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Sen. Matt Brass to Tour Central Education Center with British Consul General

ATLANTA (May 19, 2025)—On Tuesday, May 20, Senate Rules Chairman Matt Brass (R–Newnan) will participate in a tour of the Central Education Center (CEC) with British Consul General Rachel Galloway. The tour will take place at the CEC’s headquarters, where CEO Mark Whitlock will provide an overview of workforce development supporting industries throughout the State of Georgia.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
  • Time: 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
  • Where: 160 M.L.K. Jr. Drive, Newnan, GA 30263
  • This event is open to members of the media ONLY.

Biographies for British Consul General Rachel Galloway and CEC CEO Mark Whitlock can be found below.

Rachel Galloway – British Consul GeneralDownload
Mark Whitlock – BiographyDownload

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. Matt Brass serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules. Sen. Brass represents the 6th Senate District, which includes Coweta and Heard, as well as parts of Carroll County. He can be reached at (404) 656-0057 or by email at matt.brass@senate.ga.gov.

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

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Sen. Islam Parkes Sends Letter to Georgia Attorney General Seeking Answers for Georgia Families

ATLANTA (May 16, 2025) — Today, Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes (D–Duluth) formally requested a legal opinion from Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr on how Georgia’s abortion law applies in circumstances where the mother is deemed medically brain dead.

Sen. Islam Parkes cited recent news reports detailing the case of Adriana Smith, a Georgia woman who was declared brain dead and is being kept on life support due to her pregnancy. The letter raises questions about whether Georgia law requires life support to be continued under such circumstances, even without the consent of the woman’s family.

The full letter is available below.

Letter_to_Attorney_General_Chris_CarrDownload

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Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes represents the 7th Senate District including a portion of Gwinnett County. She may be reached at (404) 463-5263 or by email at nabilah.islam@senate.ga.gov.

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

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Sen. Ed Harbison Celebrates Signing of Legislation to Protect Georgia’s Active-Duty Service Members

ATLANTA (May 16, 2025) – Last week, Governor Brian P. Kemp signed Senate Bill 109 into law—a measure authored by Sen. Harbison (D–Columbus) to safeguard life insurance coverage for Georgia’s active-duty service members.

The new law, written following the death of Sgt. Brandon Tyrese Fraiser, prohibits group life insurance policies from excluding or restricting coverage solely because the insured is serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, unless the death results directly from an act of war or related hazard.

“As a former Marine and a long-time advocate for our veterans and service members, I’ve always believed that those who serve our nation with honor should never face undue barriers—especially when it comes to something as essential as life insurance. It was extraordinarily moving to witness this legislation be signed into law alongside the late Sgt. Fraiser’s father and family members,” said Sen. Harbison. “SB 109 offers critical financial protection to Georgia’s military families and ensures our service members are treated with the fairness and dignity they deserve. I want to thank Gov. Kemp, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, my senate colleagues, and my fellow servicemen and women for their hard work in getting this legislation signed.”

SB 109 received unanimous passage in both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly. Sen. Harbison has consistently aimed to prioritize legislation that honors the service and sacrifices of military families throughout his tenure in the Georgia State Senate.

More information on SB 109 is available here.

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Sen. Ed Harbison serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on State Institutions and Property. He represents the 15th Senate District, which includes Chattahoochee, Macon, Marion, Schley, Talbot and Taylor counties, as well as a portion of Muscogee County. He may be reached at (404) 656-0074 or via email at Ed.Harbison@senate.ga.gov.

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

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Sen. Randy Robertson Ranked Among Georgia’s Most Effective Lawmakers During 2023-2024 Biennium

ATLANTA (May 13, 2025) — Majority Whip Sen. Randy Robertson (R–Cataula) was recently recognized as one of the most effective legislators in the Georgia General Assembly during the 2023-2024 Legislative Biennium, according to a nonpartisan evaluation conducted by the Center for Legislative Accountability (CLA). The report assigned Sen. Robertson an effectiveness score of 3.11, more than three times the legislative average of 1.0.

Sen. Robertson reflected on the recognition and reaffirmed his dedication to the constituents of Senate District 29, “I’m proud to see our work acknowledged. But more than just a number, this rating represents my continued commitment to delivering real results for the people I serve. I’m especially proud of the passage and signing of Senate Bill 159, which prohibits wireless communications and stand-alone electronic devices behind guard lines in our correctional institutions. I’m also pleased to have successfully advanced SB 37, SB 63, SB 92, SB 95, SB 332, SB 342, SB 424, and SB 517. Fighting for Georgians and producing tangible outcomes remains my top priority, and I’m honored to work alongside my colleagues in the Senate to make that happen.”

The CLA’s annual effectiveness report assesses all state lawmakers based on key indicators that measure their ability to sponsor, advance and pass legislation through the General Assembly. Criteria include the number of bills a legislator sponsors, how far those bills progress through the legislative process and how many ultimately become law.

More information on the CLA can be found here.

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Sen. Randy Robertson serves as Majority Whip of Senate Majority Caucus. He represents Senate District 29, which includes Harris, Meriwether, and Troup Counties and a portion of Muscogee County. He can be reached at 404.656.0045 or at randy.robertson@senate.ga.gov

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

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Sen. Chuck Payne Applauds Signing of Comprehensive Tort Reform Legislation by Governor Kemp

ATLANTA (April 22, 2025)—Yesterday, Governor Brian P. Kemp signed Senate Bills 68 and 69 into law, marking a major step forward in Georgia’s ongoing effort to strengthen its civil justice system and protect consumers from abusive litigation practices. Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy (R–Macon) carried the bills in the Senate on behalf of Governor Kemp, who named tort reform his top legislative priority for the 2025 session.

SB 68 enacts comprehensive tort reform, including changes to negligent security liability, apportionment of fault, and damages in civil cases, to curb “nuclear verdicts” and reduce the burden of frivolous lawsuits on small businesses. Complementing this effort, SB 69, the Georgia Courts Access and Consumer Protection Act, targets the growing influence of Third-Party Litigation Financing (TPLF) by requiring these entities to register with the state, banning foreign-affiliated financiers from operating in Georgia, and increasing public transparency through open access to registration records.

“For Dalton and Whitfield County, where manufacturing is not just an industry but a way of life, these reforms mean stability, opportunity and continued investment in our community,” said Sen. Chuck Payne (R–Dalton). “Together, Senate Bills 68 and 69 reinforce Georgia’s standing as the No. 1 state for business by creating a predictable, transparent legal environment that supports job growth. I am proud to have cosponsored these pieces of legislation, and I am thankful for the support of Governor Kemp, Lt. Governor Burt Jones and Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy in getting these measures across the finish line.”

For more information about Senate Bill 68, click here. For more information about Senate Bill 69, click here.

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Sen. Chuck Payne serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security. He represents the 54th Senate District, which includes Whitfield and Murray County as well as part of Gordon County. He may be reached at 404.463.5402 or by email at Chuck.Payne@senate.ga.gov.

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