Northeast Georgia lawmakers made an impact during the 2023-2024 legislative sessions. Scores on their effectiveness during that two-year session have been released by the Center for Effective Lawmaking
Co-Directors Craig Volden and Alan E. Wiseman for the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) have released its rankings of the most effective legislators in Georgia’s 157th General Assembly (2023–2024). The biennial report spotlights veteran lawmakers, powerful committee chairs, and standout newcomers.
The report follows legislation and policies introduced by lawmakers during their two-year term. Based on its State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES), the report offers a detailed picture of who advanced meaningful policy and how.
Key takeaways
Majority-party lawmakers and committee chairs remained dominant in terms of legislative productivity.
Freshman legislators like Matt Reeves and Jason Esteves outpaced expectations and showed promise for future leadership roles.
Lawmakers like Rep. Patty Stinson and Sen. Emanuel Jones extended long-running streaks of high performance.
Veteran legislators including Rep. Victor Anderson, Rep. Alan Powell, and Sen. Bo Hatchett proved their enduring legislative influence.
House Republicans: Leverett leads, Powell and Anderson deliver
At the top of the Republican House rankings is Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton), who posted a stellar SLES of 5.57. As Chair of the powerful House Committee on Reapportioning and Redistricting, Leverett saw 19 of his 29 sponsored bills become law.
Veteran lawmaker Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell) also made the top-10, earning a score of 2.71. Powell, a committee chair with deep institutional knowledge, continues to exert strong influence in shaping policy.
Meanwhile, Rep. Victor Anderson (R-Cornelia), a non-chair, earned a SLES of 3.61—outperforming many of his peers with committee leadership roles. His effectiveness demonstrates the impact legislators can have through relationships, negotiation, and policy focus.
Top house republicans by effectiveness
- Rob Leverett (5.57) – Chair
- Gerald Greene (5.23) – Chair
- Kasey Carpenter (4.87) – Chair
- Victor Anderson (3.61) – Non-Chair
- Alan Powell (2.71) – Chair
Senate Republicans: Burns on top, Hatchett shows staying power
Sen. Max Burns (R-Sylvania) emerged as the most effective Senate Republican, with a score of 3.17. He successfully advanced 16 of his 20 bills into law—many dealing with election procedures and economic development.
Another name on the rise is Sen. Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia), who earned a SLES of 2.13. While not currently a committee chair, Hatchett’s consistent performance and legislative success earned him a place in the top-10 Republican senators. His work focused heavily on education and healthcare access in rural communities.
Top Senate Republicans by Effectiveness
- Max Burns (3.17) – Chair
- Randy Robertson (3.11) – Non-Chair
- Ricky Williams (2.65) – Chair
- Bo Hatchett (2.13) – Non-Chair
House Democrats: Stinson, Scott, and newcomers shine
Democrat Rep. Patty Stinson (D-Butler) led her caucus with a SLES of 2.35 and extended her streak of “Exceeds Expectations” to four straight sessions. Fellow Democrat Rep. Sandra Scott (D-Rex) followed closely and set the all-time record with a five-session streak.
Freshman Rep. Omari Crawford (D-Decatur) also impressed, earning a score of 1.12 in his first term—solidifying his spot among emerging voices in the legislature.
Senate Democrats: Jones sets the standard
Veteran Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) continues to be a model of consistent legislative productivity, topping the Senate Democrats with a score of 1.22 and extending his unmatched seven-session streak of exceeding expectations.
Freshman Sen. Jason Esteves (D-Atlanta) made waves in his debut, finishing with a solid 1.01 score and proving he could keep pace with more senior lawmakers.
Rising stars: New faces, big results
The CEL report also highlighted the high-performing freshmen legislators who “Exceeded Expectations”, a key predictor of long-term influence.
Among them:
- Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) with a standout score of 4.62.
- Rep. Scott Hilton (R-Peachtree Corners) and Rep. Karen Lupton (D-Chamblee) also made the cut.
- Sen. Ricky Williams (R-Milledgeville) ranked third among Senate Republicans with a score of 2.65.
- Sen. Jason Esteves (D-Atlanta) rounded out the top-performing new Senators.
Legislative effectiveness: A look at the system
CEL’s report emphasizes that committee leadership, majority-party affiliation, and experience are all linked to higher scores. For instance, majority-party House members averaged 1.46, compared to 0.41 for minority-party members.
But lawmakers like Rob Leverette, Victor Anderson, Alan Powell, and Bo Hatchett show that effectiveness isn’t just about titles—strategic action, legislative skill, and persistence matter just as much.
Click here to see a copy of the Executive Summary from the Center for Effective Lawmaking.
