Bill
SJR 351
Senate and House memorial honors Bob Kesling for 2025 BBBS East Tennessee Hall of Fame induction; ceremonial recognition of mentorship, no new laws or funds.
Overview
- Type: Senate Joint Resolution (concurrent memorial)
- Title: Memorials, Recognition - Bob Kesling, 2025 Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee
- Sponsor: Senator Massey
- Purpose: To congratulate and honor Bob Kesling for being named the 2025 inductee into the Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee Hall of Fame, in recognition of his long-running mentorship and community contributions.
- Status: Transmitted to Governor for action; Governor signed (4/16/2025). The measure was placed on the consent calendar and passed through both chambers, with concurrence between Senate and House.
Purpose and Intent
- Public recognition: The resolution salutes Bob Kesling as a community leader and exemplary mentor.
- Alignment with mission: Highlights Kesling’s mentorship with Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee, emphasizing the organization’s aim to ignite youth potential through mentoring.
- Personal service: Acknowledges Kesling’s more than a decade of mentorship as a Big Brother to William Large.
Key Provisions
- Formal Concurrence: The resolution “be it resolved” by the Senate and the House concurring to recognize Kesling’s induction into the Hall of Fame.
- Commendation: Commends Kesling for his role in fostering youth development and strengthening communities via BBBS East Tennessee.
- Presentation/Format: Provides for an appropriate copy to be prepared for presentation; directs that the language following the State seal appear without House or Senate designation when copies are issued.
- Non-substantive: As a memorial/joint resolution, the measure does not create or alter law or appropriation; it is ceremonial recognition.
Affected Parties
- Bob Kesling: Primary honoree.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee: Recipient of the recognition and context for Kesling’s legacy.
- William Large (former mentee): Acknowledged within the resolution as a representative beneficiary of Kesling’s mentorship.
- General public and Tennessee government: Public acknowledgment of community leadership.
Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Introduced: March 27, 2025
- Early actions: Passed First Consideration (March 31, 2025)
- Senate actions: Engrossed (April 7), Adopted (April 7), Concurred/ transmitted to House (April 7-10), Sponsor added (April 10), Enrolled and ready for signatures (April 15)
- House actions: Consent calendar placement (April 4), Concurred (April 9-10), Signed by House Speaker (April 15)
- Governor: Signed and transmitted for action (April 16, 2025); Governor’s signature completed the measure
- Effective status: Ceremonial recognition; becomes an official expression of the General Assembly upon gubernatorial endorsement
Impact and Notes
- No fiscal or regulatory changes; the bill serves to publicly honor a local figure and highlight the value of mentorship within the East Tennessee community.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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