Tag: gapol

ATLANTA (May 21, 2025) — Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas) has been appointed by Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones to serve on the High School Athletics Overview Committee, a joint legislative body tasked with examining the operations and oversight of high school athletics in Georgia.

Originally established during the 2013–2014 biennium, the High School Athletics Overview Committee was created to promote transparency, accountability, and excellence in athletic programs across Georgia’s secondary schools. Sen. Anavitarte joins a bipartisan group of appointees whose mission is to ensure student-athletes are supported by fair policies and quality programs.

“It’s an honor to be appointed to this important committee,” said Sen. Anavitarte. “High school sports play a critical role in developing leadership, discipline, and teamwork in our young people. As a former local school board member and father of daughters who play high school sports, I understand how deeply these programs shape our students’ futures. I look forward to working with my colleagues to strengthen athletic opportunities and uphold high standards across all school districts.”

The committee, which includes members from both the House and Senate, is charged with monitoring athletic associations, reviewing policies impacting eligibility and recruitment and ensuring the equitable treatment of all student-athletes.

Senator Billy Hickman (R–Statesboro), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Youth, will also serve as committee co-chair. Additional Senate appointees include Senators Emanuel Jones (D–Decatur), Randy Robertson (R–Cataula), Sonya Halpern (D–Atlanta), and Chuck Payne (R–Dalton).

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Sen. Jason Anavitarte serves as Chairman of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents the 31^st 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.

ATLANTA (May 14, 2025) — Today, Senator Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas) issued a statement on the passing of John Dean:

“Today, Jennifer and I are saddened by the passing of John Dean, a beloved member of our Paulding County community who did so much for our churches, schools, kids and countless citizens. John and I were elected to the Paulding County School Board together in 2018 as outsiders, to fight for kids and teachers across our county. One thing about John Dean is that he always put people first, and in his heart, he did what was best for our community without wavering one day. John was a U.S. Marine and lived those ideals daily as a war veteran who saw the best of America. He always shared those values with my family and countless others across West Georgia. On behalf of Jennifer and I, the Georgia Senate, and the Paulding County Legislative Delegation, we will be praying for his wife Sandra and the entire Dean family in the days to come. God bless.”

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Sen. Jason Anavitarte serves as Chairman of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents the 31^st 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.

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.

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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.