The effort to name Georgia's expensive new court complex in downtown Atlanta after former Gov. Nathan Deal will now head to his successor for approval.
The Georgia Senate voted 32-2 to approve House Resolution 1, which would name the nearly completed state appellate court complex the "Nathan Deal Judicial Center."
Deal, who left office in January after serving eight years, is well known for his work to revamp the state’s criminal justice laws.
Deal is a former judge who pushed through an expansion of the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, and the funding for the new facility, which is the most expensive Capitol Hill building ever, expected to cost at least $110 million.
State Sen. Larry Walker, a Perry Republican, said he believed Deal would be remembered as "one of our greatest governors."
“He is truly a statesman who has given his life to serving the country and to serving the state,” Walker said.
Deal served in the U.S. Army and as a congressman.
Republican Sens. Marty Harbin of Tyrone and Bill Heath of Bremen voted against the resolution. Two Republican representatives also voted against the move earlier this month.
The resolution heads to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature.
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