Bill that creates Community Impact Districts near Georgia’s HBCUs passes out of Georgia Senate

Senate Bill 235 passed the Georgia Senate by a margin of 46-7 Monday afternoon. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Sonya Halpern, a Democrat from Atlanta, seeks to establish the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Innovation and Economic Prosperity Planning Districts Commission under the University System of Georgia. The bill is a byproduct of a recommendation from the bipartisan 2022 Excellence, Innovation and Technology at Georgia’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Study Committee. According to the bill, HBCU planning districts can transform these institutions and surrounding communities in numerous ways related to housing, digital infrastructure, small business development, environmental upgrades, campus upgrades, economic development, and workforce development. The proposed commission would consist of eleven appointed members. Plus, the legislation would establish smaller, localized advisory committees to better understand the needs and experiences of individual universities.& The bill was co-sponsored by Georgia Senate Republicans Jason Anavitarte and Brandon Beach.& “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...