Posted on

Senate Impact of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence on Children and Platform Privacy Protection Study Committee to Hold Fourth Hearing

ATLANTA (November 7, 2025) — On Wednesday, November 12, the Senate Impact of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence on Children and Platform Privacy Protection Study Committee, co-chaired by Sen. Sally Harrell (D–Atlanta) and Sen. Shawn Still (R–Suwanee), will hold its fourth hearing. During the meeting, senators will evaluate the impact of phone-free schools and school AI policy.

EVENT DETAILS:   

  • Date: November 12, 2025
  • Time: 10:00 a.m.
  • Where: 450 State Capitol, 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA, 30334
  • Open to the Public: The event is open to the public. The committee meeting will be live-streamed on the Senate website here.

ABOUT THE MEETING:         

The bipartisan Senate Impact of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence on Children and Platform Privacy Protection Study Committee, created through Senate Resolution 431, will evaluate online platforms’ (i.e., social media, gaming, AI, etc.) impact on children. The study committee will also make formal recommendations for state action at its final meeting. The study committee will partner with parents, policy experts, representatives from state agencies and private organizations to determine how online protections may be improved and strengthened to ensure safer online experiences.

The study committee’s first three meetings examined how online platforms can be addictive and harmful to young people, as well as specific state policies that can result in safer online experiences. Senators also further examined the potential dangers related to the use of AI-driven chatbots in online platforms by minors.

Georgia’s “Distraction-Free Education Act” (HB 340), which passed during the 2025 legislative session, bans smartphones for public school students grades kindergarten through eight. Out of respect for these students, attendees and members of the Senate Impact of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence on Children and Platform Privacy Protection Study Committee are being asked to voluntarily go without their phones for the duration of the meeting.

You can watch the replay of the study committee’s meetings on the Georgia State Senate YouTube page here.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

# # # #

Sen. Sally Harrell represents the 40th Senate District, which includes portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett County. She may be reached by phone at (404) 463-2260 or by email at Sally.Harrell@senate.ga.gov.

Sen. Shawn Still serves as Majority Caucus Chair. He represents the 48th Senate District, which includes portions of Forsyth, Fulton and Gwinnett counties. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-7127 or by email at Shawn.Still@senate.ga.gov.

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

Posted on

Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Affordability to Hold Fourth Meeting

ATLANTA (November 3, 2025) — On Thursday, November 6,2025, at 12:30 p.m., the Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Affordability, chaired by Sen. Nan Orrock (D–Atlanta), will hold its fourth meeting.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: November 6, 2025
  • Time: 12:30 p.m.
  • Location: Georgia State Capitol, Room 450, 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA, 30334
  • This event is open to the public and will be live-streamed on the Georgia General Assembly website here.

ABOUT THE MEETING:         

The Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Affordability, established pursuant to SR 474, will explore options for making higher education more affordable for Georgians, including creating a means-tested scholarship program.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.  

# # # #

Sen. Nan Orrock serves as Minority Caucus Secretary. She represents the 36th Senate District, which includes a portion of Fulton County. She may be reached by phone at (404) 463-8054 or by email at Nan.Orrock@senate.ga.gov.

Posted on

Sen. Sally Harrell to Hold Parent Town Hall on Online Safety

ATLANTA (November 3, 2025) —On Wednesday, November 5, at 6:30 p.m., Sen. Sally Harrell (D–Atlanta), Co-Chair of the Senate Impact of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence on Children and Platform Privacy Protection Study Committee, will host a Parent Town Hall with a panel of experts to discuss the growing crisis of online harms for kids, how Georgia lawmakers are tackling the risks and share ways that policymakers and parents can work together to address this issue.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: November 5, 2025
  • Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Where: Dunwoody City Hall, 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338
  • This Event is Open to the Public.

ZOOM ATTENDANCE:

Guests who cannot attend the town hall in person may participate via Zoom using the following link: https://dunwoodyga-gov.zoom.us/j/81248196154

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting  SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

# # # #

Sen. Sally Harrell represents the 40th Senate District, which includes portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. She may be reached by phone at (404) 656-7871 or by email at Sally.Harrell@senate.ga.gov.