The Georgia General Assembly met for three legislative days then adjourned as Atlanta became Super Bowl headquarters.
Before we left the capitol, the Georgia General Assembly accomplished some very important work.
As a member of the Senate Public Safety Committee, I supported Senate Bill 25 which requires oncoming vehicles to stop when encountering a school bus loading or unloading children unless there’s a physical barrier dividing the roadway, such as a concrete median or a grass strip. The committee heard testimony from police, prosecutors and teachers before unanimously voting for its approval. Our colleagues in the House are taking up similar legislation in the form of HB 75. I believe this is crucial legislation that will make it clear to drivers the importance of stopping for buses as students board or disembark. Regardless if you have school age children or not, we can all agree that saving a few extra minutes by going around a bus is not more important than the safety of Georgia’s children. I will keep you updated on the outcome of this legislation. If you are interested in reading this bill in its entirety, please go to http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20192020/SB/25.
I co-sponsored Senate Resolution 19, which would create the Georgia Commission on Freight and Logistics, to develop a comprehensive business plan for statewide freight and logistics infrastructure so our state can remain economically competitive. With our booming Port and the I-95 and I-16 corridors, it is important to assess the needs for providing a system of freight and logistics investment projects and priorities. With a strategic approach, we can ensure that action taken over the next several years will result in the growth and support of this important industry. In addition, the study may be used to analyze the benefits of developing alternative freight routes as a means of improving regional and state transportation, an issue of statewide interest.
As the legislative session continues and we address issues that could affect our community, I will keep you updated with these weekly reports. Please know that your input is valuable to me and I encourage you to contact me at ben.watson@senate.ga.gov or at 404-656-7880 with your questions and concerns. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve you!
Watson represents the 1st Senate District, which includes portions of Chatham County, all of Bryan County, and most of Liberty County.