Sen. Billy Hickman

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally recognizes and commends Pastor Dr. Brad Whitt for his 30 years of pastoral service and leadership. The bill honors his work leading congregations in Tennessee, Ohio, and South Carolina, including his current role at Abilene Baptist Church, where he has helped grow the church and establish community programs. It also acknowledges his service as president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention's Pastors' Conference and his authorship of three books on faith. The resolution directs the Senate Secretary to provide a copy of the document to Pastor Whitt.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 697) honors Jason Colbert, a nursing student at Southeastern Technical College, for winning Georgia's 2025 Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL). It commends him for his academic achievement and leadership, recognizing his role as an ambassador for technical education representing over 149,000 TCSG students. The resolution formally invites him to address the Georgia Senate but contains no binding policy changes or legal requirements. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not affect laws, regulations, or any individual's rights.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial resolution (SR 698) recognizes Dr. Ekaterina Mirzakulova, a chemistry instructor at Central Georgia Technical College, for winning the Technical College System of Georgia's 2025 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction. It commends her as the system's "Instructor of the Year" for her innovative teaching and leadership in technical education. The resolution invites Dr. Mirzakulova to appear before the Georgia Senate and directs the Senate Secretary to provide her with a copy of the resolution. It does not create new policies or affect any laws or regulations.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to government transparency and campaign finance, so as to provide for transparency in foreign funded political activities within the state; to require agents of hostile foreign principals and foreign supported political organizations to register with the State Ethics Commission; to provide for registration requirements; to provide for definitions; to provide legislative findings; to provide for civil penalties; to authorize the Attorney General to bring civil actions or criminal investigations for violations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commendation resolution that honors the Georgia District Exchange Clubs on their 100th anniversary. It recognizes the organization's century-long work in promoting Americanism, youth development, community service, and child abuse prevention across Georgia. The resolution directs the Senate Secretary to provide copies of the document to the Exchange Clubs as a formal acknowledgment of their contributions. This measure does not change laws or policies but serves as an official expression of appreciation from the state legislature.

A RESOLUTION commending and recognizing Dr. Ryan Dyer of North Paulding High School for his outstanding achievements in and his contribution to athletics in the state of Georgia; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally recognizes the 25th anniversary of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but instead serves as a commemorative acknowledgment of the district's conservation achievements over the past quarter-century. The resolution highlights the district's success in reducing water consumption, implementing efficiency programs, and improving watershed health through various initiatives. It authorizes the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the district for distribution purposes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution creates a Georgia Senate study committee to examine adoption affordability and permanency systems. The committee will study cost drivers (like home studies and fees), regulatory barriers, financial incentives (such as tax credits), and access challenges - especially for middle-income families and children with special needs. It does not make new laws but will evaluate Georgia's current adoption framework across state laws and agency practices. The committee, composed of five Senate members, will report findings by December 2026 to inform potential future policy changes. This affects prospective adoptive families, child welfare agencies, and children in foster care seeking permanent placements.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, exemptions, and credits relative to income taxes, so as to disqualify business enterprises that hire illegal aliens for large-scale projects from claiming certain tax credits associated with such projects; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5A of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Office of State Treasurer, so as to provide for gold and silver specie as legal tender; to provide for a bullion depository; to provide for an electronic payment system; to provide for guidelines, rules and regulations; to provide for insured deposits; to prohibit social credit scoring systems; to provide for annual reports; to prohibit taxation of transactions involving gold and silver specie and legal tender; to provide for an implementation date; to provide for construction; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.