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Sen. Jason Anavitarte Statement on the Passing of Craig Foster

ATLANTA (September 16, 2024) — Today, Sen. Jason Anavitarte released the following statement regarding the passing of Craig Foster:

“Today, I join the Paulding County community in mourning the loss of William ‘Craig’ Foster, a dear friend and dedicated public servant whose contributions have left an indelible mark on our state.

Craig served as Chief of Staff for the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS), where his leadership improved the lives of countless Georgians. His oversight of the DHS, the State’s largest agency, demonstrated his commitment to public service and his compassion for Georgia’s most vulnerable children and families. Craig’s work with the Divisions of Aging Services, Child Support Services, and Family and Children Services was driven by his passion for improving foster care and strengthening families. He was instrumental in implementing multi-million-dollar technology projects and restructuring the agency to enhance customer service, earning him the respect and admiration of his colleagues.

Before joining DHS, Craig’s service as Deputy Director of Policy for Governor Brian P. Kemp and his 15 years as a policy analyst for the Georgia House of Representatives Budget and Research Office reflected his steadfast dedication to good governance. He managed with integrity and always led by example.

Craig was not just a public servant but a loving father, and member of our community. He will be sorely missed. My prayers are with his family during this difficult time as we remember his legacy of service, leadership, and care for others.”

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Sen. Jason Anavitarte serves as Chair of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents Senate District 31, which includes Paulding and Polk Counties. He can be reached at 404.656.9221 or at Jason.anavitarte@senate.ga.gov.

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Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence to Hold Fourth Meeting

ATLANTA (September 5, 2024) — On Thursday, September 12th,2024, at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence, chaired by Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell), will hold its fourth hearing, in conjunction with the House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Subcommittee on AI.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024
  • Time: 10:00 a.m.
  • Location: Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center, 100 Grace Hopper Ln, Augusta, GA 30901
  • This event is open to the public and will be live-streamed on the Georgia General Assembly website here.

ABOUT THE MEETING:         

The committee is tasked with promoting responsible innovation, competition, and collaboration in public and private sectors will allow Georgia to be a leader in ensuring that such technology will advance in a way that enforces the existing consumer protection laws and principles for its citizens while enacting any additional appropriate safeguards against, fraud, unintended bias, discrimination, infringements on privacy, and other potential harms from AI.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at senatepressinquiries@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. John Albers Announces Legislative Priority to Hold Deadbeat Parents Accountable

ATLANTA (September 5, 2024) — Today, Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell) announced his plans to introduce legislation in the upcoming legislative session to hold deadbeat parents accountable for failing to meet their obligations to provide for their children.

“Supporting and providing for our children is one of our most fundamental responsibilities as parents. Those who shirk this duty are not only failing their families but are also breaking the law here in Georgia,” said Sen. Albers. “When the legislative session begins in January, I will introduce legislation to increase penalties for deadbeat parents and ensure that anyone who cannot meet their legal, moral, and ethical obligations as a parent is disqualified from running for or serving in elected office.”

The proposed legislation will address the growing issue of parents who neglect their financial responsibilities. A “deadbeat parent” is defined as a parent who willfully fails to pay child support, disregarding court orders or legal agreements, and thereby neglecting their duty to provide for the basic needs of their children. Sen. Albers’ initiative seeks to impose significant consequences on those who evade their responsibilities, reinforcing the importance of child welfare and the integrity of public office.

More details on the proposed legislation will be released as the 2025 Legislative Session approaches.

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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.

For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

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GAFP Honors Sen. Blake Tillery with Healthcare “Champion” Award

ATLANTA, GA (August 16, 2024) —The Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP) has awarded Georgia Sen. Blake Tillery (R–Vidalia) with its Family Medicine Legislative Champion of the Year Award, recognizing his significant contributions towards improving healthcare access and outcomes in the state of Georgia. 

GAFP highlighted his efforts to tailor provider payments for access and support for primary care as a vital step toward enhancing health care across the state. “Sen. Tillery, through unwavering dedication and pivotal legislative contributions, has emerged as a steadfast advocate for the health care needs of Georgians,” says Georgia Academy of Family Physicians Chapter President Dr. Samuel L. “Le” Church. “His leadership showcases a profound commitment to not only advancing the health care landscape in Georgia but ensuring our patients have access to the comprehensive care they deserve.”

“I’m deeply honored to receive the Family Medicine Legislative Champion of the Year Award from the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians. Ensuring that all Georgians, regardless of zip code, have access to quality healthcare is a significant force behind my legislative and budgetary efforts,” shared Sen. Tillery. “This recognition is not just a reflection of our work but a reminder of the ongoing need to support our primary care providers and enhance healthcare access and promote preventative care across our state.”

Sen. Tillery was elected to represent Georgia’s 19th district in 2016, and in the last legislative session, served as the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, vice chair of the Government Oversight Committee, vice chair of the State Institutions and Property Committee, and secretary of the Senate Retirement Committee. He also was a member of the Finance Committee. He has sponsored several healthcare laws during his tenure, including the ‘Patients First Act.’

He earned his bachelor’s degree in international affairs from the University of Georgia and his Juris Doctor at the University of Georgia School of Law in 2010. He is the managing partner at Smith and Tillery, P.C., and previously co-chaired the Leadership Toombs-Montgomery program. Tillery has also served as Chairman of the Toombs County Commission, the Heart of Georgia Workforce Investment Board, and the Toombs County Boys and Girls Club Board.

Founded in 1947, GAFP is a chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Its mission is to promote Georgians’ health by advancing the family medicine specialty through education, advocacy, and service to family physicians. With more than 3,200 members—including family physicians, residents, and medical students—GAFP supports those who aspire to achieve and deliver excellence. Go to www.gafp.org or call 404.321.7445 for more information.

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Sen. Blake Tillery serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. He represents the 19th Senate District, which includes Appling, Bacon, Jeff Davis, Long, Montgomery, Telfair, Toombs, Wayne, and Wheeler counties and a portion of Coffee County. He can be reached by email at blake.tillery@senate.ga.gov.

For all media inquiries, please email SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

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Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare to Hold First Meeting

ATLANTA (August 26, 2024) — On Wednesday, August 28,2024, at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare, chaired by Sen. Brian Strickland (R–McDonough), will hold its first hearing.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
  • Time: 10:00 a.m.
  • Location: 450 State Capitol, 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA, 30334
  • This event is open to the public and will be live-streamed on the Georgia General Assembly website here.

ABOUT THE MEETING:         

Members are tasked with recommending measures to increase access to affordable child care in Georgia. This committee was created pursuant to Senate Resolution 471 during the 2024 Legislative Session.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at Jantz.Womack@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Brian Strickland serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary. He represents the 17th Senate District, which includes all of Morgan and portions of Henry, Newton and Walton County. Sen. Strickland may be reached by phone at 404.463.6598 or by email at Brian.Strickland@senate.ga.gov.