The Georgia General Assembly is back in session, and the ACLU of Georgia is tracking decisions that could impact everyday life across the state.
The week of January 19 marked budget week, when legislators reviewed the governor’s proposed budget and questioned agencies about funding priorities. Committee meetings began in earnest the following week. With committees now active, the pace of the session will pick up speed.
As in previous years, we’re watching closely and keeping civil rights front and center. Advocates and supporters have already carried out some Good Trouble Under the Gold Dome, and you can help shape what comes next.
Protecting Voting Rights
On January 22, the Senate Ethics Committee held their first meeting of the year, where they approved Senate Resolution 563, which calls on Georgia’s Secretary of State to release confidential voter information requested by the U.S. Department of Justice. While senate resolutions do not carry legal force, calls to release confidential voter data raise significant concerns about voter privacy.
During the meeting, we also heard members of the State Election Board urge the committee to mandate in-person voting with hand-marked paper ballots.
The changes would overhaul ballot counting statewide and eliminate critical ballot drop boxes that communities rely on to make their voices heard each election year. We are closely monitoring developments related to voting rights and will oppose any proposal that makes it harder for Georgians to vote.
Balancing Georgians’ Privacy and Free Speech Rights
The policy team testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday in opposition to Senate Bill 398. The bill puts new crimes on the books by banning the use of AI to create images of real people without their consent.
Clearly, the harms caused by these images are real, serious, and growing, but the ACLU of Georgia has concerns about how the proposed law is written. The bill is overly broad; Georgians could face criminal charges simply for making an image, including satire, political commentary, artistic expression, parody, and other content protected by the First Amendment.
“We’ve seen in other states what happens when legislatures adopt overly broad approaches to regulating deepfakes. In Arizona, for example, the governor vetoed a similar bill over concerns that it would criminalize protected speech. Any solution must be narrowly tailored to the harm at issue, and SB 398 fails that test,” Kendric Holder, ACLU of Georgia legislative fellow, told the committee.
Get Involved in Passing Civil Rights Protections
We’re continuing our advocacy to pass a comprehensive civil rights bill in Georgia. Members of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus held a press conference Monday outlining their priorities, and the Georgia Civil Rights Act was high on the list.
Senate Bill 320 and House Bill 670 would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, creating one standard for civil rights protections that applies to all Georgians. Committee chairs have the power to move this bill forward. They need to hear from you today.
Email Sen. Brian Strickland, chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, and Rep. Stan Gunter, chairman of the same committee in the House, to help us pass this critical piece of legislation in both chambers.
