Text of GA SR 444 (2025)

25 LC 60 0153 Senate Resolution 444 By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Jones II of the 22nd, Strickland of the 42nd, Cowsert of the 46th and Parent of the 44th A RESOLUTION Creating the Senate Civil Rights Protections Study Committee; and for other purposes. 1 WHEREAS, Georgia is one of the few states without comprehensive state civil rights laws 2 protecting individuals from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, 3 and public services; and 4 WHEREAS, the Georgia Constitution guarantees equal protection for all citizens and affirms 5 the natural and inalienable right to freedom of conscience and worship; and 6 WHEREAS, the General Assembly understands that it is in the public interest of the State 7 of Georgia to study, evaluate, and make policy recommendations for comprehensive civil 8 rights protections in employment, housing, public accommodations, and public services 9 without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, 10 age, disability, or familial status; and 11 WHEREAS, the General Assembly further understands that, in developing recommendations 12 for such comprehensive civil rights protections, there is a compelling need to examine the 13 enforcement mechanisms, legal frameworks, and best practices from other states and to 14 S. R. 444 - 1 - 25 LC 60 0153 ensure any recommendations balance the protection of individual liberties with the interests 15 of businesses and government institutions. 16 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE: 17 (1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Civil Rights 18 Protections Study Committee. 19 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the 20 Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall 21 designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee. 22 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, 23 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or 24 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate, including, but not 25 limited to, the following: 26 (A) Conducting a comprehensive review of Georgia's existing anti-discrimination laws 27 and identifying any gaps in protections; 28 (B) Analyzing data and research on discrimination in employment, housing, public 29 accommodations, and public services in Georgia; 30 (C) Reviewing civil rights laws from other states and federal civil rights statutes for 31 guidance on best practices; 32 (D) Assessing enforcement mechanisms, including, but not limited to, the role of state 33 agencies, private rights of action, and remedies available to victims of discrimination; 34 (E) Evaluating the impact of potential legislation on businesses, government entities, 35 and affected communities; and 36 (F) Making recommendations for legislation to address any identified deficiencies in 37 Georgia's civil rights protections. 38 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee 39 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or 40 S. R. 444 - 2 - 25 LC 60 0153 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and 41 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. 42 (5) Allowances, expenses, and funding. The members of the committee shall receive 43 the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia 44 Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any 45 member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. 46 Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds 47 appropriated to the Senate. 48 (6) Report. 49 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that 50 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the 51 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to 52 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph. 53 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for 54 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) 55 of this paragraph. 56 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of 57 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. 58 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with 59 the Secretary of the Senate. 60 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary 61 of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof. 62 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025. 63 S. R. 444 - 3 -

25 LC 60 0153 Senate Resolution 444 By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Jones II of the 22nd, Strickland of the 42nd, Cowsert of the 46th and Parent of the 44th ADOPTED SENATE A RESOLUTION Creating the Senate Civil Rights Protections Study Committee; and for other purposes. 1 WHEREAS, Georgia is one of the few states without comprehensive state civil rights laws 2 protecting individuals from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, 3 and public services; and 4 WHEREAS, the Georgia Constitution guarantees equal protection for all citizens and affirms 5 the natural and inalienable right to freedom of conscience and worship; and 6 WHEREAS, the General Assembly understands that it is in the public interest of the State 7 of Georgia to study, evaluate, and make policy recommendations for comprehensive civil 8 rights protections in employment, housing, public accommodations, and public services 9 without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, 10 age, disability, or familial status; and 11 WHEREAS, the General Assembly further understands that, in developing recommendations 12 for such comprehensive civil rights protections, there is a compelling need to examine the 13 enforcement mechanisms, legal frameworks, and best practices from other states and to 14 S. R. 444 - 1 - 25 LC 60 0153 ensure any recommendations balance the protection of individual liberties with the interests 15 of businesses and government institutions. 16 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE: 17 (1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Civil Rights 18 Protections Study Committee. 19 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the 20 Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall 21 designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee. 22 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, 23 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or 24 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate, including, but not 25 limited to, the following: 26 (A) Conducting a comprehensive review of Georgia's existing anti-discrimination laws 27 and identifying any gaps in protections; 28 (B) Analyzing data and research on discrimination in employment, housing, public 29 accommodations, and public services in Georgia; 30 (C) Reviewing civil rights laws from other states and federal civil rights statutes for 31 guidance on best practices; 32 (D) Assessing enforcement mechanisms, including, but not limited to, the role of state 33 agencies, private rights of action, and remedies available to victims of discrimination; 34 (E) Evaluating the impact of potential legislation on businesses, government entities, 35 and affected communities; and 36 (F) Making recommendations for legislation to address any identified deficiencies in 37 Georgia's civil rights protections. 38 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee 39 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or 40 S. R. 444 - 2 - 25 LC 60 0153 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and 41 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. 42 (5) Allowances, expenses, and funding. The members of the committee shall receive 43 the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia 44 Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any 45 member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. 46 Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds 47 appropriated to the Senate. 48 (6) Report. 49 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that 50 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the 51 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to 52 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph. 53 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for 54 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) 55 of this paragraph. 56 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of 57 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. 58 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with 59 the Secretary of the Senate. 60 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary 61 of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof. 62 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025. 63 S. R. 444 - 3 -