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Greetings! We are over halfway through the session - today is Legislative Day 23! The pace has intensified, with several committees meeting more than once a week. We have passed some good legislation since I wrote to you on Day 17, with the exception of a partisan political messaging resolution about protecting our border, and one clinical bill that I was conflicted on.
In this issue:
- Town Hall and Listening Session on Feb 24, 9-11am
- Black History Parade on Feb 24, 2 - 4pm
- DeKalb County CEO Forum on Feb 26, 7pm
- Call to Action! Can you please help?
- HB 909 Updating First Offenders Act
- HB 1037 Maternal Mortality Commission
- HB 977 Increasing Risk Limiting Audits from 1 to 2 Races
- HB 947 Creating Judicial Compensation Commission
- HR 1019 America’s Borders, Increased Protection - Flagged!
- HB 1010 Increased Parental Paid Leave
- HB 557 Giving APRN’s ability to prescribe opioids
- Voting in Presidential Election
- Pages!
- At the Capitol
- In the Community
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Will you join me for a Legislative Breakfast and Listening Session this Saturday morning?
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Rep Holly will be the incumbent Democrat in the Narvie Harris and Oakview precincts in the May Democratic Primary- I encourage voters in those communities to come meet him!
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ATLANTA – State Representatives Becky Evans (D-Atlanta) and El-Mahdi Holly (D-Stockbridge) will host a legislative town hall meeting and listening session on Saturday, February 24, 2024, from 9 – 11 a.m., at the First Baptist Church Gresham in Atlanta.
Breakfast will be served from 9 – 9:30 a.m. The town hall meeting and listening session will follow breakfast from 9:30 – 11 a.m. MARTA will be a guest presenter and Senator Elena Parent will attend a portion of the event!
Please submit questions for Reps. Evans and Holly and RSVP for the event here.
A livestream will be offered for those unable to attend in person. Sign up here to register for the livestream.
WHERE: First Baptist Church Gresham
Gresham Fellowship Hall
2394 Gresham Rd S E
Atlanta, GA 30316
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Will you join me for a Black History Month Parade this Saturday afternoon?
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Please join and march with me this Saturday at this annual East Lake Black History Parade! E-Mail Muriel@beckyevans.com if you can join us!
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Will you join me for a DeKalb County CEO Candidate Forum on Feb 26th?
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DeKalb County has an elected CEO in its form of government, which is unique in Georgia. Although the county has an elected board of commissioners, the elected CEO wields a great deal of executive and administrative power. Historically, this position has been filled by a Democratic candidate, so May 21st’s Democratic primary election will likely decide who the future CEO will be.
There are 3 official Democratic candidates for the role of DeKalb CEO. This is an opportunity for our residents to learn each candidate’s vision for the evolving role of DeKalb’s CEO.
WHEN: Monday, February 26 at 7:00-8:30 pm
WHERE: Emory’s Oxford Road Building: 1390 Oxford Road (above Starbucks and Barnes & Noble) in the Presentation Room on the 3rd Floor.
WHO: The announced candidates for CEO of DeKalb County and moderated by Fox 5 Investigative Reporter, Dale Russell
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Call to Action! Can you please help?
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In March of 2023, the Mitchel Jordan family and friends joined me for a hearing only of the Burial Purchase Protection Act, as they sued a cemetery who buried someone else in a plot they had paid for for Ms. Jordan. They won the initial lawsuit, but lost on appeal, due to a problem with the law. I have worked with the Secretary of State Securities division over Cemeteries and the President of the Board of Cemeteries to address the problem and improve the law. Sadly, Mr. Jordan, pictured in the middle, died on Oct 3 of 2023, but his family has persevered in asking the state to address this problem.
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Call and email Chairman Dickey of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and ask for a vote on HB 486, the Burial Purchaser Protection Act! If you can, please also contact the Vice Chair, Joe Campbell, and the Secretary, David Huddleston, and if you are really willing to help, you can also contact all the committee members!
Email: robert.dickey@house.ga.gov Phone: 404 656-5099
joe.campbell@house.ga.gov Phone: 404-656-0254
david.huddleston@house.ga.gov Phone: 404-656-0325
Other committee members here
Have you or a loved one purchased a pre-needs burial service or cemetery plot? These can offer peace of mind to families, so that when their loved one dies, key decisions and payments are already made. However, there is a problem with Georgia law - if the cemetery makes a mistake and buries someone else in the plot, the statute of limitation is only for two years after the contract is complete. Read more HERE for bill background and explanation.
Proposed script:
Please vote on HB 486, the Burial Purchaser Protection Act! We need Georgia law to protect consumers from cemeteries who bury someone else in a plot they have paid for. This bill is an improvement on current law, with clearer language, protecting both the rights of the consumer, or pre-needs burial purchaser, if a mistake is made, and also protecting the interests of the cemeteries from frivolous or unreasonable claims, by allowing a cause of action to be brought within two years of the finding of a violation of the Secretary of State or the State Board of Cemeterians. Thank you!
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HB 909 Updating the First Offenders Act Passed 155-0
Clarifies the First Offender Act by ensuring its promise and purpose of offering a true second chance to qualifying Georgians through the sealing of GCIC and court records at sentencing.
Since 2017, more than 55,000 Georgians have received a second chance thanks to the First Offender Act, and 98% of them have served their sentences successfully. These Georgians were given the chance to prevent an isolated incident from blocking access to future opportunities to better their lives and contribute to the success of their communities and our state. These opportunities are stifled when First Offender court records still appear on private employment background checks. HB 909 changes the timing and restricts and seals court records at sentencing.
HB 1037 Georgia Commission on Maternal and Infant Health Passed 160-0
Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates. Four out of five Maternal and deaths are completely avoidable. This commission, made up of 14 appointed members, will evaluate and improve perinatal care in Georgia. This Commission will look at mothers AND babies - We hear you, we see you!
As Democrats, we can take pride that our legislative advocacy and pressure about maternal mortality - our press conference, committee hearing, and several powerful speeches in the well, along with the help of so many of you, like Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, created the impetus of this commission. So much more work needs to be done but this is an important step.
HB 977 Increasing risk limiting audits from one to two races - passed 164 - 3
HB 947 Creating Judicial System Compensation Commission Passed 154-13
Superior Courts have two sources of income - from the state and county. Georgia Superior Court judges salaries rank between 45th to 5th in the states, depending on the county. The state's only portion ranks 49th in pay. And Georgia is 32nd in pay for appellate court judges. So we have a problem where our appellate court judges make significantly less than many Superior Court judges. This bill strives to structure the judicial circuits, so the caseload is the same, and provide pay parity. The goal is to move towards a system where the pay is more equal between judges. It does not raise or change any judge’s salaries.
HB 557 Giving Advanced Practice Registered Nurses - APRN - the ability to issue prescription drug orders for hydrocodone, oxycodone in emergency situations Passed 132-35 I followed Rep Dr. Michelle Au and Rep Dr. Jasmine Clark, and voted no. They expressed their concerns about opioid dependency - but we did not hear from doctors or hospitals opposed - this was a challenging vote where I wish I had more information.
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America’s borders - increased protections - passed 98 to 71 along partisan lines
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I was one of several speakers against the resolution, and I addressed the long history of US Republicans refusing to deal with immigration. Take a listen. Thanks to Ellen Williams of Senator Parent’s office for sharing research.
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After US Senate Republicans torpedoed the bipartisan border security legislation at the behest of Donald Trump, Georgia Republicans were desperate to send a partisan message to reframe the issue as quickly as possible - hence this resolution. The Senate passed their version Feb. 12 and we passed it in House Public Safety committee the same day, and it was on the House floor February 13th. Democrats debated on the floor for a full hour and forty minutes, to take up as long a time as possible, if that is how Republicans want us to spend our time, instead of solving Georgia’s problems.
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HB 1010 Increase paid parental leave for state employees from 3 to 6 weeks By Zakiyyah Saleem
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I am delighted that Zakiyyah Saleem, pictured in the middle, is my intern for the session. She is a graduate student in Public Policy at Georgia State University. I asked her to write about one of the bills, and we decided she should write about Paid Parental Leave. She is a mother of five (!), so she knows of what she speaks when discussing the importance of paid parental leave!!!
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As an intern for Representative Becky Evans, I am thrilled to share my perspective on the passage of House Bill 1010, which provides up to six weeks of paid parental leave for state employees in Georgia. This bill represents a significant step forward in supporting working families and recognizing the importance of bonding time with newborns or newly adopted children.
As a mother of multiple children myself, I understand firsthand the challenges that come with balancing work and family responsibilities, especially during those critical early weeks. The ability to take paid parental leave would alleviate financial stress and allow parents to focus on caring for their newborns without worrying about sacrificing their income or job security.
What I love most about this bill is its recognition of the diverse needs of working parents. By extending paid parental leave to both birth and adoptive parents, the bill acknowledges that all families deserve support during this significant life transition. It also sends a powerful message that the state values the well-being of its employees and prioritizes family-friendly policies.
Witnessing the passage of this bill in action has been incredibly rewarding. It's heartening to see legislators come together to enact policies that directly impact the lives of Georgians and promote a healthier work-life balance. The bipartisan support for this bill reflects a shared commitment to supporting Georgia families and creating a more inclusive and supportive workplace environment.
As I reflect on my experience as an intern for Representative Becky Evans, I am inspired by her dedication to advocating for policies that uplift working families. Seeing this bill come to fruition reinforces my belief in the importance of civic engagement and the power of collective action to effect positive change in our communities.
In conclusion, House Bill 1010 represents a significant victory for Georgia families, This bill not only benefits state employees but also sets a positive example for other states and businesses to follow in prioritizing paid parental leave as a fundamental right for all working parents.
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Good Literacy News for our Community
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I am delighted that Flat Shoals Elementary, which is in both House District 89 and the newly drawn House District 90, will be receiving a Literacy Coach, funded from the state through Federal dollars. I visited Flat Shoals Elementary in summer of 2022 with School Board member Deidre Pierce. I was impressed with the Principal Laconduas Freeman. Many of the students that attend this school are transient and impoverished, and the staff provides a welcoming space for them. We know that these students and teachers will benefit from the investment of a full time Literacy Coach trained in the Evidence Based Literacy instruction.
Supt. Woods announces placement of literacy coaches in elementary schools with highest need, adoption of state literacy coaching standard
Georgia to use $10 million in federal money to put literacy coaches in low-performing schools | AP News
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Presidential Primary is Tuesday, March 12th!
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The Presidential Primary is March 12, and Early Voting began yesterday! Check out the Vote page of my web-site to check your My Voter Page and find all early voting locations.
Additionally, Emory is hosting a DeKalb County voting location at 1599 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322 with complimentary parking in the 1599 deck. Advance (early) voting will begin on February 19 and continue through March 8, 2024. The 1599 building will also serve as an Election Day voting precinct on March 12 for those registered voters assigned to this location. More information about DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections can be found here.
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Would your child like to be a PAGE?
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Do you have a middle school student who would like to learn how our state government works? I am thankful that I have had three pages so far this session: Matthew Oliver, Ruby Taylor, and Elena Freedman. This was Matthew's second time - he first did it in 2023! I have slots for two more pages - please sign up! But you don't have much time - Sine Die - our last day - is March 28th! Learn more HERE.
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After an Education Committee meeting, Rep Scott Hilton and I enjoyed meeting several Clark Atlanta students who are studying to be educators!
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Rep Dr. Michelle Au and I are discussing a bill that she sponsored but was taken by a Republican colleague, which repeals sales taxes on gun safes and gun safety training classes. We hope it comes to the floor - it is an improvement over the Senate version, which gives a sales tax holiday on ammunition!
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Last Friday, Feb 16 was Environmental Justice Day at the Capitol, and we had powerful speakers and a great turnout. We are calling for HB 1263, the Environmental Justice Act, to be heard and voted on!
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I was excited to meet these seniors from DeKalb County who were at the Capitol advocating with Co-Age, the Coalition of Advocates for Georia's Elderly. The state needs to do more to help our vulnerable seniors!
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I was delighted to tour the new office of the National Association of Chronic Diseases at an Open House in downtown Decatur. I am pictured here with Decatur Mayor Patty Garrett, the Association President, John Robitscher (a longtime friend of 40 years), and Kelly Walsh, Decatur Commissioner.
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Muriel and I went to visit First Baptist Gresham Church to prepare for our Town Hall on Saturday, and we had a wonderful visit with Cathy Jackson, the church administrator. It is such a small world - when Ms. Jackson was writing Muriel's phone number, she asked if Muriel was originally from South Caroline. It turns out that they are both from Denmark, South Carolina, and Muriel's aunt, who raised her, was an important teacher for Ms. Jackson! What an amazing connection!!!
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That's all for now. It is my honor and privilege to serve as our State Representative. Please let me know if I can be of service to you.
Sincerely,
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Representative Becky Evans
Georgia's 89th House District, DeKalb County
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