Rising Up at the Capitol

Rising Tensions Over Tort Reform

Governor Kemp’s blood pressure must have been rising this week as the heat turned up on SB 68, his signature tort reform bill.

The week kicked off with a bombshell article landing on our desks in the House and Senate chambers, revealing that Florida’s Republican House Speaker had ordered an investigation into a previously hidden state report. The report exposed how insurance companies manipulated their books, crying financial hardship while raking in and hiding massive profits—all to justify tort reform that slashed their litigation costs. Sound familiar? It’s the same playbook insurers are using in Georgia.

That same afternoon, sex trafficking survivors flooded the House Rules Committee, slamming SB 68 for shielding businesses—like hotels—that knowingly allow crimes on their property. The backlash creates an awkward dilemma for the Kemps with First Lady Marty Kemp leading Georgia’s GRACE Commission to fight human trafficking.

The uprising didn’t stop there. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) joined the fight, condemning SB 68’s potential to limit pain and suffering damages by prohibiting attorneys from suggesting awards, leaving juries rudderless in awarding fair compensation. With tensions rising, one question looms large — who really wins if SB 68 passes?

Bills Rising Through the Ranks

Post-Crossover Day, we temporarily have fewer bills on the Senate floor, but more moving through Committees. With a quieter week, I was able to refocus on some of my priorities.

Rising Momentum for People Living with Disabilities

Governor Kemp’s 2025/26 budget proposal drastically cut funding that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Over the last few years, I have worked to quadruple this funding, in addition to raising salaries for caretakers. Last week, I found out that the House only restored a tiny amount of that funding, a major step backward. Refusing to lose ground, I wrote to the Senate Appropriations Chair pushing for the remainder of the funding. Then I hit the floor, rallying support by playing up the traditional Senate vs. House rivalry, encouraging my colleagues to “shame” the House into offering more. It worked! I got 42 signatures — 23 Republicans, 19 Democrats. I could have gotten more, but several legislators were out of the chamber. The letter is now with the Senate Appropriations Chair.

Rising Threats: AI and Child Safety

This week, I met with two concerned moms—one whose 9-year-old son was lured into an on-line chatbot conversation with “Katniss Everdeen,” the main character of the Hunger Games books. The chat eventually turned explicitly sexual. The other mom is an AI expert who explained how these AI Chatbot tools are powered by big players like Google to process the AI on the backend.

I took my constituents to Legislative Counsel to explore adding protections to an AI harms bill the Senate already passed. I’m hopeful that the bill sponsor will work with me on a House substitute. Next week, I’ll file my own bill to ban AI companies from using a person’s likeness without consent, and a Senate Study Committee resolution to examine AI and social media’s impact on kids. The risks are growing—so must our response. Never underestimate the power of moms to protect their kids!

Rising to Attention: My Corn Bill

This week, I was caught off guard—but thrilled—when the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee Chair asked when I wanted to present SB 278, my bill to fortify corn products with folic acid to prevent birth defects, specifically spina bifida. We’ve long fortified wheat, but Latino communities, with corn-based diets, face higher rates of birth defects as a result. This bill will also help mothers who can’t eat wheat due to Celiac disease or a gluten intolerance.

The Chair offered a hearing the next day, but I needed time to finalize changes and gather expert testimony. We look forward to having a full hearing on this bill.

Rising Young Leaders

Mentoring young leaders is one of my favorite parts of this job, and this week, I spent time with two from Dunwoody.

At the Women’s Legislative Caucus Yellow Rose Ceremony, I honored Sarah Menis, founder of Front Porch Food Drive, which has collected over 3,000 pounds of food for families in need by going door to door in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs. At just 18 years old, she was the youngest recipient of the Nikki T. Randal Servant Leader Award. It was such a meaningful moment watching her be honored alongside such accomplished women from around the state.

I also caught up with Parker Short, a rising political force. From founding Dunwoody High’s Young Democrats to interning for Senator Ossoff, leading Georgia Young Dems, and now earning a Master’s in Public Policy at Duke, Parker’s impact keeps growing. Last year, he went viral dancing to Kendrick Lamar at a Kamala Harris rally—this week, he stopped by on spring break to film a two-part video series with me to educate his followers about state government and boost my social media at the same time. Rising leaders like these give me hope for the future. We’ll debut our video on Instagram next week!

Time for You to Rise Up — Take Action!

Across the country, Americans are rising up—packing town halls, organizing protests, and speaking out against the destructive policies of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Our members of Congress need to feel the pressure from all of us. This week, members of Congress are home for in-district time—make sure they hear your voice. Grab a friend and visit their offices — in person. Or call and share your concerns. Now’s the time.

Sen. Jon Ossoff’s Local Office

271 17th Street NW
Suite 1510, Atlanta, GA 30363
470-786-7800

Sen. Raphael Warnock’s Local Office

201 17th Street NW
Suite 530
Atlanta, GA 30363
770-694-7828

Join the movement: Necessary Trouble and Indivisible are hosting a virtual town hall with Senator Jon Ossoff this Sunday at 4 PM (register here). Next weekend, he’s kicking off his campaign with a “Rally for Our Republic” —sign up and show up!

Next Week Rises

The legislature returns for Day 32 of the legislative session on Tuesday. Governor Kemp has threatened to use his political warchest to primary those who do not support his tort reform efforts, and a special session if it does not pass. Also, budget negotiations have gotten intense between the House and the Senate, so temperatures will for sure be rising throughout the weeks leading up to Sine Die, which is scheduled for April 4th — a very long three weeks away! Stay tuned.

 

What’s It Matter to You?

 

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