148th Georgia General Assembly

148th Georgia General Assembly
147th 149th

Great Seal of the State of Georgia

Legislative body Georgia General Assembly
Meeting place Georgia State Capitol
Senate
Members 56
President of the Senate Mark Taylor (D)
Party control Republican Party
House of Representatives
Members 180
Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson (R)
Party control Republican Party

Overview

The 2005 regular session of the 148th Georgia General Assembly met from January 10, 2005, to March 31, 2005, at which time both houses adjourned sine die. In addition, Governor Sonny Perdue called for a special session, which met from September 6, 2005, to September 10, 2005.

The 2006 regular session of the 148th General Assembly met from January 9, 2006, to March 30, 2006, at which time both houses adjourned sine die.

Party standings

Senate

Affiliation Members
  Republican Party 34
  Democratic Party 22
  Other party* 0
  Seat vacant** 0
 Total 56

House of Representatives

Affiliation Members
  Republican Party 99
  Democratic Party 80
  Other party* 1
  Seat vacant** 0
 Total 180

*Active political parties in Georgia are not limited to the Democratic and Republican parties. Libertarians, Greens, the Southern Party of Georgia, and others, run candidates in numerous elections. However, for the 2005-06 session of the General Assembly, only one legislator was not from the two major parties, and he did not run as a member of any other party.

Officers

Senate

Presiding Officer

Position Name Party District
  President Mark Taylor Democrat n/a
  President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson Republican 1

Majority leadership

Position Name District
  Senate Majority Leader Bill Stephens 27
  Majority Caucus Chairman Don Balfour 9
  Majority Whip Mitch Seabaugh 28

Minority leadership

Position Name District
  Senate Minority Leader Robert Brown 26
  Minority Caucus Chairman Tim Golden 8
  Minority Whip David Adelman 42
  Minority Whip Gloria Butler 55

House of Representatives

Presiding Officer

Position Name Party District
  Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson Republican 19
  Speaker Pro Tempore Mark Burkhalter Republican 50
  Speaker Emeritus Terry Coleman Democrat 144

Majority leadership

Position Name District
  House Majority Leader Jerry Keen 179
  Majority Caucus Chairman Sharon Cooper 41
  Majority Caucus Vice Chairman Jay Roberts 154
  Majority Caucus Secretary Sue Burmeister 119
  Majority Whip Barry A. Fleming 117

Minority leadership

Position Name District
  House Minority Leader DuBose Porter 143
  Minority Caucus Chairman Calvin Smyre 132
  Minority Caucus Vice Chairman Nan Grogan Orrock 58
  Minority Caucus Secretary Nikki T. Randall 138
  Minority Whip Carolyn Fleming Hugley 133

Members of the Georgia State Senate, 2005-2006

District Senator Party Residence
1 Eric Johnson Republican Savannah
2 Regina Thomas Democratic Savannah
3 Jeff Chapman Republican Brunswick
4 Jack Hill Republican Reidsville
5 Curt Thompson Democratic Norcross
6 Doug Stoner Democratic Smyrna
7 Greg Goggans Republican Douglas
8 Tim Golden Democratic Valdosta
9 Don Balfour Republican Snellville
10 Emanuel D. Jones Democratic Decatur
11 John Bulloch Republican Ochlocknee
12 Michael S. Meyer von Bremen Democratic Albany
13 Joseph I. Carter Republican Tifton
14 George Hooks Democratic Americus
15 Ed Harbison Democratic Columbus
16 Ronnie Chance Republican Tyrone
17 John Douglas Republican Covington
18 Cecil Staton Republican Macon
19 Tommie Williams Republican Lyons
20 Ross Tolleson Republican Perry
21 Chip Rogers Republican Woodstock
22 Ed Tarver Democratic Augusta
23 J.B. Powell Democratic Blythe
24 James L. Whitehead Republican Evans
25 Johnny Grant Republican Milledgeville
26 Robert Brown Democratic Macon
27 Bill Stephens Republican Canton
28 Mitch Seabaugh Republican Sharpsburg
29 Seth Harp Republican Midland
30 Bill Hamrick Republican Carrollton
31 Bill Heath Republican Bremen
32 Judson H. Hill Republican Marietta
33 Steve Thompson Democratic Marietta
34 Valencia Seay Democratic Riverdale
35 Kasim Reed Democratic Atlanta
36 Sam Zamarripa Democratic Atlanta
37 John J. Wiles Republican Marietta
38 Horacena Tate Democratic Atlanta
39 Vincent D. Fort Democratic Atlanta
40 Daniel J. Weber Republican Dunwoody
41 Steve Henson Democratic Tucker
42 David Adelman Democratic Decatur
43 Steen Miles Democratic Decatur
44 Terrell Starr Democratic Jonesboro
45 Renee S. Unterman Republican Buford
46 Brian P. Kemp Republican Athens
47 Ralph T. Hudgens Republican Comer
48 David J. Shafer Republican Duluth
49 Casey Cagle Republican Chestnut Mountain
50 Nancy Schaefer Republican Turnerville
51 Chip Pearson Republican Dawsonville
52 Preston W. Smith Republican Rome
53 Jeff E. Mullis Republican Chickamauga
54 Don R. Thomas Republican Dalton
55 Gloria Butler Democratic Stone Mountain
56 Dan Moody Republican Alpharetta

Members of the Georgia State House of Representatives, 2005-2006

District Representative Party Residence
1 Jay Neal Republican LaFayette
2 Martin Scott Republican Rossville
3 Ronald L. Forster Republican Ringgold
4 Roger Williams Republican Dalton
5 John D. Meadows, III Republican Calhoun
6 Tom Dickson Republican Cohutta
7 David Ralston Republican Blue Ridge
8 Charles F. Jenkins Democratic Blairsville
9 Amos Amerson Republican Dahlonega
10 Benjamin D. Bridges, Sr. Republican Cleveland
11 Barbara Massey Reece Democratic Menlo
12 Tom Graves Republican Ranger
13 Paul E. Smith Democratic Rome
14 Barry Dean Loudermilk Republican Cassville
15 Jeff Lewis Republican White
16 Bill Cummings Democratic Rockmart
17 Howard R. Maxwell Republican Dallas
18 Mark Butler Republican Carrollton
19 Glenn Richardson Republican Hiram
20 Charlice H. Byrd Republican Woodstock
21 Calvin Hill Republican Canton
22 Chuck Scheid Republican Woodstock
23 Jack Murphy Republican Cumming
24 Tom Knox Republican Suwanee
25 James Mills Republican Gainesville
26 Carl Rogers Republican Gainesville
27 Stacey G. Reece Republican Gainesville
28 Jeanette Jamieson Democratic Toccoa
29 Alan Powell Democratic Hartwell
30 Tom McCall Republican Elberton
31 Tommy Benton Republican Jefferson
32 Judy Manning Republican Marietta
33 Don Wix Democratic Austell
34 Rich Golick Republican Smyrna
35 Ed Setzler Republican Acworth
36 Earl Ehrhart Republican Powder Springs
37 Terry Johnson Democratic Marietta
38 Steve Tumlin Republican Marietta
39 Alisha Thomas Morgan Democratic Austell
40 Rob Teilhet Democratic Smyrna
41 Sharon Cooper Republican Marietta
42 Don Parsons Republican Marietta
43 Bobby Franklin Republican Marietta
44 Sheila Jones Democratic Atlanta
45 Matt Dollar Republican Marietta
46 Jan Jones Republican Milton
47 Chuck Martin Republican Alphretta
48 Harry Geisinger Republican Roswell
49 Wendell Willard Republican Sandy Springs
50 Mark Burkhalter Republican Johns Creek
51 Tom Rice Republican Norcross
52 Joe Wilkinson Republican Atlanta
53 LaNett Stanley-Turner Democratic Atlanta
54 Edward Lindsey Republican Atlanta
55 "Able" Mable Thomas Democratic Atlanta
56 Kathy Ashe Democratic Atlanta
57 Pat Gardner Democratic Atlanta
58 Nan Grogan Orrock Democratic Atlanta
59 Douglas C. Dean Democratic Atlanta
60 Georganna T. Sinkfiel Democratic Atlanta
61 Robert A. "Bob" Holmes Democratic East Point
62 Joe Heckstall Democratic East Point
63 Tyrone L. Brooks, Sr. Democratic Atlanta
64 Roger B. Bruce Democratic Atlanta
65 Sharon Beasley-Teague Democratic Red Oak
66 Virgil Fludd Democratic Tyrone
67 Bill Hembree Republican Winston
68 Tim Bearden Republican Villa Rica
69 Jeff Brown Republican LaGrange
70 Lynn Ratigan Smith Republican Newnan
71 Billy Horne Republican Sharpsburg
72 Dan Lakly Republican Peachtree City
73 John P. Yates Republican Griffin
74 Roberta Abdul-Salaam Democratic Riverdale
75 Ron Dodson Independent Lake City
76 Gail M. Buckner Democratic Jonesboro
77 Darryl Jordan Democratic Riverdale
78 Mike Barnes Democratic Duluth
79 Fran Millar Republican Atlanta
80 Mike Jacobs Democratic Brookhaven
81 Jill Chambers Republican Atlanta
82 Paul Jennings Republican Atlanta
83 Mary Margaret Oliver Democratic Decatur
84 JoAnn McClinton Democratic Atlanta
85 Stephanie Stuckey Benfield Democratic Atlanta
86 Karla Drenner Democratic Avondale Estates
87 Michele D. Henson Democratic Stone Mountain
88 Billy Mitchell Democratic Stone Mountain
89 Earnest "Coach" Williams Democratic Avondale Estates
90 Howard Mosby Democratic Atlanta
91 Stan Watson Democratic Decatur
92 Pam Stephenson Democratic Atlanta
93 Walter Ronnie Sailor, Jr. Democratic Lithonia
94 Randal Mangham Democratic Lithonia
95 Robert F. Mumford Republican Loganville
96 Pedro Rafael Marin Democratic Duluth
97 Brooks P. Coleman, Jr. Republican Duluth
98 Bobby Clifford Reese Republican Buford
99 Hugh Floyd Democratic Norcross
100 Brian W. Thomas Democratic Lilburn
101 Mike Coan Republican Lawrenceville
102 Clay Cox Republican Lilburn
103 David S. Casas Republican Lilburn
104 John Wilson Heard Republican Lawrenceville
105 Donna Sheldon Republican Dacula
106 Melvin Everson Republican Snellville
107 Len Walker Republican Loganville
108 Terry Lamar England Republican Auburn
109 Steve Davis Republican McDonough
110 John Lunsford Republican McDonough
111 Jeff May Republican Monroe
112 Doug Holt Republican Social Circle
113 Bob Smith Republican Watkinsville
114 Keith Heard Democratic Athens
115 Jane Kidd Democratic Athens
116 Mickey Channell Republican Greensboro
117 Barry A. Fleming Republican Harlem
118 Ben L. Harbin Republican Evans
119 Sue Burmeister Republican Augusta
120 Quincy Murphy Democratic Augusta
121 Henry Howard Democratic Augusta
Earnestine Howard Democratic Augusta
122 Pete Warren Democratic Augusta
123 Alberta Jacqueline Anderson Democratic Waynesboro
124 Sistie Hudson Democratic Sparta
125 Jim Cole Republican Monticello
126 David Knight Republican Griffin
127 Mack Crawford Republican Concord
128 Carl Von Epps Democratic LaGrange
129 Vance Smith, Jr. Republican Columbus
130 Debbie Buckner Democratic Junction City
131 Richard H. Smith Republican Columbus
132 Calvin Smyre Democratic Columbus
133 Carolyn Fleming Hugley Democratic Columbus
134 Mike Cheokas Democratic Americus
135 Lynmore James Democratic Montezuma
136 Robert Ray Democratic Fort Valley
137 David B. Graves Republican Macon
138 Nikki T. Randall Democratic Macon
139 David E. Lucas, Sr. Democratic Macon
140 Allen G. Freeman Republican Macon
141 Bobby Eugene Parham Democratic Milledgeville
142 Jimmy Lord Democratic Sandersville
143 DuBose Porter Democratic Dublin
144 Terry Coleman Democratic Eastman
145 Willie Lee Talton Republican Warner Robins
146 Larry O'Neal Republican Bonaire
147 Johnny Floyd Republican Cordele
148 Bob Hanner Democratic Parrott
149 Gerald E. Greene Democratic Cuthbert
150 Winfred J. Dukes Democratic Albany
151 Freddie Powell Sims Democratic Dawson
152 Ed Rynders Republican Albany
153 Austin Scott Republican Tifton
154 Jay Roberts Republican Ocilla
155 Greg Morris Republican Vidalia
156 Larry "Butch" Parrish Republican Swainsboro
157 Jon G. Burns Republican Newington
158 Bob Lane Republican Brooklet
159 Buddy Carter Republican Pooler
160 Bob Bryant Democratic Garden City
161 Lester Jackson Democratic Savannah
162 Tom Bordeaux Democratic Savannah
163 Burke Day Republican Savannah
164 Ron Stephens Republican Savannah
165 Al Williams Democratic Midway
166 Terry E. Barnard Republican Glennville
167 Roger Bert Lane Republican Darien
168 Tommy Smith Republican Nicholls
169 Chuck Sims Republican Ambrose
170 Penny Houston Republican Nashville
171 A. Richard Royal Democratic Camilla
172 Gene Maddox Republican Cairo
173 Mike Keown Republican Thomasville
174 Ellis Black Democratic Valdosta
175 Ron Borders Democratic Valdosta
176 Jay Shaw Democratic Lakeland
177 Mark Hatfield Republican Waycross
178 George "Hinson" Mosley Republican Jesup
179 Jerry Keen Republican Brunswick
180 Cecily A. Hill Republican Woodbine

Notable Legislation

2005 general session

Voting

House Bill 244 requires voters to provide photographic identification at polling locations in order to vote and makes voting by absentee ballot easier. Amid great controversy, the law was signed by Governor Perdue on April 22, 2005. Although the law received preclearance from the Department of Justice under the provisions of the Voting Rights Act, the law was later ruled unconstitutional by a court in Rome, Georgia. The current status of the law remains uncertain.

2006 general session

Voting

Senate Bill 84, like H.B. 244, requires photographic identification at poll locations to vote. To address some of the concerns raised by the court ruling against H.B. 244, S.B. 84 has more extensive provisions for assisting those without photographic identification to obtain acceptable identification. The bill was passed by both chambers and signed by Governor Perdue on January 26, 2006. Like H.B. 244, S.B. 84 received preclearance from the Justice Department, although it is currently being challenged in court.

Eminent domain

House Bill 1313 , which would restrict the uses for which private property can be taken via eminent domain, passed both the House and the Senate with no "no" votes. The bill is expected to be signed by Governor Perdue.

House Resolution 1306 would amend the state constitution by replacing language allowing broad freedom to apply eminent domain with more restrictive language providing for additional restrictions as specified by laws such as H.B. 1313. The resolution passed the House and the Senate and was signed by Governor Perdue, and the question of its final adoption will be put to Georgia voters in the November election.

Immigration

Senate Bill 529 was strongly advocated by Senator Chip Rodgers and requires beneficiaries of many state services to provide proof of residency. Most Democrats voted against the legislation, but it nevertheless passed the House and Senate and was signed into law by Governor Perdue on April 17, 2006.

References