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Sen. Larry Walker III Appointed Vice Chair of NCOIL’s Property and Casualty Insurance Committee

ATLANTA (January 22, 2025) — On January 13, 2025, Sen. Larry Walker III (R–Perry) was appointed Vice-Chair of the National Conference of Insurance Legislator’s (NCOIL) Property and Casualty Insurance Committee by NCOIL President Pamela J. Hunter.

“I’m honored to serve in this leadership capacity within NCOIL,” said Sen. Walker. “Insurance plays a crucial role in the lives of Georgia families and businesses, providing financial security and stability in times of need. I am eager to begin working alongside my colleagues to address the pressing issues facing this industry. This leadership role presents an invaluable opportunity to advocate for insurance solutions that benefit not only Georgia but the entire nation.”

President Hunter spoke on the appointments, stating, “I’m proud to announce this group of truly exceptional bipartisan legislative leaders from across the country to help lead NCOIL as we continue to grow the organization’s national influence and deal with the critically important insurance public policy issues before us,” said Hunter. “Each of these chairs and vice-chairs have shown significant commitment to NCOIL and I thank them all for stepping up to serve in their respective roles.”

NCOIL, a bipartisan organization of state legislators, works to develop model laws and provide educational opportunities that help lawmakers better understand the complexities of insurance regulation. The organization’s efforts ensure that state legislatures remain at the forefront of addressing insurance-related challenges that impact consumers and businesses across the country.

Additional information about NCOIL and its initiatives is available here. NCOIL’s nationwide release is available here.

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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Secretary of the Senate Majority Caucus and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutlen, Pulaski and Wilcox counties, as well as portions of Houston County.  He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0095 or by email at Larry.Walker@senate.ga.gov.

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

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Sen. Emanuel Jones Honors Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Updated Capitol Display

ATLANTA (January 22, 2025) — On Friday, January 17, Sen. Emanuel Jones (D–Decatur) unveiled updates to the Martin Luther King, Jr. display on the fourth floor of the Georgia State Capitol. The unveiling, which included new dedication plates, occurred after the 41st annual tribute to Dr. King hosted by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council.

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Sen. Frank Ginn: A Strong Start to the 2025 Legislative Session

The Senate has accomplished a great deal in just one week under the Gold Dome.  Bills have already begun to move through the committee process, and the 2025 Legislative Session is underway.

We began the legislative session by voting on the Senate calendar, holding Senate elections, and establishing the Senate rules by which we operate throughout the session. We also established Senate committees and laid the groundwork for another productive biennium.

I am pleased to warmly welcome Sen. Drew Echols (R–Alto), one of my district neighbors and the newest member of the Republican caucus. His wife, former Sen. Shelly Echols, served with great distinction during the previous biennium. I am confident that Sen. Drew Echols will build on that legacy as a valuable addition to our team.

We have already made significant progress this legislative session. Gov. Brian Kemp has set a strong foundation with initiatives to increase funding for school safety, enhance our state’s skilled workforce, provide necessary aid to Georgia families impacted by Hurricane Helene and continue to provide accessible healthcare for all hardworking Georgians and their families. By expanding opportunities for high-demand, high-skill and high-wage careers, we are taking essential steps to secure Georgia’s economic future.

This week, I was proud to co-sponsor “Ricky and Alyssa’s Law,” or Senate Bill 17, sponsored by Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas). This bill will ensure the safety of our school teachers and students by requiring education boards to place mobile panic alert systems in schools that will provide real-time coordination among state and local first responder agencies during any emergency. School safety is a top priority for both the Senate and the Governor’s Office, and we remain committed to ensuring the safety of Georgia’s students. I also introduced Senate Bill 12, which will reform laws related to open records laws in Georgia. This bill will ensure public entities conform with open records requests while protecting private businesses from nuisance interference.

I was proud to serve on Gov. Kemp’s escort committee for the “State of the State” address. (My friend and reporter, Abby Kousouris, snapped the photo above at the event.) During his annual “State of the State” address, Gov. Kemp highlighted the need for tort reform, a cause I have long supported. The American Tort Reform Foundation’s current designation of Georgia as “the #1 judicial hellhole in the country” is unacceptable. We must tackle rising insurance premiums and ensure that frivolous lawsuits or excessive litigation costs do not burden our businesses.

Additionally, we must prioritize recovery efforts for the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Gov. Kemp has announced $100 million in initial funding to address the damage, but we know the road to recovery will be long. The Georgia Senate will continue to work diligently to support local governments and their communities to ensure they have the necessary resources to rebuild.

Committee assignments for the session were released, and I appreciate Lt. Governor Burt Jones and the Committee on Assignments for assigning me to serve on various meaningful committees. I am thankful to serve as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism and the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Overview Committees. I look forward to serving as an ex-officio on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources and the Environment and Regulated Industries and Utilities, respectively and as a member of the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Transportation and Rules.

As always, I want to invite students between the ages of 12 and 18 to serve as a Senate Page. This highly informative program allows students to participate in the state legislative process at our State Capitol for a day. Interested students may apply for the program by emailing me or my administrative assistant at my office. (Frank.Ginn@senate.ga.gov.)

I am honored beyond measure to serve the citizens of the 47th Senate District. Please do not hesitate to contact my office for any legislative matters, and I hope to see you soon under the Gold Dome.

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Sen. Frank Ginn represents the 47th Senate District, which includes Madison County and portions of Barrow, Clarke, and Jackson Counties. He can be reached at (404) 656-4700 or by email at Frank.Ginn@senate.ga.gov

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