The 2023 Session of the Georgia General Assembly convened on Monday with an uncommon air of expediency and bipartisanship. Acting with speed and efficiency that suggested many members, many of whom were dressed in Red and Black, had other places to be, the House and Senate quickly dispensed with the swearing in of new members and the other procedural pomp and circumstance of a new Biennium. Legislators also demonstrated notable bipartisanship in their opening sessions, electing new leaders in each chamber by unanimous affirmation and without competing nominations. Acting Speaker of the House Jan Jones (R-Milton) handed over the gavel to Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington), while Senator John Kennedy (R-Macon), whose nomination was seconded by Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler (D-Stone Mountain), took up the mantle of President Pro Tempore in the Senate. Lawmakers wrapped up their other procedural work and adjourned before noon.

The cooperative spirit among legislators continued to amaze onlookers as, for the first time in anyone’s memory, the House and Senate agreed — on Legislative Day 1 — to a schedule for the entirety of the 2023 Legislative Session. Complete details on the adopted adjournment resolution, which sets Crossover Day for March 6 and adjournment sine die for March 29, in this edition of the #GoldDomeReport.

In this Report:

• Legislature Sets Schedule through Legislative Day 40

• General Assembly Installs New Leadership

• What’s Next

Legislature Sets Schedule through Legislative Day 40

During its brief convening on Monday, the General Assembly made quick work approving an adjournment resolution setting its schedule through Legislative Day 40. The schedule is as follows:

General Assembly Installs New Leadership

In addition to electing its presiding officers, the House and Senate filled several other positions during its opening session on Monday. Elections and appointments include:

House

• Speaker of the House – Representative Jon Burns (R-Newington)

• Speaker Pro Tempore – Representative Jan Jones (R-Milton)

• Clerk of the House – Bill Reilly

• House Doorkeeper – Cory Mulkey

• House Messenger – Betsy Theroux

Speaker Burns also appointed members to a new Committee on Assignments in the House.  Those appointed to this new Committee are:

• Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones (R-Milton)

• Majority Leader Chuck Efstration (R-Dacula)

• Majority Whip James Burchett (R-Waycross)

• Majority Caucus Chairman Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe)

• Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire)

• Representative Katie Dempsey (R-Rome)

• Representative Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin)

• Representative Lynn Smith (R-Newnan)

• Representative Richard Smith (R-Columbus)

Senate

• President Pro Tempore – Senator John Kennedy (R-Macon)

• Secretary of the Senate – David Cook

• Sergeant at Arms – Robert Brown

What’s Next

The General Assembly will be in adjournment on Tuesday, January 10, and will return for Legislative Day 2 on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 11:00 AM.