Fall is upon us, and I hope you and your family are enjoying the cooler weather and everything this time of year brings to our communities. With festivals, football games, and other local events underway, there is plenty to look forward to across our district.
It is also a good time to pay attention to what is happening in your local government, particularly when it comes to taxes. Local governments make important decisions that directly affect what families pay…
Do you remember how you felt on September 11th, and the days after?
Did you thank a police officer or give blood?
Did you have a tear in your eye when you passed a fire station?
Did you talk to complete strangers or give grace and forgiveness to those you previously denied it?
Did you rethink your priorities or just hug your family and say I love you more often?
Did you proudly display the American flag?
Each of us was affected in different ways. Myself and my fellow First Responders all over the country went on high alert to protect the homeland. Today, we still stand ready and answer the call. September 11th, also known as Patriot Day, is to remember and support our Police, Firefighters, EMS & 911 dispatchers.
September 11, 2001, 2,977 people died – of the fallen were 343 firefighters and 72 police officers. Their actions and sacrifices saved thousands of our families and friends.
We Will Never Forget!
May God bless you, our great state of Georgia, and the United States of America.
Georgia continues to thrive because of the hard work and resilience of our citizens. From growing businesses and strong communities to families building brighter futures, our state remains a place of opportunity. As we move into the fall, I remain focused on the priorities that matter most by supporting families, strengthening our economy, and ensuring Georgia stays the #1 place to live, work, and raise a family…
As a Georgia State Senator, Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety, former firefighter and EMT, and business executive, I have spent my career focused on protecting communities while upholding the trust that makes effective public safety possible. Recent reports of misuse of Flock Safety license plate reader cameras by several law enforcement officers across our state demand serious attention. The good news is that the problems have been identified, agencies and the company are responding, and we have an opportunity to get this right.
Automated license plate readers have proven to be valuable tools. They help locate stolen vehicles and identify suspects in serious crimes more quickly than traditional methods alone. In 2023, an active shooter in Midtown Atlanta was quickly apprehended in Cobb County using this technology before he could harm more people, and in 2025, Flock cameras helped locate more than 10,000 missing persons across the country. Georgia agencies have also used them to solve cases that might otherwise have gone cold.
We know what can happen when law and order break down. Georgians have no desire to return to the unrest and destruction we witnessed in 2020, when law enforcement was called to restore order under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Technology of this kind, properly governed, strengthens the thin blue line between order and chaos.
Yet technology is only as trustworthy as the people and systems that control it. Audits have revealed instances in which officers accessed Flock databases for personal reasons unrelated to any investigation, including checking on acquaintances or partners without a legitimate purpose. These actions violate existing state law prohibiting misuse of license plate data and, more importantly, erode public confidence. When a tool designed to protect the public is turned to private ends, trust suffers. That is unacceptable.
I am encouraged that law enforcement leaders themselves are confronting the issue. Many departments have conducted internal audits and terminated or charged those who violated policy and law. Flock Safety has also acted. The company recently announced it is changing its default data retention period from 30 days to seven days, requiring its Audit Assistance feature for all customers by the end of the year, adding proactive lockouts for abnormal activity, and giving agencies more granular control over data sharing. These steps are constructive and necessary, but Flock must do more to ensure their technology has increased safeguards in place.
Short-term fixes alone are not enough. That is why I have encouraged and am working alongside the Georgia Association of Sheriffs and the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police on a collaborative task force. Together, we are identifying immediate operational improvements, stronger internal controls, clearer training, tighter access protocols, and consistent auditing while preparing thoughtful long-term recommendations for the General Assembly when we return in January. Flock must continue strengthening its own technical and contractual safeguards so that they reinforce, rather than substitute for, sound law enforcement policies.
Georgia already has a statutory framework governing license plate reader data. Our task is to ensure that the framework has teeth, that oversight is routine rather than reactive, and that privacy protections keep pace with technological capability. We must preserve the legitimate investigative value of these systems while preventing abuse. Public safety and privacy are complementary responsibilities of good government, and responsible oversight of these cameras ensures we do not have to sacrifice one to achieve the other.
I have spent much of my life backing the men and women of law enforcement, and that commitment will never change. They deserve effective tools to protect themselves and the public, but backing the blue does not mean “writing a blank check” for government surveillance. Our founding fathers warned against surrendering essential liberty for temporary safety, and that principle remains relevant today. We do not have to choose between safe communities and individual liberty. As Benjamin Franklin famously warned, those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
I approach this work with the same practical mindset that guided me as a first responder and executive: identify the problem, bring the right people to the table, implement workable solutions, and measure results. Georgians deserve technology that helps keep them safe without compromising their reasonable expectations of privacy. By working constructively with sheriffs, chiefs, the company, and the public, we can achieve both. That is the standard I will pursue and uphold as the Senate Chairman of Public Safety and as an elected official of the people of Georgia.
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 counties. He may be reached by phone at (404) 463-8055 or by email at [email protected].
As August begins and students return to the classroom, I hope you and your family are enjoying a smooth transition into the new school year. Although the General Assembly has adjourned twice this year, August signals the beginning of legislative study committee season, when lawmakers take a closer look at important issues and begin laying the groundwork for future legislation…
The Georgia State Firefighters Association (GSFA) has named Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell) its 2026 Legislator of the Year. The designation recognizes his longstanding advocacy for Georgia’s fire service and his leadership in emergency preparedness and public safety.
“As a fourth-generation firefighter, this award carries special meaning for me,” said Sen. Albers. “Serving others has been a part of my family’s story for generations, and I have always believed we owe our firefighters the same unwavering commitment they show our state every day. It has been an honor to advocate for the men and women of Georgia’s fire service in the General Assembly and to work on legislation that helps them do their jobs safely. I am deeply grateful to the Georgia State Firefighters Association for this distinction and for everything its members do to protect Georgians.”
GSFA recognized Sen. Albers for championing legislation to modernize emergency communications through NextGen 911 and improve retirement benefits for firefighters. The association also highlighted his efforts to crack down on emerging public safety concerns, including signal jammers and the malicious use of artificial intelligence. In addition, GSFA celebrated his work as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety, where he has worked closely with firefighters and law enforcement to address the evolving needs of Georgia’s first responders and strengthen coordination among those who serve.
Chief Mike Byrd, President of the Georgia State Firefighters Association, further commended Sen. Albers, stating, “Sen. Albers has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the critical role firefighters play in protecting the lives and property of Georgia’s citizens. His leadership and dedication to enhancing fire protection, investing in public safety, and supporting the men and women of the fire service have made a lasting impact on communities throughout Georgia. We are honored to recognize him as our 2026 Legislator of the Year.”
You can find more information about GSFA here and the official GSFA release here.
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 counties. He may be reached by phone at (404) 463-8055 or by email at [email protected].
As summer continues across Georgia, I hope you and your family are enjoying a season filled with time together, community events, and well-earned opportunities to relax and recharge. While the regular and special legislative sessions have concluded under the Gold Dome, the work of serving our communities continues every day…
Today, Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell) released the following statement after the Senate failed to secure the two-thirds vote required to advance several local property tax measures to the November ballot:
“I know how hard Georgia families are working to make ends meet,” said Sen. Albers. “Yesterday, Senate Democrats chose to deny Georgians, including many of their own constituents, the right to vote on property tax relief. At a time when families are facing rising costs and homeownership is increasingly difficult to achieve, Georgians deserve the opportunity to vote on measures that could help keep the American Dream within reach.
These bills did not impose a new tax or automatically change anyone’s property taxes. They simply would have allowed local voters to consider whether to adopt a local option sales tax in exchange for reducing their property tax burden. Now, voters will not have the opportunity to decide the issue for themselves this November.
When I first came to the Senate, one lesson that stood out to me was that local legislation should be guided by the lawmakers who know their communities best. That longstanding tradition has served this institution well because it respects local control and the people we were elected to represent. Departing from that principle sets a precedent that could affect every member of this body, regardless of party.
While I believe this outcome does a disservice to hardworking Georgians, I remain committed to advancing policies that make Georgia more affordable and put taxpayers first. We should always be legislating for people over politics.”
# # # #
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].
The Georgia General Assembly adjourned Sine Die on April 2nd to complete the 2026 general legislative session. It was a very productive year! Listed below are some of the many important bills which await Governor Kemp for signature into law. Our work continues all year long and I will be hosting committee meetings, serving on study committees, meeting with constituents, speaking at events, and preparing for 2027!
