Welcome back to the Asian American Advocacy Fund’s Political Newsletter, where we share updates on political happenings, our work, and break down bills, laws, and how they impact Georgia’s AAPI communities.
The 2023 Georgia Legislative Session has ended since our last update, and we will review the outcomes of bills from Sine Die. Sine Die marks the last day of the Legislative Session, which was on March 29, and our political staff spent the day at the capitol keeping a close watch on key bills.
With a lot of effort, the two bills we opposed–SB 132 and HB 144 (formerly HB 30) — did not pass. We are relieved that these harmful bills did not move to the Governor’s desk. However, they can be brought back again next January, and we will be ready to firmly oppose them if the time comes.
This Legislative Session once again displayed the great need for our continued efforts, as harmful bills like SB 140 and SB 222 were signed into law at Governor Kemp’s desk.
Our Wins
HB 144 — Redefining Antisemitism Bill aimed to codify a definition of antisemitism that conflated criticism of Israel with antisemitism. This bill was a violation of first amendment rights and infringed on the freedom of speech of those speaking out against the occupation of Palestine. Due to significant opposition to the measure from multiple organizations, this bill was never brought up for a vote.
SB 132 — Discriminatory Property Bill would have targeted immigrant and refugee communities and impacted their abilities to equitably own land in Georgia. This bill was a violation of federal law, as it discriminated against individuals based on their national origin. Due to significant opposition, the House Rules committee never scheduled SB 132 for a vote.
Our Fight Continues
SB 222 — Voter Suppression Bill makes it a felony for counties to accept outside funding for elections. This bill will make it difficult for many counties to fully fund their elections. The bill now goes to the Governor to be signed into law.
SB 140 — Anti-Transgender Youth Healthcare Bill will now restrict Georgia families’ access to healthcare for transgender youth, jeopardize health care providers’ ability to do their jobs, and allow for government interference in families’ private health care decisions. This bill would ban certain pediatrician-recommended medicines that help transgender adolescents through puberty, and will put misinformation about gender-affirming healthcare into state law. We will continue to oppose all legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, and support the efforts of organizations looking to challenge this law in court. Once an official action is available against SB 140, we will help to amplify it.
Take Action:
Please call the Governor’s office at 404–656–1776 and tell him to VETO SB 222 and protect voting rights in Georgia.
This legislative session may be over, but the work we do at the Asian American Advocacy Fund continues! Stay connected with us to be updated on the latest developments and next steps!
