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First Meeting of 2023 Senate Study Committee on Occupational Licensing to be Held in Macon

ATLANTA (August 8, 2023) | On Thursday, August 10, the Senate Study Committee on Occupational Licensing will hold its first meeting of the year in Macon, Georgia. This committee, chaired by Senator Larry Walker III (R – Perry), will examine its current occupational licensing laws and requirements to determine if they should be modified or restructured to encourage, promote, and foster employment and healthy business growth in the state of Georgia.

WHO:               Senate Study Committee on Occupational Licensing

WHAT:              First Meeting

WHEN:             Thursday, August 10 at 10:00am

WHERE:           Office of the Secretary of State, Licensing Division

237 Coliseum Drive

Macon, GA 31217

The meeting agenda can be found here.

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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Secretary of the Senate Majority Caucus. He also serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor. He represents Senate District 20 which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Pulaski, Treutlen, and Wilcox Counties and a portion of Houston County. He can be reached at larry.walker@senate.ga.gov 

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Senate President Pro Tempore Celebrates Expansion of Leader in Me Model Across Georgia

ATLANTA (August 8, 2023) | Just in time for the “back-to-school” season, the Georgia Department of Education allocated $2.5 million during their June meeting for the expansion of the Leader in Me model under the Amended FY2023 Budget. As part of this initiative, instructional materials will be delivered to 11 school districts and 28 schools across the state in preparation for the 2023-2024 school year.

“Middle Georgia has set a remarkable example in improving children’s lives and outcomes through this educational content,” said President Pro Tempore Senator John F. Kennedy (R – Macon). “I cannot express how appreciative and excited I am for the Leader in Me model to expand across our state. During the 2023 Legislative Session, our team worked closely with both Macon’s Business Education Partnership and representatives from FranklinCovey Education to secure the necessary resources for statewide expansion. With these additional funds, the Leader in Me model will continue to empower students across Georgia, instilling in them the leadership skills and principles that will shape their future success. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Chairman Rep. Robert Dickey (R – Musella), Georgia Board of Education Chairman Jason Downey, House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Matt Hatchett (R – Dublin) and Senate Committee on Appropriations Chairman Sen. Blake Tillery (R – Vidalia) for their support in securing this funding.”

“I am delighted to see Middle Georgia leading the way in our children’s education” said Rep. Dickey. “What our community experienced in Bibb County was no accident. The success of this program was a direct result of public and private partners coming together to improve educational outcomes in our community. I am excited to see this funding go towards expanding these opportunities for Georgia’s children around the state. I want to extend a sincere thank you to House Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett, Senate Appropriations Chairman Blake Tillery and President Pro-Tempore Kennedy for their support of this initiative.”

Sean Covey, President of FranklinCovey Education, said, “It’s been our honor to work with the Georgia Department of Education and the General Assembly to bring Leader in Me to schools throughout the State. We now look forward to partnering closely with these districts to bring the Leader in Me to their students to help them to build the leadership and life skills they need to thrive, adapt and contribute in today’s ever-changing world.”

Leader in Me is an evidence-based Pre-K-12 model, developed in partnership with educators, designed to build resilience and leadership in students, create a high-trust school culture, and help improve academic achievement.

The student-centric model aims to foster leadership skills, character development, and personal growth in students and is implemented in schools to empower students with the necessary tools to thrive academically and in their personal lives. It is designed to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and goal-setting skills. Students learn to take responsibility for their actions, set and work towards personal and academic goals, and develop a strong sense of self-confidence and self-efficacy.

Now in more than 7,000 schools throughout the world, Leader in Me continues to have a significant, measurable impact in schools and in the lives of millions of students, parents, teachers and administrators.”

The model’s success in Macon-Bibb County began during the 2015-2016 school year when Macon’s Business Education Partnership raised funds to implement Leader in Me in two pilot schools. The positive outcomes and transformative impact led to its expansion countywide in 2018.

You can find out more about Leader in Me 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 Upson, Monroe, Peach, Crawford, and portions of Bibb and Houston Counties. He may be reached at 404.656.6578 or by email at john.kennedy@senate.ga.gov

Sen. Blake Tillery serves as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He represents Senate District 19, which includes Appling, Bacon, Jeff Davis, Long, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Wayne and Wheeler Counties and a portion of Coffee County. He can be reached at 404.656.5038 or by email at blake.tillery@senate.ga.gov

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Senate President Pro Tempore Receives A+ Legislator Rating from Georgia Chamber

ATLANTA (August 1, 2023) | The Georgia Chamber of Commerce recently released its 2023 Legislative Scorecard, with Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy (R – Macon) receiving an A+ rating for his efforts during the 2023 Georgia Legislative Session. The 2023 Legislative Scorecard marks the 9th consecutive year of Senator Kennedy being recognized for championing pro-business legislation.

“I am proud to have received a top rating by the Georgia Chamber,” said Senate Present Pro Tempore Kennedy. “It is a priority of mine to ensure that Georgians have every opportunity to prosper as they chase the American dream, and I look forward to continuing the fight to make sure that Georgia stays the number one state to do business for many years to come.”

This legislative scorecard offers insight into how members of the Georgia General Assembly voted on issues during the 40-day legislative session.

The 2023 Scorecard includes legislation addressing education, legal reform, transportation, infrastructure, and healthcare. You can view the scorecard 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 Upson, Monroe, Peach, Crawford, and portions of Bibb and Houston Counties. He may be reached at 404.656.6578 or by email at john.kennedy@senate.ga.gov

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Sen. Russ Goodman Announces 2023 Agricultural Issues Summit in Perry

ATLANTA (July 28, 2023) | This week, Senator Russ Goodman (R – Cogdell), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, announced the convening of Georgia’s annual Agricultural Issues Summit at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry. Sen. Goodman will co-host the event on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 alongside Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Consumer affairs Representative Robert Dickey (R – Musella).

“There is never a shortage of concerns or challenges faced by Georgia’s number one industry,” said Sen. Goodman. “In the last few months, we have faced reports of southern corn rust across the state, an estimated $190 million loss for our peach farmers this season and uncertainty surrounding the USDA’s approval of lab-grown meat. These are just a few problems that make it crucial for our state lawmakers, industry leaders and farmers to come together and find solutions to the issues that impact our agricultural community. This summit serves as a platform for vital communication and future disaster preparation. I extend my gratitude to our presenters, my fellow lawmakers, sponsors, and the hard-working farmers who choose to offer their perspectives during this year’s summit. I look forward to seeing everyone in Perry as we continue the work of searching for opportunities for the next generation of Georgia farmers and finding innovative solutions to the ag industry’s current and future challenges.”

The agenda includes several important updates and issues related to the agricultural community in Georgia. A more detailed agenda will be sent out soon.

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Sen. Russ Goodman serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. He represents Senate District 8 which includes Atkinson, Clinch, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes and Pierce Counties and a large portion of Ware County. He may be reached at 404.656.7454 or at russ.goodman@senate.ga.gov

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Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick Receives GMOAA Barto Award

ATLANTA (July 31, 2023) | Last week, the Georgia Military Officers Association bestowed the 2022 Barto award to Chairman of the Senate Committee on Children and Families Senator Kay Kirkpatrick (R – Marietta). Originally, the presentation was to be made in November of 2022, but was moved due to scheduling conflicts. Sen. Kirkpatrick receives this award due in recognition for her support and sponsorship of the new state income tax exemption for retired military personnel of $17,500.00/year. This exemption, known as House Bill 1064, will begin at the date of the service member’s retirement date, instead of the individual having to wait until age 62, which was the previous standard of practice.

“It is an honor to be named as a recipient of this prestigious award,” said Sen. Kirkpatrick. “I want to thank GMOAA for the recognition, and I look forward to continue working together for the benefit of all military personnel for many years to come.”


In 2014 the Georgia Military Officers Association of America (GMOAA), the Georgia council affiliate of the MOAA, established the Joseph C. Barto, Jr., Service Award to be presented annually to State of Georgia officials in the Executive Branch, House and Senate for their support of issues at the state level involving military personnel and veterans. The award is named in honor of LTC, USA (R) Joseph C. Barto, Jr., who was a past president of the GMOAA (back when it was the Georgia The Retired Officers Association [GTROA]) and then the long-serving director of legislative affairs for the GMOAA.

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Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Children and Families. She represents Senate District 32 which includes portions of Cobb and Cherokee Counties. She may be reached at 404.656.
3932 or at kay.kirkpatrick@senate.ga.gov