Today is Legislative Day 7 out of 40. Last week we had Budget Hearings. We still haven’t voted on any bills, but I understand we may be voting on some on Friday.

We finished Day 5 of the Legislative Session on Friday, January 12, and Legislative Day 6 will be Monday, January 22nd. It seems like we were just there - which we were, only 4 weeks ago, for the Special Session on Redistricting. I will be attending Budget Hearings January 16th - 18th.

Today we return to the Capitol for Legislative Session - I will send out a legislative newsletter at the end of the week. And THANK YOU for the overwhelming positive response to my fundraising appeals for the May primary - I will send out a campaign update soon as well. But first... next Monday, January 15th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is a public holiday and an official day of service and celebrates the civil rights leader's life and legacy.

Monday, January 15th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is a public holiday and an official day of service and celebrates the civil rights leader's life and legacy. Several of you have helped me celebrate and serve our community on this day in past years. We will be marching in the Dekalb NAACP Parade in the morning and volunteering with DeKalb Habitat for Humanity in the afternoon.

David and I send our blessings from our family to yours. The five of us had a wonderful time this Thanksgiving visiting my older brother and his family, including a precious 20 month old great nephew, in Oaxaca, Mexico - which you can see evidence of in our photo!

The 2023 Redistricting Special Session, which was not so special for me, ended on Thursday, December 7, and Governor Kemp signed the three new maps, for State House, State Senate, and Congressional on December 8, 2023. Unfortunately, as I told you on Nov 28, Republicans made a deliberate choice to target me, along with several Democrats outside the areas the judge identified, pairing us with fellow Democrats.

DeKalb House Delegation Chair Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) and Vice Chair Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), along with members of the DeKalb County House Legislative Delegation, will hold a pre-session town hall meeting with state representatives on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

DeKalb House Delegation Chair Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) and Vice Chair Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), along with members of the DeKalb County House Legislative Delegation, will hold a pre-session town hall meeting with state representatives on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in Decatur.

We started a special session today at the General Assembly, to draw new voting maps. Normally, we don’t go back until the first week of January but in case you haven’t heard already, the United States District Court Judge Steve Jones ruled that Georgia’s 2021 Congressional and legislative maps violate Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, directing the legislature to produce new maps. Judge Jones ordered us to redraw the maps by Dec. 8.

This past year I have worked with Vedia Barnett of Ga Sierra Club, Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Patricia Ross, Rep Mike Cameron, and Grant Glinecki of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, to explore ways for Veterans and their families to find healing in nature. We are also working to remove barriers, like transportation and cost, for veterans that prevent them from experiencing the full benefits of time spent in nature.

Today, November 7 is Election Day! If you are like David and me, and haven't voted early yet, please make a plan to vote at your local precinct. Here is a link in case you need to look your precinct up…

You are invited to attend a Legislator Line Up on Tuesday, October 24. This event will be different from a town hall since there are 8 legislators from DeKalb County participating. We are excited to have noted local journalist Thomas Wheatley from Axios serving as moderator to guide the discussion.

I am honored to have been appointed by Speaker Jon Burns to the Georgia Literacy Council, which was created by Senate Bill 211.

We were privileged in the General Assembly just this past session to enact bi-partisan legislation recognizing the needs of Georgia’s veterans and their families. HB 414 creates a state grant program to provide mental health services to military members, veterans, and their families.

The Legislative Session ended two months ago, but the pace of work has kept me busy this month! And I have several June events I would love to bring to your attention.

We hope you will join us tomorrow night in Ellenwood! And if you cannot join us in person, you are welcome to join us virtually!

It has been four weeks since Sine Die, and it is time for me to get this newsletter to you! This marked my fifth year in our State House, and it is my honor and privilege to be working for you at the People's House. I have welcomed and felt your prayers for patience, humility and love and they have sustained me in this work. Thank you.

Please join me TONIGHT, SATURDAY, APRIL 22 from 5:30pm - 9pm for a FREE concert on the lawn in Emory Village 🎶 ALL Are Welcome! It's our COCA-COLA “CLEAN UP THE CREEK CONCERT”, part of the Druid Hills Spring Celebration!

We have had a chance to take a breath after the legislative session, and we would love to connect with you to tell you about our work under the Gold Dome! We will discuss laws that passed and will affect us all - as well as some of those which did not pass - and to answer your questions! Please join us in person at First Baptist Church of Decatur at 6:00pm next Thursday, April 20th, or sign up for the livestream.

Cross-Over Day, where a bill has to pass one chamber to become law, was last Monday, March 6, and we have five legislative days left until Sine Die on March 29. The House has passed 275 bills and the Senate passed 208. Which ones will make it to Sine Die and become law?

We are halfway through the session! This has been an intensive session for me, where I spent time researching and meeting with stakeholders, about several key topics and bills, playing both defense on bills of concern and offense trying to line up supporters I am working on.

Please join Senator Parent, Rep Oliver and me this Sunday evening for a legislative update! Glenn Memorial is offering optional dinner at 6:00pm – catering by City Barbeque who is doing a 20% fundraiser that day for Snack in a Backpack school feeding program as a part of the “SOUPer Bowl of Caring/Tackle Hunger” initiative.

I am excited to be back for my third term! I am thankful to be back at the Capitol, working for you! We have a new House Speaker, Jon Burns, and 44 new colleagues, with three more to come after Jan 30 elections - 47 new members out of 180. 24 New Democrats out of 79.

Next Monday, January 16, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is a public holiday and an official day of service and celebrates the civil rights leader's life and legacy. Several of you have helped me celebrate and serve our community on this day in the past, prior to the pandemic- Thank You.

Now that election season is thankfully finally behind us, I am getting out a short newsletter that is NOT about campaigning!

On this Veteran's Day, I want to thank all our DeKalb and Georgia Veterans for putting your life on hold to serve our country. Thank you for the sacrifices you made being away from your family.

It has been my honor and privilege to serve on the DeKalb County Juvenile Justice Council. I invite you to join me this Sunday as we celebrate the successes of youth who have benefitted from the programs of the DeKalb juvenile court, like Youth Build, My Brother's Keeper, mentoring programs, and many more. Monica Kaufman Pearson will be our emcee for the evening!

Happy Summer to you! I hope you have had the opportunity to relax with family and friends. With the Supreme Court Rulings, January 6 commissions, and soaring temperatures, it is important to take time to rejuvenate - and then get ready for action for our critical November mid-term election!

I hope you are enjoying your summer! But we still have work to do as active citizens - voting in our Runoff Elections! Below please find the results of our May 24 Election to the State House, Election Runoff Candidate forum information, January 6 House Committee hearings, and in the Community events.

I hope you are having a meaningful day on this Memorial Day. As you celebrate, please join me in honoring the millions of American service members who have died fighting our nation's wars.

The May 24 Primary is 13 days away! In this newsletter you will find news about Candidate Forums, who I am supporting, DeKalb School Board Update, and what I have been doing in the community.

Will you join Senator Davenport and me virtually next Thursday, April 28th?

We have finished Legislative Day 37, and are sprinting to the end, Sine Die, which will be this Monday, April 4.

We have six legislative days to go before Sine Die on April 4 - Join Senator Parent, Chairwoman Oliver and me virtually for a post crossover discussion of good and bad bills that are still active!

We have finished Day 26, and Cross Over will be on Day 28, Tuesday, March 15, so the pace is intense - days are long in both committee meetings and on the chamber floor, voting on bills.

Will you join me for a Virtual Legislative Update this Saturday, March 5th, at 9:00am?

The past two weeks have continued to be a roller coaster. Today we finished Day 18 of the session.

Join me, Senator Elena Parent, Rep Mary Margaret Oliver in a Virtual Legislative Town Hall Tonight at 5:30pm?

The DeKalb County House Legislative Delegation, chaired by State Representative Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), has two more virtual public hearings to discuss the proposed district maps for the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners (BOC) and DeKalb County Board of Education (BOE).

Greetings! Welcome to my first newsletter of 2022! Today is Legislative Day 11, and after a slow start (Go Dawgs!!!!), the pace has been fast and furious! Our friend Polly at Voices for Georgia’s Children likened it to a roller coaster, and I agree!

DeKalb House Chair Karla Drenner and DeKalb Senate Chair Emanuel Jones announce two upcoming DeKalb Delegation Joint Pre-Session Virtual Town Halls, to listen to constituents' questions and legislative priorities for the Legislative Session, which begins Monday, January 10th, 2022.

DeKalb House Chair Karla Drenner and DeKalb Senate Chair Emanuel Jones announce two upcoming DeKalb Delegation Joint Pre-Session Virtual Town Halls, to listen to constituents' questions and legislative priorities for the Legislative Session, which begins Monday, January 10th, 2022.

November 2nd Election - DeKalb County E_SPLOST Explained and Redistricting Special Session Begins November 3

Ninth Annual Open Streets Emory Village This Sunday, October 24, 2-6pm

Join me for a North Atlanta Town Hall on Redistricting on October 19th?

Today I am writing to you about a few upcoming events, and providing a re-cap of our late summer activities in our community.

I am writing to you to share my story of having breakthrough covid, in the case that it might be a learning experience and benefit you in some way.

We hope you can join us virtually at 5:00pm on Sunday, August 22nd

Will you join me for a Parks Tour this Saturday, July 10, 9am to 11:30am?

House & Senate Reapportionment Committees to Hold Town Hall Hearing for Atlanta at State Capitol Monday, June 28, 5-7pm and Important Redistricting Information from Office of Legislation & Congressional Reapportionment Office

Today's newsletter includes the following topics: Redistricting, Critical Race Theory, Science for Georgia Education & Workforce Panels, COVID Vaccine, Juneteenth, and more. There are opportunities for your voice to be heard! Take a look!

The NAACP DeKalb Branch Remembrance Project and Druid Hills Group Invite you to the Virtual Dedication of a Historic Marker Honoring Mr. Porter Turner on Sunday, June 6th at 4:30pm.

The NAACP DeKalb Branch Remembrance Project and Druid Hills Group Invite you to the Virtual Dedication of a Historic Marker Honoring Mr. Porter Turner on Sunday, June 6th at 4:30pm.

Will you join us to be a part of the solution for youth in the DeKalb County community?

DeKalb Seeks Public Input on 2050 Unified Plan and MARTA Seeks Public Input on Rail Car Design.

The earth is our home, and we must take care of her. We all want clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and to leave our children a habitable planet. What did you do today to celebrate Earth Day?

Recap of the 2021 Legislative Session

AAPI Lives Matter. End White Silence.

With Senator Gail Davenport and Dr. Mark Rosenberg

Greetings! We have completed Day 31 out of 40, and Voting Restriction Bills and Voter Rights protests pervade the atmosphere of the session. But we also passed the 2022 Budget, repealed Citizen's Arrest, raised the age for juveniles from 17 to 18, stopped some bad bills, moved forward on other good ones. I also presented both a bill and a study committee resolution before committees right before Cross Over. David and Carly tell me this is a bit long, but I know I have engaged readers, so stay with me if you can! And we ended the week with the great news that "Help is On the Way", with the passage of the federal American Recovery Act!

March 1 Town Hall with Sen Parent & Rep Oliver, HB 531 Voter Suppression, Expansion of Concealed Carry Reciprocity and gun powers during a state of emergency

Greetings! We are on Day 18 out of 40. We started voting bills out of the House last week, the Governor has signed the 2021 amended budget, and we are hearing bills in committee. Most of the legislation we pass is non-partisan, but the dramatic bill passed out of the House last week was HB 112, and the emotional bill I heard in Education last week was HB 276, an anti transgender bill, and this week is HB 60, a school voucher bill. I have experienced some ethical challenges with HB 86 - read on for my perspective on things!

We have completed Legislative Day 9 out of 40. The focus has been on the amended budget. COVID overshadows everything.

On January 11th, the Georgia House of Representatives convened for the 2021 Session. There’s nothing like governing during a pandemic and in the shadow of an attempted insurrection! While I am always happy to see my colleagues again, the mood was also a little somber as we are still under strict COVID protocol, and the events of January 6th at the US Capitol in Washington overshadowed our gathering.

Election Day is Today, January 5! DeKalb Delegation will host 2 Town Halls on January 9 and 12!

We have a historic opportunity to elect two US Senators, Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, and a Georgia Public Service Commissioner, Daniel Blackman, in the January 5 Run Off Election. Democrats have historically not showed up for run-offs, so we need all hands on deck to remind everyone we know to make sure and vote!

The best way to make your voice heard this November is by making a plan to vote and having your vote counted as soon as possible! It is crucial for people to vote early to correct any problems that may arise.

Please vote yes on this amendment, so that, as Senator Chuck Hufstetler said at a Sept. 9 hearing: "When people pay a $1 fee when they buy a new tire, the $1 should go to cleaning up scrap tires!"

Thank you to all of you for all you do, for your family, your community, and your country. Let's push ourselves to Get Out The Vote, and wake up on November 4 knowing we did all we could within our power to move us to the majority! No regrets November 4th!

We all know about the historic importance of the upcoming November 3 general and special election, where Americans will decide on our President, Vice President, Congressional House members, and in Georgia, TWO Senate members, and long list of State and County officials.

Join Rep. Bee Nguyen and me for a conversation this Tuesday, August 11 with Principal Shaun Wells of Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy and leaders of South DeKalb Improvement Association Education, Inc. (SDIAE) to learn about the challenges facing our families with school age children in South DeKalb, especially in under served communities, during this pandemic, and how you may help them.

I stood with my colleagues at a Black Lives Matter protest outside the Capitol the morning Legislative Session resumed on June 15. Our nation's history with racism is intolerable. Please read my June 3 open letter, about Black Lives Matter and End White Silence, to my black and brown friends here.

Senator Elena Parent and Representative Becky Evans invite their constituents to hear about legislative priorites for the remainder of the 2020 legislative session.

On this Memorial Day, we remember and thank our veterans who fought and died for our country. They are our heroes who fought to protect our freedom and shared values of fairness, justice, equality, and opportunity.

Should Georgia Be Re-Opening Now: On Monday, April 20, Governor Kemp held a press conference where he announced that certain businesses were allowed to reopen today, Friday, April 24. With this decision, the Governor has reinforced what he campaigned on - that business takes priority over public health...My goal is to prevent as many people in DeKalb County from being infected as possible. Our social isolation is protecting those we will never meet.

Shelter in Place: Yesterday, Governor Kemp finally, thankfully, announced that the State of Georgia will be under Shelter in Place order for a Safe & Healthy Georgia, effective April 4 and that schools would be closed for the remainder of the school year.

State of Emergency: As I write, CEO Thurmond has just announced an Executive Order, declaring a Public State of Emergency in DeKalb, which I fully support. You can read summaries of the Executive Order from On Common Ground and the Atlanta Journal/Constitution

COVID-19 Updates: We were called over the weekend by the Governor, to return to the Capitol yesterday, for a Special Session, to either “concur” or “terminate” the Governor’s Declaration of Public Health Emergency.

I want to give you a snapshot of a day here at the Capitol. Kiddada and I decided Day 20, Thursday, Feb 27 was a great day for me to share with you, because I spoke twice in the chamber and had my first bill first read and assigned to committee!

Join Rep. Evans at the Scott Candler Library for her Town Hall!

Tuesday, January 21 marked the beginning of “budget week” during whThis year, budget discussions are and will be heated. The Governor proposed a 4% cut for Fiscal Year 2020, $210 million dollars, and a 6% cut for Fiscal Year 2021, $300 million, for a total of roughly $500 million for both years.

I am excited to be back at work at the Capitol! We have completed the first 4 (out of 40) days of the 2020 Legislative Session. This year’s session is a continuation of last year’s, so we picked up the pace much faster. We heard from Governor Kemp about his proposed budget priorities and passed two pieces of legislation, HB 276 and HR 882.