Teri’s Record
A woman's right to choose and make her own decisions with her doctor and her God is essential.
I have been fighting to protect IVF, secure the right to contraception and birth control, and restore abortion access in Georgia, and I won’t back down.
I co-sponsored HB 1424, Georgia’s Right to Contraception Act, to protect the right to contraception and birth control in Georgia.
I introduced HB 1497 to protect IVF in Georgia.
I co-sponsored House Resolution 1719 along with Speaker of the House Jon Burns to make it clear that the Georgia House of Representatives will always stand with parents when it comes to IVF access.
And it should go without saying that I adamantly opposed HB 481, Georgia’s anti-abortion law; here is my full Floor speech:
Reproductive Freedom
Teri Speaks in Opposition to HB 481 (2019)
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I rise tonight to speak against House Bill 481. Not only is it unconstitutional, but it is a bill that has neither compassion nor medical integrity.
I have been pregnant twice, and each pregnancy resulted in a healthy outcome. I had a lot of heartburn; I do not recommend hours of unmedicated pitocin labor, but with both pregnancies, my husband and I left the hospital with a healthy, gorgeous, thriving baby. As we’ve discussed, The unfortunate reality is that not all pregnancies have the same outcome. Too often, the discovery of an anomaly leaves parents with a heartbreaking decision. There are several examples of congenital anomalies that are incompatible with life:
Anencephaly - this is when a baby in the womb has the absence of the brain, the skull, the scalp. There are profound chromosomal abnormalities like trisomy 13 and trisomy 18. There is fetal hydrops, where an accumulation of fluid prevents the organs from properly developing in a fetus.
For most pregnancies, these anomalies are discovered at around 20 to 22 weeks gestation with typical scans, things that happen. The wait is even longer because sometimes you have to wait for further tests to get more conclusive results for what is going on with the baby. If a woman has had previous issues with fetal anomalies, she might be able to have a blood test to look for any anomalies; the earliest that test can take place is around 10 to 12 weeks.
A fetus with these medical conditions will have a heartbeat. The human body is an incredible thing, and the uterus is an amazing vessel. But a heartbeat does not mean that a baby with one of these conditions could live for even a moment outside of the womb.
Any child born with these conditions, if they survive birth, will require intense interventions and life support to survive for even a few days. If women are forced to carry these pregnancies to term, and forced to deliver, these children will suffer. These women will suffer.
This is what HB 481 means for families in Georgia.
For women - for parents - the ability to make the decision of how - or whether - to proceed with such a pregnancy is of critical importance. We must protect a woman’s right to make this choice - and I’m going to be quoting my predecessor, Representative Stacey Evans, when she was up here on the video screen several years ago when she was en route to deliver her first child, this is a choice that can only be made between a woman, her partner, her doctor, and her God. I yield the well.
Gun Safety
Teri stands with Moms Demand Action.
Guns are the leading cause of death for children. Keeping our kids safe - whether at school, in their neighborhoods, or at the grocery store - is my number one priority.
It is long past due for common sense gun reform. I am a huge advocate for simple safe storage legislation and I am fighting every chance I get to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.
Supporting Cobb County
Securing Appropriations for Our Community
Perhaps the most impactful committee I serve on is the House Appropriations Committee, which has positioned me to advocate for Georgians and for Cobb County in a truly meaningful way. In the FY 2024 budget, I was able to help secure funding for additional mental health stabilization beds at the Cobb County Jail, as the success of the program implemented by Sheriff Craig Owens is viewed statewide as a model for other jails throughout Georgia, as well as funding that will help build a new South Cobb Public Health Center that will enhance the critical public health services that save lives, improve outcomes for maternal and infant health, especially in the minority community, and make it easier for everyone in Cobb County to access critical public health and welfare services.
Through my time in the Georgia House, I have helped secure funds for Kennesaw State University, Cobb County’s award winning public library system, Chattahoochee Tech’s health science facilities and aviation training programs, and many other critical services that have a direct, positive impact for our community in Cobb, Smyrna, and Marietta.
HD-42 is Growing. We Need to Keep Up.
HD-42 is a diverse and vibrant district that is home to people from across the economic and cultural spectrum, and to businesses that range from the Atlanta Braves to family-owned small businesses and retailers. We are home to the fastest-growing parts of Cobb County – which means that we are one of the fastest-growing parts of Georgia. HD-42 residents deserve access to quality employment that pays a fair, living wage, and we must continue to provide a climate that creates job opportunities for all residents.
Supporting Dobbins
Dobbins Air Reserve Base is home to the Air Force, the National Guard, and Lockheed Martin’s Marietta operations. Dobbins supports an estimated 20,000 jobs and has a $1 billion annual economic impact. It is critical to disaster response in the southeastern United States, and supports the CDC’s incident command unit.
Dobbins shares its runway with Lockheed Martin’s Marietta operations, which has manufactured every version of the C-130 Hercules aircraft, the longest continuous military aircraft production line in world history, and has delivered help and hope across the globe in thousands of relief and aid missions. Lockheed’s Marietta plant is home to more than 2,000 members of IAM 709 and as such, is organized labor’s single largest concentration of Union jobs in HD-42.
Production of the C-130J supports the careers of thousands of Georgians, in fields such as advanced manufacturing, engineering, artificial intelligence, data analytics, information technology, finance, and operations.
Rep. Anulewicz with Adjutant General of Georgia Major General Carden.
Criminal Justice Reform
Let’s be clear: everyone wants to live in a safe community. That’s what we’re all working towards, and that’s what I’m fighting for under the Gold Dome.
I’m fighting for justice and for policies that are anti-racist. And that’s why I am so passionate about cash bail reform. Here’s more of my thoughts from the well on this subject:
Centering Victim Recovery
Teri Speaks in Opposition to SB 63 (2023)
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I rise before you today as a woman dressed in white, who is about to share a quote from the Man in Black.
It was Johnny Cash who lamented that he wore black:
“for the poor and the beaten down Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime But is there because he's a victim of the times”
Not so long ago, Nathan Deal was the Governor of this state. I was honored to be sworn in to this House in time to serve during his final year as Governor.
When I first came to this House I was not sure what to expect from a Republican governor, but I quickly realized that he was gracious, thoughtful, and kind.
I also did not expect to learn that he was a leader who was not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. I realized this the first time I visited the Governor’s Mansion for a holiday reception, and saw the tears in his eyes, and heard the catch in Governor Deal’s voice as he told us about the gingerbread models of Georgia courthouses that were crafted by the trustees, the inmates who served at the Mansion, and who the Governor and the First Lady often remarked that they thought of as part of their family.
When Governor Deal left office in January 2019, there was widespread agreement that his most enduring legacy was his leadership and commitment to criminal justice reform in our state.
When he came into office, 1 in 13 Georgians were either incarcerated, on probation, or on parole. Governor Deal realized that at that rate of incarceration, we had no recourse but to spend more than half a billion dollars on two new prisons. He knew that there had to be a better way, and led bipartisan policy initiatives to ensure that this better way was a reality in Georgia.
And despite the kind of rhetoric that we are hearing today, the crime rate in Georgia decreased after these reforms were enacted! Notably, the number of incarcerated African Americans dropped by 30 percent. Governor Deal, and this General Assembly, knew that Georgians recognize that it makes no sense to spend tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars each year to house a nonviolent inmate.
Governor Deal would muse – I’m paraphrasing – that there are criminals who we are afraid of, and there are criminals who we are mad at. This is a quote: “There comes a point where incarceration no longer serves a purpose, there comes a point where retribution ought to stop and rehabilitation ought to take over.”
SB 62 is just one more attempt to walk back those reforms, one more way to hack away at Governor Deal’s legacy. Keep on chopping.
So if this measure passes, what’s next on the priority list for those who are perpetuating this regression of the reforms led by Governor Deal?
Are we going to walk back our support for accountability courts, like the veteran’s courts that have transformed the lives of those who nobly served our nation, but who weren’t always able to conquer the inner demons that might have followed them to the homefront? The drug courts and other accountability courts that offered nonviolent offenders a second chance to be a father, a mother, a valued employee, an engaged citizen?
The leadership that Governor Deal and the Georgia General Assembly showed through our commitment during these years of successful criminal justice reforms took courage. We should all be so proud of the It is vexing and disheartening to witness the cognitive dissonance that seems to have taken hold of so many in this body who once worked so hard to enact these reforms and it is for this reason that I urge you to vote against SB 63.
Providing Dignity for Pregnant Inmates
I am proud to have introduced HB 1184, legislation that enables victim-centered programs to thrive and supports evidence-based restorative justice programs with the Georgia Justice Project.
Keeping Our Communities Safe.
An often overlooked population that deserves unique and focused attention is pregnant women who have been incarcerated. I co-sponsored HB 1092, the Georgia Women's CARE (Child Care Alternatives, Resources, and Education) Act, which aims to make sure pregnant women are treated with care while under the supervision of the justice system.
Maintaining Local Control
When we’re talking about criminal justice reform, Republicans tend to overlook the unique needs of communities at the local level. I adamantly oppose the override of local control. There have been various bills, like HB 286, that have attempted to disregard the judgment and expertise of duly elected local officials.
Teri Speaks in Opposition to HB 286 (2021)
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
You all know that I have always believed that municipal and county governments exemplify the very best of what a representative democracy like ours has to offer. A community within a city or a county, neighborhoods that make up the essence of what we think of when we think of communities of interest. They elect the person who they feel will best represent their voice on their city council, their city commission, or their county commission.
It is critically important that we do not forget that these local elected officials represent their communities in a way that, candidly, we don't, and that the constituencies they represent are often just one segment of our house districts that often span multiple counties and cities.
I realized this when I made the transition from the Smyrna city council to this chamber. All of a sudden, I could shop at the supermarket up the road from my house without being stopped every three minutes to talk about a zoning issue or hear about someone's neighbor's noisy dog.
Our local governments ensure that the most fundamental needs of our communities are met. It's local governments who we ultimately look to to make sure that when we turn on the tap, the water that comes out is safe and that when we flush the toilet, that wastewater goes where it is supposed to go.
Local governments ensure that the roads are paved, they ensure that we have parks, that we have recreation, and they ensure that when we are in peril, when we pick up our phones and we dial 9-1-1, someone comes to help us.
When we are here in Atlanta, and make no mistake, the work we do here in this chamber is critically important to our communities. Our local government representatives are on the ground back at home. They are making the decisions to ensure that our hometowns are running in a way that serves the best interest of the people who elected them, and they, not us, they are the best fiduciary stewards for their communities, whether it's their budgets for public works, sanitation, parks and recreation, or public safety.
And here's the thing, these local officials, even the ones whose views might not align with your politics, they all want to live in safe communities. We all want to live in safe communities, and they are the people who best know how to keep these communities safe. It is them, not us, who should be the ones who have the final purview over their municipal and county police department budgets.
We also know that there are many reasons that governments make changes in how they plan their budgets. As we were reminded a moment ago, in the summer of 2019, the governor decided to cut 10 percent of the state's budget, a decision that was not predicated in any way on any revenue shortfalls that were anywhere close to 10 percent.
This bill prohibits cities and counties from reducing their budget beyond five percent of the past fiscal year's appropriations. Five percent is an arbitrary figure that is not based on any analysis of local government budgets, and it artificially and unnecessarily ties the hands of the locally elected officials to make any necessary budget decisions that reflect the priorities of the communities they represent.
Ensuring the public safety is absolutely a responsibility of local elected officials. Ensuring the public safety is absolutely a core responsibility of local elected officials. And I know firsthand that police budgets are reflective of input from the local government's elected officials, their law enforcement department, and the city or county taxpayers, and these decisions don't happen in a vacuum or behind closed doors. This is not a case of rogue local elected officials who were imposing their will upon the citizenry.
Furthermore, budget hearings are required to be public meetings. These conversations are not happening behind closed doors, and if city officials or county officials propose a police department budget reduction that does not reflect the goals of their residents, believe me, they are the first people to hear about it.
This bill is an unnecessary attempt to usurp local control. It is a reactionary bill that was put forward in response to isolated examples of cities' failed attempts to cut public safety funding, attempts that did not work for the precise reason that those local governments did work. The group of elected officials representing these various neighborhoods and communities that composed these cities voted to represent the wishes of those citizens.
The legislation we discuss here in this chamber represents policy that will impact every city and county government in our state. If we pass this bill, our politics will transcend policy, and the consequence of that action would be that our local governments would be absolutely unable to truly represent their constituents' priorities.
I urge you to vote against this utterly unnecessary bill, and I yield the balance of my time to the leader.
Workers’ Rights and Protections
Workers deserve protections.
Workers deserve a living wage.
Workers deserve to unionize without fear.
HD-42 is home to businesses that range from large multinational corporations to true family businesses, and it is essential to develop and support policies that ensure that all workers in Cobb and in Georgia can thrive, are valued and compensated fairly, and are treated with respect and dignity.
I am proud to have sponsored HB 1390, which was signed into law in 2022 and which for the first time defined “sexual harassment” in Georgia law, and which protects public workers from retaliation against reporting sexual harassment.
It is also essential to ensure that all workers in Georgia have access to essential protection against workplace harassment, regardless of their sex, gender, age, race, religion, or any physical or mental disability. This is why I sponsored HB 381, which extends protections that currently exist for public sector employees in Georgia to every employee in Georgia.
With the support of advocates that includes the Protect Georgia Workers Alliance, an advocacy consortium whose members include the AFL-CIO and the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council, 9to5 Georgia, the YWCA of Greater Atlanta, Care In Action, and the National Domestic Workers Alliance, I have lead hours of hearings in the the House Judiciary Committee and worked for years to ensure that this legislation will make it to the House floor for a vote, and have commitment from House Judiciary leadership that these hearings will continue as we prepare to reintroduce the legislation for the 2025 Legislative Session.
For the past several years, I have worked alongside Georgia workers and advocacy groups fighting for better workplace protections. We hear all the time that Georgia is the number 1 state for business, but we also know that Georgia is one of the worst states for workers.
We know that reaching that point of critical mass, that point where workers – the workers we know we need – will simply pass on Georgia, is inevitable, and imminent.
The majority party knows that our employers are not chomping at the bit to do right by their workers (we have not been able to pass even the most perfunctory protections for pregnant workers), and Georgia workers know that help and support from their employers is most definitely NOT on the way.
But rather than encourage businesses to do right by their workers, or strengthen our laws that protect workers in Georgia, the Governor and GOP leadership instead fight to keep the current status quo, allowing the anti-worker climate to continue to flourish in Georgia while illegally limiting the rights of workers to organize, despite the clear and convincing widespread support for organized labor.
Teri Speaks in Support of HB 1389 & 1390 (2022)
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I am here this afternoon with several partners and advocates. We are going to talk to you about two pieces of legislation: House Bill 1389 and House Bill 1390. The intent of these bills is to strengthen protections for workers in Georgia, especially when it comes to sexual harassment and workplace harassment. I have several outstanding folks here today behind me who are going to explain a little bit more about this bill, but I want to give to some of the background.
You might remember that in 2020, very literally on the eve of the pandemic, how everything changed, and how these sessions suspended for several months. And my colleague, Representative Bee Nguyen, along with other bipartisan sponsors, had moved forward with House Bill 1121. That bill made it almost all the way to the Rules Committee and had the session proceeded without the pandemic interruption, I am confident that that legislation would have passed through the 2020 session.
As it is now, we are here today again moving that legislation, which is even more improved than it was in 2020. The bill would amend the Georgia Code to provide the right of action for sexual harassment against a coworker or an employer. And again, during the 2020 session, this legislation was given a very favorable reading from the House committee.
We know that Georgia is the number one state for business, but we also know that we are not the number one state for workers. In fact, just this week the Atlanta Journal Constitution had an article noting that Georgia is indeed ranked as one of the worst states for women, with a metric that includes health care, safety, and economic opportunities.
Georgia has no state law that protects workers from harassment. In fact, we are one of only three states that does not have these workplace protections. Enacting these protections is good for Georgia. It's good for women in Georgia. It's good for workers in Georgia. And frankly, enacting these protections is good for business. We know that in Georgia, women are almost 65% of the low paid workforce. And we know that just about any employer you ask will attest that they are having a genuine and true struggle finding and retaining workers right now.
These bills will mean better workplaces for all Georgia workers, and I have no doubt that in this tight labor market, employers will absolutely benefit. This legislation gives employers clarity about what harassment is, which arms businesses with the means to prevent and stop harassment.
Harassment has an unquestionable human cost. We had a hearing earlier today; we heard about the toll that this kind of harassment takes on women's lives; on their marriages; on their families; and on their economic stability. When there is harassment in the workplace, there's also a bottom line issue that business owners will see through decreased productivity, increased absenteeism and higher turnover.
Again, this is House Bill 1389 and House Bill 1390. Next, I would like to introduce Mica Whitfield. She is the State Director for 9to5 Georgia. After that, we will have Rachel Shanklin. She is the Georgia Outreach Manager for Small Business Majority. And finally, we're going to have Grace Starling who is an attorney specializing in employment and labor issues with Barrett and Farahany. Thank you so much.
Teri Speaks in Opposition to SB 362 (2024)
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise before you today to speak against Senate Bill 362. For the past several years, I have worked alongside Georgia workers and advocacy groups fighting for better workplace protections. The members of the House Judiciary Committee, in particular, are very familiar with the policy issues of which I speak.
With the support of a broad, statewide, bipartisan coalition, I have fought for these protections because we know that while Georgia is — say it with me, do a shot, X out your BINGO square – the #1 state for business — it is also the worst state for workers.
We also know that as of a few weeks ago, favorable support for organized labor in Georgia is around 72%. Seventy two percent of Georgians have a favorable opinion of organized labor. And that fact tells us support for organized labor is not a partisan issue.
So here’s our current posture in Georgia when it comes to organized labor. Number 1 state for business, one of the worst states for workers, overwhelming support for organized labor throughout Georgia and across party lines.
We know that reaching that point of critical mass, that point where workers – the workers we know we need – will simply pass on Georgia, is inevitable, and imminent. The data supports this.
But as we all know you can’t have data without narrative – and I am guessing that in the runup to this vote today, you've likely heard from a constituent or three who supports organized labor. I know that House District 42 is home to IAM Local 709, the machinist’s union with close to 2000 members. They work for an aerospace manufacturer you might be familiar with.
The majority party knows that our employers are not chomping at the bit do right by their workers, and Georgia workers definitely recognize that help and support from their employers is most definitely NOT on the way — and I would surmise that dissonance is why we currently see a level of support for organized labor that we have not seen in decades.
But rather than encourage businesses to do right by their workers, or strengthen our laws that protect workers in Georgia, this bill would instead let the current status quo, anti-worker climate continue to flourish in Georgia while illegally limiting the rights of workers to organize, despite the clear and – in my mind – convincing widespread support for organized labor.
Senate Bill 362 does nothing to address the myriad reasons why so many Georgians support our organized labor unions, and it is for this reason that I urge you to vote NO.
I yield the well.
Advocating for Working Families
My campaign field canvassers are compensated $20/hour for their efforts. There’s no reason why workers in HD-42 shouldn’t earn the same.
Employers in Georgia understand that they are in a fierce competition for workers in Georgia, without whom they have no chance of success and growth. As an advocate for workers throughout Georgia, and especially in Cobb County, my voice and the policies for which I continue to fight will ensure that employers in Cobb County pay wages that honor the labor, skills, and training that their workers bring to their organization every day.
The fight to increase the minimum wage continues. It was very disappointing this year that we could not even pass a wage increase for intellectually and developmentally disabled workers in Georgia, despite broad bipartisan support in the House. Increasing wages for all Georgia workers is a priority that every lawmaker should pay attention to, as our economy cannot continue to grow without workers who are compensated at a level that is fair, that corresponds with housing prices and inflation, and is commensurate with the skills and training they bring to their jobs.
Finally, we need to make sure all workers are aware of the Earned Income Tax Credit, which many workers, especially younger ones, are unable to utilize due to a lack of awareness or information.
Increasing Access to Child Care
When I speak with workers and business leaders, it is increasingly clear that access to quality, reliable, and affordable childcare is a critical challenge for families and to employers. Without access to childcare, it is overwhelmingly women – mamas – who are kept out of the workforce. This results in an economic loss for their families, and it is a loss to our community and our society when women are not able to share their experience, both lived and professional.
Additionally, it is critical that the state do a better job to support working families by improving and funding options for quality, affordable childcare. The current budget includes an additional $100M for early childhood education; expanding the state's PreK program to include children age 3 and up would be an incredible support for working families. Additionally, I worked with advocates to fight for funds to cover the shortfall in CAPS funding, and while we did not get the full $20M requested, the budget includes $9M which is more than twice what the Governor recommended.
Union Apprenticeship Program
Union apprenticeship programs are a core component of our workforce development and job training programs in Georgia. In HD-42, Chattahoochee Tech is a robust resource for those who want to learn more about apprentice programs, the available tuition grants, and how to identify these apprentice programs. Union apprentice programs are so valuable because they offer these apprentices a solid pathway to success in their industry.
Affordable and Accessible Housing
Families who work in HD-42 deserve to live in HD-42. Housing must be safe and affordable for all.
I serve on the House Government Affairs Committee, which reviews most legislation that impacts housing affordability in Georgia. I serve on the Local Government subcommittee that reviews most of this housing legislation.
I have spoken in opposition of policies that would lead to exclusionary zoning practices that hinder affordable housing, I have opposed laws that would make it easier for hedge funds to develop unaffordable rental units in Georgia, and I have fought successfully for the passage of bills like HB 404, the Safe At Home Act. I have also supported legislation like the CHOICE Act which would aggressively encourage county and municipal governments to support and approve a variety of initiatives that strengthen our critical housing infrastructure.
While the majority party dominates most of these committee votes, it is very true that Democratic members of these committees serve as the "conscience" of the committees, and our insight and combined support for better housing and in opposition to laws that are bad for both renters and owners absolutely have an impact on policy outcomes.
While serving on the Smyrna City Council, I was an outspoken advocate for eliminating the moratorium on constructing new apartments and for increasing the variety of units available in Smyrna’s housing inventory, even when I faced vehement opposition from some in our community whose opposition to apartments and townhomes was often founded in misperceptions that were based on race and economic background.
I knew then that for Smyrna and Cobb to flourish, it is critical to ensure that there is a home for every individual and every family who wants to make their home here, and I continue to work to ensure that our state policies support and incentivize a range of long-term housing solutions.
Healthcare
Medicaid Expansion is critical and within reach.
I serve on the House Public Health Committee, and in that role, I continue to be an outspoken advocate for Medicaid expansion. It is unconscionable for Georgia to continue to pass on billions of federal dollars to ensure that everyone in Georgia has access to quality, affordable healthcare.
Medicaid expansion is critical for families in HD-42, which has a staggeringly high rate of uninsured children. I strongly believe that this expansion must happen without any work or volunteer requirement, as those are a barrier that devalues the work of caregivers.
In my role on the House Public Health Committee, I work to ensure that Georgia has policies in place to fight the continued and increasing spread of HIV infections among all age, gender, and races in Georgia, and to make sure that we continue to support policies that improve the health of all mothers and children.
I am a proud co-sponsor of HB 226, which adds treatment services under Medicaid to persons with HIV.
Additionally, I am a bold advocate for HPV awareness and proactive policies that help make vaccines more accessible. Learn more about my work:
Teri Speaks on HPV Vaccination (2024)
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It is a pleasure to be here again for Cervical Cancer Awareness Day here at the Georgia Capitol.
We know that the HPV vaccine will prevent women in Georgia and throughout the world from getting cervical cancer. We know that it is possible to eradicate cervical cancer in our lifetime.
Both of my children, my son and my daughter, have received the HPV vaccine through their pediatrician. It is amazing to know that of all that there is to worry about as a parent, knowing that cervical cancer or any other HPV-related cancer is not going to be an issue for my children, if we can scratch one thing off of that list of worries that we have as parents and as caregivers, that's big. And how research regarding HPV and the vaccine has expanded use of the HPV vaccine, that has been critically important.
So I want to thank all of the folks who are here with us today and thank our sponsors. We've got the Susan Jolly Awareness Program, we've got the Augusta University Medical Partnership, we've got the Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia, we've got AMWA, we've got Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition, we've got Cancer Pathways, we've got HPV Cancer-Free Georgia, we've got the American Academy of Pediatrics. This is a dream team of folks out in the community.
It is a joy every year to let the representatives who represent the HPV Champions every year know that there is someone in their district, in their community, who is working so hard to help eradicate cervical cancer and to help raise awareness.
So thank you to everyone. I love seeing the familiar faces here. Thank you to Chairman Mitchell for joining us today. Thank you to everyone who was here and who made this day such a success. Thank you.
Gender-Based Violence and Supporting Survivors
Survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking need our support and protection.
Sex trafficking is incredibly prevalent in metro-Atlanta. I have worked with organizations like Street Grace to put an end to sex trafficking for years. I’ve worked to keep pimps off the streets and away from their victims. And I have worked to take care of trafficking survivors and getting them the help and support they deserve.
Additionally, I have actively fought to prevent sexual assault by sponsoring HB 1498, which prohibits invasive exams of anesthetized or unconscious patients without their consent. More bluntly: HB 1498 prohibits the sexual assault of women who are under anesthesia for a surgery or procedure. And yes, I know what you’re thinking: yes, that is somehow still legal in the state of Georgia.
I’ve also co-sponsored legislation like HB 365, the Sexual Assault Reform Act of 2023.
Supporting victims of gender based violence is a top priority for me and my work with advocacy groups and my colleagues will continue under the Gold Dome.
Education
Our children and their teachers need our support. Our public schools need funding. Librarians need protections.
I have fought against vouchers, for better school safety, and against policies and legislation that would make it harder for educators to teach, and for students to learn.
In Cobb County, our Board of Education has promoted especially onerous policies regarding access to LGBTQ books and learning about so-called "divisive" concepts. I will continue to be an outspoken supporter for our public schools, our educators, our students, as well as all staff and support staff like custodians, school nutrition workers, and school transportation workers.
To this end, it is essential to ensure that the retirement funds for these employees are fully-funded, current employees have full access to benefits and wage increases, and retirees have regular COLA increases.
Co-sponsoring Legislation to Expand HOPE Inclusive Post Secondary Education (IPSE) grants
I proudly co-sponsored HB 185 in 2023. The IPSE program is incredibly important to me. In Georgia, there are so many outstanding young people with autism and other intellectual or developmental disabilities, and who have so much to contribute to their communities and to our state, but many families assume that their post-secondary options are limited. IPSE programs gives these young adults the opportunity to attend inclusive programs at nine USG schools throughout the state, including Georgia Tech, UGA, and Georgia Southern.
The reality, though, is that many of these families were told that either college would never be an option for their child, or that the money that might have been saved for college tuition was spent on critical support services for these kids. IPSE grants open the doors to college for eligible students the same way the HOPE Scholarship made the dream of attending college a reality for a generation of Georgians.
Unfortunately, Senate Republicans hijacked and stripped HB 185 to advance their partisan agenda, so this important bill did not reach the Governor’s Desk. But I will continue to fight for the IPSE program to ensure all of our children can have doors open for them.
Equality
We must ensure equality for all. The LGBTQ+ community needs our protection. Georgians of color need our protection. Georgians of all faiths need our protection.
I have worked hard and with deep sincerity to oppose the myriad anti-LGBTQ bills that are introduced with increasing regularity. I vociferously opposed legislation like SB 140 in the House Public Health Committee and from the well of the House in 2023, and fought to ensure that the terrible anti-LGBTQ and RFRA legislation that emerged from the Senate never made it to the House floor in 2024.
Teri Speaks in Opposition to SB 140 (2023)
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Colleagues, I rise before you today to speak against SB 140. The Georgia Supreme Court has held for nearly 40 years - this is a quote - "The beginning presumption is that the parent has the child's best interest at heart." They continue, "That medical decision making is a constitutional right which is not lost because of the incompetence or the youth of the patient."
We have affirmed in this General Assembly, we have codified into law legislation that has decreed that the parents are the ultimate authority to determine whether and when their children receive vaccines, whether and when their children can wear a mask against a pandemic, whether and when their children can learn about dark, tricky, complicated, confusing moments in our history. We have affirmed in this chamber that parents have that authority.
To that end, people have stated in this chamber, parents have the right to make decisions about their children's healthcare without interference from the government. We have declared in this chamber, parents are the first and most important teachers in a child's life, and they should have the freedom to choose the educational path that fits their child's needs.
A question I asked in committee that was not answered and a question I put forth before each of you today is, what makes this different? In committee and here in this chamber, we have heard examples given about tattoos, drinking alcohol, firearms.
Paul Harvey would say, "Here's the rest of the story," and I'm going to tell you right now the rest of the story. Those things - tattoos, you can get a tattoo if you're a minor with the consent of your parents; alcohol, you can consume in your home with the consent of your parents; a firearm, your parent may absolutely give you a firearm to do something legal, and if something a child does something illegal, we have also determined that, yes, 17-year-olds should not be tried as adults. And I will tell you, I doubt very many of those 17-year-olds who are deciding to commit a crime are making that decision with the consultation of their parents and their physicians.
What we are talking about today, the decisions these families are making, are not done on a whim. They're not done because a child has declared they are one gender or another. They are done after heart-wrenching anguish, confusing decisions. Trust me, if you think the issue of transgender youth is confusing for you, imagine what it is like for the families who are going through this. Imagine what it is like for these parents.
We are being intellectually inconsistent. We are being inconsistent from a policy basis. I urge you to vote against this bill.
And to the children out there and to their families who know that they are being discussed in such an intimate way, know that you are loved, know that you are valued, know that you matter, and your life matters to everyone who loves you.
I yield the well.
In HD-42 and Cobb County, the messages and actions from the Cobb and Marietta Boards of Education, particularly with regard to banning books with LGBTQ themes, are deeply concerning and mirror much of the anti-LGBTQ policies we have fought in the Legislature.
It is critical that all elected leaders not just oppose these dangerous policies, but also make clear that all LGBTQ students, faculty, staff, and families know that they are valued and respected.
Every Georgian deserves to feel safe in their community.
Speaking of hatred in Cobb County: we know that we have Nazis in America, today. We have witnessed their continued presence and hatred in our communities across the country and across this great state.
We know that, for whatever reason, they specifically think there is an audience for their hate in the place that has been my home for the past 24 years, Cobb County. They have waved their detestable banners in front of a synagogue. They have broadcasted their despicable slogans on public interstate overpasses. They have sent their deplorable, disgusting flyers to me, personally, via my post office box.
The rise of Nazism is terrifying for our Jewish neighbors in HD-42 and in Cobb County and that’s why I voted in support of HB 30, which provided an official definition of anti-semitism.
And it’s not just anti-semistim that’s on the rise. Islamophobia and anti-immigrant hate is wreaking havoc on our communities. It will be my continued priority to call out hate of any sort and to keep all Georgians safe.
Democracy
All Georgians Deserve Fair and Unobstructed Ballot Access.
I serve on the House Government Affairs Committee and have worked alongside my Democratic colleagues to fight legislation that would restrict voting rights and ballot access in Georgia, and to lessen the impact the legislation that does make it to a vote. I have also worked tirelessly to ensure that voters in my community are aware of their rights, that they know how to vote, when to vote, and where to vote, and that they understand why their vote is critical to our democracy.
I am on the record through my speeches in the House, my questions during committee meetings, and my remarks regarding SB 202 being quoted by the national and local press, including after Major League Baseball pulled the 2021 All Star Game from Atlanta. This was done by the MLB in direct response to the passage of SB 202, and bore direct and deeply negative impacts to House District 42.
Fighting for Fair Districts
Georgians deserve fair voting maps. Period. Full stop. To hear more of my thoughts, here’s my well speech from the latest Republican effort to minimize minority voting power in 2023:
Teri Speaks in Opposition to SB 3EX (2023)
Click To Read The Transcript
Click To Read The Transcript
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise before you today to speak in opposition to Senate Bill 3EX. Specifically, I intend to share my concerns regarding these proposed maps as they are not in compliance with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as well as with what this proposal means for the community that is of the most interest to me, Cobb County.
The instructions in the court order are clear: add one majority Black district in south-metro Atlanta – without eliminating any minority opportunity districts.
These maps don’t comply with the order, and the reason they don’t is because while CD 6 would be majority Black, CD7, which is currently a vibrant and diverse coalition district, and which was not identified as being in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in the order, went from 67% minority to 33% minority. From 67 percent to 33 percent. And after all that, no majority black district was added. Not in Georgia, and not in south Metro Atlanta. It’s a wash. And that’s not what the Constitution and the voting rights act demand and it is in direct contravention of the court’s order. This body is purposefully ceding its duty and responsibility and is essentially requiring the court to again step in.
About everyone who has come to this well, both for and against these maps, has noted how specific the judge is in this order. The judge specifically states – this is on page 509 – that we cannot remedy the Section 2 violation in west-metro Atlanta by “eliminating minority opportunity districts elsewhere in the plan.”
Right now, the voting age population in Georgia 7 is 30% Black, 11% Hispanic, and 11% Asian. That means it’s a minority opportunity district. This proposed remedy map moves 88 percent – eighty eight! – of the folks – in this majority-minority population – who live in CD 7 and who are currency represented by a Black woman, into new districts. Five new districts! You cannot reasonably argue that anything of that sort was the intent of the judge!
This map that we consider today does not give Black voters in Georgia – more than 140,000 Black voters as identified in the plaintiff’s map – any expanded opportunities to elect candidates of their choosing, as was ordered by the court. This map does not offer the remedy that the court demands, and for that reason I hope you will join me in voting NO.
Beyond noncompliance with the order, what do these maps do to Cobb?
Following the 2021 reapportionment, a whole lot of folks in my neck of the woods were mystified and frustrated to learn that they were included in CD 14. Not only was this a very new district for people in that part of Georgia, they now had a Congressional representative with whom they had, to be generous, very little in common. They were now also in a district with other communities with which they shared relatively few interests.
If you can explain to me what LaFayette, the Queen City, great place, has in common with Austell, also a fantastic place, and why those commonalities were apparently so compelling as to merit moving South Cobb from District 13, a district full of communities with whom they shared myriad interests, into the 14th, let’s grab a drink to discuss, because I’d love to hear it (and don’t tell me that what they have in common is an interstate highway; we’ve been down that path before).
Two years ago, I lived in the 13th. As of this moment, I live in the 11th. With this new map, I’ll live in the 6th.
I’ve lived in the same house for almost 19 years.
To be clear, South Cobb is now in the proposed CD6, which is majority Black – and the rest of Cobb is split between two additional districts that will in all likelihood – at least for now – be represented by a Republican.
I’ve remarked before that fear is a powerful motivator, and I believe that sentiment absolutely applies to the motivation behind these maps we consider today.
Cobb is a majority Democratic county, that’s the reality. Cobb voted for Clinton in 2016, and we went for Biden by an even wider margin in 2020. Cobb chose Abrams in 2018, and again in 2022 – and in 2022, the US Senate results were even more pronounced. This, in the county of Isakson, of Gingrich, of Barr. The county that in this century affixed stickers to science textbooks declaring that evolution is but a theory.
So, yeah, in my experience? There’s more than a little fear motivating these maps, especially as what we consider today is a two-thirds Republican Congressional representation for a county that is increasingly disinclined to elect Republicans.
And, this is not the first time that this body has targeted the Representative who has deep roots in Cobb, and who currently represents the 7th Congressional district. Y’all are making a bit of a hobby of it.
One thing I’ve heard a lot this past week is that “politics is a mean business.” Well, it may be. But to abandon our duty to the law, to the constitution, and the Georgia citizens? To be mean? That’s a choice.
I yield the well.
Quality of Life
What happened with Stergenics can never happen again.
Sterigenics is a true tragedy, and a preventable one at that. I was on the front lines with my colleagues working to address the issue and during the legislative session immediately following the incident. Along with my colleagues Senator Jen Jordan and Representative Erick Allen, I co-sponsored HB 3 to make sure that nothing like Sterigenics ever happens again.
Keeping our communities safe and healthy remains a top priority for me.
Safeguarding our veterans and young children by, yes, regulating fireworks.
I am always working to ensure HD-42 is the best place to live for every resident, and the time I spent serving on the Smyrna City Council gives me experience and perspective that helps me be an effective advocate for our local government on the House Government Affairs Committee. There are 159 counties and more than 500 cities in Georgia, and it’s critical for the lawmakers in the General Assembly to understand that statewide, one-size-fits-all policies won’t always work in the best interest of the people who live, work, and play in our communities.
A perfect example of this is our statewide laws regulating fireworks, and is why I sponsored HB 1484 and cosponsored HB 79 with Rep. Erick Allen. In Cobb County, we know that regulations that may appeal to Georgians who live acres away from their nearest neighbor have a very different impact on those of us who prefer to live in a community where we live a few steps away from our neighbors – close enough to borrow a cup of sugar – yet current state law prohibits cities and counties from enacting policies and ordinances that reflect the preferences of their community.
Fireworks are a fun way to celebrate an array of cultural events and holidays, but in a close-knit community like Smyrna, we also know that they can be truly detrimental to the quality of life for families with young children, veterans, and our pets. It’s absurd that our City Councilmembers and County Commissioners are powerless to pass any local ordinances because of how current state law prohibits any local control over fireworks.
Connecting the Comet:
For years, I have worked on behalf of our community to advocate for connecting the Silver Comet Trail to the Atlanta Beltline. A key component of the process was securing an agreement between the State of Georgia and CSX, the railroad that owns the 2.3-mile stretch of unused rail line in Cobb County that is critical for this connection.
Because I serve on the House Transportation Committee, I was able to help the agencies involved with this process understand why these lease negotiations are so important to ensure that we can grow our recreational and transportation options for Cobb County.