ATLANTA (February 27, 2025) — On Monday, Sen. Sonya Halpern’s (D–Atlanta) legislation, Senate Bill 182, the “Georgia Music Office and Music Ready Communities Act,” passed unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism.
Continue reading “Sen. Sonya Halpern Applauds Passage of ‘Georgia Office and Music Ready Communities Act’ by Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism”Sen. Nikki Merritt to Hold Press Conference on Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Priorities
ATLANTA (February 26, 2025) — Tomorrow, February 27, 2025, from 2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Senator Nikki Merritt (D–Grayson) will host a press conference to unveil and discuss the priorities of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC).
EVENT DETAILS:
- Date: Thursday, February 27, 2025
- Time: 2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Location: South Steps, 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA, 30334
- This event is open to the public.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:
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. Nikki Merritt represents the 9th Senate District which includes portions of Gwinnett County. She may be reached at 404.463.2260 or via email at nikki.merritt@senate.ga.gov
President Pro Tempore Sen. John F. Kennedy Commends Absenteeism Legislation Passing Senate
ATLANTA (February 26, 2025)—Today, the Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 123, a measure aimed at addressing chronic absenteeism in schools across the state. Sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy (R–Macon), SB 123 would establish a localized approach, working with families, administrators and those identified as chronically absent when reviewing individual cases. Additionally, the bill would require local boards of education to implement policies for identifying and intervening with chronically absent students, ensuring a focus on the root causes of their absences.
“I’m proud to see SB 123 earn the Senate’s support, as tackling chronic absenteeism is a top priority for me this session,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Students who frequently miss school risk falling behind, jeopardizing their ability to build a strong educational foundation. With this legislation, we are taking a crucial step toward strengthening our schools and securing a brighter future for Georgia’s students.”
Georgia’s school attendance laws have not been updated since 2007, leaving gaps in how chronic absenteeism is handled at the individual level. In 2024, 21.3% of Georgia students—nearly 360,000 young people—were chronically absent, missing 10% or more of their school days. If signed into law, SB 123 would require school climate committees to develop a comprehensive framework for improving student attendance. This legislation would also establish localized attendance review teams to determine the most effective strategies for reducing absenteeism. Additionally, they would be responsible for reporting their progress to the General Assembly.
For more information about the legislation, click here.
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Sen. John F. Kennedy serves as the President Pro Tempore of the Georgia State Senate. He represents the 18th Senate District, which includes Crawford, Monroe, Peach and Upson counties, as well as portions of Bibb and Houston counties. He may be reached at (404) 656-6578 or by email at John.Kennedy@senate.ga.gov.
For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov
Minority Leader Harold Jones II and Sen. Max Burns Applaud Unanimous Passage of SB 145 by Senate Committee on Judiciary
ATLANTA (February 25, 2025) — Yesterday, Senate Bill 145 passed unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Judiciary. Sen. Harold Jones II (D–Augusta), Leader of the Democratic Caucus, co-sponsored the measure with Senators Max Burns (R–Sylvania) and Lee Anderson (R–Grovetown). SB 145 would provide a sixth judge to the superior courts of the Augusta Judicial Circuit.
Continue reading “Minority Leader Harold Jones II and Sen. Max Burns Applaud Unanimous Passage of SB 145 by Senate Committee on Judiciary”Sen. Billy Hickman to Celebrate Georgia Reads Day at State Capitol
ATLANTA (February 24, 2025) — On Tuesday, February 25, at 12:00 p.m., Sen. Billy Hickman (R–Statesboro) will celebrate Georgia Reads Day with the Georgia Council on Literacy. Sen. Hickman will be joined by Georgia Reads Coach Malcolm Mitchell, Rep. Chris Erwin (R–Homer) and leadership from the Georgia Council on Literacy. The 2025 Georgia READBowl champions and the Georgia Reads Community Award winners will be recognized during the event.
Continue reading “Sen. Billy Hickman to Celebrate Georgia Reads Day at State Capitol”