--- title: SR 943. Georgia HBCU and Divine Nine Day; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr943 cite_as: SR 943, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr943 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr943.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr943/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74026 date: 2026-03-12 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/sr942.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr944.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr943.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 943 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-12 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Randal Mangham - Nikki Merritt - Freddie Sims - Harold Jones - Kenya Wicks - Kim Jackson - Tonya Anderson - Jaha Howard - Sonya Halpern - Emanuel Jones - RaShaun Kemp - Donzella James - David Lucas text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR943/2025 upstream_id: 2132145 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - HBCUs - Divine Nine - Georgia Senate resolution - higher education - Black history --- # SR 943. Georgia HBCU and Divine Nine Day; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 943 By: Senators Mangham of the 55th, Merritt of the 9th, Sims of the 12th, Jones II of the 22nd, Wicks of the 34th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing Georgia HBCU and Divine Nine Day; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have played a vital role in expanding educational opportunities, leadership development, and community advancement for generations of students; and WHEREAS, the nine historically Black Greek-letter organizations known as the Divine Nine have contributed significantly to scholarship, public service, civic engagement, and leadership throughout Georgia and the nation; and WHEREAS, graduates and members of these institutions and organizations continue to strengthen communities through education, mentorship, professional excellence, and service; and WHEREAS, Georgia is proud to be home to several distinguished HBCUs whose impact reaches far beyond their campuses. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize Georgia HBCU and Divine Nine Day in honor of the legacy, achievements, and continued contributions of these institutions and organizations. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body extend their appreciation to all students, alumni, faculty, and members who continue to uplift communities across the State of Georgia. 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 recognizes Georgia HBCU and Divine Nine Day, honoring the state's historically Black colleges and universities and the nine historically Black Greek-letter organizations known as the Divine Nine. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes anyone's rights or duties. It states that the Senate recognizes Georgia HBCU and Divine Nine Day, citing the role Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have played in education, leadership development, and community advancement, and the contributions of the nine historically Black Greek-letter organizations, collectively called the Divine Nine, to scholarship, public service, and leadership in Georgia and nationally. The resolution also expresses the Senate's appreciation to students, alumni, faculty, and members of these institutions and organizations for their ongoing community work. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available for distribution to the public and the press. It does not create any new legal requirements, funding, or penalties. ### What it does - Formally recognizes Georgia HBCU and Divine Nine Day through a Senate resolution honoring HBCUs and the Divine Nine organizations. - Extends the Senate's appreciation to students, alumni, faculty, and members of HBCUs and Divine Nine organizations for community contributions. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. - Creates no new statutory requirements, funding, or penalties, since it is a ceremonial resolution rather than a change to Georgia law. ### Who it affects The resolution names Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Georgia, the nine historically Black Greek-letter organizations known as the Divine Nine, and their students, alumni, faculty, and members as the groups being honored and recognized. ### Why it matters Because this is a ceremonial resolution, it does not change any law, create funding, or impose requirements on any Georgian. Its practical effect is symbolic recognition by the Georgia Senate of HBCUs and Divine Nine organizations and their contributions to the state. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses state the Senate's reasoning: HBCUs' role in education and leadership, and the Divine Nine's contributions to scholarship, service, and civic engagement. - The first resolved clause formally recognizes Georgia HBCU and Divine Nine Day in honor of these institutions and organizations. - The second resolved clause extends the Senate's appreciation to students, alumni, faculty, and members who serve their communities. - The final resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-12) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-03-12) - Sponsors: Randal Mangham, Nikki Merritt, Freddie Sims, Harold Jones, Kenya Wicks, Kim Jackson, Tonya Anderson, Jaha Howard, Sonya Halpern, Emanuel Jones, RaShaun Kemp, Donzella James, David Lucas - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74026 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr943.md?full=1