Hatchett: Week Five Under the Gold Dome

On Saturday, Georgia State Senator Bo Hatchett updated WNEG News and constituents on the fifth week of the legislative session. Hatchett serves District 50 which includes Stephens, Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, and Towns County and portions of Hall, Jackson, and White counties. Hatchett also serves as one of two Floor Leaders in the Senate, selected by Governor Brian Kemp.

We have officially completed five weeks of legislative business under the Gold Dome, and it’s hard to believe that we are nearly halfway through the 2024 Legislative Session. While I am proud of the legislative progress we have made as a Senate body, we have plenty of work left to do for both the 50th district and our state. I am excited to work with my fellow senators and Republican caucus members to continue our mission of passing meaningful legislation for Georgia. As a majority, we have enjoyed a highly effective session and biennium, and it’s important that we finish the drill.

Since the start of the legislative session, I have been drafting and advocating for conservative legislation located in all parts of the legislative process. Specifically, I would like to note that Senate Bill 448, which I authored, was assigned to the Senate Committee on Judiciary this past Tuesday. SB 448 would revise, modernize, correct errors or omissions in, and reenact the statutory portion of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. I also proposed Senate Bill 466, which will get rid of a legal loophole in cases involving predators and the sexual exploitation of children. This is a very important measure, which will work to outlaw the act of involving minors when predators attempt to create sexually explicit content for profit. SB 466 has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, where it will be heard in the coming days.

Additionally, my colleagues and I joined members of the House to hear from Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs as he delivered the State of the Judiciary address. During the address, Chief Justice Boggs updated the Georgia General Assembly on several meaningful judicial efforts, including judicial security and retention. As lawmakers, we must protect our law enforcers both in the line of duty and on the bench. By protecting our judges, we play a key role in preserving justice in our great state.

This week, Senators took part in their respective appropriations subcommittees. In these hearings, members listened to budget requests from state agencies related to the Amended Fiscal Year 2024 budget. As I mentioned in our week two update when legislators participated in “Budget Week,” these meetings are essential as we continue to maintain our AAA bond rating and $16 billion surplus – all thanks to practical fiscal conservatism. Unlike the Washington elite, we manage our money responsibly and practice diligence at every level: from subcommittees, to committees and on the Senate floor. Georgia’s working class families deserve legislators dedicated to balancing dollars and cents, and the Senate’s Republican majority is proud to continue leading this charge.

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. On Monday, Feb. 6th, we observed Firefighters Recognition Day at the Capitol. It was an honor to host the brave men and women who work as firefighters for this great state. The following day, Tuesday, was “Read Aloud Day” which was an initiative started by former First Lady Sandra Deal. Not only was Tuesday a day of celebrating the impact of reading on our state’s children but also was a day where we honored the legacy of Sandra Deal and the work she did to help improve the Georgia’s literacy rates.

As always, I want to invite students between the ages of 12 and 18 to serve as a Capitol Page. This program encourages Georgia’s next generation of leaders to participate in the legislative process by providing a front-row seat to a day’s work in the Georgia Senate. Many of our current legislators participated in this program and first became interested in serving Georgia citizens because of their time spent as a Capitol Page. 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/news/senate/page-program-2024. 

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.