Our first order of business Monday was to elect our leaders. Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) and Speaker Pro-Tempore Jan Jones (R-Milton) were both re-elected to their respective positions.

Later in the week, Speaker Ralston and the Committee on Assignments announced appointments for the 2017-2018 Sessions. I am pleased to share with you that I have retained my committee positions including Vice Chair of Rules, Regulated Industries, and Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight. I will also continue to serve on the Transportation and Ways and Means Committees where I currently Chair Subcommittees.

House Committees listed here.

Governor Deal provided a joint session of the House and Senate as well as members of our Judiciary the State of the State address on Wednesday.

• State Reserve Fund (Rainy Day Fund) in excess of $2 billion
• More than 575,000 new private sector jobs created over the past several years
• Georgia named the No. 1 state for business four years in a row
• A 20% pay raise for law enforcement
• FY 2018 Budget proposal including numerous other enhancements. Budget here.

Budget Documents

I am so proud of my Gwinnett colleagues at the state Capitol. This week, Governor Deal chose Representative Chuck Efstration of Dacula and Senator P.K. Martin of Lawrenceville to serve as Administration Floor Leaders. This is a great honor and position of influence between the Governor’s office and Legislative branch. Congrats to you both!

In the House, Gwinnett’s Brooks Coleman Chairs the Education Committee and Buzz Brockway was just named Chair of the Code Revision Committee.

2017 House Committee Assignments