District 50 Senator Bo Hatchett was appointed by Gov. Kemp to be a floor leader as the assembly moves into the 2023 legislative session.
Governor Kemp said in a press release that he’s excited to have the chance to appoint members who he believes represent their districts with strong dedication.
"As we enter a session of importance for all Georgians, I'm proud to announce the dedicated public servants who will serve as my Floor Leaders," said Gov. Kemp. "In my first term we passed historic budgets and bills that benefit hardworking Georgians and families. As we enter my second term, I'm looking forward to working with these Leaders to build on those achievements. Together, we will make even more history for the Peach State."
One of the more notable appointees is District 50 Senator Bo Hatchett, who represents a large portion of Northeastern Georgia. Hatchett said he was excited to get the call from the Governor and is looking forward to leading legislation on the General Assembly floor.
“I was honored, obviously, to be asked to be a Floor Leader again this term,” Hatchett said. “I’m really excited because we got a lot of good stuff coming up this session, and I feel like Governor Kemp is probably — I know he handled the pandemic better than any governor in the country. And you're seeing that with our surplus, the record budget he's proposed this week. So I'm excited to continue to help carry his legislation and do as much as I can for the people of Senate District 50.”
Hatchett reported that he is now the most tenured Floor Leader in the Chamber, which he said is exciting and hard to believe, given that he is only moving into his second session. Having learned the ropes in previous years, Hatchett detailed some of the main operations of a Floor Leader.
“One of the neat things about being a floor leader is we meet with the Governor's office weekly during session, and towards the end of session and before crossover day, we're meeting daily — sometimes twice a day with the Governor’s staff with the Governor,” Hatchett said. “And our role, if you were to define it on paper is obviously the Governor as a member of the executive branch cannot pass his own legislation. So when he has policies or when he has legislation that he believes would benefit the state, he gets a member of the legislature to drop a bill on his behalf and shepherd that legislation through the process.”
Hatchett emphasized the importance of a positive relationship with the Governor during that time, which he said also helps him represent his own district more effectively.
Along with Hatchett, District 3 Senator Mike Hodges was also appointed as a Floor Leader.
The Georgia House of Representatives has several leaders of their own as well. Below is a list of the four representatives that were appointed to be Floor Leaders.
- Representative Lauren McDonald, House District 26
- Representative Soo Hong, House District 103
- Representative Will Wade, House District 9
- Representative Matthew Gambill, House District 15
Other leadership members currently include Senate President Burt Jones (R), Majority Leader Steve Gooch (R) and Minority Leader Gloria Butler (D). The Georgia House of Representatives hosts Speaker of the House Jon G. Burns (R), Majority Leader Chuck Efstration (R) and Minority Leader James Beverly (D).
Republicans currently have a 32-23 majority in the State Senate and a 98-79 majority in the House of Representatives.
The Georgia legislative session started on January 9 and will run until March 30.
