ATLANTA (June 21, 2023) | On June 9, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher Education, Senator Billy Hickman (R – Statesboro), was appointed to serve as a member of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) by Governor Brian P. Kemp.
Continue reading “Senator Billy Hickman Appointed to Southern Regional Education Board”Russian Cyber Attack a Wake-Up Call for Georgians
ATLANTA (June 21, 2023) | Recently the University System of Georgia and several federal agencies were the victim of a massive cyber attack. Russian hackers have claimed responsibility for the attack which exploited a vulnerability in a program called “MOVEit,” a popular tool for securely transferring data.
Senator Jason Anavitarte (R – Dallas), Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on the Creation of a Georgia Cybersecurity Force and author of legislation to ban CCP malware applications like TikTok on state government networks offered the following statement on the attack:
“This attack on our government systems is a wake-up call that American computer networks are constantly at risk from cyber-attack. Georgians in both the public and private sector should use this as a learning experience and ensure all of their computers, phones and tablets have the latest security updates. I also call on the Georgia House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s lead and immediately pass legislation to create a Georgia Cyber Command.”
During the 2023 Legislative Session, Sen. Anavitarte introduced the Georgia Cyber Command Act as Senate Bill 97. The Georgia Cyber Command Act passed the Senate with bipartisan support but it has not yet been considered for a vote before the House of Representatives.
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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 404.656.0085 or at Jason.anavitarte@senate.ga.gov
Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce to Hold First Meeting, Announces Informational Website
ATLANTA (June 16, 2023) | On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, the Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce, chaired by Senator John Albers (R – Roswell), will be holding its first meeting at 1:00 p.m. at the Georgia Experience Center. The Senate Study Committee was created pursuant to Senate Resolution 275, sponsored by Sen. Albers, which passed during the 2023 Legislative Session with bipartisan support. This committee was established to fulfill one of Lt. Governor Burt Jones priorities for the 2023 session. The committee will be comprised of both legislative and non-legislative members: Sen. Albers as Chairman, Sen. Brandon Beach (R – Alpharetta), Sen. Jason Esteves (D – Atlanta), Sen. Sonya Halpern (D – Atlanta), Sen. Billy Hickman (R – Statesboro), Champ Bailey, Joseph McDermott, Ryan Pernice, Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Greg Dozier, Dave Williams, and Daniela Perry. The study committee will hold meetings throughout the remainder of the year, with a schedule of meetings located on the committee website listed below.
WHO: Sen. John Albers, Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce
Senate Study Committee Members
Representatives from a wide range of Georgia industries
WHAT: First meeting of the Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce
WHEN: Tuesday, June 20, 2023 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Georgia Experience Center
75 Fifth St NW, Ste 150, Atlanta, GA 30308
WEBSITE URL: https://www.expandinggeorgiasworkforcestudy.com/
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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
Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch Announced as 2023 Georgia Chamber ‘Legislator of the Year’
ATLANTA (June 16, 2023) | Last week, Majority Leader Sen. Steve Gooch (R – Dahlonega) was announced as one of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Legislators of the Year. The award is given to three members of the Georgia General Assembly whose efforts have focused on promoting economic development, job creation and free enterprise.
“One of my top priorities as the Senate Majority Leader is to foster economic opportunity through innovation. I am honored to receive such recognition from the Georgia Chamber which utilizes strategic advocacy to achieve the very same goal across our state,” said Majority Leader Gooch. “It is imperative that Georgia maintains its record of being the best state to do business, and I will always strive to support our business enterprises both large and small through my work in the Georgia State Senate. I look forward to cultivating a strong partnership with the Georgia Chamber for many years to come.”
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is the state’s largest business advocacy organization, with a focus of advocating for both state and federal issues.
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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
First Meeting of Senate Study Committee on Certificate of Need (CON) Reform Held at Georgia State Capitol
ATLANTA (June 16, 2023) | On Tuesday, the Senate Study Committee on Certificate of Need (CON) Reform, chaired by Senator Greg Dolezal (R – Cumming), held its first meeting which consisted of presentations by healthcare industry professionals and other stakeholders on the efficacy of CON laws in Georgia. The committee has been tasked with exploring what health system regulations other states have implemented to come up with solutions that increase Georgians’ access to medical care. Presentations were followed by public testimony and an in-depth Q&A.
Continue reading “First Meeting of Senate Study Committee on Certificate of Need (CON) Reform Held at Georgia State Capitol”