A House committee on Wednesday gave key approval to legislation that could lead to the placement of a statue of the late Martin Luther King Jr. on Capitol grounds.

House Bill 1080, by Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, was unanimously approved by the State Properties Committee. The bill, which includes House Majority Leader Larry O'Neal, R-Bonaire, as a co-sponsor, could reach the House floor Monday.

The bill would allow for the creation of the statue as long enough private funds are raised to pay for it.

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Passengers wait at a Delta check-in counter at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. It was the first day the Federal Aviation Administration cut flight capacity at airports during the government shutdown. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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