---
title: HR 198. New Americans Day at the state capitol; February 13, 2025; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr198
cite_as: HR 198, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr198
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr198.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr198/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70048
date: 2025-02-06
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/hr197.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr199.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr198.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 198
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-06
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Mary Oliver
  - Karla Drenner
  - Viola Davis
  - Stacey Evans
  - Mary Williams
  - Samuel Park
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR198/2025
upstream_id: 1961001
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - immigration
  - New Americans Day
  - state capitol events
  - refugees in Georgia
---

# HR 198. New Americans Day at the state capitol; February 13, 2025; recognize

## Text

House Resolution 198
By: Representatives Oliver of the 84th, Drenner of the 85th, Davis of the 87th, Evans of the
57th, Williams of the 37th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing February 13, 2025, as New Americans Day at the state capitol; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, for the past 12 years, New Americans Day celebrations have brought hundreds
of new Americans, friends, and community supporters to the state capitol annually for a day
of education and celebration; and
WHEREAS, Georgia has a long history of extending welcome to new Americans from
around the world, giving them an opportunity to live, work, and thrive in the state; and
WHEREAS, today, one in ten Georgians—more than one million people—are foreign-born,
bringing valuable skills and talents from countries around the world to the state; and
WHEREAS, approximately one in eight Georgia workers is foreign-born, as are one in five
doctors and home health aides; one in five science and technology professionals; one in five
manufacturing workers; and nearly half of all workers in the construction industry; and
WHEREAS, foreign-born Georgians are 41 percent more likely than others to start new
businesses in the state, accounting for more than 20 percent of entrepreneurs in the state and
generating more than $2.5 billion in business income annually; and
WHEREAS, hardworking foreign-born Georgians across all sectors paid over $11 billion in
federal, state, and local taxes and held more than $32 billion in spending power in 2021
alone; and
WHEREAS, nearly half of all foreign-born Georgians are already naturalized United States
citizens eligible to vote and many more are on the path toward citizenship; and
WHEREAS, foreign-born Georgians were never more essential to the state than during the
COVID-19 pandemic, serving in disproportionate numbers in front line jobs in hospitals and
assisted living facilities, farms and food processing plants, warehouses and delivery services,
and more; and
WHEREAS, since the withdrawal of United States forces from Afghanistan in August 2021
and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Georgia has provided refuge to thousands and
granted humanitarian parole to escape those countries and come to safety in the United
States, including many who risked their lives to support the United States' mission overseas;
and
WHEREAS, Georgia has one of the oldest and most successful refugee programs in the
United States, with approximately 90 percent of refugees economically self-sufficient within
six months; and
WHEREAS, Georgia is a welcoming home for peoples of all origins and from all walks of
life, and it is abundantly fitting and proper that these new Americans be appropriately
recognized.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
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.
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 the
public and the press.

## 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 recognizes February 13, 2025, as New Americans Day at the state capitol, honoring the contributions of immigrants to the state.

### Plain-language summary

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 it 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.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-06)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-06)
- Sponsors: Mary Oliver, Karla Drenner, Viola Davis, Stacey Evans, Mary Williams, Samuel Park
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70048

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr198.md?full=1