Posted on

Sen. Randy Robertson Applauds Unanimous Passage of Legislation to Establish Family Justice Centers and Preserve Sexual Assault Evidence

ATLANTA (April 8, 2026) — State Representatives Esther Panitch (D-Sandy Springs) and Karen Lupton (D-Chamblee) applaud the final passage of House Bill 1283 to allow for the creation of Family Justice Centers, which are multiagency centers that provide coordinated services to victims of family violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, human trafficking and associated crimes. HB 1283 would also require law enforcement to retain sexual assault evidence for up to 10 years if a victim does not immediately report the abuse.

“My first job out of law school was working for the brand-new model Domestic Violence Court in Miami-Dade, Florida,” said Rep. Panitch. “Over 30 years later, I watched a bill I authored in Georgia pass both chambers without a single opposing vote. Survivors should not have to navigate a fragmented system during the most difficult time of their lives. Family Justice Centers bring those services together so the system works for victims, not the other way around. When Rep. Karen Lupton’s rape kit preservation bill needed a vehicle, both parties in both chambers came together to make it happen. That is what this work looks like. I am grateful to the survivor community for entrusting me with it.”

Under the bill, Family Justice Centers could be operated by a nonprofit corporation designated by a county or municipality or by a nonprofit certified as a victim services agency by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. Nonprofit and community-based organizations could also serve as participating agencies within a center, delivering victim, social, medical or legal services alongside government partners. When a center is operated by a county, municipality or district attorney’s office, at least two seats on the oversight board would be reserved for representatives elected by the nonprofit, community-based organizations serving as participating agencies. The legislation seeks to ensure that nonprofit partners retain control of their own records and are not subject to public records requirements solely because they are co-located with a government agency or prosecutor’s office.

“Passing this bill helps protect sexual assault survivors and their evidence,” said Rep. Lupton. “I can’t be more grateful or proud that we’ve accomplished this for the survivors of Georgia.”

HB 1283 includes an amendment that extends the mandatory preservation period for unreported sexual assault evidence from 12 months to 10 years. The provision, authored by Rep. Lupton, would ensure that when a victim chooses not to report a sexual assault to law enforcement at the time of evidence collection, any physical evidence containing biological material, including stains, fluids and hair samples relating to the identity of the perpetrator, would be preserved for 10 years from the date that the evidence is collected.

Rep. Lupton’s standalone legislation on rape kit preservation did not advance out of the House prior to Crossover Day. She notes that in a bipartisan effort, Rep. Lupton, Senator Randy Robertson (R-Cataula), who carried HB 1283 in the Senate, and legislative leadership collaborated to draft and file the amendment incorporating the evidence preservation provision into HB 1283 shortly before the Senate vote. The Senate passed the amended bill 48-0, and because of the amendment, the bill returned to the House for a final vote, which the House approved on Sine Die.

“Victims of family violence have been marginalized and left to fend for themselves in the past,” said Sen. Robertson. “This legislation brings forth the necessary tools to provide them with the care and compassion needed to get them on the road of recovery. It was a true honor to carry this in the Georgia State Senate.”

Additionally, under HB 1283,information shared by a victim within a Family Justice Center could not be disclosed without the victim’s informed, written consent, except where required by law or court order. Employees, contractors and volunteers of participating agencies operating within a government or DA-operated Family Justice Center would be entitled to the same governmental immunity from civil liability as officers or employees of the establishing authority, provided that they act in good faith, within the scope of assigned duties and without willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith.

Furthermore, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council would be authorized to administer and distribute funds appropriated by the General Assembly or received from federal sources, and centers could also accept independent funding from private, foundation, federal or local sources. Each center would be required to submit performance reports to the council, which would compile an annual statewide report for the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House. The bill now awaits action by Governor Brian Kemp, who has 40 days from adjournment of the legislative session to sign or veto legislation.

Cosponsors of HB 1283 include State Representatives Stan Gunter (R-Blairsville), Leesa Hagan (R-Lyons), Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta) and Shea Roberts (D-Sandy Springs).

To read the full text of HB 1283, please click here.

# # # #

Sen. Randy Robertson serves as Senate Majority Whip. He represents the 29th Senate District, which includes Harris, Meriwether and Troup counties, as well as a portion of Muscogee County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0045 or by email at Randy.Robertson@senate.ga.gov.

Representative Esther Panitch represents the citizens of District 51, which includes a portion of Fulton County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves on the Judiciary Juvenile, Judiciary Non-Civil and Public Safety and Homeland Security committees. 

Representative Karen Lupton represents the citizens of District 83, which includes a portion of DeKalb County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves on the Education, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications and Human Relations & Aging committees.  

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

Posted on

Sen. Randy Robertson Advances Protections for Victims of Clergy Abuse

ATLANTA (March 6, 2026) — Today, the Georgia State Senate passed Senate Bill 542, sponsored by Sen. Randy Robertson (R–Cataula). The bill would hold religious leadership accountable if convicted of inappropriate sexual behavior and would permit clergy members to be charged with sexual misconduct and, if convicted in the first degree, serve between 10 and 30 years in prison with a fine of up to $100,000.

“Places of worship are the most sacred places we build and gather in,” said Sen. Robertson. “These are places where we should be safe to worship and fully express our most deeply held beliefs. When clergy members weaponize their power to manipulate vulnerable individuals, they should be punished. Today, we are taking a crucial step to punish clergy members who specifically use their position for sexual gain.”

Sen. Robertson added, “Unfortunately, there are some clergy members who have weaponized their position in power to initiate unwanted sexual advances and relationships with members in their congregation. This behavior will now be a violation of Georgia Law, and it will continue to be my mission to keep our places of worship a place where we can freely and openly express our beliefs without worry of manipulation and sexual exploitation.”     

Senate Bill 542 has passed the Georgia State Senate unanimously and will now move on to the House of Representatives.

For more information on the legislation, click here.

# # # #

Sen. Randy Robertson serves as Senate Majority Whip. He represents the 29th Senate District, which includes Harris, Meriwether and Troup counties, as well as a portion of Muscogee County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0045 or by email at Randy.Robertson@senate.ga.gov.

Posted on

Ginn: Week Two Under the Gold Dome

As the 2026 Legislative Session moves into its second week, the General Assembly is turning its full attention to its most important responsibility: passing a balanced, thoughtful budget that spends taxpayer dollars wisely.

Budget hearings began on Tuesday, January 20, when the Senate and House Appropriations Committees met jointly to hear budget requests from various departments and agencies. These hearings continued through Thursday, but the work doesn’t stop there. In the coming weeks, I’ll be serving on Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture and Natural Resources and Transportation. We will further discuss these recommendations and make our own suggestions. Passing a balanced budget is not only our constitutional duty as legislators, but it’s also imperative in creating a responsible government that serves its people.

One of the most impactful budget proposals this legislative session is Governor Brian Kemp’s plan to rebate more than $1 billion in income taxes, giving single filers $250 and joint filers up to $500 in additional savings. Affordability is one of our top priorities this legislative session, and providing tax relief through rebates and income tax cuts is an important first step toward strengthening our economy. These tangible policy decisions are just a further reminder that Senate Republicans’ overarching ideology of fiscal conservatism is to thank for positioning our economy as one of the best in the nation, despite reckless federal economic policy during the Biden Administration.

Gov. Kemp’s proposed budget also outlines numerous higher education investments, including those for the University System of Georgia and, more specifically, the University of Georgia. The faculty, staff and students of UGA make up a significant portion of our district (Go DAWGS!), and as an alumnus myself, I will always support investments in our state’s flagship university. Investments in our education system are often the first step to building an educated workforce and a stronger economy.

The Governor is recommending $9.5 million in formula funding for essential startup costs for the UGA School of Medicine, as well as $5.6 million for the design of a UGA School of Nursing facility. The proposal also includes over $34 million to support the ongoing modernization of Science and Ag Hill. The project promotes continued growth in STEM education and research, two fields that are growing in our workforce.  Gov. Kemp has also allocated more than $31 million to food and farm operations. This is a critical industry in Northeast Georgia, and I’ll be working throughout the legislative session to secure this funding.

As the legislative session begins, I would like to invite students ages 12 to 18 to serve as Senate Pages. This highly informative program allows students to participate in the legislative process at our State Capitol for one day during the legislative session. Interested students may apply for the program by contacting my administrative assistant or me at my office via email. (Frank.Ginn@senate.ga.gov.)

Please don’t hesitate to contact my office regarding any legislative matter as we begin another productive legislative session. I hope you and your family enjoy a successful 2026!

# # # #

Sen. Frank Ginn represents the 47th Senate District which includes Madison County and portions of Barrow, Clarke, and Jackson County. He can be reached at (404) 656-4700 or by email at frank.ginn@senate.ga.gov.

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

Posted on

Summers: Week One Under the Gold Dome

Last week marked the beginning of the 2026 Legislative Session, and we have officially finished five days of legislative business. It’s an honor to represent more than eight South Georgia counties under the Gold Dome, and I’m looking forward to the next few months.

Governor Brian Kemp addressed the Senate and House, laying out his vision for the 2026 legislative session in his final State of the State Address. His agenda includes continued tax cuts, state employee and retiree raises, and targeted investments in education and workforce development.

Many families, farmers and small businesses across Georgia are still struggling to make ends meet, thanks to the previous White House administration’s reckless financial policies. Thankfully, Senate Republicans have stepped up and already outlined a comprehensive plan, in line with the Governor, to fully reignite our economy. Our plan ensures that all Georgians who are willing to work will keep more of what they earn.

Instead of living paycheck to paycheck, those who live and work in our state can comfortably save and reinvest in our growing economy. Individual filers will not be taxed on the first $50,000 of earnings, and joint filers will not be taxed on the first $100,000 of earnings. State employees, including our teachers, will also receive a one-time $2000 supplement. This is another tangible investment in the long-term health of our state. Democrats can continue to throw short-sighted pipe dreams at the wall, knowing they will never stick, but we’ll be making changes that move South Georgia families from scarcity to security.

This past week, members of our majority party introduced Senate Resolution 563. This resolution will urge Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to immediately and fully comply with the United States DOJ in producing Georgia’s voter registration list. It’s a simple ask, but our Secretary of State refuses to cooperate and do the right thing. Nobody is above the law, and it is important to uphold integrity at all levels of government. I’ll always make sure that South Georgians have the full truth and all the facts, especially when it comes to our elections.

In the Senate Chamber, we also took action on a measure to regulate firearm storage and further strengthen state gun laws: Senate Bill 204. When the Second Amendment needs to be protected, you can rest assured that I will step up to protect your right to bear arms.

As the legislative session begins, I would like to invite students ages 12 to 18 to serve as Senate Pages. This highly informative program allows students to participate in the legislative process at our State Capitol for one day during the legislative session. Interested students may apply for the program by contacting my administrative assistant or me at my office via email. (Carden.Summers@senate.ga.gov.)

It is a privilege to serve the people of South Georgia, and I look forward to another productive Legislative Session. If you have any concerns, questions, or comments on legislation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. Please like and follow my Senate page on Facebook (Carden H. Summers) for continuing updates.

# # # #

Sen. Carden Summers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions. He represents the 13th Senate District, which includes Ben Hill, Berrien, Crisp, Irwin, Lee, Tift, Turner and Worth counties, as well as a portion of Coffee County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-9224 or by email at Carden.Summers@senate.ga.gov.

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