Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 288: Laotian American community in Georgia; commend
Last action February 27, 2025 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution commends the Laotian American community for its contributions to the state and formally honors the Airavata flag as a symbol of Laotian heritage.
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 the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia Senate rather than a change to state law. It recounts the history of Laotian refugees who fled political persecution after the fall of the Kingdom of Laos in 1975, including dangerous crossings of the Mekong River, and describes how many resettled in Georgia cities such as Atlanta, Cornelia, Chickamauga, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Riverdale, and Macon. The resolution formally commends the Laotian American community in Georgia for its cultural and economic contributions and honors the Airavata flag, which features a white three-headed elephant on a red background, as a symbol tied to the historic Kingdom of Lan Xang. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
What the bill does
- Formally commends the Laotian American community in Georgia for its contributions to the state's cultural and economic life.
- Honors the Airavata flag, a white three-headed elephant on a red background, as a symbol of Laotian heritage.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press.
- Creates no new law, funding, or legal requirement; it is a symbolic statement of the Senate's position.
Who it affects
The resolution speaks to and about the Laotian American community in Georgia, particularly those in Atlanta, Cornelia, Chickamauga, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Riverdale, and Macon, and directs an administrative task to the Secretary of the Senate.
Why it matters
The resolution has no legal effect on rights, funding, or programs, but it represents official recognition by the Georgia Senate of the Laotian American community's history and contributions, and it publicly designates the Airavata flag as a symbol of that heritage.
Key provisions
- The whereas clauses recount the history of Laotian and Hmong forces during the Vietnam War and the political upheaval following the 1975 fall of the Kingdom of Laos.
- The resolution describes the resettlement of Laotian refugees in specific Georgia cities and their subsequent community and business contributions.
- The resolved clause commends the Laotian American community and honors the Airavata flag as a representation of their heritage.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
From the bill
“featuring a white three-headed elephant against a red background, the Airavata flag holds profound cultural and historical significance for the Laotian community”
“the members of this body commend the Laotian American community in Georgia for their many achievements and contributions as well as honor the Airavata flag as a representation of their heritage and legacy”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Bo Hatchett (R, SD-50)
- Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)
- Drew Echols (R, SD-49)
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
- Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-5)
- Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)
- Derek Mallow (D, SD-2)
- Shawn Still (R, SD-48)
- Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-52)
- Greg Dolezal (R, SD-27)
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)
Topics
- Laotian American community
- Georgia Senate resolution
- cultural heritage
- refugee history
- Airavata flag