Ben Watson
State senator
The Georgia General Assembly has completed 28 days of the constitutionally limited 40-day session. This past Thursday we also completed “Crossover Day,” the day when all bills must pass their respective body to be considered by the other body. With 12 days remaining in the session, our attention will turn toward the Fiscal Year 2025-26 state budget.
We also took time to recognize one of Savannah’s leading citizens, Dr. Bill Wessinger, who recently passed away. Bill was a compassionate and generous man who will be remembered for his love of family, friendship, and community. He will be missed by all. I also congratulate Jay Burke, in following in his father’s footsteps, as he has been selected as the grand marshal of the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
With the FY2024-25 amended budget having been approved by the Georgia General Assembly, we also approved a $40.5 billion mid-year state budget that takes advantage of a huge surplus. The surplus is due to a very formidable business environment that Georgia has enjoyed, as well as the influx of good jobs.
The mid-year budget has a direct, significant impact on our community, with $501 million included for a regional surface water partnership between the City of Savannah, Effingham County, and Bryan County. Savannah is set to receive $146 million in state-directed funds, including a zero-percent loan financing package from GEFA to upgrade the Industrial & Domestic Surface Water Treatment Facility. It also includes critical water infrastructure improvements to support our growing city and region.
One of our top legislative priorities is school safety. The Senate passed three legislative measures to address school safety enhancements across the state of Georgia. Each of these bills, along with the $50 million appropriation for school safety grants, will build on school safety initiatives. The first bill, Senate Bill 17, is also referred to as “Ricky and Alyssa’s Law.” The bill would require all Georgia schools to install mobile panic alarm systems directly linked to emergency responders and state and local law enforcement.
The second bill, S.B. 61, would require that attempted homicides and/ or terroristic acts directed toward schools will be offenses for which juveniles will be tried as adults.
S.B. 179 also passed, requiring that a transferring student’s academic and disciplinary records be transferred to the new school’s administration within 10 days, and further requires that the parent or guardian be notified of the transfer within five days.
On Crossover Day we passed Senate Bill 1, the “Fair and Safe Athletic Opportunities Act,” which is based on legislative findings relating to the need to protect girls’ and women’s athletics and the work of the Senate Special Committee on the Protection of Women’s Sports. Under SB 1, middle schools, high schools, and colleges (including participating private schools) would be required to designate interscholastic sports teams as either male, female, or co-ed, based on the participant’s sex at birth. Males would not be allowed to participate in any interscholastic competition on any team that is designated as female. Any student will be allowed to participate on a male or co-ed team. The bill also requires separate restrooms and changing areas at athletic events and establishes a grievance procedure.
I will keep you updated on legislation affecting our community as we progress through the session. Thank you for your continued interest in the work of our General Assembly. As your public servant, feel free to visit me at the Capitol or to reach out by phone or email. I am in 325A Coverdell Legislative Office Building. My office number is (404) 656-7880 and my email is ben.watson@ senate.ga.gov. I look forward to continuing to serve you.