The Holland Report - 2023, Week 1

Sara Fuchs

Welcome back! On Monday, January 9th, I had the privilege to be sworn in for the third time as the State Representative for House District 54. I am so proud and humbled to continue this work, not only on behalf of my constituents, but also on behalf of everyone in the state of Georgia.

Unlike the ongoing strife in Washington, DC, we experienced a delightful transition of power and election of leadership in the Georgia House. Our first order of business was to elect our new Speaker, the first in 12 years after the sudden passing of Speaker David Ralston this fall. The Republicans nominated Rep. Jon Burns of Effingham, and Democrat Minority Leader James Beverly moved that we elect Burns by acclamation - meaning, we didn't need a roll call vote, as the House agreed unanimously to support the new Speaker.

This was followed by another vote of acclamation to elect Rep. Jan Jones as Speaker Pro-Tem. Jones made history last year when, as Speaker Pro-Tem, she ascended to the role of Speaker upon the death of Speaker Ralston. She was the first woman in the history of the state to serve as Speaker of the House. We also elected a Clerk and a Messenger of the House - those are roles for non-elected officials, and are perhaps the staffers who do the most to keep the chamber running smoothly!

Go Dawgs! The legislature didn't meet on Tuesday as many law-makers spent Monday evening in Los Angeles cheering on the repeat National College Football Champions.

On Day 2 of the session, the House voted on Rules. There were several updates to the all-important red Rules book, some good (the House Page Program will be back!) and some worrisome. Among the changes that cause concern are a prohibition on video recording in committee rooms, a move that reduces the amount of time required between when a bill is introduced and when it's heard in committee, a shorter window of time required to keep voting machines open for each vote, and new shields of privilege for legislators' conversations with third parties. I voted no on the Rules based on concerns about some of the changes. The Rules passed with a narrow margin of just 94 votes.

Next week, the House and Senate will not be in session, because Joint Budget hearings are scheduled all week. This is the opportunity for state agencies to publicly ask for funding and for the Appropriations committees to build the state budget. A bit of trivia - the ONLY action the legislature is required to take each year is to pass a balanced budget before July 1st.

New year brings new meetings! Every year, I'm committed to setting up times to meet with constituents to deliver updates, answer questions and hear concerns. For the past two years, those meetings have been entirely virtual, usually on Sunday afternoons. With schedules changing and people's willingness to meet in person changing, I want to hear from you.

Would you like to meet with me during the session? Do you prefer weekday opportunities or weekends? Is Zoom the best way to meet or would you rather come to the Capitol or meet at a location in the district? I want to hear from you! If you can, take a few minutes to fill out this survey and let us know how we can best connect.

If you haven’t already, please browse my website, betsyforgeorgia.com.

As your Representative, your concerns are important to me. Please contact me at betsy.holland@house.ga.gov or 404-656-0116 with questions, concerns, or solutions you may have regarding legislation or other happenings in District 54.

To stay updated, follow me on Twitter and Facebook, and follow the Georgia House of Representatives @GAHouseHub on Twitter. Additionally, in-depth information regarding current bills, Georgia's annual and supplemental budgets, committee meetings, and livestreams from the General Assembly can be accessed via www.legis.ga.gov.

I encourage you and your family to visit our State Capitol and my office, where all constituents are welcome. I look forward to connecting with you!

My office is located at:
18 Capitol Square, SW
409-B, Coverdell Legislative Office Building
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.