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Senator Shelly Echols Announces Retirement from Georgia State Senate

ATLANTA (March 8, 2024) — Sen. Shelly Echols (R–Gainesville) of Hall County announced today she will retire from service as a member of the Georgia State Senate.

“Serving the constituents of State Senate District 49 has been a tremendous experience and a true honor. Drew and I are blessed to have two children, Chloe, and Cohen,” said Sen. Echols. “While Chloe is off at college, Cohen is a high schooler with Down Syndrome and still at home; and although I feel called to public service, I have realized over the past two years that my highest calling is being a mother to two of the most important people in my life. For the past sixteen years my duty as a mom has been to provide the structure Cohen needs to live a successful and productive life. I am looking forward to having more time available to spend with my children and family once I fulfill my term in the Senate. Drew has done a phenomenal job maintaining the structure in our home in my absence; but it is time for me to let someone else take the reins in Senate District 49 so that I can be home and focus on being a mom.”

Sen. Echols looks forward to serving out the remainder of her term in the State Senate where she serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting. She was elected to the Georgia Senate in 2022.

In addition, she serves as an Ex-Officio member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and a member of the Senate Committees on Economic Development and Tourism, Finance, Health and Human Services, and Administrative Affairs.

Sen. Echols, a Gainesville native, attended Gainesville College and North Georgia College & State University (currently UNG), obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree. Sen. Echols began her career as a high school social studies teacher before joining her father’s business, Daniel’s Charters, where she served as the Director of Human Services. In 2007, she began her own business planning education-based field trips for schools across the state, Daniel’s Educational Tours. In 2018, Sen. Echols was elected as the Hall County Commissioner representing District 3. During her tenure, she worked to increase worker pay and benefits along with upgrading parks in the community.

Sen. Echols is active in her community, serving on the board of Choices Pregnancy Care Center in Gainesville as well as the Avita Community Partners Board of Directors. She is married to Drew Echols, local businessman and farmer. They have two children: Chloe and Cohen.

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Sen. Shelly Echols serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting. She represents the 49th Senate District which includes Hall County. She can be reached by phone at 404.463.1317 or by email at shelly.echols@senate.ga.gov.

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Draft of Proposed Congressional Map Released to Public

ATLANTA (Dec. 1, 2023) — Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting Sen. Shelly Echols (R-Gainesville) has announced the publication of the draft for the proposed Georgia Congressional districts, inviting the public to provide comment and engage in the redistricting process.

“As we proceed with the 2023 Special Session, we have released the proposed plan for Georgia’s Congressional Districts,” stated Chairwoman Echols. “We invite all members of the public to provide their comment where they see fit. The proposed maps are available on the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office’s website, and written comments can be submitted by the public through the portal available on the Georgia General Assembly website at https://www.legis.ga.gov/joint-office/reapportionment.”

The Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting will hold a public hearing to discuss the Congressional draft plan the week of Dec. 4, 2023. The committee encourages public participation and values the input of the community in this vital democratic process.

*Editor’s note: an earlier version of this release contained a misspelling in the first reference of the Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting.

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Sen. Shelly Echols serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting. She represents the 49th Senate District which includes Hall County. She can be reached by phone at 404.463.1317 or by email at shelly.echols@senate.ga.gov.

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Draft of Proposed Senate District Map Released to Public

ATLANTA (November 27, 2023) — Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting Sen. Shelly Echols (R-Gainesville) has announced the publication of the draft for the proposed Georgia Senate districts, inviting the public to engage in the redistricting process ahead of the 2023 Special Session. “In preparation for the 2023 Special Session on Redistricting, we have released a draft of the proposed plan for Georgia’s Senate Districts in order to give the public an opportunity to review and provide feedback,” stated Sen. Echols. The proposed maps are available on the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office’s website, and written comments can be submitted by the public through the portal available on the Georgia General Assembly website at https://www.legis.ga.gov/joint-office/reapportionment.

The Senate Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting will hold a public hearing to discuss the draft plan on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. A subsequent advisory will provide detailed information on the hearing. The committee encourages public participation and values the input of the community in this vital democratic process.

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Sen. Shelly Echols serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting. She represents the 49th Senate District which includes Hall County. She can be reached by phone at 404.463.1317 or by email at shelly.echols@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Shelly Echols Introduces Healthcare Legislation

ATLANTA (February 9, 2023) | Yesterday, Senator Shelly Echols (R – Alto) introduced Senate Bill 109, which would require the Department of Community Health to include continuous glucose monitors as a pharmacy benefit for Medicaid recipients.


“SB 109 aims to expand healthcare access to those who utilize Medicaid and struggle with diabetes,” said Sen. Echols. “I look forward to seeing this bill progress through the Georgia Senate and encourage my Senate colleagues to support this important legislation. Georgians deserve to have easier access to this modern technology as they continue to monitor their glucose levels.”

This legislation also offers guidance as to who is eligible to receive this Medicaid benefit and the stipulations for receiving such a benefit. It is Senator Echols’ first authored bill since her election to the Georgia State Senate in November.


SB 109 has been assigned to the committee on Health and Human Services.

You can read the full text of SB 109 here.

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Sen. Shelly Echols serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Reapportionment and Redistricting. She represents the 49th Senate District which includes Hall County. She can be reached by phone at 404.463.1317 or by email at shelly.echols@senate.ga.gov.