SR 444: Senate Civil Rights Protections Study Committee; create

Georgia does not have a broad state civil rights law covering discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and public services the way many other states do. This resolution sets up a temporary Senate committee to study that gap and consider what, if anything, the legislature should do about it. The committee will have five senators appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom will chair it. Its job includes reviewing Georgia's current anti-discrimination laws, looking at discrimination data, comparing laws from other states and federal statutes, examining enforcement tools like state agency power and private lawsuits, and weighing the impact of any new rules on businesses and government. The committee can meet as needed, members get standard legislative allowances funded through the Senate's budget, and the committee must file a report of any findings before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the Senate Civil Rights Protections Study Committee made up of five senators chosen by the President of the Senate.
• Directs the committee to review Georgia's existing anti-discrimination laws and identify gaps in protections for employment, housing, public accommodations, and public services.
• Requires the committee to compare Georgia's laws with other states' civil rights statutes and federal law to find best practices.
• Authorizes standard legislative per diem allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for committee members, capped at five days unless extended, paid from Senate funds.
• Requires the chairperson to file a report with the Secretary of the Senate if the committee approves findings or legislative recommendations.
• Sets the committee to automatically dissolve on December 1, 2025.

Senators appointed to the new committee, state agencies involved in civil rights enforcement, and Georgians who could be affected by future anti-discrimination legislation, including employees, tenants, businesses, and members of groups the committee's review covers such as race, religion, sex, disability, and age.

The committee itself changes no laws, but its recommendations could shape future legislation on discrimination protections in jobs, housing, and public services. Its findings on enforcement mechanisms and impacts on businesses could influence whether Georgia adopts broader civil rights statutes.

• Paragraph (1) establishes the Senate Civil Rights Protections Study Committee.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at five senators appointed by the President of the Senate, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) lists the committee's study tasks, including reviewing existing law, analyzing discrimination data, comparing other states' laws, assessing enforcement mechanisms, and evaluating impacts on businesses and communities.
• Paragraph (5) ties member allowances to O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 and limits paid days to five unless additional days are authorized, funded through Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires a report to the Secretary of the Senate if the committee approves findings, or minutes if no report is approved.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on 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. 2025-03-25Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
5. 2025-03-21Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-39)Primary sponsor
• Harold Jones II (D, SD-22)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-46)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-44)

1. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

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

   CONSENT CALENDAR FOR SENATE STUDY COMMITTEES: Senate Vote #380

• civil rights
• discrimination law
• study committee
• employment discrimination
• housing discrimination