---
title: SR 953. Black Legislative Leaders Network HBCU Caucus Legislative Summit; honor
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr953
cite_as: SR 953, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr953
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr953.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr953/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74085
date: 2026-03-16
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.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 94
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr953.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 953
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-03-16
last_action: Senate Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Tonya Anderson
  - David Lucas
  - Harold Jones
  - Freddie Sims
  - Jaha Howard
  - Donzella James
  - Randal Mangham
  - Gail Davenport
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR953/2025
upstream_id: 2134005
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - HBCUs
  - higher education
  - Georgia Senate resolution
  - Atlanta events
---

# SR 953. Black Legislative Leaders Network HBCU Caucus Legislative Summit; honor

## Text

Senate Resolution 953
By: Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Lucas of the 26th, Jones II of the 22nd, Sims of the 12th,
Howard of the 35th and others
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the Black Legislative Leaders Network HBCU Caucus Legislative Summit; and
for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the Black Legislative Leaders Network is a national coalition of Black state
legislative leaders and policy partners committed to advancing policies that strengthen
communities through education, economic opportunity, and civic leadership; and
WHEREAS, the Black Legislative Leaders Network works to connect state legislators,
higher education institutions, philanthropic leaders, and the private sector in order to develop
innovative public policies that expand opportunity and strengthen state economies; and
WHEREAS, recognizing the historic importance of Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, the organization established the BLLN HBCU Caucus initiative to strengthen
the partnership between state legislatures and HBCU institutions across the United States and
to support policies that ensure their continued growth and success; and
WHEREAS, HBCUs have played a transformative role in American history by educating
generations of leaders in public service, business, science, education, and civic life while
serving as engines of economic mobility and innovation; and
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia is home to some of the nation's most respected HBCUs,
including Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse
School of Medicine, Albany State University, Savannah State University, Fort Valley State
University, and Paine College, institutions that collectively contribute billions of dollars in
economic impact and prepare thousands of students each year for leadership roles across the
nation; and
WHEREAS, the Black Legislative Leaders Network HBCU Caucus Legislative Summit will
convene state legislators from across the United States, HBCU presidents and leadership,
corporate partners, policy organizations, and philanthropic leaders in Atlanta, Georgia, from
March 26 through March 28, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the summit will focus on strengthening legislative support for HBCUs,
advancing workforce development partnerships, promoting innovation and research
collaboration, and elevating the economic impact of HBCUs within their states and
communities; and
WHEREAS, hosting this national gathering in Atlanta highlights Georgia's historic
leadership in Black higher education and its continued role as a national center for
scholarship, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
commend the Black Legislative Leaders Network for its leadership and recognize the
importance of its HBCU Caucus Legislative Summit being held in Atlanta, Georgia, on
March 26–28, 2026.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body extend their appreciation to
the summit organizers, participating legislators, university leaders, and partners whose work
strengthens Historically Black Colleges and Universities and expands opportunities for future
generations of students and leaders.
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 honors the Black Legislative Leaders Network HBCU Caucus Legislative Summit, a national gathering of legislators and HBCU leaders taking place in Atlanta in March 2026.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia Senate recognizing the Black Legislative Leaders Network, a national coalition of Black state legislative leaders and policy partners, and its HBCU Caucus initiative. The initiative works to strengthen ties between state legislatures and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The resolution notes that the network's HBCU Caucus Legislative Summit will be held in Atlanta from March 26 through March 28, 2026, bringing together state legislators, HBCU presidents, corporate partners, and philanthropic leaders. It commends the network's work, highlights Georgia's HBCUs such as Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. It does not change any Georgia law.

### What it does

- Formally commends the Black Legislative Leaders Network for its leadership on HBCU-related policy work.
- Recognizes the HBCU Caucus Legislative Summit being held in Atlanta from March 26 to March 28, 2026.
- Extends the Senate's appreciation to summit organizers, participating legislators, university leaders, and partners.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press.

### Who it affects

This mainly touches the Black Legislative Leaders Network, Georgia's HBCUs named in the text (including Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and others), and the legislators, university leaders, and organizations attending the Atlanta summit.

### Why it matters

The resolution carries no legal or funding changes, but it publicly signals Georgia Senate support for HBCUs and for hosting a national policy gathering in Atlanta, which may raise the summit's visibility among legislators and institutions.

### Key provisions

- The resolution's whereas clauses describe the Black Legislative Leaders Network and its HBCU Caucus initiative aimed at strengthening ties between state legislatures and HBCUs.
- It lists Georgia HBCUs including Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Albany State University, Savannah State University, Fort Valley State University, and Paine College.
- The resolved clauses commend the network, recognize the March 26-28, 2026 summit in Atlanta, and thank organizers and participants.
- The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-03-16)
- Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-03-16)
- Sponsors: Tonya Anderson, David Lucas, Harold Jones, Freddie Sims, Jaha Howard, Donzella James, Randal Mangham, Gail Davenport
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74085

> The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr953.md?full=1