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Sen. Lanny Thomas Announces Appointments to Senate Committees

ATLANTA (May 1, 2026) — Sen. Lanny Thomas (R–Trion) was recently appointed by the Senate Committee on Assignments to serve on several key Senate committees, ensuring Northwest Georgia has a strong voice in shaping policy, advancing local priorities and preparing legislation for the next legislative session.

Sen. Thomas will serve on the following committees:

  • Banking and Financial Institutions
  • Education and Youth – Ex-Officio
  • Higher Education
  • Natural Resources and the Environment
  • State and Local Governmental Operations – Ex-Officio
  • Transportation

“I am honored to serve Northwest Georgia through these committee assignments, and I appreciate the trust placed in me by Lt. Governor Burt Jones, Senate President Pro Tempore Larry Walker and the Senate Committee on Assignments,” said Sen. Thomas. “These committees touch the everyday lives of the hardworking people back home, and I am grateful for the opportunity to bring Northwest Georgia’s voice into these conversations.”

A retired educator with more than 35 years of experience, Sen. Thomas brings a background in education to his committee work. He also has experience in local government, having served six years as a town councilman and eight years as mayor.

“Education has been my life’s work, and I have spent decades working with students, families, teachers and communities across Northwest Georgia,” Sen. Thomas added. “I have seen firsthand how decisions made at the state level impact our classrooms, and I look forward to bringing that perspective with me as we work to support strong schools and better outcomes for our students. My time in local government taught me that public service starts with listening and doing the work, and I will continue that approach in the Senate.”

You can find more information about Sen. Thomas here.

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Sen. Lanny Thomas represents the 53rd Senate District, which includes Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker counties, as well as a portion of Floyd County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 657-7716 or by email at Lanny.Thomas@senate.ga.gov.

For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Chuck Payne Celebrates Final Passage of Literacy Legislation

ATLANTA (April 24, 2026) — Today, Sen. Chuck Payne (R–Dalton) celebrated the final passage of key legislation aimed at strengthening childhood literacy across Georgia. House Bill 1193, also known as the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, would direct Quality Basic Education funding for school-based literacy coaches to every K-3 public school statewide.

Both the House and the Senate approved the final budget for the 2027 Fiscal Year, which includes $70 million to implement HB 1193’s literacy initiative.

Continue reading “Sen. Chuck Payne Celebrates Final Passage of Literacy Legislation”
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Legislation to Aid Victims of Investment Scams Becomes Law

ATLANTA (April 24, 2026) — Senate President Pro Tempore Larry Walker (R–Perry) applauds Governor Brian P. Kemp for signing into law Senate Bill 284, sponsored by Walker, to strengthen protections for Georgians targeted by financial fraud.

SB 284 grants the Securities Division within the Secretary of State’s Office additional regulatory authority, ensuring stronger enforcement against bad actors. Prior to the enactment of Walker’s bill, the Division could only issue civil penalties and direct fines to the state treasury. Under this new law, regulators can now require fraudsters to repay victims directly, returning stolen funds to the individuals who were bilked.

“Exploiting hardworking Georgians now comes with additional consequences for the perpetrators under this legislation,” said Sen. Walker. “The safety and security of our residents is always at the forefront of our work in the Georgia Senate, and sadly, we’re seeing increasingly frequent and sophisticated schemes targeting people’s financial assets, especially those of our senior citizens. The victims of these con artists deserve to get their money back, and by empowering the Securities Division to force repayment, we are holding fraudsters accountable and restoring the hard-earned savings of Georgians.”

SB 284 reinforces Georgia’s commitment to a fair, secure and transparent securities marketplace, ensuring that the financial risk inherent with investments is matched with strong consumer protections.

You can read more about SB 284 here.

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Sen. Larry Walker III serves as President Pro Tempore of the Georgia Senate. He represents the 20thSenate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Pulaski, Treutlen and Wilcox counties, as well as a portion of Houston County.  He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0095 or by email at Larry.Walker@senate.ga.gov.

For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov