This 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 this week, ramping up the committee process. While the work flow was continuous, we also made sure to take moments to honor important occasions and reflect on significant events throughout the week.
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. This statistic is encouraging as more than 95 percent of all court cases nationwide are handled in state courts. 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.
In his address last year, Chief Justice Boggs spoke about the shortage of court reporters across the state, and for much of this year, the Judicial Council’s Standing Committee on Court Reporting Matters has met with stakeholders to discuss this ongoing issue. This year, Chief Justice Boggs noted that the Judicial Council is prepared to submit a balanced proposal that would allow trial judges the option to have some court proceedings be recorded by a digital system, thus reducing the amount of time spent retrieving necessary records. When court proceedings are prolonged, victims are often subject to delays in receiving justice, and this proposal would help victims obtain closure in a timely manner. Next, he outlined the issue of legal deserts and the harm they pose to citizens in our state. Currently, there are seven rural counties in Georgia that do not possess a single licensed attorney, furthering the absence of justice for Georgians experiencing pressing legal matters such as divorce, eviction or adoption. In response, Chief Justice Boggs created the Supreme Court Study Committee on Legal Regulatory Reform, which will explore ways to bolster civil legal services for rural or low-income Georgians.
Chief Justice Boggs went on to emphasize the positive work being done to improve outcomes for veterans in our state’s criminal justice system, highlighting the work of Cobb County’s Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court program, which has worked tirelessly to decrease recidivism rates for incarcerated veterans through an 18-month program designed to address post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and other mental health issues. Chief Justice Boggs acknowledged that while these legislative-supported and local initiatives are crucial for the health and prosperity of Georgia’s judicial system, they are not the sole responsibility of the courts. He emphasized that Georgia’s courts remain stronger than ever, despite facing challenges to their mission.
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. This year, he shared that these training sessions, available to both judges and lawmakers, have significantly enhanced their understanding of how to protect themselves in high-risk security situations. Lastly, the chief justice reiterated his appreciation for the legislature’s cooperation and support in enhancing the protection of Georgia’s judicial system, particularly by improving judicial compensation. He emphasized that this effort will be pursued once again during the legislative session through two pieces of legislation: House Bill 85, which would address compensation for superior court judges, and House Bill 86, which would pertain to compensation for statewide judges.
In addition to hearing the State of the Judiciary address this week, the pace of our legislative work certainly picked up as the House Appropriations Subcommittees continued meeting this week 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, this 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. The celebration, featuring a lion dance, was organized by the Georgia Asian American Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus (AAPI). During the celebration, several House Resolutions were presented to members of the AAPI community to honor and recognize their accomplishments. Among those recognized was the first Indian female Olympian to win gold in track and field in 1954. The Chinese-American Business Association of Atlanta was also celebrated on their 32nd anniversary of serving the Atlanta area. Additionally, the Chien Hong School of Kung Fu received a resolution in recognition of their lion dance performance at the Georgia State Capitol in 2024.
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. You are welcome to schedule a phone call or plan a visit to the State Capitol to discuss matters that are important to you and our community. You can reach me at 404-656- 0152 and via email at dale.washburn@house.ga.gov.
As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.
Recent Comments