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Draft of Proposed Congressional Map Released to Public

ATLANTA (Dec. 1, 2023) — Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting Sen. Shelly Echols (R-Gainesville) has announced the publication of the draft for the proposed Georgia Congressional districts, inviting the public to provide comment and engage in the redistricting process.

“As we proceed with the 2023 Special Session, we have released the proposed plan for Georgia’s Congressional Districts,” stated Chairwoman Echols. “We invite all members of the public to provide their comment where they see fit. The proposed maps are available on the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office’s website, and written comments can be submitted by the public through the portal available on the Georgia General Assembly website at https://www.legis.ga.gov/joint-office/reapportionment.”

The Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting will hold a public hearing to discuss the Congressional draft plan the week of Dec. 4, 2023. The committee encourages public participation and values the input of the community in this vital democratic process.

*Editor’s note: an earlier version of this release contained a misspelling in the first reference of the Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting.

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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.

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Statement from Sen. Mike Dugan Regarding Vote on Proposed State Senate District Maps

ATLANTA (Dec. 1, 2023) — Sen. Mike Dugan (R–Carrollton) released the following statement regarding today’s Senate vote on the proposed State Senate district maps in the form of Senate Bill 1EX:

“In late October of this year U.S. District Court Judge Steve Jones determined that Georgia’s District maps drawn after the 2020 Census, which include Congressional, State Senate, and State House seats, violated the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.  He informed the state of Georgia that these maps needed to be modified to include more majority Black districts and set a mandatory completion date of Dec. 8, 2023 to have these new maps completed. As a Senate body, we believe the original maps complied with the Act and the State have appealed his ruling. However, until the appeal process is completed, we are incumbent to comply with the ruling. To meet Judge Jones’ deadline, Governor Kemp called for a Special Session of the Georgia General Assembly to respond to the court’s demand.

Once this Special Session was called, the House and Senate Committees on Reapportionment and Redistricting began their work of determining Judge Jones’ exact ruling so that these new districts could be created. Historically during this process, existing District lines are often adjusted. Typically, these adjustments are minimal, although this was not the case with the 30th State Senate District. Upon this realization, I made the decision vote “no” on the passage of Senate Bill 1EX, which would have adjusted the composition of my district far more than I believe it should have been.

I have been honored to serve the good people of the 30th since 2013. From 2013 until 2021 my district included Carroll, parts of Douglas, and parts of Paulding Counties. As a result of the last redistricting process, I was also proud to include Haralson County in that list. This new map significantly cuts Carroll County, to the point that geographically nearly half of the county is now in another District. People I have known all of my life and have served for a decade are no longer in my area.

There are times during the redistricting process when substantial changes to a district must take place. Those times are truly unfortunate and occur when there are no other viable solutions. That was not the case here. In order to avoid significant changes that would have impacted the entire state, Carroll County did, in fact, need to be adjusted. I did present several alternatives during the Special Session in order to preserve greater county integrity yet, much to my dismay, they were rejected out of hand.

If my perspectives had been taken seriously by the committee, this situation could have and would have been better resolved. I was given no forewarning of how massive this split was until the map was shown to me in front of an entire group. I protested the decision, presented my thoughts on why I was opposed and offered a potential way of improving our district while keeping Carroll County more whole. I was told that the map would be taken into further consideration and analyzation. When I reported to Atlanta for Special Session, I was looking forward to seeing the changes I had hoped would be made. None were. When I inquired into these changes again, I was given a list of things that would have to be accomplished before they could be considered and a deadline to meet. The list was no small feat. I was fortunately able to get everything accomplished two hours before the committee was scheduled to meet. Now, imagine my frustration when I was told a just a few moments before the committee convened that my modifications would not be considered, even though it met every requirement I was given.

To say I was disappointed is an understatement. This is politics at its ugliest.

At the end of the day, it is the impact on the people of the 30th State Senate District and the area I have called home for most of my life that I care about the most. Representing you in the State Senate has been an honor. I would like to express that although I will no longer be on the ballot for many of my current constituents, my door is always open should you ever need anything. You have been my people for nearly all of my life and will continue to be so, even if some crudely drawn line on a map says differently.”

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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 mike.dugan@senate.ga.gov

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Joint Meeting of Senate Committees on Public Safety, Science and Technology and House Committee on Technology Innovation Regarding Artificial Intelligence

ATLANTA (Nov. 30, 2023) | On Monday, Dec. 4, the Senate Committee on Public Safety, chaired by Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell), the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, chaired by Sen. Chuck Payne (R–Dalton), and the House Committee on Technology Innovation, chaired by Rep. Todd Jones (R–South Forsyth) and co-chaired by Rep. Brad Thomas (R–Holly Springs) will hold a joint meeting on the topic of Artificial Intelligence.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Monday, Dec. 4, 2023
  • Time: 4:00 p.m.
  • Location: Georgia State Capitol, Room 450, 206 Washington St, Atlanta GA 30334
  • Open to the Public: The event welcomes the public. The streaming link and meeting agenda can be found on the Senate schedule here.

ABOUT THE MEETING:         

The meeting will include presentations from industry experts with the goal of analyzing current and projected future use of artificial intelligence. The House Committee on Technology and Infrastructure Innovation will also be joining this meeting.

Media Opportunities:

We kindly request members of the media to confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Emily Leonard at the Senate Press Office (Emily.Leonard@senate.ga.gov).

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Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 56th Senate District which includes portions of Cherokee, Cobb and North Fulton counties. He may be reached at his office at 404.463.8055 or by email at john.albers@senate.ga.gov

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Sen. Larry Walker III Commends Committee’s Recommendations as Senate Study Committee on Occupational Licensing Concludes

ATLANTA (November 30, 2023) | The 2023 Georgia Senate Study Committee on Occupational Licensing, under the leadership of Chairman Sen. Larry Walker III (R–Perry), has successfully wrapped up its examination of occupational licensing in the state. The committee’s diligent efforts culminated in a series of impactful recommendations aimed at fostering a dynamic and responsive regulatory environment.

During the final meeting, the committee passed several key recommendations, each designed to enhance efficiency, promote economic growth, and ensure public safety. Sen. Walker III expressed his satisfaction with the outcomes, stating, “These recommendations represent a crucial step towards a more adaptive and effective regulatory framework for Georgia’s workforce. I am proud of the collaborative effort put forth by this committee to address the needs of our state.”

“I am proud to have been a part of this committee, working alongside Chairman Walker III and our dedicated colleagues,” said Majority Caucus Chairman Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas). “By embracing innovation and efficiency, we are shaping a regulatory landscape that safeguards public interests and fosters economic growth. I look forward to the positive impact these recommendations will have on each of Georgia’s industries.”

Sen. Brian Strickland (R–McDonough) reflected on his experiences as a member of this study committee, stating, “It was great working with Chairman Walker III and my other colleagues on this committee to learn more about the occupational licensing structure in our state and areas where the system in place is causing unnecessary barriers to employment. We have set forth some concrete recommendations to make meaningful change in this area and I am proud to share our findings with the other members of the Senate as we prepare for the 2024 legislative session.”

The following recommendations were approved:

  1. Pass Senate Bill 157: The Committee advocates for the passage of SB 157, reflecting a commitment to legislative measures that address evolving workforce needs and industry dynamics.
  2. Implement Changes Requested by The Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia: Endorsed by the Georgia State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, the committee supports implementing changes proposed by The Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia to streamline processes and uphold professional standards.
  3. Transfer Georgia Board of Registration for Foresters Operations to Georgia Forestry Commission: Recognizing the need for efficiency, the committee recommends moving the operational function and revenue generation responsibilities of the Georgia Board of Registration for Foresters from the Georgia Secretary of State to the Georgia Forestry Commission.
  4. Sunset Licensing Requirements: In alignment with legal considerations (Jackson vs. Raffensperger), the committee recommends sunset provisions for licensing requirements for occupations, such as makeup artists, librarians, low-voltage contractors, and manicurists, where licensing has not proven necessary for public health, safety, or welfare.
  5. Fully Support SOS Modernization Initiative: The Committee wholeheartedly endorses the Secretary of State’s Modernization Initiative, recognizing the importance of staying at the forefront of technological advancements.
  6. Adequately Fund the Board of Nursing: To ensure the effective regulation of nursing practices, the committee recommends adequate funding for the Board of Nursing.
  7. Adequately Fund Composite Medical Board: Recognizing the critical role of the Composite Medical Board, the committee advocates for sufficient funding to fulfill its regulatory responsibilities.
  8. Advanced Nursing Protocol Agreements Approval: The Committee recommends approving advanced nursing protocol agreements within 30 days from the date of submission of a fully complete application, streamlining the approval process.
  9. Move to Universal Recognition of Out-of-State Licenses: Emphasizing reciprocity, the committee recommends moving towards universal recognition of out-of-state licenses where reasonable.
  10. Shorten 90-Day Deadline for License Issuance: In line with HB 155 signed into law on April 27, 2023, the committee proposes shortening the 90-day deadline for issuing an expedited license or a license by endorsement to 30 days, promoting a more expeditious licensing process.

Find more information on the outcomes and details of the 2023 Georgia Senate Study Committee on Occupational Licensing here.

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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Secretary of the Senate Majority Caucus. He also serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor. He represents Senate District 20 which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Pulaski, Treutlen, and Wilcox Counties and a portion of Houston County. He can be reached at larry.walker@senate.ga.gov 

Sen. Jason Anavitarte serves as Majority Caucus Chair. He represents the 31st Senate District which includes portions of Paulding and Polk County. He may be reached via email at jason.anavitarte@senate.ga.gov

Sen. Brian Strickland serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He represents the 17th Senate District, which includes Morgan County and portions of Henry, Morgan, Newton, and Walton County. He may be reached by email at brian.strickland@senate.ga.gov.

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Rep. Lynn Smith and Sen. Lee Anderson Participate in Legislative Environmental Policy Academy in South and Coastal Georgia

ATLANTA – State Representative Lynn Smith (R-Newnan), chairman of the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee, and State Senator Lee Anderson (R-Grovetown), chairman of the Senate Natural Resources & Environment Committee, recently brought together members of the House and Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committees through the Legislative Environmental Policy Academy to strengthen their understanding of key environmental issues facing the state. 

“We are citizen legislators,” said Rep. Smith. “Learning the fundamentals of natural resource and environmental management helps us make informed decisions. The point of this program is not to convince anyone of anything – it is to give members an experiential learning opportunity so that we better understand the complex challenges facing our state.”

“Every region in Georgia is different,” said Sen. Anderson. “When we learn firsthand about an area, its people and its resources, we do our jobs better. Georgia has incredible resources that benefit each one of us every day.”   

The Academy provides members of the Georgia General Assembly with relevant information about current and developing environmental issues that affect Georgians. This year, members of the House and Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committees made a site visit to Jekyll Island, Brunswick and Folkston to learn more about the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge and topics such as land use, coastal conservation, habitat and wildlife protection, brownfields redevelopment and regional water planning.  

            The Academy is led by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government and is supported by the Dobbs Foundation. As a Public Service and Outreach unit of the University of Georgia, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s mission is to inform, inspire and innovate so that governments can be more efficient and responsive to citizens, address current and emerging challenges and serve the public with excellence.

For more information on the Legislative Environmental Policy Academy, please click here.

Representative Lynn Smith represents the citizens of District 70, which includes portions of Carroll and Coweta counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1996, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Natural Resources & Environment Committee. She also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and the Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment and Rules committees.

Senator Lee Anderson represents the citizens of District 24, which includes Elbert, Greene, Hart, Lincoln, Oglethorpe, and Wilkes County and most of Columbia County. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Natural Resources & Environment Committee and Vice Chair of the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee. He serves as a member of the Appropriations and Rules committees and the Appropriation Subcommittees for Agriculture and Natural Resources and Government Operations.

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