runs Sims Excavating Inc. and served as a Newton County Commissioner from 2011 to 2018. The resolution formally states the Senate's recognition of the family's contributions to economic development, mentorship, and philanthropy in Newton County, including Lanier Sims' role in creating the Newton County Miracle League for children with disabilities. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for the family. It does not change any Georgia law.

• Formally commends the Sims family of Newton County for their business and civic contributions across three generations.
• States the Senate's recognition of the family's role in economic development, including advocacy tied to over 15,000 jobs in Newton County.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the Sims family.
• Creates no new law, funding, or legal requirement; it is a ceremonial statement by the Senate.

The resolution directly names the Sims family of Newton County, including Cary Sims, Eddie Roy Sims, Mildred Sims, and Lanier Sims. It has no legal effect on other Georgians, businesses, or government agencies beyond the Senate's administrative act of distributing the honor.

The resolution has no binding legal effect and changes no law, funding, or policy. Its significance is symbolic: it places an official Senate record recognizing the Sims family's decades of business, farming, and public service contributions to Newton County.

• The whereas clauses recount the family history, starting with Cary Sims' 1947 purchase of 110 acres of farmland for $3,000 in cash.
• The resolved clause has the Senate commend the Sims family for their impact on Newton County's economic development and community service.
• A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available to the Sims family.

1. 2025-02-28Senate Read and Adopted (Senado)
2. 2025-02-27Senate Hopper (Senado)

• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)Patrocinador principal
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)

• Black History Month
• Newton County
• commendation resolution
• community leadership
• economic development