Tennessee Senate Bill SJR0233

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/13/25
• Engrossed: 3/24/25
• Enrolled: 4/1/25
• Passed: 4/2/25

Caption

A RESOLUTION to honor and congratulate Kara Shults on her receipt of the Governor's Volunteer Stars Award.

Impact

SJR0233 serves to highlight the role of community leaders like Kara Shults, who exemplify the spirit of volunteerism that is vital for enhancing community wellbeing. By acknowledging her contributions, the resolution not only honors her but also encourages others within the state to engage in volunteer activities, reinforcing a culture of helping one another within communities. It is symbolic of Tennessee's identity as the 'Volunteer State' and reinforces legislative support for volunteer activities that benefit the public.

Summary

Senate Joint Resolution 233 (SJR0233) is a measure introduced to honor and congratulate Kara Shults for her outstanding commitment to community service, which has been recognized through the Governor's Volunteer Stars Award. This resolution emphasizes the importance of volunteers in Tennessee, noting that the state is home to approximately 1.3 million individuals who contribute over 99 million hours of volunteer work annually, thereby adding significant value to the state's economy estimated at $2.6 billion.

Contention

While the bill is largely celebratory and intended to express gratitude towards Kara Shults, it also subtly raises ongoing discussions about the recognition of volunteer contributions in local communities. Discussions regarding how volunteers can be better supported and how their contributions can be recognized in various forms can be expected to arise from the legislative bodies as they continue to promote volunteerism, especially following significant community events such as disasters.