Relating to: designating June 2025 as Pollinator Awareness Month in Wisconsin.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tim Carpenter and 12 co-sponsors

Ceremonial Tennessee memorial resolution honors Billy Ray Helton, Sr. for public service and faith, offers condolences; no laws or policy changes result.

Failed to adopt pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

Summary: Senate Joint Resolution 61 (SJR 61)

Overview

SJR 61 is a ceremonial joint resolution approved by the Tennessee General Assembly to honor and memorialize Billy Ray Helton, Sr., of Lawrenceburg. The measure recognizes his public service, professional leadership, faith, and family contributions, and offers condolences to his family. It is a non-binding, commemorative resolution and does not establish new laws or policy.

Purpose and Intent

To honor the memory of Billy Ray Helton, Sr. and reflect on his character, public service, and commitments.

To express sympathy and condolences to Mr. Helton’s family.

To provide for the drafting of an appropriate copy of the resolution for presentation.

Key Provisions and Content

Acknowledges Mr. Helton as a native of Lawrenceburg who served in multiple roles, including:

President and CEO of Lawrenceburg Federal Bank for several years.
Trustee for FreedHardeman University.
Commissioner of finance for Lawrenceburg.
Vice mayor of Lawrenceburg.

Recognizes his faith-related service as an active member of the Pulaski Street Church of Christ (elder, deacon, and teacher).

Notes his commitment to family, listing his wife (Donna G. Abrams Helton, deceased) and children (Billy R. "Biff" Helton, Jr.; Angie (Terry) Wright; Andrea Helton; Holly (Daniel) Winkler) and grandchildren/great-grandchildren.

States that the General Assembly honors his character and public life and offers condolences to his family.

Provides that an appropriate copy of the resolution be prepared and presented, with a specific formatting note about removing House/Senate designation text from the final copy.

Affected Parties

Billy Ray Helton, Sr. and his immediate family.

The Lawrenceburg community and the institutions with which Mr. Helton was affiliated (Lawrenceburg Federal Bank, FreedHardeman University, and the Pulaski Street Church of Christ).

Procedural/Timeline Highlights

Introduced: February 27, 2025

Read first time: March 6, 2025; referred to Business & Commerce

Senate actions culminated in passage and enrollment in February 2025

Transmission to Governor: February 28, 2025

Governor signed: March 4, 2025

Status: Signed by Governor; effective as a memorial resolution

Impact

No regulatory changes, fiscal impact, or policy adoption. The bill serves a ceremonial purpose to recognize and memorialize a notable community figure.