Kemp signs school bus safety law

ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 25 — his first as Georgia’s 83rd Governor — into immediate effect to improve school bus safety for families and children across the Peach State.

“First of all, I want to thank House and Senate leadership – and all members of the General Assembly – for their unanimous support of this important legislation,” Kemp said. “Republicans and Democrats all recognized that swift action was needed on this issue. When it came to ensuring the safety of our families and our children, I am proud to say that we all stood together. I would also like to thank the two bill sponsors, Sen. Bill Heath and Rep. Ginny Ehrhart, for their hard work on S.B. 25.”

Kemp was joined by the bill’s sponsors — Heath, R-Bremen, and Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs — along with State School Superintendent Richard Woods; Department of Public Safety Commissioner Col. Mark McDonough; two of Kemp’s floor leaders, Rep. Jodi Lott, R-Evans, and Dominic LaRiccia, R-Douglas; Margaret Ciccarelli, director of legislative affairs for the Professional Association of Georgia Educators; Angie Davis, the Cobb County state court clerk; Rebecca Grist, solicitor general of Macon-Bibb County; Barry Morgan, solicitor general of Cobb County, and Terry Norris, executive director of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association.

“This was a team effort – from the General Assembly, law enforcement, educators, and concerned citizens – to do the right thing and help save lives,” Kemp said during remarks at the bill-signing. “As my first bill signed into law as Georgia’s 83rd governor, S.B. 25 shows that there are many important issues here at the state Capitol that we can all agree on. I hope S.B. 25 serves as a model as we move through this legislative session, and in the coming years, of what Republicans and Democrats can accomplish together to keep Georgians safe.”