SR 925: Senate Study Committee on a Museum of African American History and Culture of Georgia; create

This resolution sets up the Senate Study Committee on a Museum of African American History and Culture of Georgia. The committee will study how Georgia could document, preserve, and promote African American history and culture, including possibly creating a museum or clearinghouse for related materials and information. The committee will have five senators appointed by the President of the Senate, including the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, and the chairperson of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. The chairperson will call meetings and can recommend legislation based on the committee's findings. Legislative members get standard daily allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five meeting days, paid from Senate funds. The committee must file any approved report before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the Senate Study Committee on a Museum of African American History and Culture of Georgia to study the topic and recommend action.
• Sets the committee's membership at five senators, naming the Senate Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and Georgia Legislative Black Caucus chairperson as required members.
• Directs the President of the Senate to appoint a chairperson from among the legislative members to call and run meetings.
• Authorizes legislative members to receive standard daily allowances for up to five meeting days, funded through the Senate's budget.
• Requires the chairperson to file an approved report or recommended legislation with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee disbands.
• Sets the committee's abolishment date as December 1, 2026.

The resolution directly affects the five senators appointed to the committee, including Senate leadership and the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus chairperson. More broadly, it could affect Georgians interested in African American history, museums, educators, and cultural institutions if the committee's work leads to future legislation or a museum.

The resolution does not create a museum itself but starts a formal legislative process to explore one. Any concrete change, such as funding or building a museum, would depend on future legislation the committee might recommend after its study concludes in late 2026.

• Paragraph (1) formally creates the Senate Study Committee on a Museum of African American History and Culture of Georgia.
• Paragraph (2) sets membership at five senators appointed by the President of the Senate, including specific leadership roles, with a designated chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying the issues described in the resolution's preamble and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (5) ties legislative member pay to O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 and caps allowances at five days unless extended, funded from Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) lays out reporting rules, requiring majority committee approval before any report is filed with the Secretary of the Senate.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
2. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2026-03-27Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2026-03-27Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
5. 2026-03-09Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2026-03-06Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)Primary sponsor
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Consent Calendar For Senate Study Committees: Senate Vote #875

• African American history
• museums
• cultural heritage
• Georgia Senate committees
• education and culture