Georgia CommonsSR 126: World Refugee Day; recognize February 13, 2025
Last action February 5, 2025 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution recognizes February 13, 2025 as World Refugee Day at the state capitol, honoring the contributions of immigrants and refugees 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 Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes any statute. It recognizes February 13, 2025 as World Refugee Day at the state capitol and commends immigrants and refugees for their economic and social contributions to Georgia. The resolution cites statistics on foreign-born Georgians, including their share of the workforce in healthcare, science, technology, manufacturing, and construction, their tax contributions, and the success of Georgia's refugee resettlement programs. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and the press, but it does not create any new programs, funding, or legal requirements.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes February 13, 2025 as World Refugee Day at the Georgia state capitol.
- Commends immigrants and refugees for their contributions to Georgia's economy and communities.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
- Creates no new law, funding, program, or legal requirement; it is a symbolic statement of recognition.
Who it affects
The resolution primarily concerns foreign-born and refugee residents of Georgia, whose contributions it highlights. It also references organizations such as the Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies and The Welcome Co-Op that assist incoming refugees.
Why it matters
Because this is a ceremonial resolution rather than binding legislation, it does not change any law, funding, or program. Its practical effect is limited to an official statement from the Senate recognizing refugees and immigrants and directing distribution of that statement to the public and press.
Key provisions
- The resolving clause recognizes and commends immigrants and refugees for their contributions to Georgia and designates February 13, 2025 as World Refugee Day at the capitol.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available for distribution to the public and the press.
- The preamble (whereas clauses) cites statistics on the number of foreign-born Georgians, their workforce participation, tax contributions, and the state's refugee resettlement success rate.
From the bill
“NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend the manifold contributions of immigrants and refugees to the State of Georgia and recognize February 13, 2025, as World Refugee Day at the state capitol.”
“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”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)
- Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
- Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
- Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
- Emanuel Jones (D, SD-010)
- Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
- Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
- Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
- RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
- Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
- Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
- Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
- Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
- Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
- Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
- Donzella James (D, SD-028)
- Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
- Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
Topics
- World Refugee Day
- immigration
- refugees
- state recognition