--- title: HB 881. Holidays; first day of the legislative session each year as Civility Day; designate collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb881 cite_as: HB 881, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb881 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb881.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb881/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71858 date: 2025-04-02 status: introduced corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb880.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb882.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb881.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 881 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-03-28 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Lisa Campbell - Carolyn Hugley - Sheila Jones - Shea Roberts - Billy Mitchell text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB881/2025 upstream_id: 2016643 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - legislative civility - Georgia holidays and observances - General Assembly session - state symbolic designations --- # HB 881. Holidays; first day of the legislative session each year as Civility Day; designate ## Text 25 LC 59 0132 House Bill 881 By: Representatives Campbell of the 35th, Hugley of the 141st, Jones of the 60th, Roberts of the 52nd, and Mitchell of the 88th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia A nnotated, relating to1 holidays and observances, so as to designate the first day of the legislative session each year2 as "Civility Day" in Georgia; to provide for legislative findin gs; to provide for related3 matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5 SECTION 1.6 The General Assembly finds that:7 (1) George Washington wrote a copy of the 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior8 in his school book when he was about 14 years old;9 (2) A legislative member respects the rights of individuals to hold different opinions and10 to speak truthfully without accusation or distortion and avoids heightened rhetoric when11 serving the legislature;12 (3) A legislative member who demonstrates civility chooses wor ds carefully and13 understands that his or her actions or communications reflect directly upon the legislative14 institution;15 H. B. 881 - 1 - 25 LC 59 0132 (4) Civility requires an acknowledgment of opposing views and the right of others to16 hold those views. It does not suggest or require acceptance or agreement with those17 opinions;18 (5) "Civility is claiming and caring for one's identity, needs , and beliefs without19 degrading someone else's in the process," said Cassandra Dahnke and Tomas Spath,20 founders of the Institute for Civility;21 (6) The Georgia Municipal Association became the first Organization of Civility, with22 an inaugural group of 77 cities with the "City of Civility" des ignation, to encourage23 elected officials to acknowledge their responsibility in modeling open, free, and vigorous24 debate while maintaining the highest standards of civility, honesty, and mutual respect,25 not only with each other but with those they serve;26 (7) Civility includes the following practices:27 (A) Be considerate of others' opinions. It is okay to agree to disagree;28 (B) Manage your emotions. Get curious instead of furious;29 (C) A silent voice is not always a weak voice. Sometimes it is okay not to respond;30 (D) Be kind. Make your point about the issue, not the person;31 (E) Actively listen to learn how to engage respectfully;32 (F) Think about the impact of your actions and not the intent;33 (G) Ask questions to learn. Answer questions with respect;34 (H) Remember to quit taking it personally; and35 (I) Have empathy. Just because you have not experienced it does not mean it does36 not exist;37 (8) Civility is key to a successful legislative session; and38 (9) The legislators of the State of Georgia desire to embrace civility and manifest its39 aspiration to practice and support civility.40 H. B. 881 - 2 - 25 LC 59 0132 SECTION 2.41 Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and42 observances, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:43 "1-4-27.44 The first day of the legislative session each year is designated as 'Civility Day' in Georgia."45 SECTION 3.46 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.47 H. B. 881 - 3 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House bill would officially designate the first day of each year's legislative session as 'Civility Day,' accompanied by legislative findings encouraging respectful conduct among lawmakers. ### Plain-language summary Georgia law currently has no formal observance dedicated to civility in the legislature. This bill would add a new section to the state's holidays and observances law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 4 of Title 1) declaring the first day of each year's legislative session as 'Civility Day.' The bill opens with a long list of legislative findings, including historical references to George Washington's youthful writings on civility, quotes from civility advocates, and a set of nine practices lawmakers are encouraged to follow, such as listening actively and disagreeing respectfully. These findings do not create enforceable rules; the only operative legal change is the new Code section naming the day. The bill repeals any conflicting laws and does not specify a separate effective date beyond the standard process for a signed act. ### What it does - Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. ยง 1-4-27) that names the first day of each year's legislative session 'Civility Day' in Georgia. - Includes legislative findings describing civility principles and practices, without creating any enforceable duty or penalty. - Repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new designation, a standard closing provision. - Does not establish a paid holiday, change legislative rules, or create any new program or funding. ### Who it affects The bill mainly affects the Georgia General Assembly itself, since it applies to the first day of the legislative session; it has no direct impact on private citizens, businesses, or other levels of government beyond a symbolic state observance. ### Why it matters Because the bill only creates a symbolic designation and legislative findings, it would not change anyone's legal rights, obligations, or daily activities. Its main effect is to formally encourage civil conduct among lawmakers at the start of each session. ### Key provisions - Section 1 lists legislative findings on civility, including historical references and nine specific practices lawmakers are urged to follow. - Section 2 adds new Code section 1-4-27, designating the first day of the legislative session each year as 'Civility Day' in Georgia. - Section 3 repeals any laws or parts of laws that conflict with the Act, a standard closing provision with no independent substantive effect. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-03-28) - Last action: House Second Readers (2025-04-02) - Sponsors: Lisa Campbell, Carolyn Hugley, Sheila Jones, Shea Roberts, Billy Mitchell - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71858 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb881.md?full=1