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Ginn: Week One Under the Gold Dome

By: Sen. Frank Ginn (R–Athens)

A new year has begun and the Georgia Legislature is back in session. I’m excited to be back at the State Capitol and continue to work for the 47th Senate District. We have many items of business to attend to this session and I’m confident that this legislative session will bring forth more improvements for our citizens.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on State & Local Government Operations, I jumped straight into our assigned committee work this week by holding meaningful dialogue with my friend, Sen. Bill Cowsert (R–Athens). We discussed the pros and cons of Senate Bill 172, which establishes the regulation and taxation of sports betting. I look forward to discussing this matter further with legislators on both sides of the aisle as this measure continues on through the legislative process. The bill did not have a Constitutional Amendment with it. Anything this big must have a vote of our citizens!

On Thursday, I joined my Senate colleagues in the House chamber to listen to Governor Brian P. Kemp’s State of the State address. I was proud to serve on the Governor’s escort committee for the ceremony. It’s no secret that Georgia is the number one place to live, work and raise a family, and Gov. Kemp’s Georgia First initiatives have been crucial to our state’s continued success.  I remain proud to stand alongside the Gov. as we support law enforcement officers, teachers and the many other state employees who have worked hard for the betterment of every Georgian.  

Next week, we will carefully discuss our state’s budget through several joint hearings between the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations. The General Assembly will further discuss Gov. Kemp’s priorities to strengthen rural Georgia by increasing rural broadband access and improving literacy rates for Georgia’s students. We will continue our partnership with a number of state-funded agencies to ensure Georgia remains a premier location for all levels of business by incentivizing global commerce and supporting the development of a skilled labor force.

I want to take some time to invite students between the ages of 12 and 18 to page for me at the Capitol. I encourage any students interested in the legislative process who want to spend a day at our Capitol to apply for our program using the link: https://www.legis.ga.gov/senate/staffing.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions or concerns about potential legislation that may arise in the 2024 legislative session. I am here to serve you as always.

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Sen. Frank Ginn serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on State and Local Governmental Operations. He represents the 47th Senate District which includes Madison County and portions of Barrow, Clarke, and Jackson Count. He can be reached at 404.656.4700 or by email at frank.ginn@senate.ga.gov

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Walker: Week One Under the Gold Dome

By: Sen. Larry Walker III (R–Perry)

The 2024 Legislative Session is in full swing, and I’m excited to dive back into work for the 20th Senate District. We officially kicked off the Second Session of the 157th Georgia General Assembly on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. I anticipate a busy and productive few months, and I’ll be working hard on legislative initiatives that contribute to a brighter future for our great state. Additionally, I’m continuing in my role as Secretary and Treasurer of the Majority Caucus. It’s an honor to have been elected by my peers to serve in this capacity.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor I’ll be vetting bills related to insurance, finance and commerce.  I’ll hold hearings on those bills that appear to have merit and the support of my colleagues. Collaborating with members of my committee, we will endeavor to pass meaningful legislation that benefits the people of Georgia.

A significant moment of last week was the joint session of the Georgia Senate and the House of Representatives in the House chamber, where we listened to Governor Brian P. Kemp’s State of the State Address on Thursday. The Governor utilized this annual speech to outline his legislative and budgetary priorities for the upcoming session. I commend his focus on health insurance as a crucial need for Georgia families, and I also support his other priorities, which include accelerating planned state income tax rate reductions, investments in infrastructure, pay raises for state employees, teachers and law enforcement officers, funding for school resource officers, shoring up state employee retirement systems, and updating key technology in state agencies.

The coming months are expected to be fast-paced and eventful as we diligently work towards a better and brighter Georgia. Your input is valuable, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office throughout the session with any questions, comments or concerns. Together, let’s shape a prosperous future for our state.

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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Chairman of the Insurance and Labor Committee. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutien, 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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Majority Leader Steve Gooch: Week One Under the Gold Dome

By: Majority Leader, Sen. Steve Gooch (R–Dahlonega)

The second session of the 157th General Assembly began this week. With every New Year comes new opportunities and challenges. As a working member on a multitude of committees within the Senate such as the Senate Committees on Finance, Appropriations, Transportation and more, our days will be filled with many robust discussions as the Senate body tackles pressing matters that concern all Georgians.

On Thursday, the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives gathered for a Joint Session of the General Assembly where Governor Brian P. Kemp gave his annual State of the State Address. This event marks a time for Gov. Kemp to lay out his legislative and budgetary priorities for the duration of the legislative session. These priorities included pay raises for law enforcement officers, funding for the betterment of Georgia’s university system, and key updates to the technology of state agencies. These changes will not only retain and recruit staff across a number of state divisions, but will also give much needed modernization to state facilities for greater effectiveness across the board. I appreciate the efforts of Gov. Kemp and his staff to put the public safety of Georgians first, as it is also a high priority of mine. Pay raises are well-deserved for law enforcement officials, state employees and teachers who work to serve our state year-round.

Education continues to be a focal point of Gov. Kemp and the Majority Party, as Gov. Kemp aims to provide $11 million for coaches to improve reading instruction and finance literacy screening tests. Additionally, Gov. Kemp emphasized the importance of advancing education through school choice. The Majority Caucus is firm in their belief that school choice will offer our children the best educational opportunities, regardless of their zip code. It is imperative that the Senate body continues to work closely with to tackle a wide range of challenges that our state currently faces, and I hope this budgetary process will bring forth positive change in the coming months. Next week will mark the start of what is known under the Gold Dome as budget week. Considerably the most important week of session, we will be working hard to craft the Fiscal Year 24-25 budget. Passing the budget is the sole constitutional obligation of the General Assembly each session, and the coming week will be filled with a number of joint committee meetings between the House and Senate to dive deep into the needs of our state.

This will be a very busy and exciting session, and I will strive to represent the 51st Senate District to the best of my ability. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns.

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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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Williams: Week One Under the Gold Dome

By: Sen. Rick Williams (R–Milledgeville)

The 2024 Legislative Session is underway, marking the beginning of my renewed commitment to serving the 25th Senate District. Each session brings its own set of opportunities and challenges, but I want to assure you that your needs and concerns will always be my top priority beneath the Gold Dome.

Convening on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, the Second Session of the 157th Georgia General Assembly promises to be a busy and productive season. I am eager to champion and support various pieces of legislation aimed at enhancing the quality of life in our district and making Georgia the best state to live, work, and raise a family.

A noteworthy event this week was the joint session of the Georgia Senate and the House of Representatives in the House chamber. We gathered to listen to Governor Brian P. Kemp’s annual State of the State Address, where he outlined his priorities for the upcoming legislative session. As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Retirement, I am pleased with the increased allocation of funds to state retirees. I commend the Governor for prioritizing workforce funding, pay raises for law enforcement and state employees, and crucial updates to state technology.

In my role as a funeral director, I consistently prioritize authoring and supporting positive legislation for the funeral industry. Senate Bill 205, heard and unanimously passed in the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities this week, is a significant step. This bill allows funeral directors with lapsed licenses to apply for reinstatement, and its next hurdle is the Senate Committee on Rules.

Looking ahead, the focus shifts to budget hearings next week. The Senate and House will devote their time to discussions on the Fiscal Year 2024 amended budget and the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Recognized as the most critical week of the session, Budget Week is our constitutional obligation under the Georgia State Constitution.

These upcoming months promise to be both busy and eventful as we strive for a better and brighter Georgia. Please feel free to reach out to my office with any questions, comments, or concerns throughout this session. Together, let’s work towards a thriving future for our state.

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Sen. Rick Williams serves as Chairman for the Senate Committee on Retirement. He represents the 25th Senate District, which includes Baldwin, Butts, Jasper, Jones, and Putnam County as well as portions of Henry and a small portion of Bibb County. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0082 or by email at rick.williams@senate.ga.gov.

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Anavitarte: Week One Under the Gold Dome

By: Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas)

Happy New Year, West Georgia! I hope that 2024 is finding you both happy and healthy. Each new year brings with it new challenges and opportunities, and I’m excited to represent Georgia’s 31st Senate District during this year’s Legislative Session. The time between each session, often referred to as the interim, has finally come to a close. I’m looking forward to working on your behalf over the course of our remaining legislative calendar days.

The Georgia State Senate kicked off the Second Session of the 157th Georgia General Assembly on Monday, January 8, 2024. This legislative session is sure to be important as we continue to pass effective legislation for Georgians, while specifically prioritizing issues important to the 31st District.

We began the week by passing Senate Resolution 431, officially convening the General Assembly for the 2024 Regular Session. On Thursday, I listened to Governor Brian P. Kemp’s joint State of the State address to the House and Senate.  While we already agree on numerous items, it remains encouraging to see that we each remain committed to specific conservative principles such as backing the blue, ensuring that our communities are safe and keeping the scope of government small.

Next week, I look forward to listening to Gov. Kemp, various State officers and numerous state agency heads as we take time to carefully discuss our state’s budget throughout several subcommittee hearings. I’m excited to support Gov. Kemp’s priorities to strengthen rural Georgia and promote West Georgia businesses. I will always lead the charge when it comes to promoting rural broadband, dismantling Common Core and cutting unnecessary burdens for local entrepreneurs.

Finally, I’d like to express my sincere sympathy and support to recently passed Polk County Commissioner Scotty Tillery’s family, friends, and the entire Polk County community. Commissioner Tillery’s dedication to the City of Cedartown, its residents and citizens such as myself represent his unwavering dedication to service. May we all find strength and solace in the cherished memories of a dedicated public servant and a beloved community leader.

The next few weeks will surely be busy and I am excited for the impactful work that is yet to be done. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if you have any questions or concerns about matters relating to the Georgia Senate.

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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