Sen. Max Burns, R-Sylvania, has been reappointed as chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics.
“This committee is vital in ensuring that our democratic process is respected to the fullest extent,” Burns said in a statement. “I, along with my fellow committee members, will continue to work to determine that any and all ethical violations are swiftly handled through the committee process and that legislation is created that strengthens and secures our democracy.”
The ethics committee was assigned 59 bills during the last session, most of which involved the conduct of elections. Many were incorporated into Senate Bill 202, which imposed new restrictions on voting such as limits on the use of ballot drop boxes.
The committee also has jurisdiction over ethical issues involving the senate, government entities and public officials. It worked on the Ethics in Government Act of 2021, which attempted to limit fundraising by candidates during the session and through committees.
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The former college business professor and dean and U.S. Congressman from 2003-2005, Burns has other committee appointments as well. He will serve as vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher Education and as a member of the Senate Committees on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and the new Senate Committee on Children and Families.
Burns’ Senate District 23 includes portions of Richmond and Columbia counties as well as Burke, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, McDuffie, Screven, Taliaferro and Warren counties.
Susan McCord is a staff writer with The Augusta Press. Reach her at susan@theaugustapress.com
