ATLANTA (February 20, 2025) — This week, Sen. Jason Esteves (D–Atlanta) introduced a series of bills aimed at cutting costs for Georgia seniors and ensuring elderly Georgians have the resources they need to age with dignity, regardless of their income or zip code.
Continue reading “Sen. Jason Esteves Introduces Legislation to Support Georgia Seniors, Bring Down Cost of Senior Care”Sen. Nan Orrock to Hold Press Conference Announcing Legislation on Georgia Anti-Abortion Centers
ATLANTA (February 18, 2025) — On Wednesday, February 19, at 12:30 p.m., Sen. Nan Orrock (D–Atlanta) will join Rep. Anne Allen Westbrook (D–Savannah) to announce legislation that would ban the state funding of anti-abortion centers. They will be joined by members of the Amplify Georgia Collaborative to discuss the effects of these centers and the goals of the legislation.
Continue reading “Sen. Nan Orrock to Hold Press Conference Announcing Legislation on Georgia Anti-Abortion Centers”Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes to Hold Community Hearing Highlighting Current Immigration Actions
ATLANTA (February 13, 2025) — On Friday, Feb. 14, at 12:00 p.m., Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes (D–Duluth), will hold a community hearing to highlight current immigration actions in Georgia. The hearing will also inform community members of their rights and discuss alternative paths forward for immigration policy.
EVENT DETAILS:
- Date: Friday, Feb. 14, 2025
- Time: 12:00 p.m.
- Location: Georgia State Capitol, Room 450, 206 Washington St, Atlanta, GA 30334
- This event is open to the public.
ABOUT THE MEETING:
During the hearing, Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes will meet with attorneys and representatives from various civil rights groups and community groups to discuss the issue.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
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. Nabilah Islam Parkes represents the 7th Senate District, which includes a portion of Gwinnett County. She may be reached by phone at 404.463.5263 or by email at NabilahIslamParkes@senate.ga.gov.
Sen. RaShaun Kemp Introduces Resolution to Protect Same-Sex Marriage in Georgia Constitution
ATLANTA (February 13, 2025) — This week, Sen. RaShaun Kemp (D–Atlanta) introduced a resolution to enshrine same-sex marriage in the Georgia Constitution and ensure that the state recognizes same-sex marriages from other states.
Continue reading “Sen. RaShaun Kemp Introduces Resolution to Protect Same-Sex Marriage in Georgia Constitution”President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy Introduces Legislation to Address Chronic Absenteeism in Schools
ATLANTA (February 12, 2025) — Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy (R–Macon) recently introduced Senate Bill (SB) 123, legislation that directly addresses chronic absenteeism in Georgia schools. Chronic absenteeism is a growing issue across the state that places students at an extreme disadvantage, and SB 123 will ensure they have the resources necessary for future success inside and outside of the classroom.
“For far too long, absenteeism has affected our communities and inhibited Georgia students from reaching their full potential,” said Sen. Kennedy. “This legislation will enable local school districts to identify and implement protocols that directly address this issue, get our chronically absent students back in the classroom and ensure they have the necessary resources to build a foundation for future success.”
The number of students chronically absent in Georgia doubled between 2019 and 2023 – a clear indicator of a growing crisis across our state. In 2024, 21.7 percent of students – or nearly 360,000 young people – missed 10 percent or more school days. Georgia law addressing chronic absenteeism has not been updated in 18 years, and we must take action to give our kids a chance at a brighter future.
SB 123 will address this growing crisis head on by prohibiting schools from expelling students solely on absenteeism, requiring local school districts to adopt policies and strategies that provide targeted support, and mandating schools to create attendance review teams that report their progress to the General Assembly. School attendance is crucial to student success, and these solutions will create a best approach forward that combats this pressing issue and puts all Georgia students, no matter their zip code, first.
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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.