The Georgia House of Representatives has passed a resolution that would name the new $127 million state appellate court building after former Gov. Nathan Deal.

House Resolution 1 names the home of the Georgia Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals in honor of the governor who expanded both benches and appointed more judges across the state than any of his predecessors.

The state Senate still must pass the measure in order for it to become final.

In the house, the resolution passed almost unanimously—with only two no votes. It says that Deal “guided the state through the throes of difficult financial times,” out of the Great Recession and into a time when the “rainy day” reserve fund is more than $2.5 billion, and also led “criminal and educational reforms.”

“Whereas, the State of Georgia consequently enjoys a robust business climate and economy that make possible the construction of a new state appellate judicial complex worthy of the state's top judges and justices,” the resolution said, “it therefore is proper and appropriate to honor Governor Nathan Deal's lifetime of public service and dedication to the State of Georgia by naming after him the new home and symbol of justice in the state.”

The resolution concluded: “Now, therefore, be it resolved by the General Assembly Of Georgia that the new state appellate judicial complex, to be completed in 2019, be forever designated and known as the 'Nathan Deal Judicial Center.'”

Court of Appeals Chief Judge Stephen Dillard tweeted his approval.

“This is a fitting tribute to @GovernorDeal, a steadfast champion of criminal justice reform and Georgia's appellate courts,” @JudgeDillard said.

The total price tag for the project is up to about $127 million, according to the latest figures from the building authority chief financial officer, shared by Morgan Smith-Williams, public relations coordinator for the State Properties Commission. So far, $119 million has been appropriated for construction, design and site preparation: $105 million for construction, $6.5 million and $7.5 million for design and site preparation at different times, including demolishing the state archives building that was on the site. Plus, the Georgia Building Authority has $8.5 million set aside for furniture, fixtures and equipment related to the building.

The bulk of the financing came from $105 million worth of bonds sold in 2017, according to Building Authority Executive Director Steve Stancil.

Initial plans had been to open the building in August 2019. The ribbon-cutting ceremony has now been pushed to November or December, with hopes of moving judges and their staffs in during the holiday season and opening to the public at the start of 2020.

Smith-Williams said Thursday the building is on schedule, and work has begun on the inside.