SR36: SR36 International Holocaust Remembrance Day; recognize January 27, 2025

This resolution marks January 27, 2025, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Georgia. It references the six million Jews and millions of other victims who died in the Holocaust and notes rising antisemitism both globally and within Georgia, including the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas. The resolution also points to the Georgia General Assembly's earlier passage of House Bill 30, which adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism into state law. The Senate formally resolves to recognize the day, honor Holocaust victims, condemn antisemitism and hate, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

• Formally designates January 27, 2025, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in the State of Georgia.
• States the Senate's condemnation of all forms of antisemitism and hate and reaffirms a commitment against prejudice and discrimination.
• References the Georgia General Assembly's prior passage of House Bill 30 adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism into Georgia law.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

This resolution primarily concerns Jewish communities in Georgia and the public at large, as it is a symbolic statement by the Georgia Senate rather than a law imposing duties on specific groups; it also references the Secretary of the Senate, who must distribute copies.

While the resolution does not create new legal requirements or penalties, it represents an official statement from the Georgia Senate acknowledging antisemitism as an ongoing concern and marking a day of remembrance, which can shape public discourse and signal legislative priorities.

• The preamble cites the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the estimated 1.1 million people killed there.
• The preamble notes the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas as evidence of ongoing antisemitic threats.
• The preamble references House Bill 30's prior adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism into Georgia law.
• The resolving clause formally recognizes January 27, 2025, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Georgia and condemns antisemitism and hate.
• A further resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available for distribution to the public and press.

1. 2025-01-27Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-01-17Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)Primary sponsor
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)

• Holocaust remembrance
• antisemitism
• Georgia Senate resolutions
• Jewish community