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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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Draft of Proposed Senate District Map Released to Public

ATLANTA (November 27, 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 Senate districts, inviting the public to engage in the redistricting process ahead of the 2023 Special Session. “In preparation for the 2023 Special Session on Redistricting, we have released a draft of the proposed plan for Georgia’s Senate Districts in order to give the public an opportunity to review and provide feedback,” stated Sen. Echols. 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 draft plan on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. A subsequent advisory will provide detailed information on the hearing. The committee encourages public participation and values the input of the community in this vital democratic process.

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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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Fourth Meeting of the 2023 Senate Study Committee on Foster Care and Adoption to be Held at State Capitol

ATLANTA (Nov. 21, 2023)  On Nov. 27, the Senate Study Committee on Foster Care and Adoption, chaired by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta), will hold its fourth meeting at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, GA.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Monday, Nov. 27, 2023
  • Time: 9:00 a.m.
  • Location: Georgia State Capitol, Room 307 CLOB, 18 Capitol Sq. SW, 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 SR 282:         

This committee was created through Senate Resolution 282 to examine current policies and regulations which address the conditions, needs, issues, and problems related to the safety and welfare of Georgia’s children. More information on Senate Resolution 282 can be found here.

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).

Sen. Kirkpatrick will be available after the meeting to take questions from members of the media.

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Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Children and Families. She represents Senate District 32 which includes portions of Cobb and Cherokee Counties. She may be reached at 404.656.3932 or at kay.kirkpatrick@senate.ga.gov

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Meeting of the 2023 Senate Study Committee on Occupational Licensing to be Held at State Capitol

ATLANTA (Nov. 21, 2023) — On Nov. 28, the Senate Study Committee on Occupational Licensing, chaired by Sen. Larry Walker III (R-Perry), will hold a meeting at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, GA.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023
  • Time: 2:00 p.m.
  • Location: Georgia State Capitol, Room 450, 206 Washington St. SW, 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 SR 85:         

This committee was created through Senate Resolution 85 to examine current policies and regulations which address workforce challenges brought by current occupational licensing practices. More information on SR 85 can be found here.

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. 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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Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce Concludes Final Meeting

ATLANTA (Nov. 15, 2023) | The Georgia Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce concluded its sixth and final meeting on November 14, 2023, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. The committee, established via Senate Resolution 275 during the 2023 Legislative Session with bipartisan support and chaired by Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell), comprised both legislative and non-legislative members.

Committee membership included Sen. Brandon Beach (R–Alpharetta), Sen. Jason Esteves (D–Atlanta), Sen. Sonya Halpern (D–Atlanta), Sen. Billy Hickman (R–Statesboro), Champ Bailey on behalf of Team Bailey Holdings, Joseph McDermott on behalf of Delta Airlines, Ryan Pernice on behalf of RO Hospitality, Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Greg Dozier, Dave Williams on behalf of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and Daniela Perry on behalf of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

The agenda for the final meeting featured remarks from Lt. Governor Burt Jones, who stressed the pivotal role of workforce development in Georgia. The committee also reviewed and voted on the final committee report, set to guide legislation brought forth during the 2024 Georgia Legislative Session. The report, a culmination of the committee’s comprehensive study, aims to shape policies promoting workforce development, ensuring Georgia’s continued leadership in economic prosperity and job opportunities.

Sen. Albers expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort and dedication exhibited by committee members, stating, “Our focus on expanding Georgia’s workforce is not just a policy initiative; it’s an investment in our state’s future. By harnessing the talents and skills of our citizens, we are not only ensuring economic growth but also creating a vibrant and sustainable community for generations of Georgians to come.”

The committee’s report will be publicly available on the Georgia General Assembly website, providing transparency and insight into the research and deliberations conducted.

For more information on this Senate Study Committee, click here.

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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