Ben Watson
Born
1959
Contact
Email · ben.watson@senate.ga.gov
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17
Bills sponsored
this session · 1,083 all-time
227
Bills co-sponsored
this session · 227 all-time
—
Enacted into law
counting…
1676
Recorded votes
99%
Vote participation
voted in 99% of 1676 recorded votes
Voting scorecard
unknown session · computed from recorded roll-call votes
Party unity
99%
based on 1347 votes
Votes with own party's majority
Independence
1%
based on 1347 votes
Votes against own party's majority
Participation
98.5%
based on 1347 votes
Roll calls where a yes/no was cast
Sponsored (introduced)
1083 billsCurrent session 17 bills
- SR 1004 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; recognize Introduced
- SR 921 Kevin "Catfish" Jackson Memorial Intersection; Chatham County; dedicate Introduced
- SR 652 Physician's Day; recognize February 4, 2026 Introduced
- SR 621 Wakefield, Ronald 'Ron' F.; recognize Introduced
- SR 330 Wessinger, Dr. William Nettles; condolences Introduced
- SR 195 Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; recognize March 2025 Introduced
- SR 182 Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), Community Service Boards (CSBs), and First Responders; commend Introduced
- SR 78 Trocheck, Kathy Hogan; recognize Introduced
- SR 77 Great Dane; congratulate Introduced
- SR 47 Physician's Day; recognize February 5, 2025 Introduced
- SR 46 Bryan Day; recognize January 28, 2025 Introduced
- SB 552 "True Patriotism and Universal Student Access (TPUSA) Act"; enact Signed
- SB 427 Physicians; limited provisional licenses and a pathway to licensure for certain internationally trained physicians; provide Signed
- SB 340 City of Tybee Island; selection of a mayor pro tem; provide Signed
- SB 95 Certificate of Need Program; an exemption from certificate of need requirements concerning life plan communities; revise Introduced
- SB 78 "City of Tybee Island Buildings and Public Facilities Authority Act"; enact Signed
- SB 30 Hospitals and Related Institutions; hormone therapies and puberty-blocking medications for certain purposes to minors; prohibit prescribing or administering Introduced
Historical 1066 bills
- SB 411 Electric Membership Corporations; comply with certain requirements in determining the rates for attachments to utility poles by communications service providers; require Died
- SR 574 Georgia Department of Transportation; complete the widening of Highway 80/State Road 26; urge Died
- SB 309 'Georgia Municipal and Local Government Infrastructure Finance Authority Act'; comprehensive regulation of local government infrastructure financing; provide Died
- SR 854 Article V of the United States Constitution; a convention of the states; apply Failed
- SB 415 Civil Practice and Litigation; several titles of the O.C.G.A.; amend and revise Died
- SB 155 Torts; damages; an action to recover damages from death or injury only actual amounts paid for health care services/treatment be recoverable; provide Died
- SB 390 Civil Practice and Litigation; several titles of the O.C.G.A.; amend and revise Died
- SB 98 Elections and Primaries; ranked voting for runoffs by overseas citizens and military personnel; authorize Died
- SR 12 Sales Tax; educational purposes; expended for school security projects; provide -CA Died
- SR 867 Massey, Abit; recognize Died
- SR 546 Bailey, Ms. Dottie; commend; Mental Health Alert Wristband; local law enforcement agencies to purchase and freely distribute; encourage Died
- SR 553 Together Georgia Day; recognize January 29, 2020 Died
- SB 344 Witness or Criminal Defendant; certain proceedings conducted by video conference; requirements; provide Died
- SR 793 Joint Private Financing of Infrastructure Study Committee; create Died
- SR 851 Thomaston-Upson Community Heart & Soul Day; recognize March 2, 2020 Died
- SR 628 Gay, PhD, R. Derril; recognize Died
- SB 321 Physicians, Assistants; relating to the number a physician can authorize and supervise at any one time; provisions; revise Signed
- SR 625 State Action Day for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; recognize February 5, 2020 Died
- SB 410 Ad Valorem Tax Appeals; alternative means of recovering costs of litigation and attorney's fees; provide Signed
- SB 71 Hospital Authority; sale or lease of a hospital; provisions; revise Died
- SR 885 General Obligation Debt; make loans or grants; counties, municipalities, consolidated governments, and local authorities; airports; authorize the state -CA Died
- SB 418 Georgia State Indemnification Fund; when indemnification shall be paid in instances of a heart attack; public safety officer resulting in certain disabilities or death; revise Died
- SR 652 Veteran's Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month; September; official color is Pantone 395; Senate designates Died
- SB 336 License Plates; eligibility for certain members of the military to receive special license plates; expand Signed
- SR 676 Obesity Care Awareness Day; recognize February 4, 2020 Died
Co-sponsored
227 billsCurrent session 227 bills
- SR 1070 Touhy, Mrs. Angela W.; recognize and commend Introduced
- SR 1050 Vaughn, Lee; recognize Introduced
- SR 1043 America 250 Day; recognize April 1, 2026 Introduced
- SR 1040 Small Business Week; recognize May 4-10, 2026 Introduced
- SR 1003 East Laurens Lady Falcons Basketball Team; commend Introduced
- SR 1000 Jones, Speaker Pro Tempore Jan; recognize Introduced
- SR 998 2026 Senate Aides and Senate Academic Aides; commend Introduced
- SR 975 March of Dimes; commend; March of Dimes March for Change; recognize March 10, 2026 Introduced
- SR 968 Whitaker, Dr. Gyimah; recognize Introduced
- SR 962 Golf Day; recognize March 19, 2026 Introduced
- SR 950 Whitt, Pastor Dr. Brad; recognize Introduced
- SR 928 Greenbrier High School Girls Flag Football Team; congratulate Introduced
- SR 927 Senate Pharmacy Benefits Managers and Consumer Access to Prescription Medications Study Committee; create Passed
- SR 892 Scouts Day at the Capitol; recognize March 9, 2026 Introduced
- SR 889 Civil Air Patrol; recognize Introduced
- SR 868 Richard Keith "Rick" Worley Memorial Intersection; Catoosa County; dedicate Introduced
- SR 851 Georgia Senate; creation of a life sciences caucus; encourage Introduced
- SR 848 Georgia Purebred Dog Day; recognize May 1, 2026 Introduced
- SR 844 FSGS Awareness Day; recognize June 9, 2026 Introduced
- SR 840 Resurgens Roswell Surgery Center; recognize Introduced
- SR 839 Georgia Runs on Trucking Day; recognize March 18, 2026 Introduced
- SR 838 "State Assurance of Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Amendment" -CA Introduced
- SR 837 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Committee; urge to induct Dale Murphy into the National Baseball Hall of Fame; Dale Murphy Day; recognize February 26, 2026 Introduced
- SR 835 Georgia Environmental Finance Authority; commend Introduced
- SR 829 Nurses Day; recognize March 11, 2026 Introduced
Voting record
Historical 50 votes
| Bill | Vote | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SR 539
Richards, Jon; recognize
ADOPTION AS AMENDED |
Yea | pass | March 29, 2018 |
|
SR 1058
US Congress; halt the transfer of current and former military personnel's health care costs from federal government to the states; urge
ADOPTION |
Yea | pass | March 29, 2018 |
|
SR 752
U.S. Congress; repeal the Johnson Amendment to the Internal Revenue Code; encourage
ADOPTION |
Yea | pass | March 27, 2018 |
|
SR 989
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA); withdraw Electronic Logging Device (ELD) regulations on the agriculture industry; encourage
ADOPTION |
Yea | pass | March 23, 2018 |
|
SB 484
City of Dalton; exempt from the election requirement; contingent effective date; provide
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR |
Yea | pass | March 21, 2018 |
|
SB 485
City of Atlanta; independent school district; homestead exemption; $50,000; applicability; referendum; provide
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR |
Yea | pass | March 21, 2018 |
|
SB 486
City of Atlanta; independent school district; homestead exemption; $100,000; residents 65 years of age or older; applicability; referendum; provide
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR |
Yea | pass | March 21, 2018 |
|
SB 489
Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority; revenue bonds shall only be issued in connection with projects owned or lease by authority; provide
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR |
Yea | pass | March 19, 2018 |
|
SB 487
DeKalb County; filling of a vacancy on the audit oversight committee; provide
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR |
Yea | pass | March 14, 2018 |
|
SB 481
Board of Education of Putman County; members; compensation; reimbursement of expenses; provide
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR |
Yea | pass | March 14, 2018 |
|
SB 477
City of Decatur; levy an excise tax pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 48-13-51 of the O.C.G.A; authorize the governing authority
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR |
Yea | pass | March 09, 2018 |
|
SB 480
Walker County; authorize governing authority to levy an excise tax; procedures, conditions, and limitations; provide
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR |
Yea | pass | March 09, 2018 |
|
SB 264
Board of Commissioners for Rockdale County; membership; reconstitute
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR |
Yea | pass | March 09, 2018 |
|
SB 478
"City of Brookhaven Public Facilities Authority Act"
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR |
Yea | pass | March 09, 2018 |
|
SB 412
City of Hapeville; levy an excise tax pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 48-13-51 of the O.C.G.A.; authorize
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR |
Yea | pass | March 05, 2018 |
|
SB 426
"Broadband Infrastructure Leads to Development (BILD) Act"
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 382
Optometrists guidance and consultation by the Department of Public Health; provide
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 359
"Consumer Coverage and Protection for Out-of-Network Medical Care Act"
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 431
Liability Not Limited; effect of an owner of land charging an admission price or fee; provisions; clarify
PASSAGE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 232
"Facilitating Internet Broadband Rural Expansion (FIBRE) Act"'; enact
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 444
Georgia Alzheimer's and Related Dementias State Plan Advisory Council; create
PASSAGE AS AMENDED |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 349
Notaries Public; identification of persons evidenced satisfactorily by a valid Veterans Health Identification Card; provide
PASSAGE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 425
Professional Land Surveyors; provisions; change
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SR 149
Childhood Cancer Awareness Day; designate September 1
ADOPTION |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 460
"Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Act of 1965"; adoption of a logo and brand to include the term "ATL" by such Authority by certain date; provide
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 404
Public Water Systems; charging or assessing a separate fee for standby water service for fire sprinkler system connections; prohibit county, municipal and other public water systems
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 336
Georgia Bureau of Investigation; general provisions; subpoena issued for production of electronic communication; not provide notice to the subscriber
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 461
Barbers and Cosmetologists; provisions; change
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 39
Pimping and Pandering; increase the penalty provisions
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 403
Primaries and Elections; uniform election equipment in this state; provide
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 418
Selling and Trade Practices; banning the sales of goods, products, or items regulated; sold at properly zoned retail establishments; prohibit county, municipal and consolidated governments
MOTION TO TABLE |
Nay | fail | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 450
Unlawful Enticement of Game; hunting in vicinity of feed or bait; remove definitions
PASSAGE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 436
Probate Courts; general provisions; change and modernize
PASSAGE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 424
Center for Rural Health Innovation and Sustainability; establishment; provide
MOTION TO SUSPEND SENATE RULES |
Nay | fail | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 430
Elections; compensation of various local government officials; modify
PASSAGE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SR 681
U.S. Congress; propose the Parental Rights Amendment to the states for ratification; encourage
ADOPTION |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 396
Telephone System For Physically Impaired; state-wide dual party relay service and audible universal information access service; change provisions
PASSAGE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 401
Individual Graduation Plans; guidance in career oriented aptitudes and career interests; provide
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 335
Trafficking of Persons for Labor; offense of trafficking an individual for sexual servitude; expand
PASSAGE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 463
Electric Motor Vehicles; exception for certain manufacturers; restrictions on the ownership, operation, and control of motor vehicle dealerships; provide
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 318
Mental Health; involuntary evaluation and treatment based on consultation with paramedic; execution of a physician's certificate for emergency examination; provide
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 391
State Road and Tollway Authority; requirements relating to identification and regulation of motor vehicles; exempt transit service buses, motor vehicles, and rapid rail systems
PASSAGE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 354
Technical College System of Georgia; classify certain active duty service members as in-state for tuition purposes; require
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 411
Georgia Commission on African American History and Culture; create
PASSAGE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 420
Health; health clubs have at least one functional automated external defibrillator on site at such facility; require
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 351
Nurses; advanced nursing practice; provisions; revise
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Nay | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 386
Sales and Use Taxes; exception to the ceiling on local sales and use taxes; transit special purpose local option sales and use tax; provide; Atlanta-region Transit Link "ATL" Commission; create
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 358
Counties/Municipal Corporations; establishment of banking improvement zones; agreement for deposit of public funds; provide
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 451
State Soil and Water Conservation Commission; formulate certain rules and regulations in consultation with Environmental Protection Division of the Dept. Of Natural Resources; remove authority
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Yea | pass | February 28, 2018 |
|
SB 453
Local Government; limit the distance between the new municipal corporations and existing municipal corporations; requirements for active municipalities; modify
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE |
Nay | pass | February 28, 2018 |
Career history 2 past roles
- Upper chamber District 1 Republican
- Upper chamber District 1 Republican