Senator Albers: Weeks Five and Six Under the Gold Dome
Friday, February 21, 2025
With Legislative Day 20 behind us, we have officially reached the halfway mark of the 2025 Legislative Session.
A major topic this legislative session has been tort reform. Finding solutions that lowers burdens on small businesses, healthcare providers, and consumers is a priority for me and will take numerous steps to combat. Specifically, all Georgians need to lower insurance costs, prevent abusive litigation and ensure that businesses—especially small, family-owned operations—can operate and flourish. Equally, we need to assure insurance companies and other groups are being honest brokers and not taking advantage of consumers. Together, I am confident we can solve this issue and continue to keep Georgia the #1 place for business as well as live and raise a family.
Senate Republicans have continued to lead the fight for policies that protect Georgia families and uphold the rule of law. Two key bills, both sponsored by Sen. Blake Tillery (R–Vidalia), passed the Senate last week and are now moving to the House for consideration:
- SB 21 ensures local government officials can be held accountable if they violate Georgia’s ban on sanctuary city policies. This is a necessary step to keep our communities safe and enforce immigration laws at the state level.
- SB 39 prevents taxpayer dollars from funding sex change procedures through the state health benefit plan and prohibits state-associated healthcare facilities from offering such services. Our tax dollars should not be used to push radical policies.
Over the last two weeks, two bills I have authored to benefit organ donation also passed the Senate. Last week, the Senate unanimously passed my bill, SB 84, to establish a specialty license plate benefitting the Shepherd Center and the Georgia Transplant Foundation. The Shepherd Center is among the nation’s top rehabilitation hospitals, particularly for neuromuscular conditions, while the Georgia Transplant Foundation plays a vital role in rebuilding lives by educating and financially assisting organ recipients and donors. Purchasing license plates for these organizations is a small way to support them in their honorable mission. Similarly, SB 58, otherwise known as the “Georgia Transporting Life-Saving Organs and Personnel Act,” was also passed unanimously by the Senate this week. This legislation would classify emergency organ transport vehicles as ambulance services to hasten the transport of organs and medical personnel. I look forward to their favorable recommendation from the House as well.
In addition to these major policy advancements, my legislative efforts this week focused on data privacy. I sponsored SB 111, also known as the “Georgia Consumer Privacy Protection Act,” to protect the confidentiality of Georgians’ data and bring our security parameters in line with 20 other states nationwide. The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism referred SB 111 to the Senate Committee on Rules earlier this week, and I hope to see it on the floor in the coming weeks.
As always, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the 56th Senate District. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions, concerns, or ideas. Your input helps shape the policies that impact our state, and I value your voice in this process.
Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 56th Senate District, which includes portions of Cherokee, Cobb and Fulton County. He may be reached at his office at 404.463.8055 or by email at [email protected].