Environment (Parks & Recreation)

This bill is a Senate resolution honoring the Georgia Wildlife Federation for its 90-year history of advancing wildlife conservation and natural resource protection in the state. The resolution formally recognizes the organization's contributions to restoring wildlife populations, supporting conservation funding, and promoting responsible outdoor recreation through education and partnerships. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Wildlife Federation as an official acknowledgment of their work.

This resolution designates 2026 as the "Year of the Georgia Birding Trail" to commemorate Birds Georgia's 100th anniversary and highlight the economic and ecological value of birding. It urges Georgia citizens to protect bird habitats, learn about local bird species, and support conservation efforts. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds but serves as a symbolic recognition of birding's role in tourism and environmental health. It directly affects residents, conservation groups, and tourism stakeholders by promoting engagement with bird conservation.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to surface mining, so as to prohibit the director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Natural Resources Department from issuing, modifying, or renewing any permit or accepting any bond to conduct surface mining operations on Trail Ridge for future permit applications and amendments; to provide a definition; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to surface mining, so as to provide for a five-year moratorium on the acceptance of applications for new permits and the acceptance of requests to modify existing permits by the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources to expand the area of land affected by surface mining operations on Trail Ridge; to provide a definition; to provide exemptions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-2-86 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to license plates promoting or supporting certain agencies, funds, or nonprofit corporations with proceeds disbursed to the general fund and the agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation, so as to establish a specialty license plate supporting the state parks and historic sites division of the Department of Natural Resources; to establish a specialty license plate promoting conservation and enhancement of black bass populations; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.