HR 796: Victims of communism; honor

This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia House of Representatives, not a law that regulates conduct or spends money in any binding way. It states that communism, based on the philosophies of Karl Marx, has produced totalitarian dictators like Stalin, Lenin, Mao Zedong, and others, and that more than 100 million people worldwide have died or suffered under communist regimes. The resolution notes that Georgia is home to many victims of communism and their descendants who came to the state seeking a better life. It resolves that the House recognizes and honors these victims, and directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press. It does not create any new agency, program, funding, or legal requirement.

• Formally states the House's recognition and honor of the hundreds of millions of victims of communist regimes worldwide.
• Lists a series of historical claims about communism's origins, death toll, and named dictators as the resolution's stated reasoning.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the public and press.
• Creates no new law, funding, agency, or enforceable requirement; it is a statement of the House's position.

This resolution mainly affects the symbolic standing of Georgia residents who are victims of communism or their descendants, particularly immigrant communities in the state. It does not impose obligations on any business, agency, or individual beyond directing the Clerk of the House to distribute copies.

Because this is a resolution rather than a bill amending Georgia code, it has no direct legal or financial effect on Georgians. Its significance is symbolic: it publicly records the House's stance and may be cited in future discussions of history, immigration, or foreign policy commemorations.

• The preamble ('whereas' clauses) lays out historical claims about communism's death toll and named leaders, framing the resolution's purpose.
• The resolved clause states that House members 'recognize and honor' the victims of communist regimes around the world.
• A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press.

1. 2025-03-27House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-03-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-27House Hopper (House)

• Reynaldo "Rey" Martinez (R, HD-111)Primary sponsor
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-99)
• Rob Clifton (R, HD-131)
• Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
• Johnny Chastain (R, HD-7)
• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)

• communism
• human rights
• commemorative resolution
• Georgia House of Representatives