Lawmakers: Spotlight

Outgoing Georgia Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones delivers a heartfelt farewell after more than two decades in the Georgia House. Jones reflects on her unlikely path into politics, the lessons she learned navigating legislation, and her commitment to expanding opportunities for Georgia’s future generations. This episode offers insight into leadership, public service, and the evolving culture of the Georg...

Georgia lawmakers Dewey McClain and Josh McLaurin join us to break down major legislative issues, from fentanyl trafficking laws to student athlete NIL protections and housing policy. McLaurin discusses efforts to ensure drug laws target traffickers without criminalizing addiction, while McClain shares his work on fair pay and protections for young athletes. This episode offers a closer look at ho...

Georgia lawmakers Bill Werkheiser and Carden Summers join us to discuss the challenges facing rural communities, from hospital closures to economic incentives aimed at keeping young people local. They share insights into proposed legislation, including the Rural Incentive Act and efforts to stabilize struggling hospitals. This conversation offers a closer look at how policy decisions under the Gol...

Georgia lawmakers break down the state’s amended and upcoming budgets, explaining how billions in tax revenue are allocated and what proposed income tax cuts could mean for your wallet. You’ll hear how education, mental health, and property tax relief are shaping spending priorities, along with insights into surplus funds and economic pressures. This episode helps you understand how state budget d...

This episode breaks down new Georgia legislation focused on consumer protection and voting access. Senator Sonya Halpern discusses bills targeting hotel booking scams and hidden fees, while Senator Randall Mangham outlines proposals to expand voter participation. This episode of Lawmakers: Spotlight explains how these policies could impact your money, your vote, and Georgia’s economic fairness.

Donna sits down with Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark to examine the state’s economic outlook, from rising costs and global conflict to legislative decisions shaping business growth. This episode explores how policy changes, innovation, and workforce development are impacting Georgia businesses. You will hear how small businesses are navigating uncertainty and what leaders are watching under the Go...

Georgia lawmakers are confronting the growing impact of social media and artificial intelligence on children’s mental health. In this episode, we hear powerful testimony from families and explore proposed legislation aimed at reducing addictive platform design and improving online safety. Learn how these policies could shape the digital experiences of kids and families across Georgia.

Georgia Representative Todd Jones, chairman of the House Committee on Technology and Infrastructure Innovation, joins the show to discuss how artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, and automation could reshape Georgia’s workforce, education system, transportation, and agriculture. Jones discusses the need for rapid workforce upskilling, emerging technologies like autonomous transit and air taxi...

Homelessness is rising across Georgia, and lawmakers are debating new ways to address the crisis before people lose their housing. In this episode, Representative Casey Carpenter discusses a proposal to prevent homelessness by helping families stay in their homes. The conversation also explores a bill addressing whether song lyrics and other artistic expressions should be used as evidence in crimi...

Georgia lawmakers discuss legislation that could reshape the experience of students and teachers across the state. Senator Chuck Payne and Representative Miriam Paris explore proposals to address school discipline policies, financial literacy education starting in the early grades, and changes to how 17-year-olds are treated in the justice system. 

Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones discusses major policy priorities, including eliminating the state income tax, expanding student political speech protections, and investing in mental health services. This episode explores new legislation inspired by the legacy of conservative activist Charlie Kirk that aims to promote civic engagement and political expression among students. The conversatio...

Georgia lawmakers are introducing legislation aimed at preventing human trafficking, supporting domestic violence survivors, and improving literacy in schools. On this episode, Representatives Deborah Bazemore and Mary Ann Santos discuss proposals including hotel training requirements to identify trafficking, temporary firearm restrictions tied to protective orders, and a writing program designed...

Georgia lawmakers are considering new legislation aimed at combating human trafficking and strengthening criminal penalties. In this episode of Lawmakers Spotlight, Representatives David Clark and Johnny Chastain discuss proposals ranging from the death penalty for convicted traffickers to closing loopholes in Georgia’s pimping laws. The conversation explores how these policies could affect victim...

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger discusses election security, the push to eliminate QR codes from ballots, and an ongoing $140 million Ponzi scheme investigation tied to First Liberty. In this in-depth interview with Donna Lowry, Raffensperger addresses Georgia’s national election rankings, funding challenges from the General Assembly, and what reforms could mean for voters across the...

Georgia Senate Democrats are introducing a package of bills aimed at increasing transparency and accountability for ICE agents operating in Georgia. In this episode, we discuss proposals requiring body cameras, visible identification, judicial warrants for sensitive locations, and new legal pathways for constitutional accountability. The conversation also turns to state income tax reform and refun...

On this episode, Representative Darlene Taylor of Thomasville and Representative Mike Cameron of Rossville discuss legislation aimed at protecting Georgia’s most vulnerable residents. From the Interstate Sexual Predator Prevention Act to closing loopholes in Georgia’s incest law and establishing standards for safe haven baby boxes, you will hear how these bills seek to strengthen public safety. Pl...

Representative Will Wade and Representative Imani Barnes join Donna to discuss key legislation in the Georgia General Assembly. Topics include promoting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a pilot program for emergency psychiatric assessment centers, income tax reduction, property tax relief, senior rent stabilization, digital literacy in schools, and expanding access to healthy school meals. You...

GPB President and CEO Bert Wesley Huffman joins Donna Lowry to explain how Georgia Public Broadcasting serves every school district in the state, supports emergency communications, and provides coverage of the Georgia General Assembly. You will learn how GPB’s education resources reach millions, how its broadcast towers power emergency alerts during crises, and how state funding helps sustain publ...

Senator Donzella James of Atlanta and Representative Carl Gilliard of Savannah join the show to discuss housing protections and public safety legislation in Georgia. The conversation covers SB 106 and related bills addressing HOA liens and rent escalation near universities, the Autism Missing Person Alert System Act, Eric’s ID Law, and the Darren Lewis Saving Lives Act, focused on police pursuit r...

Republican Senator Clint Dixon of Gwinnett County and Democratic Senator Derek Mallow of Savannah discuss chronic absenteeism in Georgia schools and proposed policy solutions. The discussion covers possible penalties for students and parents, updates to truancy reporting, and a proposal to make kindergarten mandatory statewide. 

In this episode of Lawmakers: Spotlight , host Donna Lowry speaks with Georgia Representatives Lydia Glaize of Fairburn and Bryce Berry of Atlanta about key education and health legislation under the Gold Dome. The conversation covers literacy reporting through eighth grade in HB 972, student housing affordability in HB 1052, funding equity for HBCUs, school lead testing requirements, and a prosta...

On this episode of Lawmakers: Spotlight , host Donna Lowry talks with Rep. Leesa Hagan and Rep. Stacey Evans about legislation designed to protect women in Georgia’s court system and to strengthen digital privacy laws. The conversation explores a proposed domestic violence offender registry, attorney-client confidentiality for incarcerated people, and new protections for menstrual and reproductive...

On this episode of Lawmakers: Spotlight , host Donna Lowry talks with Rep. Beth Camp and Rep. Shea Roberts about women’s health policy at the Georgia Capitol, including hormone replacement therapy coverage, pharmacist-prescribed contraception, and abortion law. We hear how lawmakers describe access challenges, medical decision-making, and what these debates could mean for you and your community. &...

In this episode, we talk with Representatives Clint Crowe of Jackson and Derrick Jackson of Tyrone about what’s moving at the Georgia Capitol and what it means for you. We cover the Georgia Dream Peach Advantage homebuyer loan program, marijuana decriminalization, disaster mitigation, Next Generation 9-1-1, and debate over ICE-related legislation.

Georgia lawmakers are weighing whether the state’s bell-to-bell cell phone ban should expand from middle schools into high schools. On this episode of Lawmakers: Spotlight , host Donna Lowry talks with Representative Scott Hilton and Senator Rashaun Kemp about classroom distractions, student mental health, and what comes next for education policy under the Gold Dome.