As reported in the Newnan Times-Herald Sen. Matt Brass (R – Newnan) was recently appointed to serve as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities and to serve on several influential committees for the 2019 Legislative Session by the Senate Committee on Assignments. “I am honored to be asked to serve as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities,” said Sen. Brass. “This committee is vital in overseeing some of our state’s most important resources such as telecommunications, gas and electricity. I look forward to working with members of all of the committees I serve on to ensure each piece of legislation receives the proper amount of time and attention.” In addition to serving as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities, Sen. Brass will serve as Chairman of the Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism and as Secretary...READ MORE

As reported in the AJC: Medical marijuana: Legislation will be introduced to allow medical marijuana cultivation, manufacturing and distribution to registered medical marijuana patients. Georgia’s medical marijuana law has been in place since 2015, but it remains illegal for patients to buy or transport the drug. A state-run system to grow and sell medical marijuana would give patients a legal way to obtain a medicine they say helps treat severe seizures and deadly cancer. Key players: Sen. Matt Brass, R-Newnan; Rep. Micah Gravley, R-Douglasville; and Rep. Alan Powell, R-Hartwell. Prospects: Decent. A growing number of lawmakers in the Republican-led General Assembly support state controls for distribution of medical marijuana.

As reported on All on Georgia: After meeting a number of times around the state, a group of Georgia lawmakers have recommended steps to help Georgia students with dyslexia. The Senate Study Committee on Dyslexia released its final report ahead of the legislative session that is set to begin next week. On the committee were Senators Fran Millar, Gloria Butler, and Matt Brass as well as Dr. Leslie Stuart and Mr. Garry McGiboney. Students with dyslexia, teachers that work wtih dyslexic students, and other experts in the education field testified over the course of several months to offer related testimony to lawmakers. Ultimately, the committee made three recommendations. Develop a college curriculum for future teachers so they have more tools to help identify children with dyslexia and language disorders. Screening of kindergarten students in public schools in an effort to catch signs of dyslexia at an early age. Screening would continue through the second grade since Georgia schools don’t require attendance...READ MORE