Speaker David Ralston Announces Major Mental Health Reform Legislation

Bipartisan House Bill 1013 Filed Today

ATLANTA – Today, Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) announced he has filed House Bill 1013, a comprehensive bill to reform Georgia’s mental health care delivery system and improve client outcomes. The bill is a bipartisan measure sponsored by Speaker Ralston and signed by members of leadership from both political parties including Majority Leader Jon Burns (R-Newington) and Minority Leader James Beverly (D-Macon).

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House Rural Development Council to Hold Meetings in Blue Ridge

ATLANTA – The House Rural Development Council, co-chaired by Education Chairman Rick Jasperse (R-Jasper) and Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government Chairman Sam Watson (R-Moultrie), will hold a series of meetings from Tuesday, December 7, – Thursday, December 9, 2021, at the Hampton Inn (conference room) in Blue Ridge.

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House Leadership Announces State House District Map Draft

Special Session on Redistricting Begins Wednesday

ATLANTA – Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge), Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee Chairman Bonnie Rich (R-Suwanee) and the House Leadership Team announce a draft map of the new State House Districts to be considered during the 2021 Special Session, which will begin tomorrow. The map may be found on the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office website (https://www.legis.ga.gov/joint-office/reapportionment) under the “Proposed Plans” section.

“Through an inclusive, exhaustive and transparent process, we have produced a fair and equitable map representative of Georgia’s changing demographics and shifting population centers that is in full compliance with the spirit and letter of the law,” said Speaker David Ralston. “We have a proven track record of integrity when it comes to redistricting. In 2011, our House Majority drew maps which were the first in Georgia history to be approved without changes by Obama-Holder Justice Department under Section 5 preclearance requirements. We are confident we will once again adopt a map which fulfills our Constitutional duty and strengthens our democracy.”

The public input in this process, which began in June, included 11 joint House-Senate committee hearings held both online and in cities around the state with 22 hours of public testimony. The General Assembly also received more than 700 public comments from interested citizens through an online portal.

Having considered the public input and stakeholder feedback, the draft map has a deviation of less than +/- 1.5 percent meaning that out of 180 districts representing 10.7 million Georgians, district sizes vary by less than 1,800 people ensuring equity among voters. This map also reduces the number of counties split between districts from 73 to 68 preserving communities of interest around the state. It creates a number of new minority opportunity districts and complies with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act.

The draft map will become part of legislation which will be introduced by Chairman Rich in the near future and will be assigned by Speaker Ralston to the Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee for consideration.

“I want to thank Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Chairman Bonnie Rich and the members of her committee for all the work they have put in thus far, and I look forward to constructive dialog as this bill goes through the legislative process,” said Speaker Ralston.

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House Majority Caucus Statement on Crisis in Afghanistan

ATLANTA – Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge), Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones (R-Milton), and the leadership of the House Majority Caucus release the following statement on the crisis in Afghanistan:

“The human tragedy we are watching unfold in Afghanistan is an abject failure by the Biden Administration. The world will not soon forget the horrific images seen on television these past few days. Innocent men, women and children who once saw Americans as liberators have now watched American diplomatic and military forces flee and leave them to Taliban terrorists.

“We call on the Biden Administration to do the right thing and show that America does not desert our allies. To do any less emboldens terrorists and encourages further aggression against our allies and oppressed peoples around the world.”

The House Majority Caucus Leadership team is comprised of Majority Leader Jon Burns (R-Newington), Majority Whip Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin), Majority Caucus Vice Chairman Micah Gravley (R-Douglasville), and Majority Caucus Secretary/Treasurer Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe).

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