We’ve stayed busy under the Gold Dome after recovering from Crossover Day. Despite having a committee workday on Wednesday and taking Friday and tomorrow off for St. Patrick’s Day, there’s no shortage of news from the Capitol.
Crossover Summary
Looking for an interactive summary of everything that crossed over last week? Look no further! You can use this link to see the status of all of our bills and resolutions, filtering by status, chamber, and more!
Passing the Big Budget
We started this week by passing Georgia’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026 – also known as the “Big Budget.” With a revenue estimate of $37.7 billion, $1.6 billion more than FY 2025, I’m thrilled to report that HOPE scholarships and grants are funded at full tuition once again. This still needs to be made the law in statute, but I’m glad the Governor is ensuring all HOPE scholars and grant recipients receive full tuition through budget formulas. The Lottery for Education Fund, which funds HOPE and pre-K, remains extremely healthy. The State continues to hold funds in reserves that it need not hold. By state law we must hold approximately $700 million. But we are holding THREE TIMES that amount: We are currently holding approximately $2.4 BILLION. That means we are holding $1.6 BILLION that we could be investing in pre-K. See my parliamentary inquiry on this issue below.
Protecting People, Not Pesticide Manufacturers
We got an unpleasant surprise on Thursday. SB 144 was unexpectedly called up for a vote with little warning. Many of you have reached out to me about this bill, which makes it harder for consumers to sue pesticide manufacturers when they fail to provide warnings about dangerous chemicals in their products. This bill is not about evening the playing field for businesses – it is a clear attempt to provide an unfair break for Bayer, a massive pesticide corporation that has been pushing bills like this one in a variety of states, at the expense of consumers, especially farmers. I attempted to amend this bill, then spoke against it on the House floor as I presented the Minority Report we filed against it. Unfortunately, this bill did pass. You can read my comments to the media about this bill at this link and see my presentation of the minority report below.
Tort Reform Update
Tort reform continues to dominate much of my time at the Capitol – and several of the billboards you may have seen along I-85. In addition to continuing to be vigilant with my questions as a member of the special Rules Subcommittee on Lawsuit Reform, I’ve been incredibly proud to support the voices of many advocates on this issue. On Wednesday, I joined a press conference with the Legislative Black Caucus to address the harmful impact that tort reform would have on survivors of sex trafficking.
On Thursday, a group of these survivors and their families gathered for a press conference, telling their stories and asking for common sense amendments that would protect their ability to seek justice. I remain hopeful that my colleagues will heed the call of these incredibly impactful testimonies and decline to pass the tort reform bill without amendments.
Celebrating Servant Leadership: Yellow Rose Ceremony
This Thursday, the Women’s Legislative Caucus held our annual Yellow Rose Ceremony, where we recognized some extraordinary women for their servant leadership. I was proud to present the Nikki T. Randall Yellow Rose Award to Margaret “Marjy” Stagmeier. Marjy is an author, Ansley Park resident, and an affordable housing solutionist and champion of an equitable education-housing model. Her work has had a massive impact, uplifting hundreds of families across Metro Atlanta. I also introduced HR 580 this week, commending Marjy for her achievements.
Town Hall Recap
Thank you to everyone who attended our post-Crossover Day Town Hall with Sen. Sonya Halpern. We appreciate your thoughtful questions and your commitment to staying involved in the legislative process! See a full recording of the Town Hall below. As always, please reach out if you have questions or concerns about what’s happening under the Gold Dome. Your voice makes a difference.
Save the Date: Next Town Hall
We’ll be holding one more Town Hall about the 2025 Legislative Session after Sine Die, the last day of the Session. Mark your calendars for 7pm on April 15th via Zoom.
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,
