Georgia CommonsSR 202: Equal Rights Amendment; proposed Amendment to the United States Constitution; ratify
Last action February 19, 2025 · Senate Read and Referred
A Georgia Senate resolution would have the General Assembly formally ratify the federal Equal Rights Amendment and send certified notice to federal officials that Georgia supports it as the 28th Amendment.
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 Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed addition to the U.S. Constitution that says equal rights cannot be denied or abridged because of sex. Congress passed it in 1972, and this resolution recites that it has since been ratified by enough states, and that President Biden declared it the 28th Amendment in January 2025. This Georgia Senate resolution does not change any Georgia law. Instead, it has the General Assembly officially ratify and adopt the ERA on Georgia's behalf, and directs the Governor to send a certified copy of the resolution to the President, the U.S. Secretary of State, and the National Archives as official notice of Georgia's ratification. The resolution cites federal law (1 U.S.C. §§ 106b and 112) as the basis for that notice process.
What the bill does
- Has the Georgia General Assembly formally ratify and adopt the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
- Directs the Governor to send a certified copy of the resolution to the President of the United States as notice of Georgia's ratification.
- Directs the Governor to send the same certified copy to the U.S. Secretary of State and the Archivist at the National Archives and Records Administration.
- States the General Assembly's position that constitutional equality regardless of sex remains a timely issue, without creating any new state law or program.
Who it affects
This resolution primarily affects the Georgia General Assembly's official record and federal officials who receive its notice, including the Governor's office, the President, the U.S. Secretary of State, and the National Archives. It does not directly regulate Georgia residents, businesses, or agencies.
Why it matters
Because this is a resolution rather than a bill amending Georgia statutes, it does not change any Georgia law or create enforceable rights. Its practical effect is symbolic and procedural: it places Georgia on record supporting the ERA and formally notifies federal officials of that position.
Key provisions
- The preamble recites the ERA's 1972 congressional passage, its text guaranteeing equal rights regardless of sex, and its 2025 recognition as the 28th Amendment.
- The first resolving clause states that the General Assembly of Georgia ratifies and adopts the proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
- The second resolving clause directs the Governor to forward a certified copy of the resolution to the President, the Secretary of State, and the Archivist of the United States.
- Cites 1 U.S.C. §§ 106b and 112 as the federal provisions under which the certified copy serves as official notice of ratification.
From the bill
“Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
“the said Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby ratified and adopted.”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
- Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
- Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
- Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
- Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
- Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
- Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
- Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
- Donzella James (D, SD-028)
- Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
- Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
- Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
Topics
- Equal Rights Amendment
- women's rights
- U.S. Constitution
- sex discrimination
- legislative resolutions