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Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch Announced as 2023 Georgia Chamber ‘Legislator of the Year’

ATLANTA (June 16, 2023) | Last week, Majority Leader Sen. Steve Gooch (R – Dahlonega) was announced as one of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Legislators of the Year. The award is given to three members of the Georgia General Assembly whose efforts have focused on promoting economic development, job creation and free enterprise.

“One of my top priorities as the Senate Majority Leader is to foster economic opportunity through innovation. I am honored to receive such recognition from the Georgia Chamber which utilizes strategic advocacy to achieve the very same goal across our state,” said Majority Leader Gooch. “It is imperative that Georgia maintains its record of being the best state to do business, and I will always strive to support our business enterprises both large and small through my work in the Georgia State Senate. I look forward to cultivating a strong partnership with the Georgia Chamber for many years to come.”

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is the state’s largest business advocacy organization, with a focus of advocating for both state and federal issues.

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Sen. Steve Gooch serves as Senate Majority Leader. He represents the 51st Senate District which includes Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Union and Pickens counties and a portion of White County. He may be reached at 404.656.7872 or via email at steve.gooch@senate.ga.gov

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Sen. Shawn Still Honored as 2023 Freshman Legislator of the Year

ATLANTA (June 15, 2023) | Last week, Senator Shawn Still (R – Johns Creek) was announced as the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Freshman Legislator of the Year.

The award is given to members of the Georgia General Assembly whose efforts have focused on promoting economic development, job creation and free enterprise in their first term of office.

“It is an honor to be recognized as a pro-business legislator during my first year in office,” said Sen. Still. “The Georgia Chamber was an invaluable asset to me throughout the 2023 Georgia Legislative Session, and I look forward to continuing that partnership on behalf of Georgia’s business community throughout my tenure as a State Senator.”

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is the state’s largest business advocacy organization, with a focus of advocating for both state and federal issues.

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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. Bo Hatchett Praises Governor Kemp for Public Safety Grant Awards to Commerce Police Department

ATLANTA (June 9, 2023) | This week, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that he has made preliminary grant awards totaling more than $83.5 million for 118 qualified projects that improve community-level public safety measures and address law enforcement staffing challenges that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program funds will be allotted to supplement local law enforcement staffing, support violent crime reduction or community violence intervention programming, and invest in technology and equipment to address and respond to the rise in community violence across the state.

“I appreciate Governor Kemp and his staff for awarding Commerce’s first responders with this grant funding,” said Sen. Bo Hatchett (R – Cornelia). “The Commerce Police Department is extremely deserving of this grant and I look forward to seeing these key initiatives implemented in the coming months.”

Funds awarded to the Commerce Police Department include $79,310 to implement 21st century intelligence-led policing strategies for crime reduction and enhance quality of life in the community of Commerce.

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Sen. Bo Hatchett serves as a Governor’s Administration Floor Leader. He represents the 50th Senate District which includes Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens and Towns County and portions of Hall, Jackson, and White counties. He can be reached by phone at 404.463.5257 or by email at bo.hatchett@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Larry Walker III Appointed to 2023 Senate Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment

ATLANTA (June 6, 2023) | Last week, Senator Larry Walker III (R – Perry) was appointed by Lt. Governor Burt Jones to serve as a member of the Senate Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment.

“Healthcare facilities across the state currently struggle to attract and retain staff and specialty personnel, especially outside the metro Atlanta area,” said Sen. Walker III. “This discussion is imperative as we work to find realistic solutions to the shortage of rural medical personnel. Georgians deserve to have dependable care no matter where they are, and I look forward to hearing the perspectives of industry experts as we dive deeper into the workforce needs of this sector. I appreciate Lt. Governor Jones for his part in making sure this study committee is a priority for the Senate body.”

This five-member Senate Study Committee was established through the passage of Senate Resolution 371 during the 2023 Georgia Legislative Session. Rural hospitals are often left behind due to economic factors and a lack of available health care professionals. This Study Committee will aim to raise awareness of the obstacles faced by rural hospitals to recruit an adequate work force and retain their surgical personnel.

The committees will be tasked with holding meetings across the state, with dates and locations to be announced at a later time.

More information on the 2023 Senate Study Committees can be found 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  

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Sen. Bo Hatchett Appointed to Chair Senate Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment

ATLANTA (June 1, 2023) | This week, Senator Bo Hatchett (R – Cornelia) was appointed by Lt. Governor Burt Jones to serve as  Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment.

“Healthcare facilities across Georgia face numerous challenges when it comes to healthcare professional recruitment, especially in rural areas. A shortage of properly trained medical staff is dangerous for rural communities that are often hours away from large hospitals,” said Sen. Hatchett. “As a Senator from rural Georgia, I have seen firsthand the negative impacts that a lack of healthcare personnel can have on the health and wellness of families located outside of metro areas in our state. I appreciate Lt. Governor Jones for his diligence in creating this study committee and look forward to working with my Senate colleagues as we find creative solutions for the rural healthcare sector in the coming months.”

This five-member Senate Study Committee was established through the passage of Senate Resolution 371, which was sponsored by Sen. Hatchett during the 2023 Georgia Legislative Session. Currently, rural hospitals face a multitude of challenges when delivering services to their patients primarily due to economic factors and a lack of available health care professionals. This Study Committee will aim to raise awareness of the obstacles faced by rural hospitals to recruit an adequate work force and retain their surgical personnel.

The committees will be tasked with holding meetings across the state, with dates and locations to be announced at a later time.

More information on the 2023 Senate Study Committees can be found here.

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Sen. Bo Hatchett serves as a Governor’s Administration Floor Leader. He represents the 50th Senate District which includes Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens and Towns County and portions of Hall, Jackson, and White counties. He can be reached by phone at 404.463.5257 or by email at bo.hatchett@senate.ga.gov.