ONWARD

HAPPY MLK, JR DAY -THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS

Watch the inspiring Beloved Community Commemorative Service 2025, held at Ebenezer Baptist Church yesterday, HERE. Listen to Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock on the Rachel Maddow show last night HERE(starts at 47:14). Thank you, President Biden and Vice President Harris, for your great service to our country. We will miss you every day.

‍

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEGINS

The 2025 General Assembly Session convened January 13th. I took my oath of office again to serve 60,000 citizens in DeKalb County. Based on reapportionment, I represent new House District 84, which starts at my house, including part of the Emory campus, and goes in a southeasterly direction through the middle of DeKalb County outside I-285 to include the city of Stonecrest. I invite new constituents to sign up for my newsletter and call or email me on any issue that concerns you. My legislative office is Suite 604-G of the Coverdale Legislative Office Building, phone number 404-656-0264, and my email is mmo@mmolaw.com.

Traditionally, the beginning of a two-year term begins slowly, and the important discussions initially every year are about the Governor's proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget. I am on the Appropriations Committee again, and have also retained all my other good committee appointments. In Appropriations, I'm primarily working on mental health funding.

Based on the Governor calling an emergency storm warning, the Appropriations Committees that were to begin Tuesday, January 21st have been canceled for Tuesday and Wednesday. The Governor will make his presentation to the Appropriations Committee Thursday morning at 8 AM by video from Europe. The regular Budget Committee discussions begin at 8:15am Thursday morning, January 23, and you are free to watch all of our committee meetings via livestream at https://www.legis.ga.gov/. Based on the storm, the four Appropriations Committee discussions are being rescheduled. Check the above website for schedule changes.

We anticipated major new appropriations for the Housing Trust Fund, and the Governor's budget does not include it. The Governor's budget does include funds for the increased reimbursement rates for mental health providers, new crisis mental health service beds, and additions to forensic beds across the state. I do not believe all of the recommendations from the Behavioral Health Commission are in the Governor's budget, and our work begins in earnest to complete the necessary proposals we have made for mental health funding.

In addition, the Governor again calls for tax cuts and a reduction of the income tax, and the details of how much money people who pay income tax will receive back will be negotiated.

We also anticipate child care tax credits that will benefit many Georgia families. There is additional education funding, but no proposals to change the Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding formula, which is also a disappointment. We have a great deal of work to do.

‍

GUN LEGISLATION INTRODUCED

Rep. Michelle Au and I have already introduced six bills regarding gun safety. She has introduced House Bills 1 through 4, and I introduced HB 63 and HB 64.

1) House Bill 63, which establishes offense of failure to adequately secure a loaded or unloaded firearm. You may follow it HERE.

2) House Bill 64, which requires an owner of an assault weapon to procure and maintain sufficient liability insurance. You may follow it HERE.

Most of the bills have been assigned to the House Public Service and Homeland Security Committee. Rep. Au, I, and the Democratic Caucus are working to have a bipartisan discussion about gun safety in the 2025 Session. I choose to remain hopeful that we will have hearings on all of these bills.

We will be giving you further details on how you can move this legislation forward. Thank you for your interest.

‍

MENTAL HEALTH DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Mental Health Day at the Capitol has been rescheduled due to the weather. It will now take place tomorrow, January 22nd, via zoom. The zoom link is https://tinyurl.com/MHDZOOM2025

The event is free and open to everyone. They will have ASL interpreters online for the event. Click the link below to access the Mental Health Day Guide:

https://files.constantcontact.com/e24bcbd7001/d604ecc5-d06d-45eb-bab4-20f0a6d4a543.pdf?rdr=true

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CARTER

Below is the photo of the Georgia General Assembly greeting Carter's final procession to the Carter Center. Thank you, President Carter, for your life and for your example. We are forever grateful.

President Carter's words encourage me to persevere in these troubling times. Let us live by his words: “My faith demands – this is not optional – my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”

I also urge you also to read from Carter's January 1981 Farewell Address. While doing so, consider what he accomplished in the almost half-century after he left the Presidency.

"The battle for human rights -- at home and abroad -- is far from over. We should never be surprised nor discouraged because the impact (of) our efforts...(They have) had, and will always have, varied results.

"Rather, we should take pride that the ideals which gave birth to our nation still inspire the hopes of oppressed people around the world. We have no cause for self-righteousness or complacency. But we have every reason to persevere, both within our own country and beyond our borders.

"If we are to serve as a beacon for human rights, we must continue to perfect here at home the rights and values which we espouse around the world: A decent education for our children, adequate medical care for all Americans, an end to discrimination against minorities and women, a job for all those able to work, and freedom from injustice and religious intolerance."

‍

OUT AND ABOUT

On January 16th, Judge Michael Key, Commissioner Kevin Tanner, and Stephanie Blank led a timely discussion about child care services. Gov. Kemp addressed a Joint Session of the House and Senate, and Representative Sue Hong and I compared our identical jackets as good wardrobe choices for lawyer legislators. Senator Colton Moore was arrested for obstruction of justice as he tried to force his way into the chambers. I will not bother you with details of his behavior, but you are invited to visit us at the Capitol any day for whatever is going on.

‍

On January 14th, Day 2, Rep. Debbie Buckner and I discussed Medicaid funding and Mental Heath Reform with the House Democratic Caucus. We also recognized Caucus Chair Hugley as our New Chair. Most important last week was the Governor’s budget— made public on Thursday. Stay tuned. You may follow the work of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus at https://gahousedems.com/.

‍

On Day 1, I raised my hand, took my oath of office, and we began the 2025 General Assembly Session! Thank you again for the privilege if serving citizens of HD 84. Part of my job frequently is giving time to the press—- how to respond to political messaging of the majority party, how to represent your voice? Always interested in your advice- thank you.

‍

On January 10th, we had our first snowfall of 2025. Beautiful morning for a walk! And it is also a good time for us to think about our climate—- will the General Assembly help this year with climate change discussions?

‍

On January 4th, it was an honor to join Governors and Legislators at the Capitol to greet President Carter’s procession to the Carter Center . A beautiful, cold, and somber day in Georgia. RIP Mr. President— we love and admire you.

‍

Perfect winter day on Fightingtown Creek!

‍

UPCOMING DATES

Wednesday, January 22nd - Mental Health Day at the Capitol (virtual - zoom link in article above)Thursday, January 23rd - Appropriations Committee meetings begin based on scheduling. 8am.

Thursday, January 23rd - meet with Leadership DeKalb at the Capitol, 9:45am.

Sunday, January 26th - Jesus on the Front Page at All Saints' Episcopal Church

Tuesday, January 28th - State of the City of Decatur

Monday, February 3rd - ARC Legislative Policy Briefing

Saturday, February 8th - DeKalb NAACP MLK, Jr. Celebration

‍

QUICK LINKS FOR YOU

I am on the following legislative committees. You can watch live every time they meet. Click on the links below for livestreams, agendas, archives and more.

Committees:

• Appropriations
• Governmental Affairs
• Judiciary
• Juvenile Justice
• Public Health - Secretary
• Technology and Infrastructure Innovation

Subcommittees:

• Appropriations - Human Resources
• Governmental Affairs - State and Local Government
• Judicial - Leverett (two)

You can search for and track bills, watch the House (or Senate) in Session, watch committee hearings, monitor legislation by committee, and find contact information —- all on the revamped General Assembly website. Here are quick links:

• General Assembly website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/
• House Session meetings and many committee hearings are available to watch online: https://www.legis.ga.gov/house
• Archived videos of meetings and hearings: https://www.legis.ga.gov/house/media-services

Make your views known and tell me what issues interest you the most.