---
title: SR 288. Laotian American community in Georgia; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr288
cite_as: SR 288, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr288
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr288.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr288/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70901
date: 2025-02-27
status: passed
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/sr287.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr289.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 94
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr288.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 288
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-27
last_action: Senate Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Bo Hatchett
  - Brian Strickland
  - Drew Echols
  - Randy Robertson
  - Sheikh Rahman
  - Clint Dixon
  - Derek Mallow
  - Shawn Still
  - Chuck Hufstetler
  - Greg Dolezal
  - Kay Kirkpatrick
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR288/2025
upstream_id: 1985875
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - Laotian American community
  - cultural heritage
  - Georgia Senate resolution
  - refugee history
  - Airavata flag
---

# SR 288. Laotian American community in Georgia; commend

## Text

Senate Resolution 288
By: Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Strickland of the 42nd, Echols of the 49th, Robertson of
the 29th, Rahman of the 5th and others
A RESOLUTION
Commending the Laotian American community in Georgia and honoring the Airavata flag;
and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, during the Vietnam War, Laos became an unexpected battleground, with the
Royal Lao government, in collaboration with the Central Intelligence Agency, leading
Hmong and Lao forces in combat against the North Vietnamese Army and Pathet Lao
insurgents; and
WHEREAS, these forces played a crucial role in aiding and protecting United States military
operations in Laos, often at great personal risk, and their sacrifices remain an integral part
of the history of that conflict; and
WHEREAS, in 1975, Laos underwent a profound political transformation with the fall of
Vientiane and the rise of the Communist Pathet Lao government, marking the end of the
Kingdom of Laos and the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic; and
WHEREAS, this sudden shift in political power created widespread fear and persecution,
particularly for those associated with the former regime, intellectuals, and others deemed
threats to the new government, forcing many Laotians to flee their homeland; and
WHEREAS, thousands of Laotians braved the treacherous waters of the Mekong River to
seek refuge in Thailand, where they endured difficult conditions in overcrowded and
under-resourced refugee camps before being resettled in countries such as the United States;
and
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia extended a warm welcome to these Laotian refugees, with
vibrant communities forming in cities such as Atlanta, Cornelia, Chickamauga,
Lawrenceville, Marietta, Riverdale, and Macon, where they have worked diligently to
integrate into American society while preserving their cultural identity; and
WHEREAS, Laotian Americans in Georgia have made invaluable contributions to the state's
cultural and economic landscape, establishing businesses, cultural organizations, and
community centers that promote their heritage and foster a sense of belonging; and
WHEREAS, featuring a white three-headed elephant against a red background, the Airavata
flag holds profound cultural and historical significance for the Laotian community,
symbolizing the ancient Kingdom of Lan Xang, also known as the "Land of a Million
Elephants," which was one of the most prosperous kingdoms in Southeast Asia from the 14th
to the 18th centuries; and
WHEREAS, for Laotians living abroad, the Airavata flag serves as a powerful connection
to their history, identity, and traditions, representing unity, resilience, and the enduring spirit
of their ancestors; and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the Airavata flag be recognized as a
symbol of the Laotian American community, celebrating their journey, resilience, and
contributions to the diverse fabric of this state and the nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that 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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate 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 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.

### Plain-language summary

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 upheaval in Laos after 1975, many of whom resettled in Georgia cities such as Atlanta, Cornelia, Chickamauga, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Riverdale, and Macon after crossing the Mekong River and living in refugee camps in Thailand.
The resolution recognizes the cultural and economic contributions Laotian Americans have made in Georgia, including businesses and community organizations. It also honors the Airavata flag, which depicts a white three-headed elephant on a red background and represents the historic Kingdom of Lan Xang, as a symbol of the Laotian American community's heritage. The Senate directs its Secretary to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

### What it does

- Formally commends the Laotian American community in Georgia for its contributions to the state's cultural and economic life.
- Officially honors the Airavata flag, a white three-headed elephant on a red background, as a symbol of Laotian American heritage.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and the press.
- Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties, since it is a commendatory resolution rather than a law.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names the Laotian American community in Georgia, including those who settled in Atlanta, Cornelia, Chickamauga, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Riverdale, and Macon, and it also involves the Secretary of the Senate, who must distribute copies.

### Why it matters

While the resolution carries no legal force or funding, it gives official state recognition to the history and contributions of Laotian refugees and their descendants in Georgia, and it publicly designates the Airavata flag as a recognized symbol of that community's heritage.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses recount the history of Hmong and Lao forces aiding US military operations in Laos during the Vietnam War.
- The whereas clauses describe the 1975 fall of the Kingdom of Laos and the persecution that led thousands to flee across the Mekong River to Thailand.
- The whereas clauses note Georgia cities where Laotian refugee communities formed and describe their economic and cultural contributions.
- The resolved clause has the Senate commend the Laotian American community and honor the Airavata flag as a symbol of their heritage.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-27)
- Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-27)
- Sponsors: Bo Hatchett, Brian Strickland, Drew Echols, Randy Robertson, Sheikh Rahman, Clint Dixon, Derek Mallow, Shawn Still, Chuck Hufstetler, Greg Dolezal, Kay Kirkpatrick
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70901

> The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr288.md?full=1