--- title: HR 208. General Assembly; prohibit use of racially derogatory or discriminatory school mascots, logos, or team names in Georgia public schools collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr208 cite_as: HR 208, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr208 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr208.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr208/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70107 date: 2025-02-12 status: introduced 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/hr207.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr209.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr208.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 208 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-10 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Kim Schofield - Dewey McClain - Sandra Scott - Gabriel Sanchez - Park Cannon text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR208/2025 upstream_id: 1964541 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - school mascots - Native American imagery - public schools - education policy --- # HR 208. General Assembly; prohibit use of racially derogatory or discriminatory school mascots, logos, or team names in Georgia public schools ## Text House Resolution 208 By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, McClain of the 109th, Scott of the 76th, Sanchez of the 42nd, and Cannon of the 58th A RESOLUTION Urging the Georgia General Assembly to prohibit the use of racially derogatory or discriminatory school mascots, logos, or team names in Georgia public schools; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, more than 1.7 million children are enrolled in Georgia's public schools; and WHEREAS, certain mascots, logos, or team names that are or have been used by public schools are uniquely discriminatory in singling out the Native American community for derision and cultural appropriation; and WHEREAS, although the inappropriate use of Native American names, symbols, or images may be premised on the promotion of unity or school spirit, such use fails to respect the cultural heritage of Native Americans and fails to promote productive relationships between sovereign governments; and WHEREAS, numerous individuals and organizations, including the United States Commission on Civil Rights, have concluded that the use of Native American names, symbols, or images in school sports is a barrier to equality and understanding and that all residents of the United States would benefit from the discontinuance of such use; and WHEREAS, the use of racially derogatory or discriminatory school mascots, logos, or team names in Georgia public schools is antithetical to their mission of providing an equal education to all and contrary to the goal of making schools safe and respectful learning environments; and WHEREAS, no public school in this state has a cognizable interest in retaining a racially derogatory or discriminatory school mascot, logo, or team name. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body urge the Georgia General Assembly to prohibit the use of racially derogatory or discriminatory school mascots, logos, or team names in Georgia public schools. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body urge the elected members of the local boards of education, local school superintendents, and other public school leaders to prohibit the use of racially derogatory or discriminatory school mascots, logos, or team names in their schools. 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 elected members of the local boards of education, local school superintendents, and other public school leaders. ## 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 urges the General Assembly to ban racially derogatory or discriminatory mascots, logos, and team names in Georgia public schools, without itself creating a legal requirement. ### Plain-language summary This resolution does not change any law on its own. Instead, it expresses the Georgia House of Representatives' position that the General Assembly should pass legislation prohibiting racially derogatory or discriminatory mascots, logos, and team names in the state's public schools, with a particular focus on imagery that singles out Native American communities. The resolution also urges local boards of education, school superintendents, and other public school leaders to voluntarily drop such mascots, logos, and names in their own districts. It directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to local school boards, superintendents, and other school leaders so they are aware of the House's position. ### What it does - Urges (but does not legally require) the Georgia General Assembly to prohibit racially derogatory or discriminatory school mascots, logos, or team names in public schools. - Urges local boards of education, superintendents, and school leaders to voluntarily stop using such mascots, logos, or team names. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to local school boards, superintendents, and school leaders. - Does not create any penalty, enforcement mechanism, or actual statutory ban since it is a resolution rather than a bill amending Georgia law. ### Who it affects Georgia's 1.7 million public school students, local boards of education, school superintendents, and other public school leaders who oversee choices about mascots, logos, and team names, particularly at schools that currently use Native American imagery or names. ### Why it matters Because this is a resolution rather than a law, no school is required to change anything yet. But it signals House support for a future ban and puts pressure on local school districts to reconsider mascots, logos, or team names that reference Native American communities or other groups. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses state that over 1.7 million children attend Georgia public schools and that certain mascots single out Native Americans for derision and cultural appropriation. - The first resolving clause urges the General Assembly itself to prohibit racially derogatory or discriminatory school mascots, logos, or team names statewide. - The second resolving clause urges local boards of education, superintendents, and school leaders to prohibit such mascots, logos, or team names in their own schools. - The final resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to local school boards, superintendents, and school leaders. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-02-10) - Last action: House Second Readers (2025-02-12) - Sponsors: Kim Schofield, Dewey McClain, Sandra Scott, Gabriel Sanchez, Park Cannon - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70107 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr208.md?full=1