WILLIAMS: Week 8 under the Gold Dome

Published 10:16 am Wednesday, March 19, 2025

We’ve officially reached one of the biggest milestones of the legislative session —Crossover Day. This marks the final opportunity for bills to pass out of their original chamber and remain eligible to become law before the session ends. It’s a fast-paced, high-stakes time under the Gold Dome, and this week was no exception. In the Senate alone, we successfully moved important priorities forward for Georgia families, students, small businesses, and law enforcement. With the session winding down, our focus now shifts to working with the House to finalize these bills.

Every parent deserves peace of mind knowing their child is safe at school. That’s why Senate Republicans have made school safety a major priority this session. We’ve passed three significant bills that take proactive steps to keep our students and educators secure. Senate Bill 17 requires all schools to install mobile panic alert systems and provide school mapping data to law enforcement. In an emergency, every second counts. We can prevent tragedies and protect lives by reducing response times and giving first responders better information.

SB 61 ensures that juveniles charged with attempted murder or terroristic threats against a school will be prosecuted as adults. We cannot afford to treat these serious crimes lightly. This bill sends a strong message — schools are places of learning, not places of fear. SB 179 requires students’ academic and disciplinary records to be sent within ten days when they transfer to a new school. Parents or guardians must also be notified within five days. This helps ensure that schools know of past behavior concerns and can provide the necessary support and oversight. These common-sense policies strengthen our schools’ ability to keep students safe while ensuring we remain vigilant against potential threats.

In Georgia, we back the blue and stand with those who put their lives on the line to protect us. Whether it’s law enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency responders, we recognize their service and sacrifice. This year, we passed key bills to provide them with financial and retirement security.

My bill, SB 29, passed on Monday. This bill requires a DNA sample to be collected from any individual who has been arrested for a felony at the time they are booked or processed at a detention facility. This will help us identify repeat offenders and clear the backlog of cases clogging our police stations. Senate Bill 56 expands the Georgia Indemnification Fund to provide financial support to the families of public safety officers who lost their lives due to COVID-19. This is about doing what’s right for the families of those who gave everything for their communities.

Above all, protecting Georgia’s children remains a top priority. Senate Bill 110 modernizes Georgia’s neglect laws, ensuring that parents can allow their children appropriate independence without fear of unnecessary government interference. Parents should be able to raise their kids without the government stepping in unless there’s a genuine safety concern.

SB 245 expands grandparents’ rights, allowing them to request changes to visitation orders. Grandparents play an essential role in children’s lives, and this bill ensures they can maintain those critical relationships. SB 259, Ridge’s Law, ensures that parents facing false allegations of child abuse or neglect can seek a second medical opinion before losing custody. Families have been wrongly separated because of misdiagnosed conditions, and this bill provides them with critical legal safeguards.

On a personal note, I was honored to sponsor SB 260, which will bring the Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority’s number of members to four, with three members able to vote. This will allow the authority to take action quicker and hold meetings at more regular intervals. With over 2,000 acres sitting vacant following the closing of Central State Hospital, it’s time to help the Authority create new spaces for our communities.

Additionally, the Senate voted to approve the House’s amendments to the 2025 amended fiscal year budget. This budget increases funding for the Department of Corrections to support law enforcement and public safety while also maintaining funding for hurricane relief efforts. On Thursday, Gov. Brian P. Kemp signed the amended budget into law to help families and small businesses across Georgia recover and rebuild.

As we enter the final stretch of the legislative session, I encourage you to reach out with any questions, concerns, or input. I look forward to pushing for legislation that strengthens our communities, upholds our values, and ensures a brighter future for all Georgians.

—State Sen. Rick Williams serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Retirement. He represents the 25th Senate District, which includes Baldwin, Butts, Jasper, Jones and Putnam County, as well as portions of Henry County and a small portion of Bibb County. He may be reached by phone at 404-656-0052 or by email at Rick.Williams@senate.ga.gov.