Things are moving quickly here at the Capitol. We are already finished with our fifth week and legislation has been voted on in the Senate and passed to the House of Representatives for consideration. It is inspiring to see bipartisan agreement on policies that will surely improve the lives of Georgians in every corner of the state.

This week alone we unanimously passed four bills in the Senate. On Monday, we passed Senate Bill 16 which would enter Georgia into the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, allowing doctors with clean disciplinary records to be eligible for an expedited licensing process to practice medicine in Georgia. This is crucial to addressing our impending doctor shortage and keeping Georgians healthy. On Wednesday, we passed Senate Bill 38 which revises existing regulation regarding the filing of court documents, and on Thursday we passed Senate Bill 52 which would update the grammar and terminology in the Official Code of Georgia. Additionally, on Thursday, we passed Senate Bill 6 which would apply criminal charges to the act of using a drone to transport or drop contraband or take photos and video over jails or prisons. This will help protect both incarcerated men and women, as well as everyone who works inside these facilities. Bipartisan efforts to support legislation that benefits everyone is encouraging, and I am proud that the Senate is leading the way in this meaningful work. 

I want to thank everybody that visited us in the Capitol this week, from religious officials to schoolchildren. I’d especially like to thank all of the senators that participated and dressed in their brightest red on Wear Red Day at the Capitol. This day is critical in bringing attention to the fact that cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of women in the United States. Go Red for Women was created to encourage women to stay healthy and learn their family's medical history. I want to inspire women across Georgia to visit their health care provider regularly and be aware of your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

I am proud of the work we have already achieved and look forward to seeing what our strong, bipartisan efforts will achieve. We will now hear more Senate bills and hope that the House looks favorably upon our passed legislation. As things progress, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone or email if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your continued trust in me, it is a true pleasure to serve the 43rd district.

Senator Tonya Anderson represents the 43rd Senate District, which includes portions of DeKalb, Newton and Rockdale counties. She may be reached by email at tonya.anderson@senate.ga.gov.