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President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy Applauds Final Passage of Legislation to Combat Antisemitism

ATLANTA (January 25, 2024) — On Thursday Jan. 25, House Bill 30 received final passage by substitute through the Georgia General Assembly during the 2024 Legislative Session. Sponsored by Rep. John Carson (R–Marietta) and carried through the Senate by President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy (R–Macon), this significant legislation addresses the escalating issue of antisemitism in Georgia.

The bill, which received support from both sides of the aisle, is poised to make a substantial impact on combating antisemitic acts and harassment within the state. Sen. Kennedy, who served as the author to the bill’s substitute, commented, “This is a meaningful and effective bill that provides a guide to the government as to what antisemitism looks like. This bill sends a message to bad actors that, when committing an already illegal act discriminating against the Jewish community in Georgia, the state is equipped to discern and address this form of discrimination effectively. I appreciate Lt. Governor Burt Jones for prioritizing this legislation and look forward to seeing HB 30 signed into law in the coming months.”

“I applaud President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy and the Senate for Passing HB 30,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “Antisemitic speech and hate will not be tolerated in Georgia. Today and every day, we stand with Georgia’s and our nation’s Jewish Community.”

Georgia has witnessed a concerning rise in antisemitic incidents, with citizens facing harassment and discrimination based on their religious identity, as well as their perceived national original and race. The substitute introduced by Sen. Kennedy requires government agencies to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when enforcing anti-discrimination policies. The latest push to pass this legislation comes in response to incidents like the hanging of an effigy at a local synagogue in Macon, where congregation members fear attending services due to such acts of hate. Moreover, the substitute outlines the government’s duties, requiring state agencies to consider the IHRA definition when determining sentencing enhancements related to hate crimes. The legislation respects existing criminal procedure and the adjudicatory process.

This measure has now been sent to the Governor’s desk for his signature. You can find more information on HB 30 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, as well as portions of Bibb and Houston County. He may be reached at 404.656.6578 or by email at john.kennedy@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Jason Anavitarte Proposes Tort Reform Protections for Gun Manufacturers and Property Owners

ATLANTA (January 23, 2024) — Today, Chairman of the Senate Majority Caucus, Senator Jason Anavitarte (R – Dallas) announced his intention to introduce the “Second Amendment Lawsuit Protection Act.” This legislation aims to provide liability protection to property owners and gun manufacturers against frivolous lawsuits. Anavitarte issued the following statement: 

“When Georgia passed my Constitutional Carry legislation last session, I promised Georgians that the only permit they’ll need to carry a weapon in the State of Georgia is the 2nd Amendment.  To make that promise a reality, we must ensure Georgia businesses and property owners can allow citizens to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights without fear of being sued solely because they permitted individuals to exercise those rights. With the increasing number of liberal local and state governments trying to roll back the immunity protections for gun companies, it is also important to send a strong message to gun manufacturers that Georgia is the right place to do business.  To that end, The Second Amendment Lawsuit Protection Act aims to protect gun manufactures domiciled in Georgia so they can continue to build these constitutionally protected tools unmolested by trial lawyers.  This legislation will provide strict immunity protection under state law to protect against changes in federal law or out of state lawyers looking to harm Georgia’s businesses. I don’t believe you need a permit to exercise your 2nd Amendment rights and business owners and gun manufacturers certainly shouldn’t have to have a special insurance policy.  The 2nd Amendment is nonnegotiable, and we are going to make sure Georgia is the best place in the country to exercise your God given right to build, sell and carry a weapon.”

Anavitarte plans to introduce the Second Amendment Lawsuit Preservation Act in early February.  The 2024 Georgia Legislative Session ends March 28, 2024.

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Sen. Jason Anavitarte serves as Chair of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents Senate District 31 which includes Paulding and Polk Counties. He can be reached at 404.656.9221 or at Jason.anavitarte@senate.ga.gov

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Walker: Budget Week Under the Gold Dome

By: Sen. Larry Walker III (R–Perry)

Budget week, as it is coined under the Gold Dome, is a tremendous opportunity for legislators to dialogue with these leaders and learn how their needs correlate with the needs of hardworking Georgians. During our second week of the 2024 Legislative Session, I welcomed the opportunity to listen to budget presentations from various state agencies. I would like to first thank Budget Chairmen Sen. Blake Tillery (R–Vidalia) and Rep. Matt Hatchett (R–Dublin) for their continued discernment as Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations. I would also like to thank each agency head for their hard work year-round and their willingness to answer our questions this week. Passing a balanced state budget is the sole constitutional obligation of the Georgia General Assembly each session, and I appreciate the hard work of committee members from both sides of the aisle throughout this process.

When I began to read through this year’s budget, I couldn’t help but be proud of our state’s commitment to spending wisely. We didn’t count our chickens before they hatched, and we are now getting to reap the benefits of fiscal conservatism. We are currently sitting on a $16 billion surplus, which has provided us with a solid financial foundation. The proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget aims to reward hardworking Georgians with tax rebates and reductions while also providing a four percent cost-of-living adjustment for state employees and our educators. Georgia is celebrating 27 consecutive years of a AAA bond rating, which is the highest attainable credit rating for a state government.

These are not the only investments that I look forward to celebrating, however. I’m greatly appreciative to Gov. Brian P. Kemp for his allocation of $21.54 million for a new goat, sheep and swine barn at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. I’m grateful for investments such as the $250 million proposed to support water and wastewater infrastructure development via low-interest loans. These loans encourage county governments to build toward a brighter tomorrow and provide Georgia with additional leverage when persuading businesses to set up shop in the Peach State. Lastly, I am energized by Gov. Kemp’s tough-on-crime proposals, including over $807 thousand in funding to expand the Gang Prosecution Unit to all corners of our state.  

As we look to our third week of the 2024 legislative session, I assure you that I am keeping the interests of Georgia’s citizens and the 20th Senate district at the forefront of my mind. There is still much work to do, and I appreciate any feedback you might have concerning current or future legislation. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if you have any questions or concerns regarding legislative matters.

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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Chairman of the Insurance and Labor Committee. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutien, 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.

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Sen. Nan Orrock Applauds Work to End State Sales Tax on Menstrual Products

ATLANTA (Jan. 22, 2024) — The Georgia coalition working to end the state sales tax on period products held a press conference last week at the State Capitol to highlight the recent classification of period products by the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board.

Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, supports the effort, commenting, “I strongly support removing this sales tax from feminine hygiene products. We should improve access to these essential health products for women, not burden them with an unfair tax.”

Elle Knott, Advocacy Program Coordinator at YWCA of Greater Atlanta, summarized the group’s position by saying, “put simply, eliminating this tax would both remove financial barriers and end a discriminatory practice for women in Georgia. Now is the time for Georgia to modernize its code and become the 30th state to eliminate taxes on menstrual products.”

As of December 2023, the National Streamline Sales Tax Governing Board classified menstrual products as Menstrual Discharge Collection Devices (MDCDs), recognizing them as medically necessary products. The purpose of the governing board’s language adoption was to standardize the tax code designation of period products throughout the country. This new language should resonate in Georgia as it focuses more on the medical nature, not choice, of these unique products for women and girls.

Clair Cox, Chair of STOMP shared at the press conference that “Georgia should not tax girls and women for being girls and women. MDCDs are classified by the FDA as medical devices and are an item about which women and girls have no choice to use – they are necessary for good health.”

Sydney Wilson, Spelman College Student and Georgia Women’s Policy Institute Fellow, also stated that “with period products being classified as necessary menstrual discharge collection devices (MDCDs), these items should not be taxed as if they are luxury items. Women are being most impacted by this unconstitutional tax, as there is no equivalent tax on any medical device that their male counterparts require. By ending this tax on menstrual products, we would be reducing the stigma around menstruation in the state of Georgia.”

Georgia changed its tax code in 1996 to exempt food, prescriptions and other needed non-prescription medical devices. If period products were exempted when these other basic needs were exempted, Georgia women would have saved $150M. Georgia women already experience poverty rates at higher than the national average.

For more than seven years, Georgia STOMP has led the effort in Georgia to eliminate the discriminatory sales tax on menstrual products and has ensured active bills were before the state legislature every session beginning in 2018. Cox states that “during the time we have been actively working in Georgia, the number of states in the US with no sales tax on period products has more than doubled, with 29 states now having no state tax on menstrual products. Texas and Virginia are among these most recently joining the list.”

About Georgia STOMP:

Georgia STOMP is a robust coalition of 37 organization spanning the state, including member organizations YWCA Greater Atlanta, Helping Mamas, Health Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition, Over the Moon-Savannah, Junior Leagues of Georgia State Public Affairs Committee, IGNITE, Atlanta Grow, PERIOD of N. Gwinnett High School and Macon Periods Easier.

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Sen. Nan Orrock serves as the Democratic Caucus Secretary. She represents the 36th Senate District which includes portions of Fulton County. She may be reached at 404.463.8054 or by email at nan.orrock@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. John Albers to Recognize High School Student Sierra Pape on National Donor Day

ATLANTA (Jan. 16, 2024) — In August of 2023, Midtown High School sophomore Sierra Pape reached out to Sen. John Albers (R—Roswell) for advice on proposing legislation that would implement information about organ donation and transplantation within school curriculums.

“When Sierra approached me with this life-changing initiative, I knew I needed to help in any way that I can. In 2021, I donated my left kidney to help save my son’s life. Organ donation is a cause that is extremely important and heartfelt to my family, and I’m overjoyed that this life-saving matter will be implemented in the state’s curriculum,” said Sen. Albers. 

The Georgia Board of Education met on Wednesday, Jan. 10 to present the proposed changes to their health standards in grades 8-12 to reflect the importance of organ and tissue donation and the statewide organ donation registry system at their State Board Committee Meeting. State School Superintendent Richard Woods and the rest of the Board of Education members met to hear Sen. Albers and Sierra Pape present the initiative. They passed the “Teaching Organ Donation and Saving Lives” to be implemented into the curriculum for the upcoming school year.

Sierra has worked tirelessly with several individuals to gain information and support for this initiative. Along with being an impressive student, Sierra serves on the Fulton County Youth Commission, Metro Atlanta Regional Commission, as well as Midtown High School’s “My Votes” chapter. Sen. Albers will recognize Sierra and her impressive efforts at the Georgia State Capitol on Feb. 15, 2024, which is also National Donor Day.

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Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 56th Senate District which includes portions of Cherokee, Cobb and North Fulton counties. He may be reached at his office at 404.463.8055 or by email at john.albers@senate.ga.gov