Georgia CommonsHR 198: New Americans Day at the state capitol; February 13, 2025; recognize
Last action February 6, 2025 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution recognizes February 13, 2025, as New Americans Day at the state capitol, honoring the contributions of immigrants to the state.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It designates February 13, 2025, as New Americans Day at the state capitol, continuing an annual celebration that has taken place for 12 years. The resolution lists statistics about foreign-born Georgians, including their share of the workforce, their business ownership rates, tax contributions, and roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Georgia's history of accepting refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine. It concludes by directing the House Clerk to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. It does not create any new program, funding, or legal requirement.
What the bill does
- Formally designates February 13, 2025, as New Americans Day at the state capitol.
- States that House members recognize and commend the contributions of immigrants to Georgia.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press.
- Creates no new law, funding, or enforceable requirement, since it is a ceremonial resolution rather than a bill amending Georgia statutes.
Who it affects
The resolution primarily affects the symbolic recognition given to foreign-born residents of Georgia, including immigrant workers, business owners, refugees, and naturalized citizens. It does not impose obligations on any agency, business, or individual beyond the House Clerk's duty to distribute copies.
Why it matters
Because this is a ceremonial resolution, it does not change any law, create funding, or impose new requirements. Its practical effect is limited to an official day of recognition and distributed copies for public and press use, rather than any tangible policy change for Georgians.
Key provisions
- The resolution's whereas clauses cite statistics on foreign-born Georgians' workforce participation, business ownership, and tax contributions.
- The resolved clause designates February 13, 2025, as New Americans Day at the state capitol and commends immigrants' contributions.
- A further resolved clause directs the House Clerk to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the public and press.
From the bill
“the members of this body recognize and commend the manifold contributions of immigrants to the State of Georgia and recognize February 13, 2025, as New Americans Day at the state capitol”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Mary Oliver (D, HD-084)
- Karla Drenner (D, HD-085)
- Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
- Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)
- Mary Williams (D, HD-037)
- Samuel Park (D, HD-107)
Topics
- immigration
- New Americans Day
- state capitol events
- refugees in Georgia