Georgia House Bill HR756

Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/27/25

Caption

General Assembly; preserve access to safety and justice for all survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking; encourage

Summary

House Resolution 756 is a nonbinding resolution that urges the Georgia General Assembly to preserve access to safety and justice for survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking, with a particular focus on immigrant survivors. It calls for adopting language that would help ensure immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other crimes can safely report to law enforcement and seek assistance without that contact being used as a tool of coercion or abuse. The resolution explains that immigrant survivors often face heightened barriers to safety, including fear of deportation, language access problems, and threats from abusers who may use immigration enforcement as leverage. It also cites Georgia’s large immigrant population and the state’s high number of detained immigrants, arguing that these conditions can discourage victims and witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement and seeking shelter or protection.

Impact

Because HR 756 is a resolution rather than a statute, it does not directly change Georgia law or create enforceable rights. Its practical effect is to express the House’s policy position and encourage the General Assembly to adopt protections for immigrant survivors in future legislation or amendments, especially protections related to reporting crimes, cooperating with police, and avoiding immigration-related intimidation.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is strongly supportive of immigrant survivors and of law enforcement access for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The bill text frames the issue as a public safety and justice concern, emphasizing that fear of criminalization and deportation can silence victims and hinder investigations. No committee debate or recorded votes are provided, so there is no evidence of formal opposition in the available materials.

Contention

The main point of contention implied by the resolution is the tension between immigration enforcement and victim protection. Supporters argue that immigration-related fear can be exploited by abusers and can prevent victims from reporting crimes, while critics of such measures typically worry that protections could limit cooperation with immigration authorities or complicate enforcement priorities. The resolution specifically references laws like HB 1105 as contributing to fear among immigrant communities, suggesting that prior immigration enforcement measures are part of the dispute.