ATLANTA (WJBF) — The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Georgia is intensifying its focus on civil liberties by monitoring pivotal legislation concerning voting rights, criminal justice reform, women’s rights, and data privacy.

This summer, the organization facilitated the creation of a state study committee to evaluate the potential framework for a comprehensive civil rights bill in Georgia. Advocates suggest the findings may result in more stringent legislation during the 2026 session.

“How do we get this done, who is going to be impacted, who are the people in need and will benefit from this bill?” said Sarah Hunt-Blackwell, First Amendment Policy Advocate with the ACLU of Georgia.

Key priorities include enhancing protections in housing, workplace fairness, and healthcare access. Hunt-Blackwell emphasized the importance of enacting measures like the CROWN Act, which addresses hair-based discrimination, along with protections for LGBTQ+ Georgians seeking gender-affirming care.

The ACLU also cautions against increasing risks of housing discrimination, especially impacting people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and immigrants, due to both state and federal restrictions that deter landlords from renting to certain groups.

The committee is expected to recommend legal frameworks to bolster these protections, especially after recent federal rollbacks.

Simultaneously, the ACLU anticipates legislation targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Emory University, for instance, recently announced plans to discontinue its DEI initiatives in compliance with federal mandates.

In June, the Georgia Supreme Court sided with the ACLU and its partners to block a rule requiring ballots to be hand-counted before tabulation, citing risks of delays and voter disenfranchisement.