SR 323: Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism; create

Senate Resolution 323

By: Senators Echols of the 49th, Beach of the 21st, Watson of the 11th, Bearden of the 30th, Burns of the 23rd and others

ADOPTED SENATE

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Georgia has a robust history that demonstrates the resilience and strength of a diverse population, from being a cultural center for Native American tribes, the last British colony on mainland North America and playing a strategic role in the American Revolution, through the Civil War and Reconstruction, surviving the Great Depression, and to the Civil Rights movement; and

WHEREAS, Georgia hosts an amazing collection of local celebrations and festivals for both locals and visitors to enjoy, such as the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Oktoberfest in Helen, the International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, and the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah; and

WHEREAS, Georgia has a collection of fantastic sports teams for fans of all sports to cheer on to victory, including but not limited to the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta United, University of Georgia Bulldogs, and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets; and

WHEREAS, Georgia has beautiful vistas and natural resources meant to be seen and savored, including mountains, canyons, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, and beaches; and

WHEREAS, Georgia is a popular tourist destination with many attractions, including historic sites, engaging museums, cultural destinations, sporting events, entertainment venues, and outdoor activities; and

WHEREAS, in 2023, Georgia travel and tourism generated a $79.7 billion state wide economic impact with more than $5 billion collected in state and local tax revenues; and

WHEREAS, Atlanta is scheduled to host eight FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, and each match in Atlanta is expected to generate $4.6 million in global media exposure; and

WHEREAS, a study committee is needed to discover opportunities to promote and develop tourism in all regions of the state, from small towns to big cities, to ensure Georgia becomes the number one state for tourism.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:

(1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate, with one member selected from the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, one member from the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, and one member from the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment. The remaining two members shall be selected from the Senate body based on their interest and experience in tourism. The President shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.

(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.

(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.

(5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than four days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the Senate.

(6) Report.

(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with the Secretary of the Senate.

(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.