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HR 289

COMMENDATIONS: Commends Victoria D. Grant on graduating from the Southern University Law Center with a juris doctor degree

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Willard

Honorary resolutions recognizing achievements or memorials (commendation for Victoria D. Grant, Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr. memorial, and The Woodbine Opry anniversary) with no legal or f

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.
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Bill Summary · HR 289

Summary — H.R. 289 (as provided)

Important note: the materials you supplied contain conflicting and multiple texts under the single heading “H.R. 289.” The bill title you listed (a commendation for Victoria D. Grant on earning a J.D.) does not match the body text included, which contains two different House resolutions: (A) an Illinois House memorial for Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr., and (B) a Georgia House congratulatory resolution for The Woodbine Opry’s 25th anniversary. The legislative action history and sponsor list are also internally inconsistent. Below I summarize each distinct item present in the materials, and then list the procedural timeline and open issues for verification.

A. Title listed: Commendation for Victoria D. Grant

  • Purpose: A ceremonial resolution to commend Victoria D. Grant on graduating from Southern University Law Center with a Juris Doctor degree.
  • Key provisions (typical for this class): Congratulates the graduate, notes educational achievement, and directs the Clerk to prepare an appropriate copy for presentation.
  • Affected parties: Victoria D. Grant and her family/friends; purely honorary—no legal or funding effect.

(There is no substantive text for this specific commendation in the supplied document — this summary is based on the title only.)

B. Illinois House Resolution — Memorial for Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr.

  • Purpose: Mourns the death of Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr. of Joliet and extends condolences.
  • Key provisions and content:
    • Biographical details: born April 8, 1999; enlisted 2017; promoted to staff sergeant (Nov 2020); seven-year Army career.
    • Service record: deployments to Poland (2019), Germany (2022), and Lithuania (2025); served as M1 Abrams tank mechanic with 1st ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division, 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry, Fort Stewart.
    • Honors: two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal.
    • Personal notes: family details and survivors; hobbies and accomplishments.
    • Resolution action: expresses mourning and directs that a suitable copy be presented to his family.
  • Effect: Honorary/commemorative; no legal or fiscal impact.

C. Georgia House Resolution — Congratulating The Woodbine Opry (25th Anniversary)

  • Purpose: Congratulates The Woodbine Opry on 25 years of weekly live music and promotes a celebratory week (Feb 10–15, 2025).
  • Key points:
    • Events described: tribute to founders (Feb 10); Satilla Blue performance (Feb 13); bluegrass/Gospel jam (Feb 14); electric country dance (Feb 15).
    • Reach: venue <200 seats but livestream/social media reach of 15,000–20,000 monthly views.
    • Direction: Clerk authorized to prepare and distribute an appropriate copy of the resolution.
  • Effect: Honorary recognition only.

Legislative/Procedural Timeline (as provided)

  • Introduced: 2025-01-09
  • Referred to House Committee on Agriculture; later to Subcommittee on Forestry & Horticulture
  • Referred to Local & Consent Calendars; placed on Congratulatory & Memorial Resolutions Calendar
  • Adopted by House: 2025-04-17 (record/nonrecord votes noted)
  • Reported enrolled/signed by Speaker: 2025-04-21; enrolled and signed: 2025-06-08
  • Presented to Secretary of State: 2025-06-11

Questions / Recommended Verification

  • Confirm the official text and sponsor(s) of H.R. 289 in the authoritative legislative database (state House clerk or legislature website). The supplied packet appears to conflate at least three separate, non-identical resolutions.
  • Verify which resolution number corresponds to:
    • Victoria D. Grant commendation (if any),
    • The Illinois memorial for Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr.,
    • The Georgia Woodbine Opry congratulatory resolution.
  • Confirm the correct sponsor list and the “Related Bill S 56” linkage.

If you want, I can: (a) fetch or draft a cleaned single-resolution summary once you confirm which text to use, or (b) prepare separate formatted summaries for each resolution for distribution.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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