Parent Press Week 4 of the 2025 Legislative Session
As if the national news weren't enough, we have a lot going on at the State Capitol. A typical day in the life of a State Senator during session is speaking about the hypocrisy of the Trump administration's immigration policy in light of granting clemency to January 6 rioters with longtime criminal records, addressing SB1 - the transgender sports ban bill - as a member of the Education and Youth Committee, discussing childcare costs and education on GPB's Lawmakers, studying the Governor's proposed budget, filing legislation for safe gun storage and connecting with advocates visiting the Capitol. The pace is simultaneously energizing and dizzying!
Read on for news and behind the scenes insights.
Hypocrisy From The Top
With so much hypocrisy coming from the Trump and the top brass in his administration, I had to speak out. We all want to live in safe communities where we can count on law enforcement to follow the law and enforce it. The Laken Riley Act passed Congress with the support of both of Georgia's Senators. No legislation is perfect, and this law, like any policy, helps some while leaving others worse off. In this case, Trump has ordered ICE to arrest any immigrants who have been accused - not convicted - of any crime, including minor misdemeanors like shoplifting.
I couldn't help but see the hypocrisy in applying one set of tight standards to immigrants while using loose and dangerous benchmarks when considering convicted criminals. By granting clemency to the January 6 insurrectionists who were convicted of serious crimes AND who also have lengthy rap sheets that include convictions for rape, drug trafficking, domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon, child sexual abuse and manslaughter, Trump has made our homes and communities more dangerous and put the lives of our first responders at risk. One insurrectionist had 38 prior convictions! Click HERE or on the image below to hear my remarks.
SB1 - Cloaked in Safety and Fairness
Unfortunately, the majority in Washington, Georgia and so many states are laser focused on attacks on transgender people with policies that limit their access to healthcare, sports, the right to serve in the military, etc. versus trying to solve the much bigger problems facing the average Georgian. Bills like this actually distract from the fact that they are doing nothing to try to solve those problems, and that's part of the point. That's why the "no transgender sports" bill is SB1, the first bill filed by the Republicans this session. T
The bill purports to make girls in K-12 and in higher education institutions safer and to make competition fairer by barring transgender students, Kindergarten through college, from competing on teams aligned with their gender identity versus their sex at birth. I questioned the inclusion of elementary and middle children in the hearing in the Education and Youth Committee and offered an amendment to exclude K-8 students from this discriminatory legislation. As expected, the majority held and my amendment failed. However, Senator RaShaun Kemp was able to get an amendment barring visual inspections to confirm gender. This is the only concession we were able to "win."
SB1 advanced to a floor vote on February 6, and discussion was lengthy and emotional. The Republicans claim that the bill is about fairness and safety, but to me, their inclusion of children as young as Kindergarten, years before puberty gives boys more strength and speed than girls on average, puts the lie to those claims. I tried again to exclude K-8 students from the bill, because for obvious common-sense reasons. You can watch the remarks made by legislators on both sides of this issue on YouTube. Click on the image below to hear my remarks on why kids as young as 5 should not be swept into this legislation.
The Republicans also don't have any exceptions for kids who never went through the puberty of their biological sex due to puberty blockers and/or cross-sex hormones -- an amendment Leader Harold Jones offered. (Of course, they want all of that medical treatment banned for all Georgia youth anyway -- again pursuing a bright line rule rather than embracing a cautious, but case-by-case basis that should be handled by parents and medical professionals.) Most tellingly, Senator Kim Jackson offered an amendment that would codify equal opportunity to access to sports for both genders under Georgia's Title IX instead of the inequality in facilities and coaches that can still rule today. She has even filed SB41 to ensure our schools provide for equal athletic opportunity for members of both genders. If the Republicans had adopted our 3 amendments, I would be much more disposed to believe that the bill is about fairness and safety; but, since they did not, it seems like there is a really healthy dose in there of just trying to stamp out transgender identity.
SB49 - Guaranteed To Make Us Safer
Once again, I filed a bill to require gun owners to lock their firearms when in the presence of minors and to punish those who don't comply. SB49 was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. I am on the committee but the Republican majority controls the agenda and decides which bills will be heard, voted on and sent to the Senate floor for a vote. I've sent the customary letter (see below) to Chairman Strickland requesting a hearing, as I have done every year I've filed this bill.
Will you help? Advocate and lobby Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to give this simple piece of legislation a hearing so we can work seriously on keeping our children safe from guns, the #1 child-killer. You can call, email and/or come to the rope lines to urge Chairman Strickland to grant SB 49 a hearing.
Your Voices Make A Difference
Activists and advocates who come to the Capitol have always been a highlight of serving as a State Senator. With the onslaught of hateful legislation, seeing friendly faces is not only helpful in moving good policy forward but is a boost that helps me do the work.
I want to call out my remarks on Dyslexia Day because it's a great example of how advocates worked hard to make progress and give us hope for helping children, whether dyslexic or not, to learn to read. Advocates have helped pushed for funding for screeners for every public school in Georgia. BUT, our job is not done yet. We must be vigilant to make sure we continue to fund the resources we need to make sure that every child in Georgia gets the help and training they need to overcome this disability. An advocate's work is never done!
I encourage you to join groups that are advocating on issues you care about and to take action always by contacting your legislators directly.
Rev. Tutu - A Voice Of Inspiration
I was so thrilled to invite and welcome Reverend Naomi Tutu from my church All Saints Episcopal as the pastor of the day. Rev. Tutu and her sister, Tandi, are the daughters of famed South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu. As always, Reverend Tutu spoke so eloquently and thoughtfully about staying connected to all of those, including those who don't think like us or look like us, and especially those on whose shoulders we stand. Click here or on the image below to watch me introduce Reverend Tutu and her wise, peaceful words. I can't think of a better way to start the day.
My Staff And I Work for YOU
I am always working for you, but I can't do it all single-handedly. I am so grateful to my year-round staff, Paige Terhune (Legislative Assistant) and Ellen Williams (Chief of Staff) and students who have joined us during the legislative session. We are thrilled to have Albert Giovanazzi as our Legal Extern from The Emory Law School and three interns from the Georgia Legislative Internship Program (GLIP), including Valencia John and Lauren Pedersen from University of Georgia and Kai Ward from Valdosta State.
From left to right: Valencia John, Lauren Pedersen, Ellen Williams, Senator Elena Parent, Paige Terhune, Albert Giovanazzi, Kai Ward
Property Taxes and HB581
Taxes are necessary to fund our municipal, county, state and federal government. Everyone wants to control costs, but capping annual property value increases as HB581 allows will impact revenue growth and county financial stability.
Public hearings are being held in several counties, and many have already occurred. You can read more about plans of various cities and counties to opt in or out of HB581 in Decaturish. Clayton County is holding a public hearing on Tuesday, February 18 at 6pm at the Board of Commissioners Board Room at 112 Smith St., Jonesboro, GA 30236.
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