# 157th Georgia General Assembly

The 157th Georgia General Assembly consisted of two sessions of the Georgia General Assembly in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, the first in 2023 and the second in 2024. It convened its first session on January 9, 2023 at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, which adjourned sine die on March 29; as stipulated in the Constitution of Georgia, the General Assembly can only hold a session "for a period of no longer than 40 days in the aggregate each year".
The Assembly's members were elected in the 2022 State Senate and State House elections.
On October 26, 2023, a special session was called by Governor Brian Kemp for November 28, 2023, to redraw congressional and legislative maps which were approved in the previous General Assembly.
During the first session, March 6, 2023 was "Crossover Day", the informal name for the date by which bills must have passed through one chamber in order to remain on track to become law.

## Activity

Governor Brian Kemp's floor leaders for the 2023 and 2024 sessions are senators Bo Hatchett and Mike Hodges, and representatives Matthew Gambill, Soo Hong, Lauren McDonald, and Will Wade.

### Legislation

In late January 2023, Democratic lawmakers Sally Harrell and Shea Roberts introduced twin bills — S.B. 15 and H.B. 75, both described as "long-shot legislation" by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution — that would repeal Georgia's 2019 anti-abortion law and add abortion protections to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
Representative John Carson sponsored H.B. 54, to increase Georgia's Qualified Education Expense Credit program cap from $120 million to $200 million.
Representative Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasville) introduced the Okefenokee Protection Act (H.B. 71), intended to help protect the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge from mining projects. The bill attracted bipartisan support from Buddy DeLoach and Mary Frances Williams, among about 36 others. Taylor had filed an ultimately unsuccessful similar bill in the previous assembly.

#### Sports betting

Sports betting was federally banned in the US by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 until the Supreme Court struck down the law in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association (2018), allowing each state to regulate sports gambling. Governor Kemp had been opposed to legalizing betting in the past, but changed his position in 2023.
Several bills regarding sports betting were introduced during the 2023 session.

### Post-sine die

Governor Brian Kemp issued his first veto of the 2023 session on April 4, putting a stop to H.B. 319, which would have required the General Assembly to approve any University System of Georgia tuition hikes of over 3%. Kemp issued a statement noting that the "Georgia Constitution makes plain the authority to govern, control, and manage the University System and all system institutions is vested in the Board of Regents". H.B. 319 had passed the House by a vote of 160–1 and the Senate unanimously; the tuition measure had been added on the last day of the legislative session to the bill, which originally aimed to abolish the Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation.
On October 26, 2023, a special session was called by Governor Brian Kemp for November 28, 2023, to redraw congressional and legislative maps which were approved in the previous General Assembly, following a ruling earlier in the day federal district judge Steve C. Jones that some districts in the U.S. House, Georgia Senate and Georgia House violated the Voting Rights Act.

## Composition

The lawmakers comprising the 157th Assembly were the most diverse in Georgia's history. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution counted 83 non-white members out of 236; 151 are white, 68 are black, 8 are AAPI, five are Hispanic, two are Afro-Latino, and one is Arab. Additionally, there were 81 women in the chamber.

### State Senate
#### Special elections

Governor Brian Kemp chose state senator Dean Burke to be chief medical officer of the Georgia Department of Community Health in December 2022. Burke resigned on December 31, and an election to fill the Senate District 11 seat was scheduled for January 31, 2023. Three candidates qualified for the election: John H. Monds (L), Sam Watson (R), and Mary Weaver-Anderson (D). Watson won the election easily.

#### Party composition

| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| Affiliation | Republican | Democratic | Total | Vacant |
| End of 155th Assembly | 35 | 21 | 56 | 0 |
| End of 156th Assembly | 34 | 22 | 56 | 0 |
| Beginning of 157th Assembly | 33 | 23 | 56 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 59% | 41% | | |

#### Membership

As of March 2023, the Georgia State Senate is composed of 56 members:
| District | Senator | Party | Since | Residence |
| 1 | Ben Watson | Republican | 2015 | Savannah |
| 2 | Derek Mallow | Democratic | 2023 | Savannah |
| 3 | Mike Hodges | Republican | 2023 | Brunswick |
| 4 | Billy Hickman | Republican | 2020 | Statesboro |
| 5 | Sheikh Rahman | Democratic | 2019 | Lawrenceville |
| 6 | Jason Esteves | Democratic | 2023 | Atlanta |
| 7 | Nabilah Islam | Democratic | 2023 | Lawrenceville |
| 8 | Russ Goodman | Republican | 2021 | Cogdell |
| 9 | Nikki Merritt | Democratic | 2021 | Grayson |
| 10 | Emanuel Jones | Democratic | 2005 | Ellenwood |
| 11 | Sam Watson | Republican | 2023 | Moultrie |
| 12 | Freddie Sims | Democratic | 2009 | Dawson |
| 13 | Carden Summers | Republican | 2020 | Cordele |
| 14 | Josh McLaurin | Democratic | 2023 | Sandy Springs |
| 15 | Ed Harbison | Democratic | 1993 | Columbus |
| 16 | Marty Harbin | Republican | 2015 | Tyrone |
| 17 | Brian Strickland | Republican | 2018 | McDonough |
| 18 | John F. Kennedy | Republican | 2015 | Macon |
| 19 | Blake Tillery | Republican | 2017 | Vidalia |
| 20 | Larry Walker III | Republican | 2015 | Kathleen |
| 21 | Brandon Beach | Republican | 2013 | Alpharetta |
| 22 | Harold V. Jones II | Democratic | 2015 | Augusta |
| 23 | Max Burns | Republican | 2021 | Sylvania |
| 24 | Lee Anderson | Republican | 2017 | Grovetown |
| 25 | Rick Williams | Republican | 2023 | Milledgeville |
| 26 | David Lucas | Democratic | 2013 | Macon |
| 27 | Greg Dolezal | Republican | 2019 | Cumming |
| 28 | Matt Brass | Republican | 2017 | Newnan |
| 29 | Randy Robertson | Republican | 2019 | Cataula |
| 30 | Mike Dugan | Republican | 2013 | Carrollton |
| 31 | Jason Anavitarte | Republican | 2021 | Dallas |
| 32 | Kay Kirkpatrick | Republican | 2017 | Marietta |
| 33 | Michael Rhett | Democratic | 2015 | Marietta |
| 34 | Valencia Seay | Democratic | 2003 | Riverdale |
| 35 | Donzella James | Democratic | 2009 | College Park |
| 36 | Nan Orrock | Democratic | 2007 | Atlanta |
| 37 | Ed Setzler | Republican | 2023 | Acworth |
| 38 | Horacena Tate | Democratic | 1999 | Atlanta |
| 39 | Sonya Halpern | Democratic | 2021 | Atlanta |
| 40 | Sally Harrell | Democratic | 2019 | Chamblee |
| 41 | Kim Jackson | Democratic | 2021 | Stone Mountain |
| 42 | Elena Parent | Democratic | 2015 | Atlanta |
| 43 | Tonya Anderson | Democratic | 2017 | Lithonia |
| 44 | Gail Davenport | Democratic | 2011 | Jonesboro |
| 45 | Clint Dixon | Republican | 2021 | Buford |
| 46 | Bill Cowsert | Republican | 2007 | Athens |
| 47 | Frank Ginn | Republican | 2011 | Royston |
| 48 | Shawn Still | Republican | 2023 | Norcross |
| 49 | Shelly Echols | Republican | 2023 | Alto |
| 50 | Bo Hatchett | Republican | 2021 | Cornelia |
| 51 | Steve Gooch | Republican | 2011 | Dahlonega |
| 52 | Chuck Hufstetler | Republican | 2013 | Rome |
| 53 | Colton Moore | Republican | 2023 | Trenton |
| 54 | Chuck Payne | Republican | 2017 | Dalton |
| 55 | Gloria Butler | Democratic | 1999 | Stone Mountain |
| 56 | John Albers | Republican | 2011 | Roswell |

### House of Representatives
#### Special elections

After former speaker David Ralston's resignation and death, a special election was held on January 3, 2023 to fill the seat in House District 7. Since no candidate reached a vote threshold of 50%, a runoff between Sheree Ralston, David Ralston's widow, and Johnny Chastain — both members of the Fannin County Development Authority — was held on January 31, 2023; in an upset, Chastain defeated Ralston.
House District 119's previous representative Terry England did not seek reelection in 2022. After winning unopposed in the general election, former Barrow County Chamber of Commerce chair Danny Rampey was arrested in December 2022 and charged with stealing prescription medications. Bowing to pressure from the state Republican party, Rampey announced he would not take office, and Governor Kemp scheduled a special election to be held on January 31, 2023. No candidate won a majority of the vote, so a runoff was held on February 28 between Republicans Holt Persinger and Charlie Chase; Persinger won the runoff.
State representative Sam Watson resigned from his seat in House District 172 in order to run for the newly-open spot in State Senate District 11. A special election was held on January 31, 2023; the only candidate to qualify for the ballot was Colquitt County administrator Charles Cannon.
Democratic member Mike Glanton of District 75 resigned on January 24, 2023 for health reasons; a special election was held on March 21, 2023 to fill the seat. Eric Bell II was elected to fill the seat.
Democratic representative Tish Naghise died on March 8, 2023; she had represented the 68th District. Former Representative Derrick Jackson was elected to fill the seat.

#### Party composition

| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| Affiliation | Republican | Democratic | Total | Vacant |
| End of 155th General Assembly | 105 | 74 | 179 | 1 |
| End of 156th General Assembly | 103 | 76 | 179 | 1 |
| Beginning of 157th General Assembly | 101 | 79 | 180 | 0 |
| July 11, 2023 | 102 | 78 | 180 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 57% | 43% | | |

#### Membership

As of July 2023, the membership of the House is as follows:
| District | Representative | Party | Since | Residence |
| 1 | Mike Cameron | Republican | 2021 | Rossville |
| 2 | Steve Tarvin | Republican | 2014 | Chickamauga |
| 3 | Mitchell Horner | Republican | 2023 | Ringgold |
| 4 | Kasey Carpenter | Republican | 2017 | Dalton |
| 5 | Matt Barton | Republican | 2019 | Calhoun |
| 6 | Jason Ridley | Republican | 2017 | Chatsworth |
| 7 | Johnny Chastain | Republican | 2023 | Blue Ridge |
| 8 | Stan Gunter | Republican | 2021 | Blairsville |
| 9 | Will Wade | Republican | 2013 | Dawsonville |
| 10 | Victor Anderson | Republican | 2021 | Cornelia |
| 11 | Rick Jasperse | Republican | 2010 | Jasper |
| 12 | Eddie Lumsden | Republican | 2013 | Rome |
| 13 | Katie Dempsey | Republican | 2007 | Rome |
| 14 | Mitchell Scoggins | Republican | 2019 | Rydal |
| 15 | Matthew Gambill | Republican | 2019 | Cartersville |
| 16 | Trey Kelley | Republican | 2013 | Cedartown |
| 17 | Martin Momtahan | Republican | 2019 | Dallas |
| 18 | Tyler Smith | Republican | 2021 | Bremen |
| 19 | Joseph Gullett | Republican | 2019 | Dallas |
| 20 | Charlice Byrd | Republican | 2013 | Woodstock |
| 21 | Brad Thomas | Republican | 2013 | Woodstock |
| 22 | Jordan Ridley | Republican | 2023 | Woodstock |
| 23 | Mandi Ballinger | Republican | 2013 | Canton |
| 24 | Carter Barrett | Republican | 2023 | Cumming |
| 25 | Todd Jones | Republican | 2017 | Cumming |
| 26 | Lauren McDonald | Republican | 2021 | Cumming |
| 27 | Lee Hawkins | Republican | 2013 | Gainesville |
| 28 | Brent Cox | Republican | 2023 | Dawsonville |
| 29 | Matt Dubnik | Republican | 2017 | Gainesville |
| 30 | Derrick McCollum | Republican | 2023 | Chestnut Mountain |
| 31 | Emory Dunahoo | Republican | 2011 | Gillsville |
| 32 | Chris Erwin | Republican | 2023 | Homer |
| 33 | Alan Powell | Republican | 1991 | Hartwell |
| 34 | Devan Seabaugh | Republican | 2021 | Marietta |
| 35 | Lisa Campbell | Democratic | 2023 | Kennesaw |
| 36 | Ginny Ehrhart | Republican | 2019 | Powder Springs |
| 37 | Mary Frances Williams | Democratic | 2019 | Marietta |
| 38 | David Wilkerson | Democratic | 2011 | Powder Springs |
| 39 | Terry Cummings | Democratic | 2023 | Mableton |
| 40 | Doug Stoner | Democratic | 2023 | Smyrna |
| 41 | Michael Smith | Democratic | 2013 | Marietta |
| 42 | Teri Anulewicz | Democratic | 2017 | Smyrna |
| 43 | Solomon Adesanya | Democratic | 2023 | Marietta |
| 44 | Don Parsons | Republican | 1995 | Marietta |
| 45 | Sharon Cooper | Republican | 1997 | Marietta |
| 46 | John Carson | Republican | 2011 | Roswell |
| 47 | Jan Jones | Republican | 2003 | Alpharetta |
| 48 | Scott Hilton | Republican | 2023 | Peachtree Corners |
| 49 | Chuck Martin | Republican | 2003 | Alpharetta |
| 50 | Michelle Au | Democratic | 2021 | Johns Creek |
| 51 | Esther Panitch | Democratic | 2023 | Sandy Springs |
| 52 | Shea Roberts | Democratic | 2021 | Sandy Springs |
| 53 | Deborah Silcox | Republican | 2023 | Sandy Springs |
| 54 | Betsy Holland | Democratic | 2019 | Atlanta |
| 55 | Inga Willis | Democratic | 2023 | Atlanta |
| 56 | Mesha Mainor | Republican | 2021 | Atlanta |
| 57 | Stacey Evans | Democratic | 2021 | Atlanta |
| 58 | Park Cannon | Democratic | 2016 | Atlanta |
| 59 | Phil Olaleye | Democratic | 2023 | Atlanta |
| 60 | Sheila Jones | Democratic | 2005 | Atlanta |
| 61 | Roger Bruce | Democratic | 2003 | Atlanta |
| 62 | Tanya F. Miller | Democratic | 2023 | Atlanta |
| 63 | Kim Schofield | Democratic | 2017 | Atlanta |
| 64 | Kimberly New | Republican | 2023 | Villa Rica |
| 65 | Mandisha Thomas | Democratic | 2021 | Atlanta |
| 66 | Kimberly Alexander | Democratic | 2013 | Douglasville |
| 67 | Lydia Glaize | Democratic | 2023 | Fairburn |
| 68 | Derrick Jackson | Democratic | 2023 | Tyrone |
| 69 | Debra Bazemore | Democratic | 2017 | South Fulton |
| 70 | Lynn Smith | Republican | 1997 | Newnan |
| 71 | J. Collins | Republican | 2017 | Villa Rica |
| 72 | David Huddleston | Republican | 2023 | Roopville |
| 73 | Josh Bonner | Republican | 2017 | Fayetteville |
| 74 | Karen Mathiak | Republican | 2023 | Griffin |
| 75 | Eric Bell II | Democratic | 2023 | Jonesboro |
| 76 | Sandra Scott | Democratic | 2011 | Rex |
| 77 | Rhonda Burnough | Democratic | 2017 | Riverdale |
| 78 | Demetrius Douglas | Democratic | 2013 | Jonesboro |
| 79 | Yasmin Neal | Democratic | 2011 | Morrow |
| 80 | Long Tran | Democratic | 2023 | Dunwoody |
| 81 | Scott Holcomb | Democratic | 2011 | Atlanta |
| 82 | Mary Margaret Oliver | Democratic | 2003 | Atlanta |
| 83 | Karen Lupton | Democratic | 2023 | Chamblee |
| 84 | Omari Crawford | Democratic | 2023 | Decatur |
| 85 | Karla Drenner | Democratic | 2001 | Avondale Estates |
| 86 | Imani Barnes | Democratic | 2023 | Tucker |
| 87 | Viola Davis | Democratic | 2019 | Stone Mountain |
| 88 | Billy Mitchell | Democratic | 2003 | Lithonia |
| 89 | Becky Evans | Democratic | 2023 | Atlanta |
| 90 | Saira Draper | Democratic | 2023 | Atlanta |
| 91 | Angela Moore | Democratic | 2021 | Lithonia |
| 92 | Rhonda Taylor | Democratic | 2021 | Conyers |
| 93 | Doreen Carter | Democratic | 2015 | Lithonia |
| 94 | Karen Bennett | Democratic | 2013 | Stone Mountain |
| 95 | Dar'shun Kendrick | Democratic | 2023 | Lithonia |
| 96 | Pedro Marin | Democratic | 2003 | Duluth |
| 97 | Ruwa Romman | Democratic | 2023 | Duluth |
| 98 | Marvin Lim | Democratic | 2021 | Norcross |
| 99 | Matt Reeves | Republican | 2023 | Duluth |
| 100 | David Clark | Republican | 2015 | Sugar Hill |
| 101 | Gregg Kennard | Democratic | 2017 | Lawrenceville |
| 102 | Gabe Okoye | Democratic | 2017 | Lawrenceville |
| 103 | Soo Hong | Republican | 2023 | Lawrenceville |
| 104 | Chuck Efstration | Republican | 2013 | Auburn |
| 105 | Farooq Mughal | Democratic | 2023 | Dacula |
| 106 | Shelly Hutchinson | Democratic | 2019 | Snellville |
| 107 | Sam Park | Democratic | 2023 | Lawrenceville |
| 108 | Jasmine Clark | Democratic | 2019 | Lilburn |
| 109 | Dewey McClain | Democratic | 2023 | Lawrenceville |
| 110 | Segun Adeyina | Democratic | 2023 | Grayson |
| 111 | Reynaldo Martinez | Republican | 2023 | Loganville |
| 112 | Bruce Williamson | Republican | 2023 | Monroe |
| 113 | Sharon Henderson | Democratic | 2021 | Covington |
| 114 | Tim Fleming | Republican | 2023 | Covington |
| 115 | Regina Lewis-Ward | Democratic | 2023 | McDonough |
| 116 | El-Mahdi Holly | Democratic | 2023 | Stockbridge |
| 117 | Lauren Daniel | Republican | 2023 | Locust Grove |
| 118 | Clint Crowe | Republican | 2023 | Jackson |
| 119 | Holt Persinger | Republican | 2023 | Winder |
| 120 | Houston Gaines | Republican | 2019 | Athens |
| 121 | Marcus Wiedower | Republican | 2019 | Watkinsville |
| 122 | Spencer Frye | Democratic | 2023 | Athens |
| 123 | Rob Leverett | Republican | 2023 | Elberton |
| 124 | Trey Rhodes | Republican | 2015 | Greensboro |
| 125 | Barry Fleming | Republican | 2013 | Harlem |
| 126 | Gloria Frazier | Democratic | 2007 | Hephzibah |
| 127 | Mark Newton | Republican | 2023 | Augusta |
| 128 | Mack Jackson | Democratic | 2009 | Sandersville |
| 129 | Karlton Howard | Democratic | 2023 | Augusta |
| 130 | Lynn Gladney | Democratic | 2023 | Augusta |
| 131 | Jodi Lott | Republican | 2023 | Evans |
| 132 | Brian Prince | Democratic | 2023 | Augusta |
| 133 | Kenneth Vance | Republican | 2023 | Milledgeville |
| 134 | David Knight | Republican | 2005 | Griffin |
| 135 | Beth Camp | Republican | 2021 | Concord |
| 136 | David Jenkins | Republican | 2021 | Grantville |
| 137 | Debbie Buckner | Democratic | 2003 | Junction City |
| 138 | Vance Smith | Republican | 2019 | Hamilton |
| 139 | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant |
| 140 | Tremaine Teddy Reese | Democratic | 2023 | Columbus |
| 141 | Carolyn Hugley | Democratic | 1993 | Columbus |
| 142 | Miriam Paris | Democratic | 2017 | Macon |
| 143 | James Beverly | Democratic | 2011 | Macon |
| 144 | Dale Washburn | Republican | 2019 | Macon |
| 145 | Robert Dickey | Republican | 2011 | Musella |
| 146 | Shaw Blackmon | Republican | 2015 | Kathleen |
| 147 | Bethany Ballard | Republican | 2023 | Warner Robins |
| 148 | Noel Williams Jr. | Republican | 2019 | Cordele |
| 149 | Danny Mathis | Republican | 2011 | Cochran |
| 150 | Patty Bentley | Democratic | 2013 | Butler |
| 151 | Mike Cheokas | Republican | 2023 | Americus |
| 152 | Bill Yearta | Republican | 2019 | Sylvester |
| 153 | David Sampson | Democratic | 2023 | Albany |
| 154 | Gerald Greene | Republican | 2023 | Cuthbert |
| 155 | Matt Hatchett | Republican | 2023 | Dublin |
| 156 | Leesa Hagan | Republican | 2021 | Lyons |
| 157 | Bill Werkheiser | Republican | 2015 | Glennville |
| 158 | Butch Parrish | Republican | 1985 | Swainsboro |
| 159 | Jon G. Burns | Republican | 2005 | Newington |
| 160 | Lehman Franklin | Republican | 2023 | Statesboro |
| 161 | Bill Hitchens | Republican | 2013 | Rincon |
| 162 | Carl Gilliard | Democratic | 2016 | Garden City |
| 163 | Anne Allen Westbrook | Democratic | 2023 | Savannah |
| 164 | Ron Stephens | Republican | 1997 | Richmond Hill |
| 165 | Edna Jackson | Democratic | 2021 | Savannah |
| 166 | Jesse Petrea | Republican | 2015 | Savannah |
| 167 | Buddy DeLoach | Republican | 2021 | Townsend |
| 168 | Al Williams | Democratic | 2003 | Midway |
| 169 | Clay Pirkle | Republican | 2023 | Ashburn |
| 170 | Penny Houston | Republican | 1997 | Nashville |
| 171 | Joe Campbell | Republican | 2020 | Camilla |
| 172 | Charles Cannon | Republican | 2023 | Moultrie |
| 173 | Darlene Taylor | Republican | 2011 | Thomasville |
| 174 | John Corbett | Republican | 2015 | Lake Park |
| 175 | John LaHood | Republican | 2018 | Valdosta |
| 176 | James Burchett | Republican | 2019 | Millwood |
| 177 | Dexter Sharper | Democratic | 2013 | Valdosta |
| 178 | Steven Meeks | Republican | 2019 | Screven |
| 179 | Rick Townsend | Republican | 2023 | St. Simons |
| 180 | Steven Sainz | Republican | 2019 | Woodbine |