HR 54: United States Supreme Court's Olmstead decision and the courage of its plaintiffs; honor anniversary

This resolution marks the anniversary of Olmstead v. L.C., the 1999 U.S. Supreme Court case that said states must place people with mental disabilities in community settings instead of institutions when doctors agree it is appropriate, the person consents, and it can reasonably be arranged. It recalls lead plaintiff Lois Curtis, who was released into community care and lived outside institutions for over 20 years before her death in 2022, and fellow plaintiff Elaine Wilson, who died in 2005. The resolution notes that Georgia is still working to comply with the decision under a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice. It also responds to a June 18, 2026 Justice Department memo that claims the Olmstead ruling increased homelessness and does not require integration. The Georgia House formally honors the plaintiffs, reaffirms its commitment to disability rights, and condemns the memo and other challenges to the Olmstead framework.

• Honors the courage and memory of Olmstead plaintiffs Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson.
• States the Georgia House's continued commitment to improving disability rights in line with the Olmstead decision.
• Formally condemns a June 2026 U.S. Department of Justice memo and other attacks on the Olmstead framework.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

The resolution most directly concerns people with mental disabilities in Georgia who rely on community-based care rather than institutional placement, as well as state agencies working under the federal consent decree tied to Olmstead compliance and disability rights advocates.

While a resolution carries no legal force, it signals the Georgia House's stance in favor of maintaining Olmstead's community-placement standard at a moment when a federal memo has questioned that standard, potentially shaping future state disability policy debates.

• The resolution recites the history of Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), and its requirement that states use community placement over institutionalization when appropriate.
• It references Georgia's ongoing consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice to improve Olmstead compliance.
• It notes a June 18, 2026 Justice Department memo claiming Olmstead increased homelessness and lacks an integration mandate.
• The resolved clauses honor plaintiffs Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson, reaffirm commitment to disability rights, and condemn the memo and other attacks on the decision.
• The final clause directs the House Clerk to make copies available to the public and press.

1. 2026-06-23House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2026-06-23House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-06-23House Hopper (House)

• Gabriel Sanchez (D, HD-042)Primary sponsor
• Eric Gisler (D, HD-121)
• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)
• Long Tran (D, HD-080)
• Karla Drenner (D, HD-085)
• Jasmine Clark (D, HD-108)

• disability rights
• Olmstead decision
• mental health policy
• deinstitutionalization