Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 1082: Victims of Communism Day; November 7 of each year; designate
Last action March 3, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
A House bill would designate November 7 of each year as 'Victims of Communism Day' in Georgia, adding a new section to state law and allowing the Governor to issue an annual proclamation marking the observance.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia law currently lists various official holidays and observances in Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. This bill would add a new section designating November 7 of each year as 'Victims of Communism Day.' The bill opens with legislative findings describing the history of communist governments worldwide, citing figures such as Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Zedong, and stating that communist regimes have killed more than 100 million people and suppressed basic freedoms. It notes that Georgia is home to many people who fled such regimes. The operative part of the bill lets the Governor issue an annual proclamation naming November 7 as the observance day, to be marked with public exercises at the state capitol and other locations the Governor designates. The bill does not create a paid holiday, close government offices, or require schools to hold specific programming.
What the bill does
- Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 1-4-28) designating November 7 of each year as 'Victims of Communism Day' in Georgia.
- Authorizes, but does not require, the Governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing the day.
- Directs that the day be observed through public exercises at the state capitol and other locations the Governor chooses.
- Sets out legislative findings on the history and human toll of communist governments as the stated basis for the designation.
- Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with the new designation.
Who it affects
The designation primarily affects state government, since the Governor's office would be responsible for issuing the optional annual proclamation and organizing observances at the capitol. It also has symbolic significance for Georgia residents and immigrant communities with personal or family ties to countries that lived under communist rule.
Why it matters
The bill creates an official day of recognition rather than a paid holiday, so it does not close schools, courts, or government offices or change anyone's work schedule. Its main practical effect is enabling the Governor to hold public observances at the capitol each November 7.
Key provisions
- Section 1 lists legislative findings describing the history of communism, naming leaders such as Lenin, Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Castro, and stating regimes have killed more than 100 million people.
- Section 2 adds new Code Section 1-4-28, designating November 7 as 'Victims of Communism Day' and allowing the Governor to proclaim it annually with public exercises at the capitol.
- Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard provision to resolve conflicts with existing statutes.
From the bill
“November 7 of each year is designated as 'Victims of Communism Day' in Georgia.”
“Communist regimes worldwide have killed more than 100 million people and subjected countless others to exploitation and unspeakable atrocities”
Discussed in meetings (6)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Special Rules Committee, February 18, 2026
From 0:14:58 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would designate November 7 as Victims of Communism Day, allow an annual governor’s proclamation and provide for public school observance. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the sponsor said students in grades nine through 12 taking specified civics, government or American founding-principles courses would receive at least 45 minutes of instruction that day. The sponsor said communist regimes had killed more than 100 million people. When a member asked why November 7 was chosen, a speaker identified its connection to the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. A first witness, who described growing up in Soviet Ukraine, supported the bill but warned that 45 minutes without curriculum guidance or teacher preparation could become merely symbolic. That witness offered instructional materials using survivor testimony and lessons about propaganda and forced conformity. A second witness, who described being born in Cuba and experiencing communism, supported remembrance and education. That witness said nine states already recognized the day and argued that students lacked knowledge of communist repression. No amendment was offered. The chair said the bill was hearing only, and no vote was taken.
House Special Rules Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:20:52 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee initially paused consideration of HB 1082 because members did not have copies of the substitute. After copies were distributed, the sponsor explained that the substitute removed school-related provisions from the original bill, leaving designation of November 7 as Victims of Communism Day. The sponsor said the governor could issue an annual proclamation and designate observances at the Capitol and elsewhere. Responding to questions, the sponsor confirmed that provisions concerning school observances and instruction for grades 9 through 12 had been deleted. The sponsor and chair said education provisions would be more appropriately considered by the Education Committee at a future date. A witness who described being Cuban-born said November 7 was chosen to recall the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, which the witness described as the beginning of the communist movement. When a member asked whether parents could opt children out of instruction, the chair reiterated that the substitute removed the education portion. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote; no numerical tally was stated.
House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026
From 1:34:27 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1082 would designate November 7 each year as Victims of Communism Day. Asked about the cost of a required 45-minute school lesson, the sponsor said that provision had been removed in a substitute. A member also asked whether the sponsor would support similar recognition of victims of fascism; the sponsor said no. No decision was recorded.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Reynaldo "Rey" Martinez (R, HD-111)
- Noelle Kahaian (R, HD-81)
- Johnny Chastain (R, HD-7)
- Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
- David Clark (R, HD-100)
- Scott Hilton (R, HD-48)
Topics
- state observances
- Georgia holidays
- legislative findings
- communism history