Local State Legislators Outline Priorities for this General Assembly Session

As with every January, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Eggs and Issues legislative preview event gives residents and stakeholders an idea of what the executive branch plans to focus on during the session. 

Governor Brian P. Kemp delivered an address at this year’s event announcing some of his top legislative and budgetary priorities, including maintaining Georgia’s spot as the No. 1 state for business. Additionally, he announced proposals to ensure Georgia is the top state for talent; his intention to enact meaningful tort reform; and new investments in key infrastructure projects statewide.

Along those same lines, Peachtree Corners Magazine reached out to representatives of this part of the state to get a feel for what they’ll be emphasizing this year.

State Rep. Ruwa Romman (D) District 97

My team and I are dedicated to helping make you safer and healthier and ease the financial burden many of you are feeling.

In this upcoming term, I will be pursuing legislation to address healthcare challenges, gun safety reform and education inequality. We’ll also be introducing legislation to address the rising costs of utilities and keeping our environment clean and vibrant.

Emergency services and community safety

On the healthcare side, I am reintroducing my first-ever bill, which seeks to designate Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as an essential service in Georgia. I initially introduced this bill last session, but unfortunately, it ran out of time. 

Currently, 14 states recognize EMS as essential, and it’s time for us to join them. This bill does not change how or who provides EMS services; rather, it signals to grant providers that EMS is essential in our state. This recognition will enable our EMS providers to apply for much-needed grants and reduce burdensome red tape. 

I’m eager to push this forward and ensure that our EMS providers receive the support they deserve.

Community safety is also a top priority, but I do not know how anyone can have a conversation about safe communities without addressing the proliferation of guns. I am co-sponsoring legislation like the Safe Storage Act and a three-day waiting period for the purchase of certain firearms. 

Additionally, I will be introducing a bill to mandate reporting for lost or stolen guns. 

These specific policies are proven to reduce gun violence in other states and will make us safer. We will continue to push for the change our community needs and protect our kids from these preventable deaths. 

Education

On the education front, and in Gwinnett County in particular, we are proud of our diversity. It’s essential that our education system reflects this. One of my priorities this session is to advocate for a certification program that enables teachers to receive training in teaching students in different languages. 

Literacy deficiency is currently one of the top barriers to entry for students going into the workforce, and students who don’t speak English as their first language often face even greater challenges with literacy. 

By implementing this program, we can ensure that we’re not leaving our students behind, provide them with the tools they need to succeed and thrive in our community and make our school system the best in the nation.

The economy

On the economic front, it feels like everything is skyrocketing in price from food to utilities to housing. Whether you’re looking to buy or rent, it is increasingly difficult to find affordable housing. 

One of the factors contributing to this crisis is price fixing through algorithmic pricing. This practice relies on automated systems setting property values and rental rates, often leading to higher prices for everyone. 

Algorithmic pricing affects all industries, and we need to get a hold of it if we want to start seeing prices go down. I’ll be working with my team to find ways to make the market fairer for all of us.

Rising utility costs

Another financial burden I’m working with my team on is legislation to get utility costs under control. Many of us have seen our electric bills go up multiple times over the past year. This is due to Georgia Power shifting costs to us as consumers for their investment in Plant Vogtle. The rates at which our bills have increased is unacceptable and causing hardship to many families. 

My colleagues and I are working to bring relief to you and your families on this issue. We are also working to bring you more options for meeting your electric needs, including solar options. Not only will this keep more money in your pockets, but it will go a long way to preserving the beauty of our city and state.

More from Rep. Ruwa Romman

Although the legislative process is slow and challenging, we will keep pursuing our priorities until we see the changes necessary to help you and your loved ones. 

Unfortunately, there will be those who will try to distract from issues that matter most to you to justify bullying trans children and targeting other members of our community for political gain. 

These efforts are harmful to our neighbors and distract from the reality that what our communities want most is being able to afford to live and care for those they love. 

It is why I will fight back against any efforts that target vulnerable people and will continue to prioritize addressing the actual issues that matter most to you.

Contact:  Ruwa.Romman@House.ga.gov or 404-590-3347

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State Rep. Scott Hilton (R) District 48

I am incredibly honored to be re-elected to the Georgia House for a third term.

As we enter the 2025 legislative session, my goal is simple — continue to make Georgia the very best state to live, work and raise a family. 

My focus will be on policies that grow our economy, keep our community safe and our schools strong. Specifically, the House will vote on measures to further reduce our state income tax and return over $1 billion in rebates back to taxpayers.

Committee roles and legislative focus

As a member of the House Education Committee, we will continue to work on policies that increase school safety — including investments into mental health, implementation of new safety technologies and improved communication sharing between agencies.

Personally, I will be working on legislation to codify access to IVF, expand school choice, cut government red tape, lower costs for working families and support adults and children with special needs. 

I am excited to report that the Speaker of the House, Jon Burns, has recently given me a committee chairmanship. This leadership role will give me an even greater voice in shaping policies that will directly benefit our district. 

In addition, I was recently added to the influential Ways and Means Committee, which shapes tax policy in Georgia.  

More from Rep. Scott Hilton

During a panel discussion hosted by 11Alive’s Faith Jessie, Hilton shared that his priority list includes addressing inflation, the rising costs of goods for consumers and “really putting more money back in their pockets” through reducing taxes. 

“For me, I serve on the Education Committee. That’s a big priority. We spent almost half our budget on education, so things like school safety, literacy and continuing to support our teachers and parents,” he said. “So education and then … Hurricane Helene relief. We still have a lot of folks suffering in South Georgia and other parts of the state. We’ve got to get resources down to them.”

Hilton added that he will be hosting monthly town halls during the legislative session.  

“My door is always open if anyone wants to visit the Capitol or have their child (ages 12-18) serve as a House Page,” he said. “The community is welcome to email me or call my cell.”

Contact: Scott.Hilton@House.ga.gov or 404-951-8902