--- title: HR 394. House of Representatives; the American Dream belongs to all of us; affirm collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr394 cite_as: HR 394, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr394 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr394.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr394/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70816 date: 2025-02-28 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/hr393.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr395.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr394.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 394 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-26 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Lisa Campbell - Carolyn Hugley - Imani Barnes - Long Tran - David Sampson - Anne Westbrook text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR394/2025 upstream_id: 1985829 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - diversity equity and inclusion - civil rights - legislative resolutions - education policy - workplace policy --- # HR 394. House of Representatives; the American Dream belongs to all of us; affirm ## Text House Resolution 394 By: Representatives Campbell of the 35th, Hugley of the 141st, Barnes of the 86th, Tran of the 80th, Sampson of the 153rd, and others A RESOLUTION Affirming that the American Dream belongs to all of us; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the American Dream has been a beacon of hope for generations; and WHEREAS, the American Dream embodies the ideals of opportunity, prosperity, and upward mobility, promising that every person shall have the chance to achieve what they themselves define as success and fulfillment through hard work and determination; and WHEREAS, many today feel as though their American Dream is unattainable; and WHEREAS, the American Dream belongs to all of us, not just billionaires and multi-millionaires; and WHEREAS, our highest accomplishments as a state and nation have been achieved when we harness the strengths of all people regardless of their identities to overcome our greatest challenges; and WHEREAS, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a centuries-old movement deeply rooted in America's founding principles and its subsequent legacy of civil rights and social justice efforts aimed at delivering the laws, policies, and initiatives that enable America to live up to our Constitution's promises; and WHEREAS, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies, from the 19th Amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, among others, reflect the corrective legislative and legal actions taken across our nation's history to expand and guarantee access to the educational, economic, and civic obligations and capacities of our nation; and WHEREAS, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles and policies promote equal access to opportunities, foster an environment of respect and belonging, and ensure that every individual—regardless of background—can fully participate in all aspects of society; and WHEREAS, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is essential to creating a society where all individuals are valued, heard, and included; and WHEREAS, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is based on removing barriers to opportunity so that our merits can speak for themselves; and WHEREAS, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is committed to widening pathways to the American Dream for every community so that all people can reap the benefits of shared prosperity in our nation; and WHEREAS, freedom of speech and expression are fundamental constitutional rights, protecting the ability of individuals to voice their ideas and opinions without interference, punishment, or retaliation by the government; and WHEREAS, anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion activists, politicians, and corporate decision-makers who attempt to prohibit DEI infringe upon the rights of individuals to freely express themselves, diminish the diversity of perspectives that strengthen our society, and conflict with anti-discrimination laws; and WHEREAS, efforts to attack Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are harmful to the bottom line and overall health of our economy. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body affirm their commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as an essential foundation for achieving the American Dream and fostering environments where all individuals have the freedom to be healthy, prosperous, and safe as well as opportunities to realize their full potential. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body encourage local, state, and federal policymakers, educational institutions, workplaces, and other organizations to adopt and uphold Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles that promote inclusivity, protect freedom of expression, remove barriers, and provide equitable opportunities for all individuals to pursue their dreams. 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 would formally affirm the chamber's support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles and encourage governments, schools, and workplaces to adopt them. ### Plain-language summary This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It is a statement of the House of Representatives' position on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, framed around the idea that opportunity and prosperity, described as the American Dream, should be available to everyone. The resolution's preamble describes DEI as rooted in civil rights history, from the 19th Amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and argues that efforts to restrict DEI conflict with free speech and anti-discrimination laws. The operative resolving clauses have the House affirm its commitment to DEI principles, encourage local, state, and federal policymakers, schools, workplaces, and other organizations to adopt DEI practices, and direct the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ### What it does - Has the House of Representatives formally affirm its commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles as part of achieving what it calls the American Dream. - Encourages local, state, and federal policymakers, educational institutions, workplaces, and other organizations to adopt DEI principles. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. - Does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute; it states a position rather than imposing legal requirements. ### Who it affects The resolution names policymakers at the local, state, and federal level, educational institutions, workplaces, and other organizations as groups it encourages to adopt DEI principles, though it imposes no binding obligation on any of them. ### Why it matters Because this is a resolution rather than a bill amending the Georgia Code, it does not create enforceable rights or duties. Its practical effect is to place the House on record supporting DEI policies at a time when such policies are being debated and restricted in some other jurisdictions. ### Key provisions - The preamble ('WHEREAS' clauses) frames DEI as connected to historical civil rights milestones including the 19th Amendment, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. - The first resolving clause has House members affirm DEI as essential to opportunity, health, prosperity, and safety for all individuals. - The second resolving clause encourages policymakers, schools, workplaces, and other organizations to adopt and uphold DEI principles. - The final resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-02-26) - Last action: House Second Readers (2025-02-28) - Sponsors: Lisa Campbell, Carolyn Hugley, Imani Barnes, Long Tran, David Sampson, Anne Westbrook - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70816 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr394.md?full=1