--- title: SR 873. HBCU AWARE FEST Day; recognize March 26, 2026 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr873 cite_as: SR 873, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr873 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr873.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr873/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73716 date: 2026-02-26 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/sr872.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr874.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr873.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 873 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-26 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Sonya Halpern - Randal Mangham - Tonya Anderson - Nan Orrock - Gail Davenport text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR873/2025 upstream_id: 2124800 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - higher education - student loan debt - HBCU - ceremonial resolution - economic mobility --- # SR 873. HBCU AWARE FEST Day; recognize March 26, 2026 ## Text Senate Resolution 873 By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Mangham of the 55th, Anderson of the 43rd, Orrock of the 36th and Davenport of the 17th A RESOLUTION Recognizing March 26, 2026, as HBCU AWARE FEST Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the members of the Georgia Senate recognize the importance of higher education as a pathway to economic mobility and long-term financial stability; and WHEREAS, excessive student loan debt has become a significant barrier to degree completion, career flexibility, homeownership, and wealth accumulation for students and families across the State of Georgia and the nation; and WHEREAS, Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2021 to develop and scale the Student Freedom Loan Agreement (SFLA) and other innovative approaches to higher-education financing that reduce students' reliance on traditional student loans; and WHEREAS, SFI provides a suite of wraparound services that help position students to be leaders in emerging fields; and WHEREAS, since its founding, SFI has served more than 200,000 students through partnerships with 71 colleges and universities, including Albany State University, Clark Atlanta University, and the birthplace of SFI, Morehouse College; and WHEREAS, SFI provides students with alternative financing models, financial education, career preparation, and employer partnerships designed to improve post-graduation outcomes and reduce long-term debt burdens; and WHEREAS, SFI's programs demonstrate measurable scale and growing demand, including 1,942 total applicants for its SFLA program and $26.7 million disbursed to participating students to support degree completion and reduce reliance on traditional private lending; and WHEREAS, in 2026, SFI in partnership with the City of Atlanta, Mayor Andre Dickens and Live Nation Urban, launched HBCU AWAREFEST, a national movement bringing together students, educators, policymakers, philanthropists, the business community, and community leaders to examine the student debt crisis and explore practical solutions to improve economic mobility; and WHEREAS, HBCU AWAREFEST serves as a forum for collaboration, education, and policy-relevant dialogue on the intersection of higher education, workforce readiness, and financial stability; and WHEREAS, the work of Student Freedom Initiative and HBCU AWAREFEST reflect a commitment to expanding access to education, strengthening the workforce, and supporting the long-term economic health of communities across Georgia. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize March 26, 2026, as HBCU AWAREFEST Day at the state capitol and extend best wishes for the continued growth, development, and success of HBCU AWAREFEST. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Student Freedom Initiative. ## 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 designates March 26, 2026 as HBCU AWARE FEST Day at the state capitol, honoring a nonprofit initiative that helps students reduce reliance on traditional student loans. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia Senate recognizes March 26, 2026 as HBCU AWARE FEST Day at the state capitol. It does not change any Georgia law; it is a ceremonial statement honoring the Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), a nonprofit that develops alternative financing options for college students to reduce their dependence on traditional student loans. The resolution describes SFI's work, including partnerships with 71 colleges and universities such as Albany State University, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse College, and cites figures like 1,942 applicants and $26.7 million disbursed through its loan agreement program. It also notes that SFI partnered with the City of Atlanta and Live Nation Urban in 2026 to launch HBCU AWAREFEST, an event addressing student debt and economic mobility. The Senate directs that a copy of the resolution be given to the Student Freedom Initiative. ### What it does - Formally designates March 26, 2026 as HBCU AWARE FEST Day at the Georgia state capitol. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the Student Freedom Initiative. - Expresses the Senate's recognition of the Student Freedom Initiative's work on student debt and alternative college financing. - Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties, since it is a ceremonial resolution rather than a law. ### Who it affects The resolution primarily concerns the Student Freedom Initiative and its partner institutions, including Albany State University, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse College, as well as students who participate in SFI's financing programs. It has no direct legal effect on the general public. ### Why it matters Because this is a ceremonial resolution, it does not alter Georgia law, create funding, or impose obligations on anyone. Its main effect is symbolic recognition, giving public acknowledgment to an organization working on student loan alternatives and higher education access. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause recognizes March 26, 2026 as HBCU AWAREFEST Day at the state capitol. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to the Student Freedom Initiative. - The whereas clauses describe SFI's founding in 2021, its scale (200,000 students served, 71 partner colleges), and its 2026 partnership with the City of Atlanta and Live Nation Urban for HBCU AWAREFEST. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-26) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-26) - Sponsors: Sonya Halpern, Randal Mangham, Tonya Anderson, Nan Orrock, Gail Davenport - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73716 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr873.md?full=1