Panel advances 'American Laws for American Courts' after heated public testimony over alleged anti‑Sharia intent
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Summary
SB486, a bill limiting enforcement of foreign laws and tribunals, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee 4–3 after extensive public testimony; opponents said the sponsor marketed the bill as targeting Sharia law and warned of constitutional problems, while supporters called it a neutral protection of U.S. and Georgia law.
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Senate Bill 486, titled "American Laws for American Courts," by a 4–3 vote after a lengthy, contentious hearing in which public testimony sharply divided along lines of perceived intent and practical impact.
Senator Greg Dolezal, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure defines foreign law and limits tribunals from enforcing foreign rules that would supersede U.S. constitutional rights; the draft exempts religious entities and international arbitration. He said the proposal aims to prevent tribunals or foreign laws from displacing constitutional guarantees.
Opponents — including Megan Gordon of the Council on American‑Islamic Relations‑Georgia, community members and Muslim Georgians — told the committee the bill was marketed in a social‑media video by the author as an anti‑Sharia measure and argued it would disrupt family‑law matters (marriage contracts and foreign adoptions) and risk First Amendment and equal‑protection violations. "Facially neutral language does not save a law that is motivated by religious animus," one opponent said.
Supporters countered that the bill protects women and children and prevents foreign legal systems from imposing gender‑discriminatory rules in child‑custody and divorce matters; they urged lawmakers to pass neutral limits on foreign legal imposition. Several speakers recounted personal stories they said illustrated harms from foreign‑law judgments.
After debate, the committee voted 4–3 to pass the bill. Members recorded concerns about the text in lines 38–41 related to domestic relations exceptions and asked for clarifying language in future drafts. The vote advances SB486 to the next step in the legislative process.
