SR 301: Senate Rosenwald Schools Study Committee; create

Rosenwald schools were built in the early 1900s through a partnership between Sears, Roebuck and Co. executive Julius Rosenwald and educator Booker T. Washington, funding schools for Black children across the rural South, including more than 240 schools in 103 Georgia counties. This resolution creates a five-member Senate study committee, appointed by the President of the Senate, to study the history, conditions, and impact of these schools on African American education and economic prosperity in Georgia. The committee's chairperson, designated by the President of the Senate, will call meetings as needed. Legislative members receive standard daily allowances under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five days unless more are authorized, funded through the Senate's budget. The committee must file a report of any findings or recommendations before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the Senate Rosenwald Schools Study Committee made up of five Senate members appointed by the President of the Senate.
• Directs the committee to study the history, needs, and impact of Georgia's Rosenwald schools on African American education and economic prosperity.
• Allows the committee to recommend legislation or other action based on its findings.
• Sets legislative member pay using existing daily allowance rules (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8), capped at five days unless extended, funded from Senate appropriations.
• Requires the chairperson to file a report or, if none is approved, meeting minutes before the committee dissolves.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

The five Senate members appointed to serve on the committee, the President of the Senate who appoints them, and more broadly Georgians interested in the history of Rosenwald schools and their impact on African American communities and education in the state.

The resolution does not change any law itself, but it sets up an official Senate process to research a lesser-known chapter of Georgia's educational history, potentially leading to future legislative proposals or public recognition based on the committee's findings.

• Paragraph 1 creates the Senate Rosenwald Schools Study Committee.
• Paragraph 2 sets committee membership at five Senators, appointed by the President of the Senate, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph 3 charges the committee with studying Rosenwald schools' history and impact and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph 5 ties member pay to existing per diem allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days absent further authorization, funded by the Senate.
• Paragraph 6 requires a report (or meeting minutes if no report is approved) to be filed with the Secretary of the Senate before abolishment.
• Paragraph 7 sets the committee's abolishment date as December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-03-28Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
3. 2025-03-28Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
4. 2025-02-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
5. 2025-02-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Gail Davenport (D, SD-17)Primary sponsor
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-43)
• Donzella James (D, SD-28)
• Emanuel Jones (D, SD-10)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-9)
• Freddie Powell Sims (D, SD-12)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-15)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-2)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-5)
• Nabilah Parkes (D, SD-7)
• Michael 'Doc' Rhett (D, SD-33)
• David Lucas (D, SD-26)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-6)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-44)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-34)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-40)

1. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   52 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 1 excused)

   CONSENT CALENDAR FOR SENATE STUDY COMMITTEES: Senate Vote #380

• Rosenwald schools
• Black history
• education history
• Georgia Senate committees
• African American education