ATLANTA (WJBF) — The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Georgia is ramping up its focus on civil liberties, tracking key legislation on voting rights, criminal justice reform, women’s rights and data privacy.

This summer, the organization helped commission a state study committee to review what a comprehensive civil rights bill could look like in Georgia. Advocates say the findings could lead to tougher legislation in 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.

Among the priorities: stronger protections in housing, workplace fairness, and access to healthcare. Hunt-Blackwell pointed to the need for measures like the CROWN Act, which prevents hair-based discrimination, and protections for LGBTQ+ Georgians seeking gender-affirming care.

The ACLU also warns of growing risks of housing discrimination — particularly for people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and immigrants — citing both state and federal crackdowns that have made landlords reluctant to rent to certain groups.

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

Meanwhile, the ACLU says it is bracing for bills targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. Just last week, Emory University announced plans to eliminate its DEI initiatives in response to 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.