HR36: HR36 Ahmaud Arbery Foundation; commend

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honors the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation, which was created by Wanda Cooper-Jones, the mother of Ahmaud Arbery, after his death in 2020. The resolution recounts the foundation's mission of promoting racial justice, youth empowerment, and stronger, safer communities through advocacy, education, and outreach. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It simply states that the House recognizes and commends the foundation's work, thanks Wanda Cooper-Jones for her leadership, and honors Ahmaud Arbery's legacy. It also directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for the foundation.

• Formally recognizes and commends the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation for its work on racial justice and youth empowerment in Georgia.
• Expresses the House's gratitude to Wanda Cooper-Jones for founding the organization and for her leadership.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and send an official copy of the resolution to the foundation.
• Creates no new statutes, funding, penalties, or enforceable legal requirements, since it is a commendatory resolution.

The resolution directly names the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation and its founder, Wanda Cooper-Jones. It has no regulatory or financial effect on other individuals, businesses, or government agencies in Georgia.

The resolution carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It gives official state recognition to a nonprofit's advocacy work and to Wanda Cooper-Jones personally, which can raise public awareness of the foundation's mission but does not alter any Georgia law, program, or funding.

• The preamble recounts Ahmaud Arbery's death on February 23, 2020, and the founding of the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation by his mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones.
• The first resolving clause commends the foundation for its work promoting racial justice and youth empowerment and building a more equitable Georgia.
• The second resolving clause extends the House's gratitude to Wanda Cooper-Jones and honors Ahmaud Arbery's legacy.
• The final resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to provide a copy of the resolution to the foundation.

1. 2025-01-16House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-01-16House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-16House Hopper (House)

• Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-034)Primary sponsor
• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)
• Buddy DeLoach (R, HD-167)
• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)

• racial justice
• youth empowerment
• Ahmaud Arbery
• legislative commendation
• Wanda Cooper-Jones