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Sen. Donzella James to Hold Diaspora Day Press Conference

ATLANTA (March 17, 2025) — Tomorrow, March 18, at 1:00 p.m., Sen. Donzella James (D–Atlanta) will hold a press conference on Diaspora Day.

MEETING DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
  • Time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Location: South Steps, State Capitol, 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA, 30334
  • This event is open to the public.

ABOUT THE PRESS CONFERENCE:         

Sen. James will speak on the importance of International Diaspora Day. International Diaspora Day is observed annually and recognizes the economic, social and cultural impact of individuals who have migrated from their countries of origin while maintaining strong ties to their heritage. The day serves as a platform for discussions on policies that support diaspora engagement, international cooperation and the role of global communities in fostering development and unity.

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. Donzella James serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Urban Affairs. She represents the 35th Senate District, which includes portions of Douglas and Fulton counties. She may be reached by phone at 404.463.1379 or by email at donzella.james@senate.ga.gov

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Sen. Kenya Wicks Celebrates Passage of Senate Bill 236

ATLANTA (March 12, 2025) — On March 6, 2025, Sen. Kenya Wicks (D–Fayette) passed her first bill, Senate Bill 236, the “Quality Basic Education Act,” on the Senate floor. This bill will allow active-duty military parents with relocation orders to enroll their students in schools within their intended school district of residence before their official physical residency begins.

“I am pleased my first bill was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support,” said Sen. Wicks. “As a military parent whose family served on multiple bases, I understand the burden parents, military children and schools face when families move. Waiting for school calendars, military orders and official residency documentation to align can lead to late enrollment and students unnecessarily falling behind. SB 236 will tackle this issue, ease burdens for service families and allow students to start at their new schools when the timing works best for the family and student.”

SB 236 amends the “Quality Basic Education Act” and aims to ensure school enrollment for children of active-duty service members who have received military orders to transfer bases to Georgia. Students will be eligible for enrollment regardless of whether their parents have signed a lease, bought a house or established a physical residency in that school’s attendance zone.

You can find more information about the legislation here.

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Sen. Kenya Wicks represents the 34th Senate District, which includes portions of Clayton and Fayette Counties. She may be reached by email at Kenya.Wicks@senate.ga.gov.

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

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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.

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President Pro Tempore Sen. John F. Kennedy Commends Absenteeism Legislation Passing Senate

ATLANTA (February 26, 2025)—Today, the Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 123, a measure aimed at addressing chronic absenteeism in schools across the state. Sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy (R–Macon), SB 123 would establish a localized approach, working with families, administrators and those identified as chronically absent when reviewing individual cases. Additionally, the bill would require local boards of education to implement policies for identifying and intervening with chronically absent students, ensuring a focus on the root causes of their absences.

“I’m proud to see SB 123 earn the Senate’s support, as tackling chronic absenteeism is a top priority for me this session,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Students who frequently miss school risk falling behind, jeopardizing their ability to build a strong educational foundation. With this legislation, we are taking a crucial step toward strengthening our schools and securing a brighter future for Georgia’s students.”

Georgia’s school attendance laws have not been updated since 2007, leaving gaps in how chronic absenteeism is handled at the individual level. In 2024, 21.3% of Georgia students—nearly 360,000 young people—were chronically absent, missing 10% or more of their school days. If signed into law, SB 123 would require school climate committees to develop a comprehensive framework for improving student attendance. This legislation would also establish localized attendance review teams to determine the most effective strategies for reducing absenteeism. Additionally, they would be responsible for reporting their progress to the General Assembly.

For more information about the legislation, click 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

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COLUMN: Walker: Week Six Under the Gold Dome

By: Sen. Larry Walker, III (R–Perry)

With Legislative Day 20 behind us, we have officially reached the halfway mark of the 2025 Legislative Session.

One of our biggest legislative priorities this session has been lawsuit reform. Reining in the costly legal environment that burdens small businesses, healthcare providers, and consumers has been long overdue, and I am proud to report that the Senate has taken a significant step forward with the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 68. These commonsense reforms will help stabilize insurance costs, prevent frivolous litigation and ensure that businesses—especially small, family-owned operations—can operate without the constant threat of excessive verdicts. By curbing lawsuit abuse, we protect jobs and keep costs down for Georgia consumers. I look forward to working with our colleagues in the House to send these bills to the Governor’s desk.

This week, we also passed SB 52, the “Timberlands Recovery, Exemption, and Earnings Stability (TREES) Act,” which provides vital tax relief to timberland owners impacted by Hurricane Helene. The storm caused catastrophic damage, destroying an estimated $1.3 billion in standing timber across South Georgia. Many of these landowners depend on their timber harvest for income, and the economic impact has been devastating. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell), will help stabilize the market, ease the financial strain on affected families and support the long-term recovery of Georgia’s forestry industry—one of the largest in the nation.

Another key legislative win this week was the passage of SB 89, which expands Georgia’s Child Tax Credit to provide direct financial relief to families with young children. Sponsored by Sen. Brian Strickland (R–McDonough), this bill builds on the recommendations of the Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare, which spent months gathering input from working parents, childcare providers, and business leaders. The bill increases the state tax credit for childcare expenses to 40% of the federal level and creates a new tax credit for families with children under seven. Additionally, SB 89 incentivizes businesses to help employees with childcare costs by raising the employer tax credit cap from 50% to 75%. With the rising cost of childcare making it harder for parents—particularly mothers—to remain in the workforce, this legislation will provide real relief for Georgia families and help grow our state’s economy.

In addition to these major policy advancements, I introduced SB 125 to address the arduous process that professional engineers face to obtain certification. SB 125 would decouple the current sequential order of experience and examination requirements, which would allow engineers to acquire their license more quickly. This reform would also help prepare engineers to enter the Georgia workforce and advance in their careers. SB 125 was passed out of the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities, and I look forward to bringing it to the Senate floor in the coming weeks.

On a personal note, I was honored to celebrate Future Farmers of America (FFA) Day on Tuesday. Georgia is home to the third-largest chapter of this excellent organization, whose work is instrumental in directing young people to the forefront of agriculture and preparing them for career success. The future of farming depends on our youth, and with the help of FFA, Georgia agriculture will continue to be our state’s top industry.

As always, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the 20th Senate District. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions, concerns, or ideas. Your input helps shape the policies that impact our state, and I value your voice in this process.

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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Secretary of the Majority Caucus and Walker: Week Six Under the Gold DomeChairman 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, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.