Capitol Recap – Week Six: Sen. Larry Walker

We are officially over halfway through the 2024 Legislative Session, and I am proud to share that this past week, we were delivering for Georgians by cutting red tape, prioritizing mid-term budget adjustments, supporting law enforcement, and standing up for border security. While we have completed a productive first half of legislative work, plenty of important work lies ahead before the conclusion of session, and, of course, my work doesn’t end after adjournment. Serving you and the roughly 200,000 Georgians in the 20th district is a year-round effort, and I’m honored you entrust me with this significant responsibility.

I remained dedicated to my work throughout the past week, diligently drafting and advocating for various pieces of legislation aimed at benefiting you. Last Friday marked a significant milestone as Senate Bill 345 continued its legislative journey through the House of Representatives, being assigned to the House Committee on Intergovernmental Coordination. This bill seeks to authorize the Dooly County Probate Court to assess and collect a technology fee to invest in improving the efficiency of that office. Additionally, I’m pleased to announce that Senate Bill 322 was passed on the Senate floor this week. This bill proposes an increase in dues to the Georgia Sheriffs’ Retirement Fund, thereby strengthening the fund and enhancing the retirement benefits of our sheriffs who have devoted their careers to serving our communities. Lastly, it was a moment of pride to introduce and adopt Senate Resolution 591 alongside my colleagues from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). This resolution officially recognizes Feb. 13th as NFIB’s Small Business Day, acknowledging the invaluable contributions of small businesses to our economy.

My colleagues and I proudly joined Governor Brian P. Kemp on the North Steps of the State Capitol to officially announce that the Georgia National Guard would be sending additional troops to help fortify our country’s southern border. Under the leadership of our current President, our southern border is a growing disaster. Our federal lawmakers continue to look the other way and take no action, while southern states are further inundated by illegal immigrants. At the same time, lethal drugs are pouring across our border every day, leading to drug overdoses and eternally broken families. Many who come across our border illegally are small children which directly affects Georgia’s foster care system. While Georgia does not touch our nation’s northern or southern borders, every state under Joe Biden’s America is now what I would consider a border state. Your State Senate does not support the continuation of these actions, and I am thankful that our body chose to stand for further border control across the United States.

This week, I was proud to support a few pieces of bipartisan Senate legislation, such as Senate Bill 426. This measure addresses an aspect of tort reform by limiting the ability of plaintiffs to sue motor carriers and their insurers simultaneously. As we continue to prioritize workforce development, it’s essential that we prioritize tort reform. Too many current laws make it easy to file frivolous lawsuits that increase costs for insurance companies and, in turn, needlessly limit economic opportunity across our state. By limiting certain lawsuits, we provide a legal environment favorable to small businesses, entrepreneurship, and job growth.

Each week under the Gold Dome, constituents, associations and organizations alike come to the Capitol to speak to legislators and host events with public officials. This past week I was especially honored to recognize the Perry Panthers state championship football team and 4-H award winners from across our state. It is always a pleasure to recognize our youth, especially when they are officially crowned the best in the state.

As always, I want to invite students between the ages of 12 and 18 to serve as a Capitol Page. This program exposes Georgia’s next generation of leaders to the legislative process by providing a front-row seat to a day’s work in the Georgia Senate. I encourage any students interested in the legislative process who want to spend a day at our Capitol to apply for our program using the link: https://www.legis.ga.gov/senate/staffing.

Please never hesitate to contact my office if I can assist with legislative matters. I hope to see you under the Gold Dome soon as the 2024 Legislative Session continues.

Sen. Larry Walker serves as Chairman of the Insurance and Labor Committee and Secretary of the Republican Caucus. He represents the 20th District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutlen, Pulaski, and Wilcox counties, as well as most of Houston County. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0095 or by email at larry.walker@senate.ga.gov.

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