--- title: SR 810. Federal Immigration Detention Facilities; the importance of transparency, community engagement, environmental stewardship, and congressional oversight; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr810 cite_as: SR 810, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr810 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr810.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr810/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73374 date: 2026-02-19 status: introduced 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/sr809.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr811.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 95 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr810.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 810 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-18 last_action: Senate Read and Referred sponsors: - RaShaun Kemp - Harold Jones - Jaha Howard - Michael Rhett - Randal Mangham - Kenya Wicks - Nikki Merritt - Tonya Anderson - Elena Parent - Sonya Halpern - Gail Davenport - Nan Orrock - Josh McLaurin - Nabilah Islam Parkes - Freddie Sims - Kim Jackson text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR810/2025 upstream_id: 2119517 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - immigration detention facilities - federal oversight - environmental review - community input - Walton County --- # SR 810. Federal Immigration Detention Facilities; the importance of transparency, community engagement, environmental stewardship, and congressional oversight; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 810 By: Senators Kemp of the 38th, Jones II of the 22nd, Howard of the 35th, Rhett of the 33rd, Mangham of the 55th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing the importance of transparency, community engagement, environmental stewardship, and congressional oversight regarding the proposed development or expansion of federal immigration detention facilities in the State of Georgia and expressing support for federal efforts to ensure accountability in the siting of such facilities; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, communities across the State of Georgia have expressed concerns regarding the potential development or expansion of large-scale federal immigration detention facilities, including proposals affecting communities in Walton County and Hall County; and WHEREAS, local leaders and residents have raised questions regarding infrastructure capacity, water and energy usage, environmental impacts, economic consequences, and the long-term effects such facilities may have on surrounding neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, transparency, public input, and respect for local communities are essential principles that should guide decisions impacting the health, safety, and well-being of Georgia residents; and WHEREAS, the Georgia State Senate recognizes the federal government's authority over immigration policy while affirming that major projects affecting Georgia communities should be pursued with openness, accountability, and meaningful consultation; and WHEREAS, United States Senator Raphael Warnock has proposed federal legislative action to prohibit the use of certain federal funds for the construction, acquisition, or expansion of immigration detention facilities in Georgia, absent of explicit congressional authorization and appropriate oversight measures; and WHEREAS, such efforts emphasize the importance of environmental review, fiscal responsibility, and community engagement, values shared by many Georgians regardless of political affiliation; and WHEREAS, the Georgia State Senate has a long-standing interest in protecting local infrastructure, supporting responsible development, and ensuring that Georgia communities are not subjected to large-scale projects without adequate transparency and safeguards. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body express support for federal efforts that promote transparency, environmental stewardship, and meaningful community input regarding the siting or expansion of federal immigration detention facilities within the State of Georgia. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Georgia State Senate encourages the United States Congress and relevant federal agencies to ensure that any proposed detention facility projects include robust public disclosure, environmental review, and clear authorization by Congress prior to the obligation or expenditure of federal funds. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body affirms the importance of collaboration among federal, state, and local leaders to ensure that decisions impacting Georgia communities reflect responsible governance and respect for the voices of residents. 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 expresses support for transparency, environmental review, and congressional oversight over proposed federal immigration detention facilities in Georgia, including projects in Walton and Hall counties. ### Plain-language summary This resolution responds to community concerns in Walton County and Hall County about proposed federal immigration detention facilities and their effects on local infrastructure, water and energy use, and neighborhoods. It does not create new law but states the Georgia Senate's position on how such facilities should be sited and funded. The resolution says the Senate supports federal efforts, including legislation proposed by U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, to require congressional authorization and oversight before federal funds are used to build or expand immigration detention facilities. It calls on Congress and federal agencies to require public disclosure and environmental review before spending money on these projects, and it directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ### What it does - States the Senate's support for federal legislative efforts requiring congressional authorization before federal funds go toward building or expanding immigration detention facilities in Georgia. - Encourages Congress and federal agencies to require public disclosure and environmental review before committing federal funds to detention facility projects. - Affirms a general principle that federal, state, and local leaders should collaborate and respect community input on projects affecting Georgia residents. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. - Does not change any Georgia statute, regulate any facility, or bind any federal agency, since it is a nonbinding expression of the Senate's views. ### Who it affects Residents and local leaders in Walton County and Hall County near proposed detention facility sites, federal agencies and Congress involved in siting and funding such facilities, and members of the Georgia State Senate whose position is stated in the resolution. ### Why it matters While the resolution carries no legal force, it signals the Georgia Senate's stance on a live local controversy over detention facility proposals, potentially adding political weight to calls for more transparency, environmental review, and congressional oversight before federal money is spent. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses identify Walton County and Hall County as sites of specific community concern over proposed detention facility development or expansion. - The first resolved clause expresses Senate support for federal efforts promoting transparency, environmental stewardship, and community input on facility siting. - The second resolved clause calls on Congress and federal agencies to require public disclosure, environmental review, and congressional authorization before obligating federal funds for such projects. - The third resolved clause affirms the importance of collaboration among federal, state, and local leaders. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2026-02-18) - Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-02-19) - Sponsors: RaShaun Kemp, Harold Jones, Jaha Howard, Michael Rhett, Randal Mangham, Kenya Wicks, Nikki Merritt, Tonya Anderson, Elena Parent, Sonya Halpern, Gail Davenport, Nan Orrock, Josh McLaurin, Nabilah Islam Parkes, Freddie Sims, Kim Jackson - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73374 > The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr810.md?full=1