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Sen. John Albers Announces Legislative Priority to Hold Deadbeat Parents Accountable

ATLANTA (September 5, 2024) — Today, Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell) announced his plans to introduce legislation in the upcoming legislative session to hold deadbeat parents accountable for failing to meet their obligations to provide for their children.

“Supporting and providing for our children is one of our most fundamental responsibilities as parents. Those who shirk this duty are not only failing their families but are also breaking the law here in Georgia,” said Sen. Albers. “When the legislative session begins in January, I will introduce legislation to increase penalties for deadbeat parents and ensure that anyone who cannot meet their legal, moral, and ethical obligations as a parent is disqualified from running for or serving in elected office.”

The proposed legislation will address the growing issue of parents who neglect their financial responsibilities. A “deadbeat parent” is defined as a parent who willfully fails to pay child support, disregarding court orders or legal agreements, and thereby neglecting their duty to provide for the basic needs of their children. Sen. Albers’ initiative seeks to impose significant consequences on those who evade their responsibilities, reinforcing the importance of child welfare and the integrity of public office.

More details on the proposed legislation will be released as the 2025 Legislative Session approaches.

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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.

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

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GAFP Honors Sen. Blake Tillery with Healthcare “Champion” Award

ATLANTA, GA (August 16, 2024) —The Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP) has awarded Georgia Sen. Blake Tillery (R–Vidalia) with its Family Medicine Legislative Champion of the Year Award, recognizing his significant contributions towards improving healthcare access and outcomes in the state of Georgia. 

GAFP highlighted his efforts to tailor provider payments for access and support for primary care as a vital step toward enhancing health care across the state. “Sen. Tillery, through unwavering dedication and pivotal legislative contributions, has emerged as a steadfast advocate for the health care needs of Georgians,” says Georgia Academy of Family Physicians Chapter President Dr. Samuel L. “Le” Church. “His leadership showcases a profound commitment to not only advancing the health care landscape in Georgia but ensuring our patients have access to the comprehensive care they deserve.”

“I’m deeply honored to receive the Family Medicine Legislative Champion of the Year Award from the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians. Ensuring that all Georgians, regardless of zip code, have access to quality healthcare is a significant force behind my legislative and budgetary efforts,” shared Sen. Tillery. “This recognition is not just a reflection of our work but a reminder of the ongoing need to support our primary care providers and enhance healthcare access and promote preventative care across our state.”

Sen. Tillery was elected to represent Georgia’s 19th district in 2016, and in the last legislative session, served as the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, vice chair of the Government Oversight Committee, vice chair of the State Institutions and Property Committee, and secretary of the Senate Retirement Committee. He also was a member of the Finance Committee. He has sponsored several healthcare laws during his tenure, including the ‘Patients First Act.’

He earned his bachelor’s degree in international affairs from the University of Georgia and his Juris Doctor at the University of Georgia School of Law in 2010. He is the managing partner at Smith and Tillery, P.C., and previously co-chaired the Leadership Toombs-Montgomery program. Tillery has also served as Chairman of the Toombs County Commission, the Heart of Georgia Workforce Investment Board, and the Toombs County Boys and Girls Club Board.

Founded in 1947, GAFP is a chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Its mission is to promote Georgians’ health by advancing the family medicine specialty through education, advocacy, and service to family physicians. With more than 3,200 members—including family physicians, residents, and medical students—GAFP supports those who aspire to achieve and deliver excellence. Go to www.gafp.org or call 404.321.7445 for more information.

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

For all media inquiries, please email SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

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Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare to Hold First Meeting

ATLANTA (August 26, 2024) — On Wednesday, August 28,2024, at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare, chaired by Sen. Brian Strickland (R–McDonough), will hold its first hearing.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
  • Time: 10:00 a.m.
  • Location: 450 State Capitol, 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA, 30334
  • This event is open to the public and will be live-streamed on the Georgia General Assembly website here.

ABOUT THE MEETING:         

Members are tasked with recommending measures to increase access to affordable child care in Georgia. This committee was created pursuant to Senate Resolution 471 during the 2024 Legislative Session.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at Jantz.Womack@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Brian Strickland serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary. He represents the 17th Senate District, which includes all of Morgan and portions of Henry, Newton and Walton County. Sen. Strickland may be reached by phone at 404.463.6598 or by email at Brian.Strickland@senate.ga.gov.

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Joint Agriculture Chairmen’s Ag Issues Summit to be Held in Perry

ATLANTA (August 26, 2024) — On Tuesday, August 27th,2024, at 9:30 a.m., the Senate and House Agricultural Issues Summit will take place at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2024
  • Time: 9:30 a.m.
  • Location: 

Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter

Miller Murphy Howard Building

401 Larry Walker Pkwy

Perry, Georgia 31069

West Gate Parking

  • This event is open to the public.

ABOUT THE MEETING:         

This annual event is a critical gathering for discussing key issues in the agricultural sector and will feature insights from various industry leaders. An agenda for this meeting is attached. The summit will be led by the Chairmen of the House and Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committees, Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell) and Rep. Robert Dickey (R–Musella).

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. 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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Senators John Albers and Randy Robertson to Hold Press Conference on Findings of Senate Fulton County Jail Subcommittee

ATLANTA (August 20, 2024) — On Friday, August 23rd,2024, at 8:00 a.m., Senate Committee on Public Safety Chairman Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell) and Majority Whip Randy Robertson (R–Cataula) will hold a press conference to release the final report of the Senate Subcommittee on the Fulton County Jail to the public.

EVENT DETAILS:                      

  • Date: Friday, August 23, 2024
  • Time: 8:00 a.m.
  • Location: Senate Press Conference Room, 203 Coverdell Legislative Office Building, 18 Capitol Square SW, Atlanta, GA 30334

ABOUT THE MEETING:         

The subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Robertson, investigated the current challenges and incidents plaguing Fulton County’s jail system. During this press conference, Senators Albers and Robertson will discuss the subcommittee’s final report.

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. 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.

Sen. Randy Robertson serves as Majority Whip of the 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