Friends,
(Screenshot: The Georgia Diagnosis, Season 1, Episode 02)
It’s been an unusually busy week at the Capitol and around the state, likely the busiest week I’ve had this early in session since I was first elected.
The benefit of now serving in my third term at the Georgia General Assembly is that each year I learn a little more, see new opportunities, and get a little bit better at my job. It’s not an easy work environment, but one where you can get good work done if you know how and where to look.
We have a long newsletter this week, but one you definitely don’t want to skip. You ready to dive in? Then let’s go.
FULTON COUNTY ELECTION FBI RAID
(Via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, click here to read full article)
This Wednesday afternoon a caravan of FBI investigators arrived in Union City, Georgia to execute a search warrant at the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center. This site houses all of the election data and equipment of Georgia’s most populous county, and a Democratic stronghold.
Among the materials seized were approximately 700 boxes of ballots from the 2020 election, the same ballots that were counted, recounted, audited, and litigated, only to repeatedly prove that Joe Biden won the election in Georgia.
Five years later, the facts have not changed, though the administration has. And Donald Trump seems determined to rewrite history, not just to change the results of the 2020 election, but to manipulate the outcome of the election in 2026.
Some key points.
Fulton officials still don’t know where 2020 ballots were taken
(Photo credit: Mark Neisse / Capitol Beat)
“We do not know where our election records have been taken or what will happen to them now that they’re out of our control,” Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts said. “I don’t know where they are. I don’t know who has them. I don’t know what they’re doing with them.”
While the ballots had been secure inside the warehouse where they were being stored amid ongoing litigation over the 2020 election, county officials can no longer be responsible for the seized items, and there has been no established chain of custody for those ballots to keep them safe or free of manipulation.
As a state legislator representing a swing district in North Fulton County, not to mention a 2020 Fulton County voter whose own ballot was among those seized, I find this seizure of our voter information extremely alarming.
Republicans could take control of the Fulton Election Board
(Via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, click here to read full article)
In 2021 Georgia’s Republican majority legislature passed SB 202, a sweeping elections bill that sought to curtail the voter turnout leading to Donald Trump’s electoral loss. (While this was not its most effective provision, one of the most well-known parts of SB 202 made it a misdemeanor to offer food or water to voters waiting in line.)
However, one of the lesser known provisions of SB 202 is also among its most worrisome – a measure allowing state officials to take over what they determine to be “underperforming” boards of election.
(Via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, click here to read full article)
The FBI raid of the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center could provide our Republican majority pretext to do just that. After all, they’ve been trying to do just this since 2021.
What could this mean for upcoming elections? According to my colleague Rep. Saira Draper, former Director of Voter Protection for the Biden campaign in 2020:
“If Republicans can take over bright blue Fulton County, they don’t need to run good candidates. They don’t need to win the battle of ideas. They’d be in position to win every statewide race in Georgia in 2026.”
Head of Atlanta’s FBI office exited days before raid
Former Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown (Photo credit: Jason Getz / AJC)
Per reporting from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Shaddi Abusaid:
“The former head of the FBI’s Atlanta office appears to have left the agency shortly before Wednesday’s seizure of 2020 ballots and other election-related materials from Fulton County.
Former Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown [was] still listed on the FBI Atlanta website [until Friday], but one of his former deputies, Peter Ellis, now heads the local office in an interim capacity.
The recent change in leadership was not publicly announced, but a news release sent out Tuesday quotes Ellis as the acting special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta. Brown, who had been with the FBI since 2006, headed the Atlanta office for less than a year.”
Election fraud claims have been debunked for years
(Via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, click here to read full article)
Georgia’s 2020 election results have been the cornerstone of numerous discredited election conspiracy theories for years. It’s worth revisiting some of these.
- CONSPIRACY THEORY: Two Fulton County election workers–Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss–pulled “suitcases” of fraudulent ballots from beneath the table and counted them on election night. (These allegations were FALSE, and Freeman and Moss ultimately won a $148M defamation verdict against Rudy Giuliani for making these accusations.)
- CONSPIRACY THEORY: At least 66,247 underage people, 10,315 dead people, 2,423 people who were not registered to vote in Georgia and thousands of other ineligible people had cast ballots. (These bizarrely specific allegations were DISPROVEN, and even Ken Block, an expert hired by the Trump campaign in 2020 to look for fraud, rejected the analyses, saying, ““Every single claim they asked me to look at was false.”
- CONSPIRACY THEORY: Dominion voting machines flipped votes from Trump to Biden. (These allegations were FALSE, and Dominion Voting Systems won a $787 million settlement of defamation claims against Fox News in 2023.)
(Via The Guardian, click to read full article)
- CONSPIRACY THEORY: According to the right-wing conspiracy propaganda film “2000 Mules,” shadowy individuals deposited fraudulent ballots into drop boxes across metro Atlanta. (These allegations were UNSUBSTANTIATED, the GBI reviewed the ballot-stuffing allegations and found they lacked sufficient evidence to merit a law enforcement investigation. Further, the conservative organization behind the allegation of fraud, True the Vote, acknowledged in a court filing it didn’t have evidence to support its story of a “ballot trafficking” scheme.
Those of us who have been working in Georgia politics since 2020 understand that not only has Georgia asserted itself as the center of gravity for American elections, what happens in Georgia doesn’t stay in Georgia. How we respond to this FBI raid and its reported outcome could well determine what increasingly brazen attempts to seize elections and rewrite history we see in other states.
Stay alert, stay engaged, and stay tuned.
GEORGIA PROPERTY TAX
(Via the Georgia Recorder, click here to read full article)
This week, Georgia Republicans unveiled a bill proposing to totally eliminate Georgia’s property tax. Some key aspects of the proposal:
- Property tax elimination on primary residences by 2032
- Interim relief in the form of doubling the state homestead exemption yearly until the equivalent of a 100% homestead exemption is reached
- Caps on revenue growth for properties not covered by the full homestead exemption to protect renters
So let me start here. I pay property taxes too. It is a sizable annual expense, and I definitely feel it when it leaves my bank account. I know the prospect of not having to write that big check each year sounds very appealing at first blush, particularly when so many people are feeling the pressure of a higher cost of living.
But as a lawmaker, and as your representative, it is my job to look not just at what feels politically popular but at how decisions like this impact the state, and our district in particular.
So let’s learn a little bit about what your annual property tax pays for.
(Image source: Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Georgia property taxes primarily fund local government services, with the largest portion typically supporting public schools, followed by county operations, police/fire protection, infrastructure (roads, bridges), and parks. These ad valorem taxes are calculated based on 40% of the fair market value of the property (though this can vary by county).
A breakdown of this funding:
- Public education – The largest share of property tax revenue goes to school districts for teacher salaries, school maintenance, and operations.
- Public safety – Funds police departments, fire departments, emergency services (911 systems), and jails.
- Infrastructure and roads – Pays for construction and repair of roads, bridges, traffic signals, and sidewalks.
- Local government services – Supports libraries, parks, recreational facilities, sanitation (garbage pickup/recycling), and general administration.
- Debt service – Covers debt from voter-approved bonds for public improvements.
These taxes are levied by local jurisdictions (cities and counties) rather than the state, though a small state levy can apply.
(Image source: johnscreekga.gov)
In deciding whether we should eliminate the state property tax, it is reasonable to first consider how we will cover such important expenses while eliminating this key source of revenue. The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) estimates the total lost local revenues would be at least $5 billion. This means we’ll need to fund the money elsewhere, or else cut important services that we value.
One way to offset some of these losses would be for localities to raise their sales tax. However, there are limits to how high local officials can take their sales tax rate, with the limit still at 5% in addition to the state’s 4% rate.
Further, sales taxes are regressive, in that they take a larger percentage of income from low-income households than from high-income households. All families need to buy taxable necessities like food, clothing, and household goods, but a flat sales tax rate means lower-income individuals must spend a greater share of their earnings on these necessities, leaving less for savings.
Also, just to make a purely logical point, it seems strange to make the case that eliminating homeowners property tax is a way to deliver financial relief to Georgians when the compensatory solution is to raise their sales taxes. Note that not all Georgians can afford to be homeowners–this is particularly true among younger residents–but everyone needs to pay for goods and services.
(Source: House Resolution 1114)
A little bit of inside baseball here. To eliminate the state property tax would require a constitutional amendment, which requires a 2/3rds vote in both chambers. (This is higher than the simple majority required for most legislation). Passage of the amendment resolution would place this issue on the ballot for the next general election in an even-numbered year.
A second bill, what we call the “enabling legislation,” would also need to pass out of both chambers. While the amendment itself changes the state’s fundamental law, the enabling legislation provides the practical “how-to” for its execution. Typically, enabling legislation requires only a simple majority to pass, though it must still be signed by the Governor, who could veto this but not the amendment itself.
The resolution proposing the constitutional amendment is HR 1114, and the enabling legislation is HB 1116. Please follow our newsletter for updates as we move through the legislative process, and if you live in House District 50 reach out to my office with your input, either for or against. My most important job is to represent my district, and serve its best interests.
NEW COMMITTEE ALERT
I’m pleased to announce that I’ve been selected by Speaker Burns to serve out the remainder of the 2026 on the powerful Appropriations Committee, which is tasked with crafting the state budget. I will be serving on the Health Appropriations subcommittee, which will focus on how health priorities are funded in Georgia.
I’m humbled by the Speaker and Chairman Hatchett’s faith in my work, and honored by the trust placed in me by my constituents of Georgia’s 50th House District. Now let’s get to work!
TEAM AU BILL TRACKER
Exciting news! Our bill HB 326, State Health Benefit Plan Nonopioid Coverage Parity Act, will be heard in the House Health committee on Monday, February 2nd at 2pm! You can watch the committee livestream here.
Opioid use disorder and fatal overdoses cost our nation $1.02 trillion in 2017 alone. We can’t ignore how this burden falls on taxpayers. When safer alternatives exist, continuing to funnel public funds into a system that promotes addictive medications over newer, non-addictive options isn’t just poor healthcare policy—it’s fiscally irresponsible.
That’s why bills like HB 326 and its federal analog, The Alternatives to PAIN Act, are so critical. While the federal bill deals with Medicare coverage, our bipartisan state level bill HB 326 would require our State Health Benefit Plan to increase access to non-opioid pain management options at rates no less favorable than coverage for traditional opioids. It removes bureaucratic barriers that often force patients toward addictive medications, even when safer options exist.
As a doctor, I took an oath to “first, do no harm.” As a legislator, I have a duty to protect both public health and taxpayer resources. The Non-Opioid Coverage Parity Act accomplishes both.
(Via James Magazine Online, click here to read full piece)
I published an Op-Ed in James Magazine last year discussing why I think this bill is so crucial for patients. You can read it here.
THE GEORGIA DIAGNOSIS
Available on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube
Team Au is in pre-production for Season 2 of our podcast THE GEORGIA DIAGNOSIS, and we want to hear from you!
Whose stories do you want to hear, and what fascinating voices would you love to have included? Fill out our podcast survey here. Thank you for listening to and sharing our first season, and for helping us make Season 2 even better!
Catch up on Season 1 of THE GEORGIA DIAGNOSIS on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.
TEAM AU IN ACTION
Op-Ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(Click here to read full piece)
Proud of my team as my Senior Health Policy Advisor Dr. Nathan Holterman and I co-authored an Opinions piece in this week’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution! It details the way Georgia has been rendered uniquely vulnerable to the expiration of the enhanced ACA premium subsidies, and offers some solutions for the state legislature to ensure that patients have access to affordable, quality care.
Strong work, Dr. Holterman!
Addiction Recovery Awareness Day at the Capitol
As C0-Chair of the bipartisan Georgia General Assembly Working Group on Addiction and Recovery I was pleased to welcome people from around the state to ARAD 2026 – Addiction Recovery Awareness Day at the Capitol!
Representing over 800,000 Georgians, ARAD 2026 celebrates that recovery, educates the public, and advocates for change through promotion of prevention, early intervention, treatment access, and long-term recovery across the state.
Welcome to The People’s House! If you have a group who would like to visit the capitol and be acknowledged in the House chamber, please reach out to my office!
Meeting with Morehouse Medical Students and Residents
Each session I have been blessed to have several chances to meet with medical students and residents from the Morehouse School of Medicine on their health policy rotation. It is inspiring to spend time with these future leaders and to hear what issues they care about most.
This week we discussed a focus on gun safety, healthcare access, and opioid risk mitigation. Among those who visited were those looking to specialize in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine. Thank you for all you do for our patients, and I hope you decide to stay and practice in Georgia!
Emergency Medicine Residents at the Capitol
Enjoyed meeting with these Emergency Medicine residents at the Capitol this week as they learned the ins and outs of health policy and medical advocacy. Our emergency rooms are the frontline for so much patient care, and covered access to that care has become increasingly uncertain.
One interesting topic we covered was the availability of and funding for warming centers in the Atlanta metro area, an issue that particularly impacts our patients experiencing homelessness. Appreciate your commitment and focus on the work ahead!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Please join the Legislative Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus for our third annual Lunar New Year at the Capitol as we welcome the community to The People’s House and ring in the Year of the Horse!
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Georgia State Capitol, South Steps
Lion Dance starts 12PM
Buffet lunch to follow, open to all!
* * *
It has never been more important to pay attention to the work of state legislatures. Thank you as ever for your support so that we can keep doing this most important work together.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office should you need any assistance, or if you have any concerns you’d like me to address on your behalf.
It is my honor to be your voice in the Georgia House of Representatives.
In service,
