SR301: SR301 Senate Rosenwald Schools Study Committee; create

Rosenwald schools were built in the early 1900s across the South, including more than 240 in 103 of Georgia's 159 counties, through a partnership between Sears executive Julius Rosenwald and educator Booker T. Washington. These schools educated at least 35,000 Black children before school integration ended their operation, but the resolution notes their history and impact remain largely unknown. This resolution creates the Senate Rosenwald Schools Study Committee, made up of five senators appointed by the President of the Senate, who also names the chairperson. The committee will study the history, needs, and issues connected to Rosenwald schools in Georgia and can recommend legislation. It can hold meetings as needed, and members receive standard legislative allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five days unless more are approved. The committee must file any report before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the Senate Rosenwald Schools Study Committee made up of five state senators appointed by the President of the Senate.
• Directs the committee to study the history, conditions, and impact of Rosenwald schools built for Black students in Georgia.
• Allows the committee to recommend legislation or other action based on its findings.
• Sets legislative allowances for committee members under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days of pay unless additional days are approved.
• Requires any approved report to be filed with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee is abolished.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

The resolution directly affects the five state senators appointed to serve on the committee and the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, which receives any final report. More broadly, it concerns the historical record of Georgia communities that hosted Rosenwald schools.

The committee's work could surface historical information about how Rosenwald schools shaped education and economic opportunity for Black Georgians, and could lead to future legislative proposals. Its findings and any recommendations depend on the committee completing its work before the December 2025 deadline.

• Paragraph (1) formally creates the Senate Rosenwald Schools Study Committee.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at five senators appointed by the President of the Senate, who also picks the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) gives the committee authority to study Rosenwald school issues and recommend legislation.
• Paragraph (5) ties member pay to O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 and funds the committee through existing Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) lays out reporting rules, including that any report with legislative recommendations must be filed before abolishment.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-03-28Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
3. 2025-03-28Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
4. 2025-02-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
5. 2025-02-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)Primary sponsor
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)
• Emanuel Jones (D, SD-010)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)
• David Lucas (D, SD-026)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)

1. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   52 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 1 absent)

   Consent Calendar For Senate Study Committees: Senate Vote #380

• Rosenwald schools
• African American history
• Georgia legislature study committees
• education history