Sen. Sonya Halpern Applauds Passage of Legislation to Further Support Georgia HBCUs

ATLANTA (Feb. 26, 2024) - Today the Georgia Senate granted Senate Bill 235 full passage. This measure, sponsored by Sen. Sonya Halpern (D-Atlanta), aims to establish the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Innovation and Economic Prosperity Planning Districts Commission under the University System of Georgia.

Sen. Halpern applauded the passage of the legislation, stating, "HBCUs contribute significantly more to our society than mere academic education. They are vital engines driving economic growth and social advancement, injecting over a billion dollars annually into our economy and facilitating social mobility across communities. Senate Bill 235 creates HBCU Innovation and Economic Prosperity Planning Districts, which will serve as catalysts for diversifying our workforce, driving innovation and economic impact, and anchoring community and economic development around their campuses, with our HBCUs driving those efforts. This legislation is a testament to our commitment to inclusive growth and economic vitality for all."

"Our HBCUs have a unique opportunity to grow as hubs of economic and workforce development," said Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. "We need to provide these universities with the tools and infrastructure necessary to succeed. I want to thank Senator Sonya Halpern for her work in helping better our HBCUs throughout Georgia. By strengthening our HBCUs, we can continue to keep Georgia's business climate thriving."

The proposed commission would consist of 11 appointed members and would establish smaller, localized advisory committees to better understand the needs and experiences of individual universities. The bill now moves to the Georgia House of Representatives for further consideration.

You can read the full text of SB 235 here.

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Sen. Sonya Halpern serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. She represents the 39^th Senate District which includes neighborhoods across the five cities of Atlanta, College Park, City of South Fulton, East Point and Union City, all in Fulton County. She can be reached at 404.656.9644 or at [email protected]