Sen. Bo Hatchett: Week Six Under the Gold Dome

Georgia State Senator Bo Hatchett recently updated WNEG News and constituents on the sixth 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 are officially more than halfway through the 2024 Legislative Session. I am proud to share that we are delivering for Georgians by cutting red tape, maintaining a conservative budget, protecting law enforcement officers and pushing back against hate. While we have enjoyed a robust first half of legislative work, plenty more lies ahead before the conclusion of the legislative session.

Throughout this past week, I remained diligently engaged in drafting and advocating for various pieces of legislation aimed at serving your interests. Two bills I’ve authored, SB 483 and SB 493, were referred to their respective Senate Committees this week. SB 483 was assigned to the Senate Committee on Children and Families. This bill represents a significant step forward for Georgia by seeking to align with the Revised Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children. The existing compact, dating back to 1960, no longer meets the needs of today’s children. By embracing the Revised Compact, Georgia can ensure that our children receive the support and resources they deserve. I am pleased to announce that this measure has successfully cleared the committee hurdle and is now poised for consideration by the entire Senate body.

In addition, SB 493 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. This legislation aims to address the misuse of unmanned aircraft (drones) by registered sexual offenders, who use drones to violate the privacy of minors and adults by photographing or videoing them without their consent. I eagerly await the deliberations on both bills in their respective committees, confident that they will contribute to a safer and more secure future for all Georgians.

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.

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 great 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/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.