Lawmakers Day 1: Georgia Senate passes resolution to continue Fani Willis probe

The first day in the Senate started low key with Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones addressing new and returning senators.

“I would like to welcome everyone here today,” Jones said. “It is wonderful to be back. Wonderful to be back. How's everybody doing this morning?”

Four new senators, three Democrats and one Republican, joined the chamber as the whole Senate was sworn in.

Even with the new Democrats, the power balance will remain with Republicans, who hold a 33 to 23 majority.

Also of note, the Senate celebrated the start of Sen. David Lucas' 50th legislative session.

“It's been my pleasure,” said an emotional Lucas, a Democrat who represents Hancock, Twiggs, Washington and Wilkinson counties. "I got educated up here. It's been my pledge to serve. Never thought I'd be here this long. This is the place where you get real lessons about Georgia, what Georgia is about, what it means for us to do the best that we can for our Georgia citizens. It's been a good 50 years. Hope I can do another.”

With that, the Senate was seated and new session business was conducted, including electing Sen. John F. Kennedy as the Senate President Pro Tempore for a third year. Longtime secretary of the Senate David Cook's replacement, James Tripp, was also unanimously elected.

But a more controversial issue was brought up as the Senate passed the first six Senate resolutions. Senate Resolution 5 would reauthorize the Senate's investigation of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis's appropriation of money in her case against President-elect Donald Trump for election interference.

“It is not only the work of that committee that requires us to continue," said Republican Sen. Greg Dolezal, "but it has been the actions of the district attorney to fight our lawfully submitted subpoena. And as you have probably heard in December, Judge Ingram ruled that we were indeed correct. And we do have the power under the Georgia Constitution to subpoena her for this work.”

Democrats pushed back, calling the continuation of the investigation purely political.

“This is a fixation on the past,” said Sen. Josh McLaurin. "But worse than that, it is a fixation on the past that is driven primarily by the obsessions of one man.”

The resolution was passed along party lines, 33 to 23.

Meanwhile, the House kicked off the 2025 session by swearing in members, including 18 new representatives. Supreme Court of Georgia Chief Justice Michael Boggs administered the oath of office.

“I hope you find your public service as enjoyable as I have mine,” he told the new members.

Members also reelected Republican John Burns as Speaker of the House in a 153 to 21 vote and Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones in a 158 to 19 vote.

“Together we will prioritize the future generations of our state by fully funding Quality Basic Education, expanding funding for pre-K programs, increasing literacy initiatives and providing pay raises for our teachers and educators across Georgia,” Burns said. “And together we will continue to champion in every citizen, business and family that calls our state home.”

Burns also highlighted strengthening the medical workforce, protecting IVF and banning transgender girls from participating in girls sports as other priorities. Long-term Clerk of the House Bill Riley, as well as Cory Mulkey, head doorkeeper, and Betsy Thiru House, messenger, were all reelected unanimously. The House also approved new rules for the chamber, which included limiting how many bills a member can introduce.

“This would make clear that a member during each session shall not introduce more than 10 bills," Majority leader Chuck Efstration said. "And I just want to provide some clarity on this — certainly to streamline the process with respect to Legislative Council and the clerk's office when they are processing the amount of legislation that has to come through — it's very helpful for them to be able to process that in a timely manager manner so that we have copies out of, out on our desk that we're able to consider legislation in committee,”

The House approved a schedule for the full 40 days before gaveling out.