By: Sen. Larry Walker (R – Perry)
This week, the Senate completed its 10th legislative week, leaving us with just a little over a week to work our way through the remaining 180 House bills and resolutions. This next week will be our busiest as the last few bills remaining in committee will either be passed out or not make it through the whole process this legislative session.
Speaking of our work in committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which I am a member, passed out the FY 2020 General Budget. This bill allocated the state’s $27.5 billion budget and includes some changes from the version the House sent us. Included is the $3,000 teacher pay raise, something I know many people were looking forward to and thought was needed to encourage retention in our local school systems. This bill will be on the Senate floor on Monday, so next week I’ll review what other funding is included in the bill that will directly impact our district.
We also heard HB 481, a bill that some of you may have heard about in the media. This bill would ban abortions in Georgia after a heartbeat is detected, usually around six weeks into a pregnancy. There are exceptions for rape, incest, the pregnancy being medically futile, or in cases of a medical emergency of a pregnant woman. Additionally, the bill states that unborn children with a heartbeat are included in the state population and are considered a person for the purposes of taxation, civil damages and disclosures. This represents what is likely the strongest pro-life legislation in the country. Many republicans have campaigned on the promise to pass robust legislation that protects our state’s most vulnerable and fragile population, and I believe this is it. This active move to protect life when it begins is especially pertinent considering other states, like New York, are doing the opposite. I am glad Georgia is a state that values the sanctity of life. We are called to represent our constituents, both those who are living in our communities and those who are still in the womb. I am proud to have been able to support this legislation and am happy for what it means for our state’s precious children.
Thank you again for trusting me to represent you at the state Capitol. As we move into the last few weeks of the legislative session, please do not hesitate to reach out if there is anything you feel strongly about. My door and phone lines are always open. Also, if you’d like to visit the Capitol soon, please reach out to my office. Things are busy, but I love the opportunity to visit with people from home.
# # # #
Sen. Larry Walker serves as Caucus Vice Chairman for the Majority Party. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Houston, Laurens and Pulaski counties. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0095 or by email at larry.walker@senate.ga.gov