Capitol Chaos: Peak Mayhem Mode

It’s that time — the wild, whiplash-inducing final days of session. Bills are getting gutted, stuffed, and pushed through faster than you can say “committee substitute.” Thank goodness for our hardworking Senate Democratic Caucus staff, including our team of externs, that help us keep track of it all.

Staying Focused in the Frenzy

While everything around us is morphing by the minute, I grounded myself in my legislative agenda. I don’t like it when the legislative process is bypassed, but this year Republicans are only letting a handful of Democratic bills move forward so I’ve concluded that in order to do good, I must play by a different strategy.

Chatbots + Kids = Accountability Now (HB 171): Last week, I worked with the author of HB 171, a bill that criminalizes AI-generated sexualized images of children, to add a key amendment: chatbot websites targeting kids could face criminal penalties for sexually-explicit content. The notoriously tough Senate Judiciary Committee tweaked the base bill (to the author’s dismay), but my amendment survived. The bill passed the Committee. Let’s hope it’s on the Senate floor next week.

Corn + Folic Acid = Health Babies (SB 278): SB 278, my bill to require folic acid in corn masa products to prevent spina bifida, got a rare dedicated hearing in the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee this week. Spina bifida prevention seems like a no-brainer, but we brought in a range of expert witnesses to testify to the costs of spina bifida to patients, their families and the state, the success of food fortification on public health, and the process of how food is fortified. The Ag Chair is very interested in this issue, but cautiously watching for opposition — and potentially for other states to act first.

New Bills: Salvos in the Storm

Amidst the chaos, I filed these bills this week.

Raising the Bar on Voter Challenges (HB 357): It’s time to do away with frivolous voter challenges. My bill requires actual evidence. After bringing the Chair of the DeKalb Election Board to meet with the Senate Ethics Chair to share how much time county elections staff spend on these challenges, the Committee Chair is now a co-sponsor — a huge win! I’m very hopeful he’ll help me push it forward next year.

A Public Health Insurance Option, Georgia-Style (SB 360): If Biden-era enhanced federal Affordable Care Act subsidies expire later this year, insurance costs will skyrocket and over a million Georgians could lose coverage. My bill offers a potential fix: a state-regulated, lower-cost Medicaid public option modeled on Nevada’s successful plan to leverage the state’s purchasing power by requiring insurance companies that bid on the state’s very lucrative Medicaid contracts to offer a public option plan.

Good Faith Grant Study Committee (SR 474): For the last two years, I’ve been working with a small bipartisan group of my colleagues to launch Georgia’s first needs-based college scholarship. We are working diligently to put the funding pieces together. In the meantime, I signed on to a resolution to create a Senate Study Committee — with the Higher Ed Committee Chair’s signature — to keep the momentum going.

Surprise! Bills Popping Up in Committees

The Voting Frankenstein (HB 397): This bill started out in the House as a simple bill about weekend voting in municipal elections and it snowballed into another sweeping elections bill. We heard over the weekend that it contained a provision to limit early voting sites to one per county, but it disappeared before it reached the Senate Ethics Committee. Sadly, bad provisions including limiting absentee ballot drop off on last weekend of early voting, giving more power and independence to the controversial State Elections Board, and nudging Georgia out of the Electronic Registration Information Center (aka ERIC), a data-sharing partnership with other states, despite the Secretary of State’s objections. It passed in a party-line vote and will likely be on the Senate floor next week.

The DEI Disguise (HB 127): SB 120, the ban on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in schools, didn’t make it to the Senate floor by Crossover Day. But surprise! It’s back, reborn as HB 127, a bill that originally sought to increase teacher sick leave. Republicans passed it out of the Senate Education and Youth Committee this week. Until now, we avoided a Senate floor debate on this issue, but it’s likely to happen next week.

On the Senate Floor: The Good, the Bad, and the Backroom Deals

Distraction-Free Education (HB 340): I went to the well to speak to this bill to limit cell phone use in K–8 classrooms. When my kids were in school, having cell phones was new. My husband and I struggled to limit their use but teachers required the use of apps for homework assignments, making it difficult to enforce rules at home. This bill lets local districts decide how to implement it, which gives parents a way to advocate for policies that work best for their kids.

Surprise Pay Raises (HB 86): What started as a bill to change how some judges are paid turned into a fast-tracked Republican amendment proposing to raise the salaries of the Governor and other statewide officials. The media quickly pointed out that paying our Governor $250,000 (up from $175,000) would tie our Governor’s salary with the NY Governor for the highest Gubernatorial salary in the country. However, I recently looked up how much our Chancellor of the University System of Georgia gets paid — $524,000!

The next day, some Democrats tried to amend another judicial salary bill with a pay raise for legislators, a topic that comes up almost every session. Legislators currently make $22,000 plus a daily per diem while in session. As usual, that amendment failed.

We probably need a Study Committee on the salaries of elected officials.

The Budget Battle (HB 68): We had heard for weeks that there were major points of contention between the House and Senate versions of the FY 2026 budget. Those differences were revealed when the Senate version of the $37.7 billion budget hit the floor this week. The Senate jacked up Georgia’s new school voucher program funding (from $45M to $141M) while slashing direct help for low-income schools ($28 million) that the House added. Senate Republicans also want to tap into Georgia’s massive budget reserves instead of using bonds for construction projects. These differences will be worked out in a Conference Committee next week and the final versions will hit both chambers next week.

The Final Countdown: Take Action!

We’re down to three more crazy legislative days: Monday, Wednesday, and Sine Die Friday. In between? Strategizing, regrouping, and bracing for impact.

Several bad bills passed Committees this week.

Call or email the Speaker Jon Burn’s office and ask him to keep the following bills off the House floor. jon.burns@house.ga.gov, 404-656-5052

Religious Freedom Bill (SB 36): offers a license to discriminate based on religious views.

Anti-Transgender Legislation (SB 30 & 39): One bans treatment for trans youth, another bans coverage on state plans.

Call the Lt. Governor Burt Jone’s Office and ask him to keep the following bills off the Senate floor. https://ltgov.georgia.gov/contact-lt-governor, 404-656-5030

Elections Bill (HB 397): Bans the use of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) for that helps keep voter registration lists up-to-date, and limits absentee ballot drop-off the weekend prior to Election Day.

Bans Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) programs in schools (HB 127): Bans school clubs & resource centers that offer specialized support for various groups.

Call the Chairman of Senate Appropriations, Chairman Blake Tillery, to ask him to fund direct support for low-income schools rather than school vouchers. https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/senate/4908/contact, 404-656-5038

Stay alert, stay loud, and buckle up for the final lap.

Opposing Forces

Those of us working at the State Capitol this week felt wedged between a clash of forces.

Inside the Senate chamber, 33 Republicans forced through their Trump-aligned agenda while the 23 members of the Democratic Caucus pulled out every tool we had to fight back.

Outside the chamber, crowds of people poured into the Capitol to protest cruel bills. They stood on the Capitol steps showcasing their hand drawn signs, collectively raising their voices from time to time to let out pent-up emotions. Republicans, on their way to the House and Senate chambers, could not escape these voices as they ascended the stairs alongside the crowd, using a narrow aisle marked off for them by red tape. The message to the Republican legislators who passed by — “We are here, and what you are doing is not okay.”

This week’s trophy, however, goes to the students who showed up, many for the first time, to protest SB 120 — which seeks to end all diversity, equity & inclusion efforts in our educational institutions. High school and college students shared inspiring stories about how these supportive programs have helped them to become their best selves. To find out how their efforts paid off, read on.

Pushing Back Against Bad Bills

Democrats don’t have the votes to stop these bills, but we smartly use parliamentary maneuvers, designed to preserve the voice of the minority, to get our message out.

Minority Reports: Formal Opposition in Action

Official Minority Reports allow us to formally file our opposition to a bill after a committee vote to get dedicated time on the floor to argue our case. When I first joined the Senate, we only filed one or two of these reports a year. This week alone we filed seven! Here are just a few:

• Religious Freedom Act (SB 36): Republicans say we need this to protect religious practices. But without comprehensive civil rights protections, this bill invites discrimination against LGBTQ+ and religious minority groups. Meanwhile, Republican leaders block our civil rights bills every year.

• Transgender Therapy Ban for Minors (SB 30): This bill strips parents and doctors of their ability to make their own medical decisions.

• Criminalization of Librarians (SB 74): This bill criminalizes librarians who allow kids to check out “harmful materials.” But who decides what’s “harmful?” With groups like Moms for Liberty targeting classics like To Kill a Mockingbird, SB 74 bill puts librarians at unfair risk.

• Banning Ranked Choice Voting (SB 175): Republicans have spent four years rewriting our election laws to their advantage and it has worked well for them. Why would they want to change that? They don’t, and they want to ban any other options. Alaska implemented ranked choice voting and my colleagues there tell me this system has made elections “nicer” because instead of beating up their opponents, candidates behave better to preserve a second place win.

Fighting Back with Amendments

Whenever possible, we pushed amendments to make bad bills less harmful or advance Democratic priorities. While it’s not often that these amendments actually gain Republican votes and pass, they do use up time and force Republicans to think through the consequences of their bills:

• Banning Transgender Care for Inmates (SB 185): Democrats fought to allow inmates already receiving hormone therapy to continue treatment. With four anti-trans Senate bills this session, I took to the well to remind my colleagues that this issue should not be used as a political football because it hurts real people.

• Firearms Cause of Action (SB 163): Senator Elena Parent seized the moment to amend this bill that gives standing to firearms carriers to sue state and local governments for infringing on their rights, with her bill requiring gun owners to lock up firearms when kids are present.

Advocacy Works!

These bills now move to the House. Remember those students who shared their stories with legislators in the Committee hearing and at the ropes outside the Senate chamber? SB 120, the DEI ban, was not brought to a vote on the Senate floor, and the win is theirs! But it could resurface before Sine Die, the last day of the session, or even next year. Stay engaged—keep calling, showing up, and making your voices heard.

Pushing Good Bills Forward

It wasn’t all bad — there were lots of bills Democrats and Republicans came together on. I kept tabs of my votes on Crossover Day. Out of the 47 bills that were brought up for votes, I voted “yes” 45 times and “no” 16 (including amendments).

• Dignity in Pay Act (SB 55): Championed by our friends at the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, SB 55 ends subminimum wages for workers with disabilities.

• Ridge’s Law (SB 259): The result of a heartbreaking story of a family falsely accused of child abuse after seeking medical attention for unexplained injuries on their baby son, Ridge. It took the family a long, costly legal battle and 15 months to regain custody. SB 259 give falsely accused parents better legal recourse in child abuse investigations.

Democratic Wins—Even in Republican Bills

In the current environment, it’s still possible to pass good bills by talking a Republican into carrying it for you:

• Behavioral Health Commission Expansion (SB 233): Carried by the Senate Rules Chair, SB 233 adds a subcommittee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) to the already existing Behavioral Health Health Commission and revises the Commission membership to include experts from the IDD community. I orchestrated this compromise to elevate IDD issues going forward.

• Anti-Doxxing Protections (SB 27): Originally a Democratic bill, this bill is now moving under Republican leadership. It enhances penalties for publishing personal contact information on the Internet without permission. Several of my colleagues were doxxed at the beginning of last session.

• Outdoor Learning Pilot Program (SB 148): This bill was recommended by a Democratic Study Committee several years ago. It will promote outdoor education and recreation.

Democratic Bills That Moved

After being held hostage by Tort Reform (SB 68), Democratic bills finally started being heard in Committee on February 24, the 22nd legislative day. Eight of these bills passed the Senate on Crossover Day. Here are a few that will move to the House:

• Insurance Protection for Active Duty Military (SB 109): This bill prohibits group insurance companies from denying benefits to active service members unless killed while serving. This bill came about when an insurance company denied benefits to the family of an active National Guard member who was killed in a car accident due to a hidden clause in his policy.

• Georgia Early Childhood Literacy Act (SB 93): This bill strengthens reading instruction in Georgia by eliminating the 3-cue method that relies on visual memory and guessing to teach reading. The bill required evidence-based methods to be used instead.

• Interagency Council for the Homeless (SB 170): Brings state agencies that work with the homeless population to work together to better address homelessness.

Action!! Congress Needs to Hear your Voice Too!

Our U.S. Senators and Representatives are not here to see the crowds at the State Capitol, and they need to hear how upset people are.

The week of March 17 – 21, both the U.S. Senate and House will be on recess and back in their districts. Grab a friend or two and visit their local office. Make sure they know you are watching them and expecting them to lead.

Also, Senator Warnock is having a Virtual Town Hall this Tuesday, March 11 at 6pm. It will stream on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter and BlueSky. Use this form (https://www.warnock.senate.gov/contact/contact-form/) to submit a question, or ask your question on the social media platform during streaming. To my knowledge, no registration is required. Just look for the event on your favored social media platform.

Stay loud. Stay engaged. Change happens when we fight for it.

What’s Next?

The State Senate will turn its attention to the House bills that passed before or on Crossover Day. Democrats will keep pushing for their bills to be heard in Committee so they can pass them next year.

*Oops. Some of you told me last week the phone number for the Lt. Governor’s office was disconnected. That’s because I accidentally switched two numbers. The Lt. Governor makes major decisions about which bills get votes and which don’t, so keep this number handy: 404-656-5030.

We’re Showing Up!

What’s It Matter to You?

This week’s video focuses on high electric bills and the role of the Public Service Commission. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fRYmBlQKFWo

Sailing through a Mirage

You can’t take everything you hear at the Gold Dome at face value. And sometimes you’re really sold a bill of goods. This is the case with tort reform this year.

You might have heard that tort reform will lower your insurance premiums, particularly automobile and homeowners. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, it’s not true. The insurance industry is enjoying record profits while still raising your rates, and Governor Kemp’s tort reform package, as revealed through Senate bills 68 & 69, does nothing to lower those rates. Instead, it’s mainly designed to shield big businesses from liability.

And ironically, it will make Georgians less safe, and less able to have their day in court. What we need is insurance industry reform — perhaps that’s why the insurance industry has spent $10 million lobbying on this issue in Georgia.

A Deep Dive into Tort Reform

What is tort reform? A “tort” is a wrongful act that harms someone, like a car accident or medical malpractice. Victims can seek compensation through civil litigation.

I began seeing the push for tort reform way back when I was serving in the Georgia House (1998 – 2004), when doctors were concerned about the rising cost of liability insurance. Even back then, I was suspicious that insurance companies were raising costs in order to pressure doctors into advocating for “reform” that would in turn raise insurance profits. Soon after I left politics (2005), the legislature passed legislation that capped jury awards. In 2010, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Georgia’s jury caps were unconstitutional, as they denied a citizen’s right to trial by jury.

Last year Governor Kemp passed legislation to “study” tort reform. But that research—including a Study Committee led by Insurance Commissioner John King—shows rising premiums are driven by extreme weather and rising costs in materials and labor. They forgot to mention record profits.

Kemp’s Proposal:

Governor Kemp’s two Tort Reform bills, SB 68 & 69, were heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, so they could come to the Senate floor soon. Governor Kemp has already threatened a Special Session, designed to interrupt legislators’ summer vacations, if his bills fail to pass during the regular session.

Senate Bill 68 is an omnibus bill — it has several sections, some of which I support, and some of which I don’t. Here’s a run-down:

• Damages: Restricts discussions of pain and suffering in court, and restricts medical damages to costs actually paid, not billed.
• Premises Liability: This is the most controversial part of the bill, as it greatly weakens the responsibility of business owners to ensure their property is safe for customers.
• Procedural Changes: Alters the timeline for voluntary dismissals, allows for delays in court cases, and divides trials into multiple phases.
• Seat Belts: permits evidence of seat belt use to be presented in trials.

Senate Bill 69 regulates third-party funder of lawsuits, requiring registration with the state, and outlawing referral fees and incentives. There is an exemption for non-profit organizations such as the ACLU.

Navigating the Shoals

The other day one of my Democratic colleagues told me he visited the Lt. Governor to seek support for a bill he’s been working on for several years (the Lt. Governor controls which bills come to the Senate floor for a vote).

Instead of focusing on the content of the bill, the Lt. Governor began pressuring my colleague to support the Governor’s tort reform bills. The command was clear — for his bill to move, my colleague would need to support tort reform. By the end of the week, the Lt. Governor had not accepted any compromises offered by the Democratic Caucus, nor had he allowed any Democratic bills to move forward. At least for right now, tort reform appears to be driving everything under the Gold Dome, and there’s quite a bit of arm twisting going on. A better bill would be easier to sell.

(If you have opinions or insight into the Governor’s tort reforms, please don’t hesitate to let me know by replying to this newsletter.)

Not Anchored in Reality: Federal Budget Chaos

Redirecting federal funds isn’t unusual under a new administration, but the Constitution is clear. The Executive branch cannot make unilateral spending decisions—Congress controls the budget. The Trump/Musk funding freezes and reckless firing of federal workers have real impact here in Georgia. Thousands of Georgians have lost their jobs, important medical research, grants to Georgia farms, business contracts, and hurricane disaster aid to Georgia families are all up in the air. Meanwhile, Trump’s new tariffs are set to drive up prices on everything from cars to clothes to canned goods.

Yet our Republican colleagues are either unaware or unfazed. This week, Senate Democrats raised concerns about MANA Nutrition in South Georgia that contracts with USAID to produce a peanut product to combat global hunger. The Republican Senator representing Fitzgerald, GA where MANA’s peanut fields and manufacturing plant are located, was unaware of the issue. He later defended the illegal 90-day federal spending freeze (the Impoundment Act of 1974 allows only a 45-day pause without congressional approval), sharing a litany of crazy USAID programs that DOGE claims it has under review. A simple Google search debunked most of those claims as distortions or outright lies.

Republicans won’t be able to ignore this chaos much longer. More than one-third of Georgia’s budget comes from federal funding, and looming Medicaid and Medicare cuts threaten healthcare access for thousands of Georgians.

Drifting Off Course: Priorities That Don’t Help Georgians

At the start of the week, the Senate had only voted on three bills; by week’s end, that number had doubled. Instead of tackling economic challenges or healthcare expansion, Republicans focused on politically divisive issues.

1. Attacking Transgender Healthcare Instead of Expanding Access

A third of the Senate’s floor votes so far have targeted transgender care.

This week, Senate Republicans passed SB 39, which cuts off coverage for transgender care under the state health plan, even for adults.

They also pushed SB 30 through the Health and Human Services Committee. It bans puberty blockers and other treatment for transgender youth, criminalizes doctors who provide transgender care for minors, and removes a previous exemption for transgender youth already receiving treatment before Georgia’s hormone treatment ban took effect.

Meanwhile, Georgia remains one of ten states that haven’t expanded Medicaid, leaving thousands without basic healthcare.

2. Making Guns Cheaper Instead of Groceries

Just five months after a deadly school shooting at Apalachee High School, Senate Republicans passed SB 47, extending Georgia’s tax holiday for guns from 5 to 11 days.

School supplies? No tax holiday.

Diapers and feminine hygiene products? No tax breaks.

Guns? Extended tax holiday.

Democrats have proposed tax breaks for diapers and feminine products, but those bills are going nowhere. Guns are the priority now.

3. Punishing Local Leaders — But Not the President

Thursday’s debate on SB 21 focused on punishing local governments for failing to enforce federal immigration laws. Georgia already prohibits sanctuary cities, but this bill adds steeper penalties.

Democrats warned that this would strain local resources, forcing law enforcement to prioritize detaining immigrants over more serious criminal cases due to jail overcrowding. Republicans dismissed these concerns, insisting the bill simply reinforces existing laws.

The irony? While demanding penalties for local officials, they look the other way as Trump’s administration openly violates federal law.

Ready About! Take ACTION on Healthcare & Education

Make a habit of calling your two U.S. Senators and your Congressperson every week. This week, focus on protecting Georgia’s $2.2 billion for K-12 schools and $3.6 billion for higher education. This funding includes funding for Title 1 schools in high poverty areas, special needs education, and student aid like Pell grants.

While you’re at it, mention that you’d like Congress to renew funding for the Affordable Care Act (subsidies are up for renewal this year) and Medicaid.

At the state level, call members of the House Human Resources Subcommittee and ask them to fund 200 additional Now & Comp Waivers (call your own Representative too). These allow adults living with severe intellectual & developmental disabilities to be able to live in their communities.

We’re in stormy times. Take care of yourself and others. Choose something positive to focus on to tamp down feelings of despair. Every act of kindness is an act of resistance.

This week’s 60 second “What’s it Matter to You?” video focuses on the illegal actions of Elon Musk.

Alternate Realities

This week has felt like living in an alternate reality that gets more bizarre everyday.

I found a bit of solace in reading Anne Lamott’s opinion piece titled, “The resistance will not be rushed,” She tells us that it’s okay that our resistance lacks the flash and vigor of 2017’s marches and protests. As we continue to look out upon the miles of harsh desert we see before us, we will begin to see things growing, especially as spring arrives. Every act of kindness, to ourselves and others, is resistance.

There are many good people in this country with a variety of gifts and experiences. Each of us will in time figure out what part we are called to do and when. When we center ourselves and focus on what we can control rather than what we can’t, we will slow the chaos and find our place.

I have been learning “metta” meditation from the Buddhist meditation instructor Sharon Salzberg, author of “Real Happiness.” This practice focuses on developing loving kindness, first for yourself, then for those around you, and ultimately for those you really don’t like very much. This helps me walk into the Senate chamber each day with an open heart. If you’re interested, check out Sharon at https://www.sharonsalzberg.com/

Let’s Get Real: A Deep Dive into Georgia’s Medicaid Expansion

This week, Senate Democrats held a press conference to announce SB 50, The PeachCare Plus Act, that fully expands Medicaid. This year’s bill has four Republican co-sponsors — two more than last year. Last session’s bill had the votes to pass committee, but at the last minute Lt. Governor Burt Jones added temporary members to the committee and killed the bill.

The other day during Governor Kemp’s State of the State address, he left me scratching my head when he announced coverage numbers 30 times higher than what I understood them to be. A member of my staff even texted me saying, “Isn’t he just straight up lying about Medicaid?” So I dug down into details to try to figure it out.

The Background: The 2010 Affordable Care Act was designed to reach universal health coverage by expanding state Medicaid programs up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), combined with subsidized premiums for market-based plans from 138% to 400% of the FPL. Before this, Medicaid only covered pregnant women, mothers of young children, people with disabilities and low income elderly. Most people do not realize that without Medicaid expansion, even the poorest low income men and women without children do not qualify for Medicaid.

The Reality: Georgia was slow to expand Medicaid, and when Governor Kemp did, he only expanded it to 100% of the FPL, and included 20-hour a week work requirements (Pathways to Coverage). Because this was not a full Medicaid expansion, the federal match was 66% rather than 90%, so it is costing the state considerably more per capita. Though the stated goal of work requirements is to create a pathway out of poverty, other states had already clearly demonstrated that this doesn’t work. Expanding to only 100% of the FPL also left a coverage gap for those whose incomes were between Medicaid (100% FPL) and ACA coverage (138% FPL).

The Big Secret: Back in 2021 & 2022, when we were all worried about quarantines and COVID tests, President Biden quietly slipped what are called enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTC) into the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act so that people between 100% and 138% of the FPL could purchase health plans on the ACA marketplace with $0 premiums. In essence, President Biden closed the coverage gap in states that did not fully expand Medicaid.

Governor Kemp then rebranded Biden’s $0 Premiums into “Georgia Access,” launched a new state website to replace the federal HealthCare.gov website, and began claiming these enrollment numbers as his own success. Thus the 3000% increase in enrollment.

Important sidenote: Democrats need to improve our messaging.

What’s to Come: The enhanced Premium Tax Credits are set to expire this year. If they do, hundreds of thousands of Georgians will fall off the insurance rolls, and Georgia will again have a huge gap in coverage. Fortunately, many Republican governors rely heavily on federal ACA subsidies and Medicaid dollars, so I think even Republicans are not going let Congress cut that funding without a fight.

Caretaking is Real Work — Take Action!

To help boost Pathways to Coverage enrollment, Kemp recently submitted an application to the federal government that allows taking care of children 6 and under to qualify as work (caretakers have been completely left out of what counts as “work” under Kemp’s Medicaid Expansion). This is a good step, but that still leaves other caretakers out in the cold. Behind the scenes, I’m pushing to expand the definition of “caregivers” to include those caring for sick, elderly or disabled family members.

You can help too: Officially comment on the federal application for Georgia’s Pathways (Medicaid) renewal. Read these instructions from the non-profit advocacy organization Georgians for a Healthy Future carefully, and submit your comments before the deadline of February 20th.

Real Fear — Take Action to Help Immigrant Communities

One of the highlights this week at the Capitol was city and county governance. I was elected Vice-Chair of my two county delegations, DeKalb and Gwinnett. Also, the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) and many city delegations were at the Capitol as part of GMA’s “Cities United Summit.” At a meeting with the city of Brookhaven, I got a firsthand briefing about the ICE raids on Buford Highway.

I know many of you want to help. Right now the best thing you can do is donate to the groups that are organizing help. They don’t quite have things figured out yet, but when they do they will need funds to make it happen. I will keep you posted, and by donating, you will be more likely to hear from these organizations directly.

The Latin America Association: https://thelaa.org/donate/

The Latino Community Fund Georgia: https://lcfgeorgia.org/get-involved/donate/

GALEO: https://galeo.org/support-us/donate/

Budget Realities that Bite

Thank you: Many of you answered last week’s call for action with phone calls and emails asking that the Public Budget Hearings be rescheduled (they were cancelled due to snow and replaced with private meetings). The Senate Democratic Caucus has requested that Agency Heads record their presentations so they can be posted on the Georgia General Assembly website.

My Chief-of-Staff, Amy Swygert, has been tuning in to some of the House Subcommittee hearings to try to glean bits of information that we might otherwise have learned from the cancelled hearings.

Budget Cuts: In one House hearing, she learned that there are forty open Assistant District Attorney positions across Georgia and the ones we have are overwhelmed with unworkable case loads. The most serious crimes like murder and sex crimes get priority for prosecution while other crimes like assault or theft languish in a pile for years. This exact situation affects friends and constituents in my district who were victims of crime, but have yet to see any movement on their cases.

Action: This is just one way that Georgia is failing to deliver basic services to our citizens due to underfunding our government. Do you know of others? Please respond to this email and share your stories. I will use your stories to help fight against budget cuts.

Up Next Week

Tort Reform: At the end of the week, crowds of lobbyists gathered in a packed Capitol Rotunda to hear Governor Kemp unveil the first bills of his Lawsuit Reform package, SB 68 & 69. Will they do anything to reduce insurance rates? Stay tuned.

 

 

 

Last year I got out of my comfort zone and started making short videos for Instagram & YouTube. I’m happy to report that this year, I’m cranking out these weekly videos with much more ease. As I’ve always said, when you practice outside your comfort zone enough, what used to be scary can become second nature. Here are the first two videos I have produced for 2025. Thank you goes to my staff, Amy Swygert and Kathlene Dorking for their help with scripts, my neighbor and friend Mria Dangerfield for all her help and advice, and for Senate Press for their new filming studio and production!

https://youtube.com/shorts/csqL4wdg520?si=xgEc1NxDhwEC8wtT

https://youtube.com/shorts/chDTXxkP_HE?si=y9JodrOgoDKj5AOM

Please follow me on Instagram and YouTube. “Like” and share my videos, especially with people who might be new to state level advocacy, and with young people.

The Train has Left the Station

Georgia GOP Engines are Stoked

With the inauguration around the corner and all the anxiety of impending unknowns, Georgia’s legislature this week got quietly underway. Well, mostly quietly.

The evening before our first gavel-in, part of me dreaded walking into the Senate chamber, because I knew my Republican colleagues would be stoked. After all, their guy won. I would have been stoked too if my gal had won. Yet my unease was tempered by the fact that there were no changes in our Republican leadership — at least I would walk into familiar territory that I know how to navigate.

The Georgia legislature has a long-standing tradition of featuring a “Peacher of the Day” each morning. For our first day, Lt. Governor Burt Jones introduced us to his hometown Pastor, who tried to set us on the right track by urging us to “wipe the slate clean and start anew.” But just minutes later, the session quickly veered into the same old polarizing politics when Republicans introduced a resolution to continue the investigation of Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis. Yes, very familiar territory.

Switching Tracks for the New Session

The Senate Democratic Caucus meets for an hour every morning before our day gets into full gear. This year we have a fresh face leading us: newly elected Minority Leader Harold Jones, II, whose intellect and passion I have long admired.

When I walked into the Caucus meeting room, I was greeted by a brand new conference table that offered a seat to every Senator. We had long outgrown our old conference table, having increased from 17 Senators in 2016 to 23 now. Our new Caucus staff projected our new motto onto the screen above at the head of the table: “”23-Strong.” In our Caucus, everyone counts.

Leader Jones wasted no time in advocating for his members to receive fair Committee Assignments from the Lt. Governor. Last term, I was removed from several Committees, likely because I was too vocal on issues such as voting rights. I have since joked that I am in Committee Jail. Now with the new addition of the Health & Human Services Committee, which has been my top pick for several years, I feel more like I’m in a Committee Halfway House. I will also continue to serve on Higher Education, Government Oversight and State Institutions & Property.

Kemp’s Final Express: Relief, Reform, and a Hard Deadline

Later in the week as the Senators processed to the House Chamber for Governor Kemp’s State of the State address, northwest Georgia’s Senator Colton Moore (R) caused quite a stir when he tried to enter the House Chamber after being barred from entering by Speaker Jon Burns (Sen. Moore had made denigrating comments about David Ralston last year during a House ceremony honoring the late Speaker). It was quite a scene as he was physically detained and arrested. I expect we have not seen the end of this issue, as barring an elected Senator from entering a legislative chamber for a Joint Session because his spoken words were offensive is a serious action. Any of us could be accused of the same.

After the shenanigans, the Governor’s speech went on, highlighting hurricane relief for farmers and timber producers, plus more school safety funds following the tragic school shooting last year at Apalachee High School. There was no mention of gun safety reform that could prevent these tragedies.

Kemp’s big priority is tort reform, aimed at limiting access to Georgia courts in order to protect big business. The Governor made it clear he’s ready to force his legislation through—even if it takes a Special Session to get it done.

I’m waiting to see exactly what the Governor is proposing, but I’m wary of limiting everyday Georgians’ right to a fair day in court to pursue justice when they’re wronged. In the end, it can undermine one of our most critical safeguards: open, accessible courts for all.

All Aboard — Action Needed!

Since passing legislation in 2008, Georgia has given tax credits in exchange for donations to private school tuition scholarships. The total amount of state revenue that can be spent on these credits has almost doubled since 2008, now totaling $120 million.

This week I got more than a dozen identical emails supporting these tax credits and private schools, stating, “I just received approval for my 2025 GOAL Tax Credit, which was prorated to only 53% of the amount I requested due to overwhelming demand, popularity, and success.” This makes is sound like the state is underfunding private schools.

I also got this one thoughtful email from a constituent (paraphrased/shared with permission):

“I have long supported the Goal Scholarship Program. It’s wonderful, but I am becoming more concerned about our public schools. I now think public schools might be able to put the funds to better use than private schools. Based on my son’s experience teaching in both private and public schools, I see his private school has two gyms, a world-class swimming pool, state-of-the-art facilities and is building yet more classrooms. At the public school my son had to beg for supplies and sports teams struggled with equipment and transportation. He became so frustrated with the lack of resources he returned to the private school. I really wish the program could be altered to allow us to also direct funds to public schools. The kids in private schools simply don’t have the needs the public schools do.”

I’m grateful this constituent took the time to share his thoughts with me. Please feel free to reply to this email and tell me what you think. I need to hear from you, as do my colleagues in the Georgia House & Senate. When legislators only hear from one side, it can sometimes seem like everyone is thinking the same way, when actually there are other opinions out there that we need to hear!

My Crew is Back on Board

I’m thankful my team will be returning for the ride this session:

• My Chief of Staff, Amy Swygert, who has been with me since the beginning of my Senate journey, will keep my legislative agenda and communications on track. You can reach Amy at amysenate40@gmail.com

• My Legislative Assistant, Kathlene Dorking, is heading into her second session managing the twists and turns of my schedule and constituent services. Kathlene can be reached at kathlene.dorking@senate.gov.ga or by calling 404-463-2260.

• Jay Harrell is my campaign manager and political advisor whose behind-the-scenes work keeps us on the rails. He can be reached at jay@sallyharrell.org

Off we go for another legislative journey. I hope you’ll come along with us! Feel free to share “Sally’s Senate Snapshot” and encourage others to sign up. One of the best ways to protect democracy is to get involved at the local level.