Parent Press: Week 5 of the 2023 Legislative Session
The Capitol has been buzzing with activity and energy. It’s great to see the people’s house filled with so many citizens coming to make sure their voice is heard. I enjoy welcoming individuals and groups, and this week was especially exciting with hundreds of Girl Scouts in the Senate chamber.
I invite you to join the action and come down to the Capitol just for a visit or to meet with me and other legislators about issues important to you.
Citizen Engagement
We had a great turnout, both in person and on Zoom, for our Town Hall meeting at Glenn Memorial Church on February 5. I appreciated so many people taking the time to engage on several key issues I and my colleagues, Rep. Becky Evans and Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, are working on. Click here to catch a clip of my remarks on the Governor’s budget. The amended budget is now receiving hearings in the Senate Committee on Appropriations. I am serving on the Education and Higher Education and Judicial Subcommittees. I'm particularly interested in our needs and funding levels for Pre-K and K-12 education. Please follow along! Government works best when citizens participate in the legislative process.
If you missed the February meeting or if you’d like another opportunity to hear about what's happening at the Capitol, mark your calendar for Thursday, March 2 at 7pm for the Town Hall at Druid Hills Middle School. I will be joined by Senator Kim Jackson and Representative Mary Margaret Oliver.
Submit Questions in advance: bit.ly/TownHallMar2
Join by Zoom at: bit.ly/TownHallZoomRegistrationMar2
Fighting Against and Standing Up For!
My Republican colleagues have submitted several alarming bills causing much lively discussion in the Senate chamber. This week the Senate passed the first-filed bill of the 2023 session, SB 1, as GPB reported. The bill passed along party lines despite the opposition of the Georgia chapters of both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians. The bill would make permanent a ban on schools and governments requiring vaccination against COVID-19. My colleagues and I were concerned about the anti-vaccine message inherent in this legislation taking precedence over public health and sound science, not to mention the precedent it sets.
SB 36, a tough on crime bill that increases penalties for pimping and pandering, also passed. Because research shows that mandatory minimum sentences aren’t effective in deterring criminal activity and we have an exploding prison population, I opposed this bill even though I agree pimping and pandering are abhorrent and we need to fight crime. A mere decade after former Governor Nathan Deal spearheaded a bipartisan effort to take a smarter approach to incarceration and crime reduction, Gov. Kemp and the Republicans are taking us back down the same path.
Even though Republicans claim to support the right of local government to make laws affecting their community, we see them limiting these rights with the filing of SB 145, which prohibits local regulations that could regulate noisy and air polluting gasoline-powered leaf blowers. Since this kind of equipment might be appropriate in some communities, particularly rural ones, but not in crowded urban settings, local control is essential. If you oppose this bill, follow it to see which committee it gets assigned to so you can make your voice heard. This bill is being filed at the behest of the landscaping industry. If you know professional landscapers or lawn management personnel who would support local control or efforts to restrict gas-powered leaf blowers in one way or another, encourage them to speak out!
The culture wars continue with bills attacking our transgender youth despite the hopes of Senate leadership to avoid such fiery issues. Senate Bills 88, 140 and 141 are all focus on restricting the rights of our transgender youth, including the conversations they can have with adults other than their parents. These bills are a discriminatory, one-size-fits-all approach to complex issues, and many of you have already written to me to oppose them. I urge you to contact Republican legislators and leadership to stop these bills.
As many of you know, our Jewish neighbors have been the targets of hate expressed in a multitude of ways. Last weekend the AJC reported yet another incident. Each and every time, we need to stand up to condemn hatred rearing its ugly head.
My colleagues Senators Gloria Butler and Sally Harrell spoke eloquently in the Senate chamber on Monday. I released the following statement on social media and to the press:
Along with my colleagues at the Georgia Capitol, regardless of political affiliation, I condemn the hate that littered the driveways of Georgians on Sunday morning. Receiving this kind of message in any form, knowing someone who did or just hearing about it in the news raises the alarm for all of us.
I am committed to working against any hateful speech or act against any group. I stand with my Jewish neighbors as well as those across Georgia and throughout our country in fighting hate, whether it be based on religion, gender, race, origin, or physical or intellectual ability. We must all work together to take action every time this venom rears its ugly head to protect our individual freedom and the collective values we cherish.
Girl Scouts....Our Future Leaders
I was thrilled to welcome over 300 Girl Scouts to the Capitol this week. After honoring them in the Senate chamber I had the opportunity to meet with a small group of Scouts in my office to explain the legislative process and answer questions. This was definitely a highlight of my week, and you can see the joy in the chamber.
From Bills to Hearings
Every bill is not heard in committee, so being granted a hearing is a big deal, especially for legislators in the minority. I have 2 bills headed to committee next week: SB 34 to protect consumers and restaurants who use third party food delivery apps and SB 55 to allow kids under 18 to operate lemonade stands without a license as long as revenues are under $3K. You can watch these meetings in person or live at Georgia Assembly site or go to the archived recordings on You Tube.
I am pressing for hearings on other important legislation, especially SB 75, a bill that punishes adults who fail to lock and safely store firearms in the presence of minors. SB 75 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. My Republican colleagues have consistently refused to join us to enact common sense safeguards on firearms and we are turning up the heat. You can help pressure the committee to schedule a hearing on this bill by urging members, especially Republicans, to give this important bill a hearing. Here’s who to contact.
Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee
Brian Strickland , Chairman, brian.strickland@senate.ga.gov
Bill Cowsert ,Vice Chairman, bill.cowsert@senate.ga.gov
Mike Hodges, Secretary, mike.hodges@senate.ga.gov
Steve Gooch, Ex-Officio, steve.gooch@senate.ga.gov
Bo Hatchett, Member, bo.hatchett@senate.ga.gov
Harold Jones II, Member, harold.jones@senate.ga.gov
John Kennedy, Member, john.kennedy@senate.ga.gov
Michael 'Doc' Rhett, Member, michael.rhett@senate.ga.gov
Ed Setzler, Member, ed.setzler@senate.ga.gov
Ben Watson, Member, ben.watson@senate.ga.gov
You're Invited to the Capitol!
Just a reminder that the Capitol is your house too. You don’t need a special invitation to come down to watch chamber proceedings or committee meetings in person, if you want to lobby or just visit your legislators. Your attention and presence make a difference, I assure you. The rope line is back in action and pages are waiting to retrieve your legislators so you can be heard.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve and represent you in the Georgia State Senate.
Sincerely,
Questions? Please contact me at
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