Week in Review

Last week, members of the Georgia House of Representatives returned to the State Capitol following a winter storm that impacted much of the southern part of the state. One of our primary responsibilities this week was to hear from Chief Justice Michael Boggs of the Georgia Supreme Court as he delivered his State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the House and Senate in the House Chamber. House Appropriations Subcommittees and full House committees also began to meet.

On Monday, we began the week with a moment of reflection and remembrance, honoring the millions of innocent lives lost during the Holocaust. Through the adoption of House Resolution 50, which designates January 27, 2025, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the House reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring that such atrocities are never forgotten. Monday also marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz- Birkenau, which served as a poignant reminder of the resilience of humanity in the face of unimaginable suffering.

Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs addressed the House and Senate on Tuesday and began his State of the Judiciary address by emphasizing the rise in public confidence in state courts, noting that more than half of Americans now give positive ratings to their state judicial systems. He also highlighted that Georgia courts are proactively examining the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on our legal system and have formed a committee to assess their findings and discover what challenges or opportunities could come from the use of AI in the judicial system. He emphasized the positive work being done to improve outcomes for veterans in our state’s criminal justice system.

The chief justice also reported that in recent years, attacks and threats targeting Georgia’s courts, including those aimed at judges, have been on the rise. He highlighted a statistic from the United States Marshals Service, which revealed that threats against federal judges have nearly tripled over the past decade. In response to this escalating trend, Chief Justice Boggs proposed a series of upgrades to physical security measures, alongside comprehensive training initiatives designed to ensure that security situations are not only effectively managed but also prevented.

In addition to hearing the State of the Judiciary address, the pace of our legislative work certainly picked up as the House Appropriations Subcommittees continued meeting to review the sections of the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget. Each subcommittee carefully examines a specific section of Governor Kemp’s budget proposals, eventually passing sections of the budgets from their respective subcommittees. Each budget section will then be presented to the full House Appropriations Committee, where members will collaborate to form one unified budget before the budget bill moves on to the House Rules Committee for further consideration and scheduling of a full vote on the House floor.

In addition, several full House committees have started meeting to discuss various bills assigned to them based on policy area. Once a bill passes out of its respective committee, it moves to the Rules Committee before being added to the House calendar for a vote by the whole House. After passing the House, the bill follows a similar process in the Senate, where it may be amended. If there are differences between the House and Senate versions, a conference committee is appointed to resolve them, and the final version then returns to both chambers for a final vote. If approved, it is sent to Gov. Kemp for either his signature or veto. This is the process we follow for all legislation, including the AFY 2025 and FY 2026 budgets.

Also, last week, my colleagues and I gathered in the House Chamber for a special event for the unveiling of former Dean of the House Calvin Smyre’s official portrait at the Georgia State Capitol, celebrating his remarkable 48-year career in the Georgia House of Representatives. Smyre, the longest-serving member in the state’s history, is only the seventh African American to have such a distinction. The ceremony was attended by former Georgia governors, lieutenant governors, a United States congressman, friends, family and colleagues—many of whom spoke of Dean Smyre’s contributions to Georgia’s political landscape. Former Governor Roy Barnes and former Governor Sonny Perdue were among those present for the event, and former Governor Joe Frank Harris also shared a heartfelt letter read during the event. Dean Smyre’s legacy will now be immortalized at the State Capitol for future generations to admire.

We also took time to celebrate Lunar New Year at the Capitol, a significant cultural holiday observed by many across Asia. Lunar New Year marks the start of a new year based on the lunar calendar.

Finally, to end our week, we stood for a moment of silence to remember the victims of the tragic mid-air collision that took place at Reagan Washington National Airport, and, among the victims were two individuals with ties to Georgia. Sam Lilley, the first officer aboard Flight 5342, was a graduate of Richmond Hill High School in Bryan County and Georgia Southern University. Ryan O’Hara, a 2014 graduate of Parkview High School in Lilburn, was serving as a Blackhawk helicopter Crew Chief. The House mourns this profound loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims and their families.

We will return to the State Capitol on Monday, February 3rd for our fourth week of session. My colleagues and I will continue to consider legislation that best serves Georgians, and I will be sure to update you about our legislative work. As we continue through the session, I hope that you will reach out with your questions or concerns regarding legislation and the issues that are significant to you and your family.