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Sen. Shawn Still Condemns Comments Made by Fulton County Commissioners

ATLANTA (March 27, 2023) |Today, Senator Shawn Still (R – Johns Creek) issued the following statement in response to recent comments made during the Fulton County Board of Commissioners meeting on March 15, 2023.

“The events that occurred during the previous Fulton County Board of Commissioners meeting were obvious acts of discrimination,” said Sen. Still. “During the discussion on the adoption of a resolution authorizing the Fulton County attorney to file a complaint with the Department of Justice requesting an investigation of Wellstar, Commissioner Bridget Thorne gave a description of financial issues that may have led to the closure of two hospitals in south Fulton. After listening to this hearing, many of her data points seemed accurate from a fiscal perspective.

However, two Fulton Commissioners felt the need to mock and ridicule her based off of preconceived notions regarding her race, appearance and her upbringing. I understand the recent hospital closures in south Fulton have left many frustrated and without care, but instead of focusing on Commissioner Thorne, the duty of each Commissioner should be to focus on the resolution or matter at hand. As an elected official, Commissioner Thorne is allowed to express an opinion just like anyone else.

I commend and appreciate Commissioner Thorne for her strength and composure during these negative exchanges. She represented her constituents well, and made many valid points. I am proud of how she handled such an unprofessional situation. I condemn the actions taken during the March 15 meeting, and will continue to defend any Commissioner’s right to express their opinions on a topic of concern. I encourage Board Chairman Robb Pitts to strive to do the same, and hope that this will not happen again.”

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Sen. Shawn Still represents the 48th Senate District which includes portions of Forsyth, Gwinnett, and Fulton counties. He can be reached by phone at 404.656.0044 or by email at Shawn.Still@senate.ga.gov.

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DUGAN: Week Ten Under the Gold Dome

By: Sen. Mike Dugan (R – Carrollton)

The days grow longer and busier as we approach the end of the 2023 Georgia Legislative Session. With only five legislative days left to finish our important work, the tenth week of session was packed with committee meetings to hear House Bills that have been sent to the Senate for consideration. As we enter into another busy week under the Gold Dome, I’d like to reflect on a few bills of note that were passed throughout the week.

There were 18 House Bills passed through the Senate this week, with a few measures pertain to the health of Georgians across the state. House Bill 85, carried by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (R – Marietta), would require biomarker testing to be covered under health benefit policies if there is a proven medical and scientific need. A biomarker test can be defined as the analysis of a patient’s tissue, blood or other bio specimen. Tests of this nature are used to identify a range of medical diagnoses such as cancer, and ensuring they are covered under a patient’s health insurance is imperative. These tests are not uncommon, and I appreciate the Senate for coming together to pass legislation that will provide financial relief for Georgians who must receive these medical tests.

House Bill 440, carried by Sen. Matt Brass, would allow authorized medical professionals to prescribe, and pharmacists to dispense, undesignated ready-to-use glucagon. In addition, House Bill 440 would allow a school nurse or trained diabetes personnel to possess and administer glucagon under appropriate circumstances. The measure also authorizes public and private schools to acquire and stock a supply of glucagon. This drug could be a life-saving measure for students who deal with diabetes, and this legislation will broaden the scope of healthcare for Georgia students. I am happy to report that HB 440 passed unanimously and will now be sent to the Governor for his signature.

The State Senate welcomed many foreign dignitaries to the chamber this week as well. It was a pleasure to host the Consul Generals of Israel and India, in addition to the Minister of Ireland and diplomatic representatives from the country of Taiwan within the halls of the State Capitol. Georgia’s strong partnership with these nations is a key factor in our state’s economic development, and it is imperative that these ties remain strong for years to come.

As we look to legislative days 36 through 38 of the 2023 Georgia Legislative session, I assure you that we are keeping the interest of Georgia’s citizens at the forefront of our minds through each decision. I look forward to working with my colleagues as this session progresses through the coming weeks. If you have any questions, comments or concerns about matters relating to the Georgia Senate, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.

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Sen. Mike Dugan serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security. He represents Senate District 30 which includes Carroll, and Haralson Counties and portions of Paulding and Douglas Counties. He may be reached at 404.656.7872 mike.dugan@senate.ga.gov

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WILLIAMS: An Update From Under the Gold Dome – Week Ten

By: Sen. Rick Williams (R – Milledgeville)
The 2023 Georgia Legislative Session enters its final stretch, with five legislative days left under the Gold Dome. There were 18 measures passed after meticulous consideration by the Georgia State Senate during our tenth week of session, with a few bills of note that pertain to the wellbeing of children and families.

House Bill 460, carried by Sen. Matt Brass (R – Newnan) would guarantee dependent children who are represented by court appointed counsel be represented in legitimation matters in which the child is the subject of the case. Children deserve to have every opportunity for success in cases such as this, and I appreciate the Senate for coming together to pass this bipartisan legislation unanimously on Thursday.

In addition, House Bill 147, carried by Sen. Mike Hodges (R – Brunswick), is also known as the “Safe Schools Act.” This bill would require school safety plans to be submitted to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency by December 31, 2023. Additionally, it also requires that public schools participate and complete intruder alert drills by October 1, of each year. Furthermore, it would allow parents or guardians to opt their child out of such drills should they decide to do so. With criminal activity targeting school systems on the rise, it is important that we take steps such as this to keep the state’s most vulnerable safe as they work towards an education.

Further, I am happy to report that my legislation regarding primaries and elections in the state, Senate Bill 129, has been favorably reported by substitute out of the House Committee on Governmental Affairs. This legislation would require that employers allow two hours of time off for their employees to advance vote during election season. Currently, individuals can take this time on Election Day only, and this bill aims to broaden the opportunities for those who choose to participate in one of the most important civic duties we are tasked with in the United States. SB 129 has been sent to the House Committee on Rules for the opportunity to go to the House floor for a vote and I look forward to updating you on its progress in the coming days.

As we approach Legislative Days 36 through 38 of the 2023 Georgia Legislative Session, I assure you that we are keeping the interest of Georgia’s citizens in mind through each decision that is made. If you have any questions, comments or concerns about matters relating to the Georgia Senate, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.

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Sen. Rick Williams serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Retirement. He represents Senate District 25, which includes Jasper, Jones, Putnam, and Baldwin Counties and portions of Henry and Bibb Counties. He may be reached at 404.656.0082 or rick.williams@senate.ga.gov.

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Leaf Blower Bill Leaves Local Control

ATLANTA (February 16, 2023) |Senator Shawn Still (R – Johns Creek) introduced Senate Bill 145, also known as the “Landscape Equipment and Agricultural Fairness (LEAF) Act,” which would prohibit any regulations that differ gasoline-powered leaf blowers from similar equipment such as battery powered landscape tools.

“Property owners can make their own decisions about what equipment is used and this bill does nothing to change that. Athens-Clarke County recently approved $100,000 to purchase battery operated equipment for use on their properties,” said Sen. Still. “I have worked with industry leaders from across the state to craft legislation that does not discourage the use of battery powered equipment, but ensures that Georgians are still able to utilize gas-powered utilities when battery powered tools cannot get the job done. This bill would prevent government overreach that restricts devices on the property of others and will aide those who work to keep Georgia beautiful.”

This legislation would create a uniform standard for leaf-blowing equipment across the state.

“We are a residential landscape company and have been strong advocates of utilizing battery-powered maintenance equipment. We have seen consistent improvements over the last five years in both power and run time, but we haven’t seen costs go down, and this is a major obstacle for companies,” said Pam Dooley, owner of Plants Creative Landscapes. “Additionally, an eight-hour run time for batteries used in blowers during heavy leaf season falls well short of what landscape professionals require. Because of these two challenges, we continue to use a combination of gas and battery-powered products.”

“Gasoline leaf blowers have the power and run time needed to move large volumes of debris on job sites,” said Teddy Russell, CEO of Russell Landscape Group. “Battery and electrical equipment continue to improve, but simply do not fit our commercial application needs. Additionally, uniform equipment use ordinances are essential for our employees serving clients across the metro region.”

SB 145 has been referred to the Senate Committee on State and Local Governmental Operations.

You can read the full text of SB 145 here.

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Sen. Shawn Still represents the 48th Senate District which includes portions of Forsyth, Gwinnett, and Fulton counties. He can be reached by phone at 404.656.0044 or by email at Shawn.Still@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Shelly Echols Introduces Healthcare Legislation

ATLANTA (February 9, 2023) | Yesterday, Senator Shelly Echols (R – Alto) introduced Senate Bill 109, which would require the Department of Community Health to include continuous glucose monitors as a pharmacy benefit for Medicaid recipients.


“SB 109 aims to expand healthcare access to those who utilize Medicaid and struggle with diabetes,” said Sen. Echols. “I look forward to seeing this bill progress through the Georgia Senate and encourage my Senate colleagues to support this important legislation. Georgians deserve to have easier access to this modern technology as they continue to monitor their glucose levels.”

This legislation also offers guidance as to who is eligible to receive this Medicaid benefit and the stipulations for receiving such a benefit. It is Senator Echols’ first authored bill since her election to the Georgia State Senate in November.


SB 109 has been assigned to the committee on Health and Human Services.

You can read the full text of SB 109 here.

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Sen. Shelly Echols serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting. She represents the 49th Senate District which includes Hall County. She can be reached by phone at 404.463.1317 or by email at shelly.echols@senate.ga.gov.