---
title: HR 160. Taiwan; relations with the United States and the State of Georgia; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr160
cite_as: HR 160, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr160
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr160.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr160/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69905
date: 2025-02-04
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
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/hr159.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr161.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr160.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 160
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-04
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Karen Lupton
  - Matthew Gambill
  - Jan Jones
  - Bruce Williamson
  - Trey Kelley
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR160/2025
upstream_id: 1955742
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - Taiwan relations
  - international trade
  - Georgia diplomacy
  - education exchange programs
---

# HR 160. Taiwan; relations with the United States and the State of Georgia; commend

## Text

House Resolution 160
By: Representatives Lupton of the 83rd, Gambill of the 15th, Jones of the 47th, Williamson of
the 112th, and Kelley of the 16th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending Taiwan for its relations with the United States and the State
of Georgia; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Taiwan and the United States of America are long-standing allies who both
deeply cherish the common values of democracy, peace, and prosperity; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan continues to pursue integrated diplomacy and serve the best interests
of the Indo-Pacific region by deepening ties with other like-minded nations, safeguarding
regional security, and utilizing Taiwan's technological and economic success to promote
partnerships on mutual benefits; and
WHEREAS, China repeatedly exerts economic coercion, stages military drills directed
toward Taiwan, and distorts United Nations Resolution 2758 (XXVI) excluding Taiwan's
participation from international organizations, which results in global challenges to
rules-based international order and aggressive authoritarian expansionism; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan is the United States' eighth-largest trading partner, and the United States
is Taiwan's second-largest trading partner, with an estimated $128 billion worth of trade;
Taiwan was Georgia's 15th largest import and 17th largest export market in 2023; and
WHEREAS, the United States and Taiwan's first agreement entered into force under the
"US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade," which includes commitments on
anti-corruption, good regulatory practices, customs administration and trade facilitation, and
small- and medium-sized enterprises; and
WHEREAS, the Taiwanese government donated $200,000 for Hurricane Helene relief to
Georgia, and Taiwan's National Day was joyously celebrated at the Georgia Aquarium last
October with more than 250 distinguished guests, including government officials,
entrepreneurs, and leaders from the Taiwanese community; this event emphasized the
celebration of the Taiwan Relations Act's 45th anniversary as well as symbolized the strong
connection between Taiwan and Georgia.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body support constant talks under the "US-Taiwan Initiative on
21st-Century Trade" and a "US-Taiwan Avoid Double Taxation Agreement," as Taiwanese
companies are looking for a diverse and free market investment in the United States, as well
as encourage the State of Georgia to establish a trade office in Taiwan as 23 other states and
Guam have done; organize a trade delegation to Taiwan to attract more investments; and
encourage city governments to participate in the annual "Smart City" forum in Taiwan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that with the celebration of Taiwan's democracy and the
reaffirmation of the United States' commitment to Taiwan, the members of this body support
the Taiwan Caucus as a means to explore more collaborative opportunities with Taiwan as
well as support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations and
economic cooperations such as WHO, UNFCCC, ICAO, INTERPOL, CPTPP, and IPEF.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body support the signing of an
education cooperation MOU with Taiwan to facilitate more exchanges of scholars, teachers,
and students as well as the use of the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language as a Chinese
proficiency assessment tool for the Georgia State Seal of Biliteracy and encourage Georgians
to take part in Taiwanese American Heritage Week in May and other activities and
experiences that promote Taiwan's cultures, tourism, and delicacies such as Boba tea.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to
Governor Brian Kemp, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia Congressional
Delegation, and Mr. Elliot Wang, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Office in Atlanta.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House resolution commends Taiwan's relationship with the United States and Georgia, and encourages the state to deepen trade, education, and diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizes Taiwan's relationship with the United States and Georgia. It cites Taiwan's status as a major trading partner for both the United States and Georgia, notes Taiwan's donation for Hurricane Helene relief, and references events celebrating ties between Taiwan and Georgia.
The resolution then expresses the House's support for several things: continued trade talks under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, a proposed US-Taiwan agreement to avoid double taxation, Georgia establishing a trade office in Taiwan, organizing a trade delegation there, and city participation in a Taiwan smart city forum. It also backs Taiwan's Legislative Caucus, supports Taiwan's participation in international bodies, and supports an education cooperation agreement covering student and teacher exchanges and a Chinese proficiency test option for Georgia's biliteracy program. Copies go to the Governor, Secretary of State, and other officials.

### What it does

- Formally commends Taiwan for its relationship with the United States and Georgia, citing trade, diplomacy, and disaster relief.
- Expresses House support for continuing talks on the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade and a proposed double taxation agreement.
- Encourages the State of Georgia to open a trade office in Taiwan and organize a trade delegation there.
- Expresses support for the Taiwan Caucus and for Taiwan's participation in international organizations such as the WHO, ICAO, and INTERPOL.
- Supports a proposed education cooperation agreement with Taiwan covering scholar, teacher, and student exchanges, and use of a Chinese proficiency test for Georgia's Seal of Biliteracy.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to the Governor, Secretary of State, congressional delegation, and Taiwan's Atlanta representative.

### Who it affects

The resolution touches state officials including the Governor and Secretary of State, Georgia's congressional delegation, Taiwan's Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta, Georgia city governments, and Georgia students and educators who could be affected by future education exchange programs.

### Why it matters

While the resolution does not change any Georgia law, it signals legislative support for expanding Georgia's trade and cultural ties with Taiwan, including a possible state trade office, business delegations, and new options for language proficiency testing in schools.

### Key provisions

- The resolution's whereas clauses describe Taiwan as the United States' eighth-largest trading partner and Georgia's 15th largest import and 17th largest export market in 2023.
- The first resolving clause supports continued talks on trade and tax agreements and urges Georgia to open a Taiwan trade office and organize a trade delegation.
- The second resolving clause supports the Taiwan Caucus and Taiwan's participation in international organizations including the WHO, UNFCCC, ICAO, INTERPOL, CPTPP, and IPEF.
- The third resolving clause supports an education cooperation memorandum of understanding and use of the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language for Georgia's State Seal of Biliteracy.
- The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to the Governor, Secretary of State, congressional delegation, and Taiwan's Atlanta office director.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-04)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-04)
- Sponsors: Karen Lupton, Matthew Gambill, Jan Jones, Bruce Williamson, Trey Kelley
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69905

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr160.md?full=1