ATLANTA (March 4, 2025) — On Friday, Senate Bill 145 passed out of the Senate and now moves to the Georgia House of Representatives for further consideration. 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 Applauds Senate Passage of SB 145 to Provide a Sixth Judge to Augusta Judicial Circuit”Sen. Billy Hickman Applauds Senate Passage of “Dignity and Pay Act”
ATLANTA (March 4, 2025) — Yesterday, Senate Bill 55, the “Dignity and Pay Act,” was passed out of the Senate with a vote of 51 to 3. This legislation now moves to the Georgia House of Representatives for further consideration. SB 55 would 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 Senate Passage of “Dignity and Pay Act””President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy Applauds Senate Passage of Legislation to Protect Consumers and Strengthen Legal Transparency
ATLANTA (February 27, 2025)—Today, the Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 69. Sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy (R–Macon), SB 69 introduces much-needed regulations on Third-Party Litigation Financing (TPLF) to protect consumers and ensure greater transparency in Georgia’s civil justice system.
“Our civil justice system should not be treated as a lottery where litigation financiers can bet on the outcome of a case to get a piece of a plaintiff’s award. SB 69 establishes critical safeguards for an industry that continues to expand each year,” said Sen. Kennedy. “In 2023, the U.S. commercial litigation industry controlled an estimated $15.2 billion in assets, yet there are no consumer protections in place for plaintiffs involved in these financing arrangements. This has allowed everyday Georgians to be exploited by predatory financiers, who profit at their expense.”
Sen. Kennedy continued, “Through unregulated third-party financing, foreign-affiliated financiers are manipulating our legal system and influencing court outcomes. SB 69 will require litigation financiers to register with the state before operating in Georgia and will ban foreign adversaries from engaging in litigation financing here. Right now, these firms operate with virtually no oversight. It’s time we level the playing field and ensure that our legal system serves the people—not powerful financial interests. This bill is a vital step in tort reform and a victory for consumer protection.”
Sen. Kennedy carried SB 69 on behalf of Governor Brian P. Kemp, who reaffirmed in his State of the State address last month that tort reform remains a top priority for the 2025 Legislative Session.
For more information about the legislation, read it 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.
Sen. Nikki Merritt to Host Press Conference on Family and Workforce Justice Agenda
ATLANTA (February 28, 2025) — Today, February 28, at 1:00 p.m., Sen. Nikki Merritt (D–Grayson) will host a press conference to discuss her Family and Workforce Justice Agenda. During the press conference, the senator will roll out priorities and outline her agenda for the remainder of the 2025 legislative session.
EVENT DETAILS:
- Date: Friday, February 28, 2025
- Time: 1:00 p.m.
- Where: Georgia State Capitol, South Steps, 206 Washington St., Atlanta, GA 30334
- This event is open to the public.
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. 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.
Sen. Sonya Halpern Applauds Passage of ‘Georgia Office and Music Ready Communities Act’ by Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism
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”