ATLANTA (May 6, 2025) — Last week, Senate Bill 55, the “Dignity and Pay Act,” was signed into law by Governor Brian P. Kemp. This measure, sponsored by Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Youth Sen. Billy Hickman (R–Statesboro), will prevent companies from paying employees with disabilities a subminimum wage and give a timeline for companies currently paying less than minimum wage to follow in phasing out the practice.
Continue reading “Sen. Billy Hickman Applauds Signing of Dignity and Pay Act into Law”Sen. Brandon Beach Formally Resigns from Georgia Senate to Assume Position of United States Treasurer
ATLANTA (May 6, 2025) — Yesterday, Sen. Brandon Beach (R–Alpharetta) formally announced his resignation from the Georgia State Senate after 13 years of service, following his appointment by President Donald J. Trump to serve as the 46th Treasurer of the United States. Sen. Beach’s resignation will take effect immediately as he transitions into his new national role.
Continue reading “Sen. Brandon Beach Formally Resigns from Georgia Senate to Assume Position of United States Treasurer”Sen. Greg Dolezal Ranked Among Georgia’s Most Effective Lawmakers During 2023-2024 Biennium
ATLANTA (May 5, 2025) — Chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation Sen. Greg Dolezal (R–Cumming) was recently recognized as one of the most effective legislators in the Georgia General Assembly during the 2023-2024 Legislative Biennium. The nonpartisan evaluation conducted by the Center for Legislative Accountability (CLA) assigned Sen. Dolezal an effectiveness score of 2.09, more than twice the legislative average of 1.0.
Continue reading “Sen. Greg Dolezal Ranked Among Georgia’s Most Effective Lawmakers During 2023-2024 Biennium”Sen. RaShaun Kemp Celebrates Signing of Legislation to Improve Student Literacy
ATLANTA (May 2, 2025) — Today, Sen. RaShaun Kemp (D–Atlanta) proudly announced that his first piece of legislation, Senate Bill 93, has officially been signed into law by Governor Brian P. Kemp. The law tasks the Georgia Professional Standards Commission with establishing rules requiring evidence-based reading instruction aligned with the science of reading.
Continue reading “Sen. RaShaun Kemp Celebrates Signing of Legislation to Improve Student Literacy”Sen. Jason Anavitarte Applauds Signing of ‘Ricky and Alyssa’s Law’ Into Law, Strengthening School Safety
ATLANTA (April 28, 2025) — Today, Senator Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas) applauded Governor Brian P. Kemp’s signing of House Bill 268, a critical measure to enhance emergency response systems and strengthen school safety protections across Georgia.
In addition to the mobile panic alert systems and mapping requirements, HB 268 contains a portion of legislation, known as “Ricky and Alyssa’s Law,” which tasks the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) with creating uniform guidelines for implementing panic alert technology and coordinating verified threat responses statewide.
The legislation honors Richard “Ricky” William Aspinwall, the defense coordinator at Apalachee High School who was tragically killed during a shooting there in September 2024, and Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old student who lost her life during the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Similar legislation bearing Alyssa’s name, known as “Alyssa’s Law,” has already been enacted in New Jersey, Florida, New York, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, and Oklahoma.
“Today, Georgia sends a clear message that we will not wait for another tragedy to act,” said Sen. Anavitarte. “By signing HB 268, we are taking meaningful steps to ensure every school has the tools needed to respond in an emergency and protect the lives of students, teachers, and staff. Moments matter, and this law gives our schools the ability to summon help without delay. I am incredibly grateful to Governor Kemp, my colleagues in the General Assembly, and the families who courageously advocated for this critical reform.”
HB 268, sponsored in the House by Rep. Holt Persinger (R–Winder), passed with overwhelming bipartisan support during the 2025 legislative session. The new law requires every public school in Georgia to implement a mobile panic alert system capable of immediately connecting with local and state emergency services. Schools must also provide digital mapping data to first responders, ensuring faster, more coordinated responses during emergencies. HB 268 also supports mental health programs, suicide prevention and youth violence reduction.
“Protecting Georgia’s children is a sacred responsibility,” Sen. Anavitarte continued. “Ricky and Alyssa’s Law honors two lives lost far too soon and turns heartbreak into action. It is a promise to every family in Georgia that when it comes to the safety of our schools, we will lead with urgency, compassion and resolve.”
HB 268 will officially take effect on July 1, 2025. You can find more information about it here.
# # # #
Sen. Jason Anavitarte serves as Chairman of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents the 31st Senate District, which includes Polk County and a portion of Paulding County. He may be reached via email at Jason.Anavitarte@senate.ga.gov.
For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.