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Capitol Recap – Week Eleven

By: Sen. Larry Walker III (R–Perry)

As the 2024 Legislative Session nears its conclusion, the Georgia Senate is in the midst of its final days, with only one week left to address legislative matters. This last week marked the culmination of our collective efforts as a caucus and as individual legislators.

I’m pleased to announce the passage of the “Back the Blue Act”, originally conceived by Lt. Governor Jones when he served in the Senate.  With his encouragement, I introduced the concept again last session and finally got it through both bodies last week. This measure offers an opportunity for Georgians to contribute to the Back the Blue Fund, when they renew their vehicle registration. This Fund will provide Georgia Sheriffs with the ability to award merit bonuses to their deputies and jailers. We’ve done a lot in the way of increasing compensation for state law enforcement, and it’s time we enhance compensation for local law enforcement. 

Furthermore, the Georgia Senate has taken significant steps regarding various tax-related proposals. I am delighted to have supported House Bill 808, which raises the statewide ad valorem tax exemption for tangible personal property. This property tax cut with help Georgia small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy, reinvest their hard-earned dollars to grow their business instead of growing government. I also voted in favor of House Bill 1015, a priority for Governor Brian P. Kemp. This bill accelerates the phase-in of the historic state income tax reduction we passed in 2022, thereby leaving more money in your pocket, sooner.

We have also taken further action against individuals seeking to harm Georgia communities and countries aiming to undermine our national security. Senate Republicans passed House Bill 301 and House Bill 1105 this week, reaffirming our commitment to public safety. HB 301 enables residents to seek declaratory judgments against local governments that enact dangerous immigration sanctuary policies, while HB 1105 mandates local law enforcement cooperation with federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws.

Furthermore, Senate Republicans passed multiple pieces of legislation specifically targeting foreign adversaries seeking to compromise our national security and financial stability. Earlier this week, we passed House Bill 185, which mandates Georgia’s University System to report certain funding received from foreign adversaries. Additionally, Senate Republicans were pleased to see the House pass Senate Bill 420, which prohibits enemies of the United States from acquiring land near secure areas, including military bases.

I am also pleased that my legislative priorities are continuing to move in the House chamber. Specifically, I am proud that the House passed SB 373 unanimously. This bill allows marriage and family therapists, holding a valid license in another state, to receive expedited licenses by endorsement to practice here.  Thereby easing our shortage of mental health professionals.

Please never hesitate to contact my office if I can assist with legislative matters as the 2024 Legislative Session enters its final week.

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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Chairman of the Insurance and Labor Committee and Secretary of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutlen, Pulaski, and Wilcox counties as well as portions of Houston County.  He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0095 or by email at larry.walker@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Russ Goodman Celebrates Final Passage of “Austin’s Law”

ATLANTA (Mar. 20, 2024) — Today, the Georgia State Senate agreed to the House Substitute to Senate Bill 465, sponsored by Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell).

Senate Bill 465, known as “Austin’s Law,” is named after a Georgian who unwittingly ingested a pill laced with fentanyl and subsequently lost his life. This measure establishes a new category of offense, felony aggravated involuntary manslaughter, under which drug dealers and distributors can now be prosecuted. Following consideration by the Georgia House of Representatives, the bill will now also provide for the offense of unlawfully possessing a pill press, tableting machine, encapsulating machine or other controlled substance counterfeiting materials.

“Today, the Georgia General Assembly made a tremendous step in combatting the fentanyl crisis in our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. “I am proud that the Senate and the House recognize the seriousness of this crisis, and I am hopeful that the passage of ‘Austin’s Law’ will help to prevent the senseless deaths of Georgians. With the passage of this bill, those who traffic illicit substances like fentanyl will be held accountable for their deadly actions.”

“I am beyond pleased that the SB 465 is now headed to our Governor’s desk for signage into law. This legislation is of utmost importance to me and many others as it will protect people like Austin from those who would harm our communities and kill our loved ones. This measure is a true testament to the Georgia General Assembly’s commitment to protecting the lives of Georgians,” said Sen. Goodman.

Sen. Goodman furthered his statement by saying “I would like to extend my thanks to our Lieutenant Governor. Burt Jones who made this issue a priority. Lt. Gov. Jones has been a vocal advocate for increased legislation regarding the war against fentanyl trafficking. Furthermore, I would like to thank Austin’s parents, Gus and Beth Walters, who brought this important issue to my attention and made several trips up from Valdosta to the Capitol to continue to advocate for their son Austin.”

SB 465 will now head to Governor Brian P. Kemp’s desk to be signed into law.

Read the full text of SB 465 here.

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Sen. Russ Goodman serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. He represents Senate District 8 which includes Atkinson, Clinch, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes and Pierce Counties and a large portion of Ware County. He may be reached at 404.656.7454 or at russ.goodman@senate.ga.gov

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Walker: Week Ten Under the Gold Dome

By: Sen. Larry Walker III (R–Perry)

With only five legislative days remaining in the 2024 Legislative Session, Georgia Senate members are diligently working both within their respective committees and on the Senate floor to propel House bills forward.

This week, Senate Republicans attended the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame Unveiling Ceremony, paying tribute to Georgia’s veterans for their selfless sacrifices to our nation. Year after year, this profoundly moving ceremony is one of the highlights of session. I am proud to support legislative initiatives that positively impact those who have devoted their lives to protecting freedoms that we often take for granted.

We have also continued our legislative efforts on the Senate floor by passing House Bill 244, a bill which will introduce important rules and regulations across Georgia’s fish and game industries. More specifically, the legislation would take further steps to protect Georgia’s oyster population and aquaculture industry.  Our coastline has unlimited potential, and it is good to see the General Assembly taking steps to better equip our Department of Natural Resources for future success.

I was honored to carry House Bill 880, which furthers our commitment to enhancing Georgia’s workforce development by enabling military spouses to utilize an existing license in good standing from another state to secure employment at a Georgia business. Georgia’s military spouses often lose valuable working time between relocations. This game-changing legislation would expedite their journey into the workforce simultaneously easing their overall transition into our great state. Our military spouses sacrifice a great deal for our nation, and I am delighted to have authored and advocated on behalf of one of the strongest military spouse license bills in the nation.

Senate members also joined Governor Brian P. Kemp on the steps of the Capitol as he signed Senate Bill 332 into law. This legislation empowers the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission to begin its crucial task of holding District Attorneys accountable if they fail to uphold the law. I take pride in our collective efforts as members of the General Assembly to advance this bill, confident that it will provide essential oversight.

In regards to our committee work, House Bill 1185 passed favorably out of the Senate Committee on Finance this week. This bill, aims to reduce inflated homestead taxes, thereby easing the burden on working Georgians. It offers our citizens the opportunity to reinvest in our economy now or save for the future.

I was also proud to see my legislative priorities continue to move in the House chamber. Specifically, I am honored to see my “Back the Blue Act” from the 2023 Legislative Session resume its progression through the legislative process. This bill will establish the Back the Blue Fund via voluntary contributions made through motor vehicle insurance policies. Supporting our men and women in law enforcement has and always will be one of my foremost priorities.

Each week under the Gold Dome, constituents, associations, and organizations alike come to the Capitol to speak to legislators and host events with public officials. This week, the Senate Chamber had the honor of welcoming my dad, Larry Walker II, and his good friend Judge Bryant Culpepper, former House member, back to the Senate. My father served in the Georgia General Assembly for 32 consecutive years, and for 16 of those years, he served as House Majority leader. Following his time as a legislator, he served as a Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner and as Regent on the University System of Georgia Board. In 2022, my father retired from his law practice. He now enjoys working on the farm with his wife of 59 years, watching his grandchildren participate in their many and varied extracurricular activities, and following Georgia politics. It was great to have my father and Judge Culpepper in the chamber with us this week as they represent generations of public service. 

Please never hesitate to contact my office if I can assist with legislative matters. I hope to see you under the Gold Dome soon as the 2024 Legislative Session enters its final weeks.

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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Chairman of the Insurance and Labor Committee and Secretary of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutlen, Pulaski, and Wilcox counties as well as portions of Houston County.  He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0095 or by email at larry.walker@senate.ga.gov.

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Capitol Recap – Week Nine

By: Sen. Larry Walker III (R–Perry)

Following the conclusion of Crossover Day, which marked the final opportunity for Senate and House Bills to proceed through their respective chambers, the Senate is now dedicated to refining House bills as they advance through Senate committees. With only a few weeks remaining in the 2024 Legislative Session, it has been a busy week in committees as we’ve deliberated legislation that seeks to amplify the voices and concerns of all Georgians.

We also dove back into Appropriations subcommittees to further discuss the budgetary needs of various state agencies. I was proud to chair the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture & Natural Resources. I also served as a member of the Subcommittee on Education & Higher Education. Through these presentations and discussions, we were able to assist in the creation of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget. The FY 2025 Budget was passed by the House on Thursday of this week and is one step closer to being signed by Governor Brian P. Kemp.

While we have spent most of our time vetting House legislation this week, I was proud to see my legislative priorities continue to move in the House chamber. First, I am pleased to announce the passage of Senate Bill 345 through the House of Representatives. This bill will authorize the Probate Court of Dooly County to assess and collect a technology fee, and awaits signage by Gov. Kemp. Additionally, Senate Bill 390 is currently awaiting a hearing by the House Committee on Higher Education. Georgia libraries should no longer accept and use funds from the American Library Association, an organization which has lost its way and has no business providing educational materials to Georgians, especially young Georgians. I will not allow the liberal left’s dangerous agenda to creep into local libraries across our state. These are areas where our citizens, especially our children, should feel comfortable learning and opening their minds. I look forward to updating you further on this bill’s progress as makes its way through the remainder of our legislative process.

On another note, this week saw the Georgia Senate exercise its subpoena powers to uncover crucial information pertaining to the allegations directed at Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The Georgia Senate took proactive measures to investigate these claims by summoning defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant to testify before the Senate Special Committee on Investigations. I have full confidence in the leadership of committee chairman, Sen. Bill Cowsert, and I am proud of the valuable information we were able to glean this week for the benefit of the people of Georgia. As a legislative body, we are committed to utilizing every available resource to uncover the truth.

I enjoyed spending time with a few of Georgia’s Boy Scouts from across the state. There are over 40,000 Boy Scouts currently in our state committed to responsible citizenship, character development and participation in outdoor activities. I look forward to hearing about these young men as they take the mantle and become future leaders in our great state.

Please never hesitate to contact my office if I can assist with legislative matters. I hope to see you under the Gold Dome soon as the 2024 Legislative Session enters its final weeks.

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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Chairman of the Insurance and Labor Committee and Secretary of the Senate Republican Caucus. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutlen, Pulaski, and Wilcox counties as well as portions of Houston County.  He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0095 or by email at larry.walker@senate.ga.gov.

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Senator Shelly Echols Announces Retirement from Georgia State Senate

ATLANTA (March 8, 2024) — Sen. Shelly Echols (R–Gainesville) of Hall County announced today she will retire from service as a member of the Georgia State Senate.

“Serving the constituents of State Senate District 49 has been a tremendous experience and a true honor. Drew and I are blessed to have two children, Chloe, and Cohen,” said Sen. Echols. “While Chloe is off at college, Cohen is a high schooler with Down Syndrome and still at home; and although I feel called to public service, I have realized over the past two years that my highest calling is being a mother to two of the most important people in my life. For the past sixteen years my duty as a mom has been to provide the structure Cohen needs to live a successful and productive life. I am looking forward to having more time available to spend with my children and family once I fulfill my term in the Senate. Drew has done a phenomenal job maintaining the structure in our home in my absence; but it is time for me to let someone else take the reins in Senate District 49 so that I can be home and focus on being a mom.”

Sen. Echols looks forward to serving out the remainder of her term in the State Senate where she serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting. She was elected to the Georgia Senate in 2022.

In addition, she serves as an Ex-Officio member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and a member of the Senate Committees on Economic Development and Tourism, Finance, Health and Human Services, and Administrative Affairs.

Sen. Echols, a Gainesville native, attended Gainesville College and North Georgia College & State University (currently UNG), obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree. Sen. Echols began her career as a high school social studies teacher before joining her father’s business, Daniel’s Charters, where she served as the Director of Human Services. In 2007, she began her own business planning education-based field trips for schools across the state, Daniel’s Educational Tours. In 2018, Sen. Echols was elected as the Hall County Commissioner representing District 3. During her tenure, she worked to increase worker pay and benefits along with upgrading parks in the community.

Sen. Echols is active in her community, serving on the board of Choices Pregnancy Care Center in Gainesville as well as the Avita Community Partners Board of Directors. She is married to Drew Echols, local businessman and farmer. They have two children: Chloe and Cohen.

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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.