Happy New Year and happy first week of the legislative session! I’m honored to continue representing District 57 in the State House. Keep following this newsletter each week to stay up to date with what’s happening under the Gold Dome, and please reach out to me and my staff with any questions or comments. We want to hear from you.
Meet the Team
I’m excited to introduce my new Chief of Staff, Rachel Schiffer. Rachel is a lifelong Atlantan who has been active in Georgia politics since she was old enough to vote. She graduated cum laude from Haverford College with a B.S. in political science in 2023. Rachel worked as a paralegal before joining the GA House Democratic Caucus last year, and most recently worked on the Harris-Walz campaign. Outside of the Capitol, you can find her singing as a member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus. You can reach her at [email protected].
We are also joined by my Intern, Henry Moye. Henry is a junior at Midtown High School who has a deep passion for politics and law! At his school, Henry enjoys competing on the Midtown Public Forum Debate team, where he is the captain of a team that frequently attends tournaments on the national level. Also, Henry is the Managing Editor for the Opinion section of Midtown’s newspaper, the Southerner, where he enjoys writing about a variety of topics, spanning from political current events to education policy. Outside of school, Henry enjoys spending time with his friends and family, and he also enjoys playing basketball and soccer. In the future, Henry hopes to major in political science at the University of North Carolina, and then eventually become a lawyer. Henry is very excited to begin his internship at the House of Representatives and learn more about the importance of political representation in everyday life!
Swearing In
We began session on Monday by being sworn in. I was thrilled to have my son and husband join me as I took the oath.
State of the State
This week was mostly ceremonial. All House and Senate members were sworn in and the Governor gave his annual State of the State address. There was good and bad in his speech. The good was his commitment to investments needed for hurricane relief in our state. The bad was how he seemed to double down on his refusal to work with the Legislature to expand Medicaid to cover uninsured Georgians.
Committee Assignments
Committee assignments for the 2025-26 Legislative Session are here. I’m excited to join the Rules Committee, which is the last line of defense before any bill can be heard in the House. I’m also glad to join the Judiciary Subcommittee of Appropriations where we will hear from the courts, prosecutors, and public defenders about their budget needs. I will remain a member of the Judiciary, Retirement, and Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committees.
Policy Committee
I am the co-chair of the Democratic Caucus’s Policy Committee. Along with co-chair Rep. David Wilkerson and our elected leadership, I will be leading my colleagues in shaping our Caucus’s policy positions and developing a unified strategy to fight for bills that will serve the needs of our constituents.
Cervical Cancer Awareness Day
This Thursday, I welcomed Triana James and dozens of supporters to mark Cervical Cancer Awareness Day. The House adopted HR 28, my resolution honoring the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium, HPV Cancer Free GA, Cancer Pathways, and The Susan Jolley Awareness Program for their work in promoting cervical cancer education and awareness.
Budget Week
Session will not be meeting this coming week as we break Monday for MLK Day and spend the remainder of the week in budget hearings.
You can see the agenda and watch live starting Tuesday using this link: Georgia General Assembly – JOINT APPROPRIATIONS
Mark Your Calendar – Legislative Town Hall Preview January 29th at 7pm
I will be holding my first Legislative Town Hall of the Session at 7pm on Wednesday, January 29th with my counterpart Sen. Sonya Halpern. Please join us for an in-depth look at what your representatives have been up to, to make your voice heard on issues that are important to you, and to ask any questions you may have. Keep an eye out here and on our social media for the link to register.
Friends Keep Friends Informed
Thank you for staying involved! Now it’s time to bring your friends along with you. You can invite someone to subscribe to this newsletter via our website. You can get in-depth information on current bills, committee meetings, and watch livestreams of session at https://www.legis.ga.gov/.
Your questions, concerns, and needs are important to me. Please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]. You can follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more updates. All of my constituents are welcome to visit my office at the Capitol. We encourage you to stop by!
My office is located at:
18 Capitol Square, SW
409-D, Coverdell Legislative Office Building
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Thank you for allowing me to continue to serve you,
