This week we need you to:

1. Tell us about the bill you want other people to know about

2. We are starting a Merchandise Store! Currently, we are set to have 3 items: a t-shirt, a tote bag, and stickers – but let us know if you’d like another option, and we’ll see if we can make it happen.

A Brief Legislative Session Update

The final day of the Georgia State Legislative session was last Thursday, March 28, 2024. Sine Die concluded this session and it’s important to see where certain bills we have been following have ended up. Here are some updates:

• SB 362: A Senate bill which would make it more difficult for employees to unionize has passed the Senate and the House and is now on Governor Brian Kemp’s desk, waiting to be signed into law. Considering this bill has been backed by Gov. Kemp since it was introduced, it is projected to be signed into law in the next month. 

• SB 180: This bill, known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, was set to increase religious protections by limiting local and state government’s ability to issue laws that go against religious beliefs. However, the bill had the potential to allow private businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. The bill passed the Senate on Feb. 29 but failed to advance by Sine Die. 

• HB 971: This bill would create a tax credit incentive of $300 for taxpayers who sign up for firearm safety training classes or purchase safe storage measures for their firearms. This bill was a small step towards gun-control efforts in Georgia and was crucial to be passed, as it held bipartisan support in the House. However, the bill did not advance by Sine Die.

• SB 386 and SR 579: This bill and resolution would work together to permit sports betting in the state of Georgia. The bill would give the state of Georgia access to millions of dollars in tax revenue and would make Georgia an addition to a group of 38 states who already have allowed it. The bill passed the Senate, but failed to advance any farther.

• SB 132: In response to plans to strip mine for minerals on almost 600 acres of land about three miles away from Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, this bill aimed to impose a three-year moratorium on permits for mining near the swamp. Supporters of the bill claim mining would alter the flow of water in the swamp and be environmentally destructive. Although the bill passed overwhelmingly in the House with a vote of 167 to 4, the bill was not prioritized in the Senate and failed.

We understand our readers are especially interested in all the happenings and conclusions that occurred with the end of this legislative session. We are prepared to deliver a full comprehensive summary and update in our next newsletter on April 17th.  

Legislature Reacts to Laken Riley’s Death

On February 22nd, The University of Georgia and Augusta Nursing School communities lost a bright light, Laken Riley. Laken Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered on a run on the University of Georgia Campus. Laken was known as a brilliant mind, caring sister, and all-around beautiful person. Her passing ignited students on both campuses to honor her life and to always watch out for our closest friends. Laken’s parents, even while grieving the loss of their beloved daughter, made sure that there was a resolution and more safety regulations put into place.

"While we can't bring Laken back, we must now turn our focus to doing everything we can to prevent this from happening to another American."

Riley’s parents have spoken out about how they feel like their daughter’s death became political; they did not want this tragic event to be grounds for more debates but instead to be a moment where our country’s leaders could review their border policies and work together to keep citizens safe.

On March 7th, The United States House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act (251-170). The act focuses on three major points:

• Overturns President Biden’s previous border policies, such as catch and release. This will reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy. 

• Allows the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain anyone who illegally entered the country after committing any state or federal-level theft-related offense. 

• Permits state Attorney Generals the ability to sue Homeland Security if any immigration actions impact the state or its citizens in any way. 

State Legislature Responses 

Amid the polarizing debate on immigration reform, Georgia lawmakers have passed bills of their own. HB 1105 requires law enforcement to report and detain individuals on mere suspicion of having entered the country illegally. This bill passed in the state Senate and House, and is projected to be signed into law by Governor Kemp. The other controversial bill introduced this session was HB 301, which would have withheld funding from any local government classified as a sanctuary city and forcibly suspend/remove officials found violating it. Although this bill did not pass, these developments reflect a broader trend among state Republican lawmakers nationwide to assert control over immigration, a power reserved for the federal government. 

Most recently, Texas’s “Show Me Your Papers” law broadened its role in immigration enforcement. Under it, convicted migrants could face misdemeanor or felony charges, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The Supreme Court briefly allowed it to remain in effect until a federal appeals court blocked it after, while they consider its constitutionality. If Texas’s law stands, it will encourage further aggressive laws discriminating against communities of color. 

Impact of the Potential Legislation

The legislation purports to prioritize safety, but by focusing on immigration rather than gender-based violence, it addresses the wrong issue.

“We want justice for what happened to Laken Riley. We don’t want violent people who are here legally or not legally to be on the streets,” said Rep. Esther Panitch, a Sandy Springs Democrat. “But this bill won’t do it. This bill won’t close our borders. It will not make us safer, and it will not make women safer.”

The ACLU has also commented on how the proposed legislation will negatively impact the lives of many immigrants: The bill exploits the tragic death of Ms. Laken Riley to escalate a consistently xenophobic and false narrative about immigrants propagated by elected officials who are more focused on wielding immigration as a political weapon than addressing real public safety needs.

Georgians deserve better than political posturing. Instead of making everyday life more challenging for many residents, the state legislature should focus on improving the lives of all residents by addressing gender-based violence.

Target District Spotlight

Now that the dust has settled on the legislative session, we’d like to start introducing to you the Democratic candidates running in each of our top five targeted flip districts for the 2024 cycle.

This week, we’d like you to meet Ashwin Ramaswami, the Democratic challenger running in State Senate District 48, which includes parts of Johns Creek, Cumming, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Alpharetta, and Buford. 

Born and raised in Johns Creek and the son of immigrants, Ashwin would be the first Indian American in the State Senate, first Gen Z member, and the only State Senator with both a computer science and law degree, as he wraps up his law studies in Georgetown this May. 

While pursuing his computer science degree at Stanford, Ashwin worked to protect our schools, hospitals, and elections as a non-partisan civil servant at America’s cyber defense agency during the 2020 election cycle. 

It is here that we remind you that the Republican incumbent in this district is none other than fake Trump elector Shawn Still, who now faces voters for the first time since being indicted for trying to overturn the 2020 election results.

You can see why we like Ashwin’s chances. 

He’s the right candidate, at the right time, with the right message, and he’ll restore character and integrity to the office of State Senate District 48. We’ve highlighted some of Ashwin’s platform below. You can find the rest at www.ashwinforgeorgia.com 

If you would like to canvass for Ashwin, click HERE

Ashwin’s Campaign Platform

• Building An Economy Of The Future

  • Ashwin will work to make Georgia a sustainable tech hub that attracts the jobs of the future, while supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship.

• Protecting And Defending Democracy

  • Having worked at America’s cyber defense agency during the 2020 election, Ashwin will protect your right to vote from election deniers/partisan extremists.

• Keeping Our Communities Safe

  • Ashwin will work to pass common sense gun laws to protect our families and neighborhoods. He’s also committed to expanding resources to support mental health and combat the opioid epidemic.

• Making Healthcare Affordable For All

  • Ashwin supports Medicaid expansion, which will lower costs and improve care for those who need it most. He also supports expanding affordable childcare and providing more resources for Georgians with disabilities.

• Protecting Reproductive Healthcare 

  • In the State Senate, Ashwin will fight to ensure every family has the freedom to make their reproductive healthcare decisions without government interference, from abortion care to IVF treatments.

We’re excited to support Ashwin for State Senate District 48, and thrilled he’s the first candidate we are highlighting during the 2030 Project’s first election cycle. Ashwin and his team share the same values as the 2030 Project, and we couldn’t be prouder to partner with them as we work towards flipping the Georgia State Legislature blue. As Ashwin says, “Let’s get to work!”