Last week was an eventful one here at the Capitol. We are quickly approaching the finish line of this special legislative session. The third week of the special session began on November 15 with the House giving final approval to Senate Bill 1EX, which updates Georgia’s 56 state Senate districts. Because the state Senate already passed the map for the 180 state House districts on November 12, both bills have been sent to Governor Kemp’s desk to be signed into law.
Since the state House and Senate maps have passed in both chambers, we spent most of last week working on proposed maps for Georgia’s fourteen U.S. Congressional districts. Like the state House and Senate maps, our congressional districts must comply with new census numbers, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the traditional principles of redistricting. House and Senate leadership jointly released a proposed congressional map this week and then introduced separate bills in their respective chambers with this map. The House Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee held three public hearings this week to consider this map. During these hearings, the public was invited to provide their feedback about the map.
The Senate bill for the updated congressional map passed out of their chamber on Friday and was immediately transmitted to the House. My colleagues and I will return to the Capitol on Monday, November 22, to wrap up our business for this special session. We anticipate that the House will vote on SB 2EX on Monday, and if passed, the special session will adjourn that day.
On Tuesday I was especially excited to introduce my pastor, Reverend Jason Davis of Grace Community Presbyterian Church in Lyons, to my colleagues in the House. He served as our Chaplain of the Day. Each legislative day, we begin with a reading of scripture, devotion, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag, leg by the Chaplain. I’m grateful that he was willing to go to Atlanta to serve.
As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative for House District 156. It is an honor to serve you. I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving.