2023 Study Committees Announced

ATLANTA |Today, Lt. Governor Burt Jones announced the introduction of four priority Senate Study Committees which will expand the critical work on his 2023 legislative priorities.

2023 Legislative Priorities Update

ATLANTA |Yesterday, the Georgia General Assembly completed Crossover Day, Legislative Day 28. This is the deadline for a Senate Bill to pass to be eligible for consideration by the House. Lt. Governor Burt Jones’ priorities for the 2023 Legislative Session successfully made the deadline and are now being considered by the House.

Amended Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Adopted

ATLANTA |Today, the Georgia General Assembly adopted the Amended Fiscal Year 2023 (AFY23) Budget, House Bill 18. The AFY23 Budget is now headed to Governor Brian Kemp for his signature.

Legislation Addressing Election Interference Introduced

ATLANTA | On Tuesday, February 21, Sen. Max Burns (R – Sylvania) introduced Senate Bill 222, which would address the funding of elections from any person or nongovernmental organization.

Lt. Governor Jones Statewide Field Representative Constituent Program

ATLANTA |Today, Lt. Governor Burt Jones announced a new constituent services program. The Statewide Field Representative Constituent Program divides Georgia’s 159 counties into three regions with a dedicated constituent services representative for each.

Legislation Supporting Georgia’s Children Introduced

ATLANTA |Today, Senator Kay Kirkpatrick (R – Marietta), along with Senator Bill Cowsert (R – Athens), Senator Brian Strickland (R – McDonough) and Senator Blake Tillery (R – Vidalia), introduced legislation advancing the Department of Human Services 2023 Legislative Priorities.

Cracking Down On Organized Dogfighting

ATLANTA |Today, Senator Rick Williams (R – Milledgeville) introduced Senate Bill 68 which adds the criminal offense of dogfighting to the list of crimes that constitute “racketeering activity” under Georgia’s racketeering and organized crime (RICO) statute.

Senate Bill 63, Bail Reform, Introduced

ATLANTA |Today, Senator Randy Robertson (R - Cataula) introduced Senate Bill 63 which expands the list of serious offenses for which bail or surety is required. Additionally, many repeat offenders would be required to post bail or surety.

Gang Enforcement Legislation Introduced

ATLANTA |Today, Governor Brian P. Kemp’s Floor Leader Bo Hatchett (R- Cornelia) introduced Senate Bill 44 which addresses gang violence by creating a new offense for recruiting minors to gangs and establishes a mandatory minimum sentencing scheme for all gang offenses.

Senate Announces New Committee Chairs

ATLANTA |Today, Lt. Governor Burt Jones and the Senate Committee on Assignments announced new standing committee chairs for the first session of the 157th Georgia General Assembly.