Summer Fun and Summer Work

Summer Fun on the Water and Summer Legislative Work!

Growing up, my summers were all about the swimming pool and fun outdoors. After I graduated from Druid Hills High School, I was a lifeguard for DeKalb County swimming pools for two years. So, this summer I was thrilled to be invited to Midway Pool in HD 84 to celebrate swimmers at the DeKalb County Swim Showcase. Many of the children are swimming competitively and others are learning to swim for the first time, and it was fun to be with them for their races. At least two of them are enjoying college scholarships for their schools’ swim teams. Swimming is a great lifetime sport, and I have enjoyed swimming a few laps this summer at Ebster Pool in Decatur.

A fun event at Midway Pool. Nidrea Ashford and Coach Stephon Jones are doing a great job!

A sunny afternoon at Ebster Pool in Decatur -- perfect!

I was invited by Georgia Rivers for a river trip with legislators on the Chattahoochee and had a great time. Joe Cook led our paddle and took great photos of the outing, and the Nantahala Outdoor Center provided our equipment. The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area has very easy access points close to I-285 and Cobb Parkway—very convenient! Senator Jaha Howard and his teenage sons joined us, and several friends of Rep. Dr. Arlene Beckles also enjoyed the day. Thank you Georgia Rivers for all you do and for a great paddle!

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Now a report on my summer legislative work...

Housing Updates for the 2027 General Assembly Session

Housing will continue to be a major issue for DeKalb County, Georgia, and the nation.  I've spent time this summer reviewing the progress that's being made and highlighting issues that need to be brought before the Georgia General Assembly in its 2027-2028 session that convenes on January 11, 2027.

A DeKalb County Comprehensive Housing Plan is being developed under the leadership of CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. This month I attended the Community Showcase Town Hall at the Porter Sanford Community Center, where the team described many of the activities and plans that are being developed. Here are the slidesthat were presented at the August 17th community meeting. You can provide additional input virtually. I applaud CEO Cochran-Johnson for her leadership and particularly for her efforts to bring the development authority, businesses, county resources, and Housing Authority resources together for major development plans including affordable housing options. DeKalb County and the Housing Authority have moved 60 families into apartments in Stone Mountain for their first effort in transitional housing for vulnerable families living in extended stay hotels. This project is a step toward more stable housing, and I hope this effort will be expanded to other parts of the county to assist the thousands of working parents trapped in badly managed and dangerous hotels. I anticipate the hotel industry will again be at the Capitol to further their legislative agenda to make evictions more efficient for tenants in their hotels.

Among the facts I learned about the issues of housing facing DeKalb County are:

• 44% of homes in DeKalb were built before 1979, and 56% of current housing is single-family detached: DeKalb needs more middle housing availability
• Median home values have increased by 115% in the past 10 years, and the price of rent has increased 86% in that time
• DeKalb residents report that “quality homes are out of reach”·      

On the federal level the bipartisan ROAD Act was passed, and despite the President’s threats to veto, the bill became law without his signature. One of the issues included in the ROAD Act is a cap on the number of single-family homes that can be owned by out-of-state corporate investors. I have reached out to Commissioner Christopher Nunn at Georgia Department of Community Affairs, real estate lobbyists, and others to evaluate the bill’s provisions and any loopholes that Georgia should consider closing. A summary of the ROAD Act can be reviewed here – there is clearly more work to do.

I am meeting with many colleagues, including housing advocates at the Georgia Supportive Housing Association and HouseATL and also my co-sponsoring legislators from the 2025-2026 session to review the Housing package the Democratic Caucus introduced and discuss what bills will be introduced again along with new legislative proposals.  Again, we will look for bipartisan efforts that were sorely missing in 2026. In the coming months I will detail these legislative proposals and ask for your opinions and help. We must strengthen the rights of tenants to respond to eviction actions, specifically define habitability, and focus on legislative solutions to unlimited fees that are charged by landlords in the application process. HB 1166, which allowed construction of tiny houses on your property and passed the House but was stopped in the Senate, will be introduced again, and other zoning amendments will also be offered. I know that these issues along with many others will be part of our discussions. Thank you for your continued interest!

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Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia's Foster Care System

Speaker Burns appointed me to this Joint Study Committee to study the 100s of millions of dollars the Division of Family and Children Services spends for foster care services. The Committee met for the first time August 13 and will meet again on September 17. You can review all of the five-hour hearing (one 15-minute break) on the House web site here and watch the upcoming hearing live streamed—or join us in person!

I was impressed by the detailed presentations from the Casey Family Foundation and other agency presentations, particularly the discussion led by Dr. Christy Doyle on work of the MATCH Committee created by HB 1013 in 2022, the Mental Health Reform bill led by Speaker David Ralston.  

The Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission is ongoing and is preparing a summary report of all the legislative and budget improvements that have been made since enactment of HB 1013.  I am also spending time this summer with this Commission and its Hospital and Short-term Care Facilities Subcommittee led by Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald. I am hopeful the study committee on DFCS cost overruns will include an analysis of federal money that is not being applied for or used by DFCS leadership. In particular, I do not believe we have implemented the federal Family First Prevention Services Act completely and we have left money on the table by this failure to concentrate our resources on prevention. The Commissioner of DHR continues to focus on increased cost of serving children with the most extensive needs, which is relevant, and complains about unlawful orders issued by juvenile court judges which I am not certain is a true legal factor in the cost overruns. There is a great deal of energy behind this study effort, and I am optimistic we will have proposals to hand to whomever is elected governor in November. There is no doubt that there is a need for adjustments in the DFCS leadership in order to create a realistic and accurate budget for the 10,000 children in Georgia's foster care system.

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Participant Directed Advocacy Forum

On August 25, I participated in a panel discussion with fellow legislators to talk about next steps and opportunities for policy action in the field of Home and Community-Based Services in Georgia. A delightful former client of mine, Kate Crews, invited me to join this conversation at the Carter Center as part of the Participant Directed Advocates of Georgia's Leading Change Conference. There was a huge crowd, and I enjoyed being with these good family advocates.

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Georgia Recorder article on Olmstead Decision

We recently received additional bad news from the Trump Department of Justice relative to its lack of interest in enforcement of the civil rights guaranteed by the United States Supreme Court decision of Olmsted v LC. Thank you, Georgia Recorder for this good analysis and heads up about what additional problems the current President intends to create. My concerns are detailed in the article, specifically my worry that the Justice Department officially states it has little or no interest in protecting the civil rights of Georgia citizens with disabilities.

Next governor will shape future of disability care.

State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, a Decatur Democrat, said she was disappointed by the federal memo and called it a “blatant disregard” of civil rights. Oliver, a practicing attorney and a lawmaker who has been influential on mental health issues, said the memo creates new uncertainty.

“It’s a direct message to the state that the Department of Justice is not going to enforce the civil rights of Georgia citizens,” Oliver said.

“We cannot count on politicians, even on a good day, to always be mindful of the constitutional rights of the people they represent.”

Oliver said many lawmakers are committed to helping people with disabilities but it’s difficult to balance funding priorities. This year’s gubernatorial race could lead to policy changes across Georgia’s mental health and disability care system, she added.

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Updates on MARTA

There have been visible and positive changes at MARTA this summer. After serving as the interim General Manager/CEO for the past year, Jonathan Hunt has been named to that position permanently

MARTA’s performance in support of FIFA was fantastic. There is a good feeling about MARTA’s future, and I remain optimistic about progress for formal adoption and funding of the Emory corridor after 35 years of waiting. But, the General Assembly's, particularly the Senate’s hostility to public transportation, needs to cease for the state to do what is needed. Georgia remains far behind other states of our size and economic growth in funding public transportation, and local issues like noise, unpopular route changes, and timeliness of buses remain as problems to solve.  Decatur and DeKalb County are important players for MARTA’s future, and we need to grow better partnerships. More work to be done. How do you want MARTA to serve you in DeKalb County?

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Election Season!

Traditionally, most people think that the election season begins after Labor Day. But given the amount of money being spent, the industry that has been created around elections, and the media buy options that have expanded dramatically, we know that campaigns never stop. This year in Georgia the total cost of campaigns will exceed $1 billion. Republican Rick Jackson alone will exceed any and all past records for a state governor’s campaign, based primarily on his personal wealth.

I have spent time this summer helping my friends with their campaigns and supporting efforts to elect Democrats in the November 2026 election. I am grateful, very grateful, to support other campaigns because I do not have an opponent myself.

Many of my friends are actively engaged in volunteer efforts to elect their favorite candidates. The DeKalb Democratic Party is very active, Indivisible, The Fighting 50, Georgia WIN List, Movement Voter Project, and many other organizations are offering you ways to volunteer or contribute financially. If you have any questions about how to engage in any campaign, please let me know. Our opportunities to bring a better leadership to the US Senate and the US House of Representatives in Congress and better leadership for Georgia are exciting this year, and I am optimistic! I am at work to ensure good results. If you have questions about any candidate or any campaign, please feel free to call me.

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Upcoming Fall Opportunity

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Seeking YOUR input!

New Poll Questions!

Now, I want to ask your opinion about specific data center issues. We know there are many questions and concerns from individuals in neighborhoods across DeKalb County and across the nation about data centers. How should the general assembly respond?

Should the General Assembly put a 1-year moratorium on new construction for data centers?YesNoShould the General Assembly freeze municipal tax incentives for data centers?YesNo

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OUT AND ABOUT

I always like to share with you my activities as your Representative for House District 84. Please let me know at mmo@mmolaw.com if you have any suggestions for events that you would like for me to attend in your neighborhood. Thanks!

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The Decatur Book Festival is coming up, and keynote Brian Goldstone opens Oct. 2! I joined Mary Kay Andrews, Carol Morgan, and ED Bailee Yarbrough for celebration of the festival— see you there!

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Many friends gathered a few weeks ago at Manuel’s Tavern for a 70th Anniversary party—- good times! Special treat — Seed & Feed Marching Abominable!!

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Each year I’m happy to host the Emory Law School Barton Center’s child welfare law and graduate students who work with juvenile court judges, child advocacy centers, and groups serving foster care children across Georgia. They have an opportunity to work with lawyers in the child welfare system and imagine a career path for themselves.

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Kevin Tanner has a great office view! We met to talk about next steps for the Behavioral Health Commission that he Chairs. He has been a fabulous public policy leader for mental health reform!

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Way cool back-to-school supplies event in HD 84! Congrats and thank you to all the volunteers and to Walmart. Great crowd!

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The DeKalb House delegation held a town hall in July to talk about the events of the Special Session. We were joined by our hosts, members of the Tucker City Council. I always learn from voters who attend— thank you. Data Centers continues to be the most predictable topic for 2026.

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QUICK LINKS FOR YOU

I am on the following legislative committees. You can watch live every time they meet. Click on the links below for livestreams, agendas, archives and more.

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Committees:

• Appropriations
• Governmental Affairs
• Judiciary
• Juvenile Justice
• MARTOC
• Public Health - Secretary
• Technology and Infrastructure Innovation

Subcommittees:

• Appropriations - Human Resources
• Governmental Affairs - State and Local Government
• Judicial - Leverett (two)

You can search for and track bills, watch the House (or Senate) in Session, watch committee hearings, monitor legislation by committee, and find contact information —- all on the revamped General Assembly website. Here are quick links:

• General Assembly website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/
• House Session meetings and many committee hearings are available to watch online: https://www.legis.ga.gov/house
• Archived videos of meetings and hearings: https://www.legis.ga.gov/house/media-services

Make your views known and tell me what issues interest you the most.