Editor’s note: We compiled lobbyist spending data on 237 state legislators (181 in the House of Representatives and 56 in the Senate) rather than the standard 236, including one extra legislator due to one representative resigning and another taking his place during 2022. Both of those legislators were factored into the data.

State Affairs combed through hundreds of reports by lobbyists to the state’s ethics commission, officially the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, from Jan. 1, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2022, and determined which legislators received the most freebies, including meals, lodging, travel accommodations and other gifts. Below you’ll find a list showing how much every lawmaker received, and also some reporting on the organizations that paid the most for access to Georgia lawmakers.

It’s important to note that our findings only include spending on legislators that lobbyists are required by law to report. Since Georgia enacted a new ethics law in 2013, individual lobbyists are limited to spending $75 per lawmaker per event, but they can pool their funds with other lobbyists to spend more on individual lawmakers, legislative committees, political party caucuses or on events where all legislators are invited.

This report focuses primarily on gifts made by lobbyists to individual lawmakers, which totaled $336,502 in 2022. That included about $240,000 for meals and drinks, $90,000 for lodging at hotels and resorts, $2,250 for travel, and $4,000 for other gifts.

Eighteen lawmakers were not included in any lobbyists’ reports, although some of them may have enjoyed free hospitality at events open to groups of lawmakers. The 18 lawmakers who did not receive individual attention from lobbyists in 2022, at least as reported to the state, are: 

• Rep. Timothy Barr, R-Lawrenceville
• Rep. Dave Belton, R-Buckhead
• Rep. David Clark, R-Buford
• Rep. Carl Gilliard, D-Savannah
• Rep. Mike Glanton, D-Jonesboro
• Rep. Sharon Henderson, D-Covington
• Rep. Wayne Howard, D-Augusta
• Sen. Jennifer Jordan, D-Atlanta
• Rep. Angelika Kausche, D-Johns Creek
• Rep. Mitchell Kaye, R-Marietta
• Rep. Zulma Lopez, D–Atlanta
• Sen. Sheila McNeill, R-Brunswick
• Rep. Rebecca Mitchell, D-Snellville
• Rep. Randy Nix, R-Lagrange
• Sen. Sheikh Rahman, D-Lawrenceville
• Rep. Renitta Shannon, D – Decatur
• Rep. Philip Singleton, R-Sharpsburg
• Sen. Horacena Tate, D-Atlanta

Title	First Name	Last Name	Party	City	Total Spend
Sen	John	Albers	R	Roswell	$2,339
Rep	Kimberly	Alexander	D	Hiram	$215
Rep	Erick	Allen	D	Smyrna	$112
Sen	Jason	Anavitarte	R	Dallas	$460
Rep	Victor	Anderson	R	Grovetown	$1,515
Sen	Lee	Anderson	R	Lithonia	$1,462
Sen	Tonya	Anderson	D	Cornelia	$1,767
Rep	Teri	Anulewicz	D	Smyrna	$2,059
Sen	Michelle	Au	D	Johns Creek	$800
Rep	Mandi	Ballinger	R	Canton	$181
Rep	Timothy	Barr	R	Lawrenceville	$0
Rep	Matt	Barton	R	Calhoun	$1,668
Rep	Debra	Bazemore	D	South Fulton	$254
sen	Brandon	Beach	R	Alpharetta	$1,289
Rep	Dave	Belton	R	Buckhead	$0
Rep	Karen	Bennett	D	Stone Mountain	$1,250
Rep	Patty	Bentley	D	Butler	$1,662
Rep	Tommy	Benton	R	Jefferson	$179
Rep	James	Beverly	D	Macon	$7,006
Rep	Shaw	Blackmon	R	Bonaire	$3,512
Rep	William	Boddie	D	East Point	$60
Rep	Josh	Bonner	R	Fayetteville	$422
Sen	Matt	Brass	R	Newnan	$4,515
Rep	Roger	Bruce	D	Atlanta	$117
Rep	Debbie	Buckner	D	Junction City	$601
Rep	James	Burchett	R	Waycross	$2,881
Sen	Dean	Burke	R	Bainbridge	$6,248
Rep	Rhonda	Burnough	D	Riverdale	$127
Rep	Jon	Burns	R	Newington	$4,842
Sen	Max	Burns	R	Sylvania	$924
Sen	Gloria	Butler	D	Stone Mountain	$4,687
Rep	Charlice	Byrd	R	Woodstock	$184
Rep	Mike	Cameron	R	Rossville	$266
Rep	Beth	Camp	R	Concord	$967
Rep	Joe	Campbell	R	Camilla	$202
Rep	Park	Cannon	D	Atlanta	$58
Rep	Wes	Cantrell	R	Woodstock	$17
Rep	Kasey	Carpenter	R	Dalton	$1,670
Rep	John	Carson	R	Marietta	$761
Rep	Doreen	Carter	D	Lithonia	$149
Rep	Mike	Cheokas	R	Americus	$805
Rep	David	Clark	R	Buford	$0
Rep	Heath	Clark	R	Warner Robins	$833
Rep	Jasmine	Clark	D	Lilburn	$416
Rep	J	Collins	R	Villa Rica	$125
Rep	Sharon	Cooper	R	Marietta	$1,352
Rep	John	Corbett	R	Lake Park	$4,122
Sen	Bill	Cowsert	R	Athens	$5,113
Rep	Clint	Crowe	R	Jackson	$1,310
Sen	Gail	Davenport	D	Jonesboro	$369
Rep	Viola	Davis	D	Stone Mountain	$78
Rep	Buddy	DeLoach	R	Townsend	$1,340
Rep	Katie	Dempsey	R	Rome	$1,628
Rep	Robert	Dickey	R	Musella	$2,019
Sen	Clint	Dixon	R	Gwinnett	$1,921
Sen	Greg	Dolezal	R	Cumming	$145
Rep	Matt	Dollar	R	Marietta	$203
Rep	Demetrius	Douglas	D	Stockbridge	$2,699
Rep	Karla	Drenner	D	Avondale Estates	$8
Rep	David	Dreyer	D	Atlanta	$20
Rep	Matt	Dubnik	R	Gainesville	$2,559
Sen	Mike	Dugan	R	Carrollton	$5,600
Rep	Winfred	Dukes	D	Albany	$304
Rep	Emory	Dunahoo	R	Gillsville	$1,422
Rep	Chuck	Efstration	R	Auburn	$1,672
Rep	Ginny	Ehrhart	R	Marietta	$133
Rep	Terry	England	R	Auburn	$1,953
Rep	Chris	Erwin	R	Homer	$1,636
Rep	Becky	Evans	D	Atlanta	$385
Rep	Stacey	Evans	D	Atlanta	$567
Rep	Barry	Fleming	R	Harlem	$5,218
Rep	Gloria	Frazier	D	Hephzibah	$596
Rep	Spencer	Frye	D	Athens	$577
Rep	Houston	Gaines	R	Athens	$5,069
Rep	Matthew	Gambill	R	Cartersville	$2,356
Rep	Carl	Gilliard	D	Savannah	$0
Rep	Sheri	Gilligan	R	Cumming	$68
Sen	Frank	Ginn	R	Danielsville	$4,279
Rep	Mike	Glanton	D	Jonesboro	$0
Sen	Steve	Gooch	R	Dahlonega	$8,111
Sen	Russ	Goodman	R	Cogdell	$2,043
Rep	Micah	Gravley	R	Douglasville	$655
Rep	Gerald	Greene	R	Cuthbert	$1,983
Rep	Joseph	Gullett	R	Dallas	$2,800
Rep	Stan	Gunter	R	Blairsville	$3,488
Rep	Leesa	Hagan	R	Lyons	$2,194
Sen	Sonya	Halpern	D	Atlanta	$1,405
Sen	Marty	Harbin	R	Tyrone	$295
sen	Ed	Harbison	D	Columbus	$387
Sen	Tyler	Harper	r	Ocilla	$2,388
Sen	Sally	Harrell	D	Atlanta	$235
Rep	Matt	Hatchett	R	Cornelia	$4,161
Sen	Bo	Hatchett	R	Dublin	$1,545
Rep	Lee	Hawkins	R	Gainesville	$4,605
Rep	Sharon	Henderson	D	Covington	$0
Sen	Billy	Hickman	R	Statesboro	$1,736
Rep	DeWayne	Hill	R	Ringgold	$97
Rep	Bill	Hitchens	R	Rincon	$164
Rep	Don	Hogan	R	St. Simon’s Island	$1,412
Rep	Scott	Holcomb	D	Atlanta	$171
Rep	Betsy	Holland	D	Atlanta	$411
Rep	El-Mahdi	Holly	D	Stockbridge	$95
Rep	Susan	Holmes	R	Monticello	$70
Rep	CaMia	Hopson	D	Albany	$213
Rep	Penny	Houston	R	Nashville	$833
Rep	Wayne	Howard	D	Augusta	$0
Sen	Chuck	Hufstetler	R	Rome	$698
Rep	Carolyn	Hugley	D	Columbus	$1,315
Rep	Shelly	Hutchinson	D	Snellville	$960
Rep	Derrick	Jackson	D	Tyrone	$310
Rep	Edna	Jackson	D	Savannah	$453
Sen	Kim	Jackson	D	Stone Mountain	$442
Sen	Lester	Jackson	D	Savannah	$3,756
Rep	Mack	Jackson	D	Sandersville	$1,067
Sen	Donzella	James	D	Atlanta	$174
Rep	Rick	Jasperse	R	Jasper	$7,115
Rep	David	Jenkins	R	Grantville	$140
Sen	Burt	Jones	R	Jackson	$162
Sen	Emanuel	Jones	D	Decatur	$141
Rep	Jan	Jones	R	Milton	$1,514
Rep	Sheila	Jones	D	Atlanta	$102
Rep	Todd	Jones	R	South Forsyth	$1,631
Sen	Harold	Jones II	D	Augusta	$3,623
Sen	Jennifer	Jordan	D	Atlanta	$0
Rep	Angelika	Kausche	D	Johns Creek	$0
Rep	Mitchell	Kaye	R	Marietta	$0
Rep	Trey	Kelley	R	Cedartown	$1,333
Rep	Dar’Shun	Kendrick	D	Lithonia	$1,023
Rep	Gregg	Kennard	D	Lawrenceville	$359
Sen	John	Kennedy	R	Macon	$6,737
Rep	Tom	Kirby	R	Loganville	$85
Sen	Kay	Kirkpatrick	R	Marietta	$1,469
Rep	David	Knight	R	Griffin	$374
Rep	John	LaHood	R	Valdosta	$2,782
Rep	Dominic	LaRiccia	R	Douglas	$497
Rep	Rob	Leverett	R	Elberton	$2,755
Rep	Regina	Lewis-Ward	D	McDonough	$372
Rep	Marvin	Lim	D	Norcross	$111
Rep	Zulma	Lopez	D	Atlanta	$0
Rep	Jodi	Lott	R	Evans	$673
Sen	David	Lucas	D	Macon	$18
Rep	Eddie	Lumsden	R	Armuchee	$2,287
Rep	Mesha	Mainor	D	Atlanta	$598
Rep	Derek	Mallow	D	Savannah	$661
Rep	Pedro	Marin	D	Duluth	$116
Rep	Chuck	Martin	R	Alpharetta	$1,560
Rep	Karen	Mathiak	R	Griffin	$377
Rep	Danny	Mathis	R	Cochran	$414
Rep	Dewey	McClain	D	Lawrenceville	$1,447
Rep	Lauren	McDonald	R	Cumming	$2,501
Rep	Josh	McLaurin	D	Sandy Springs	$742
Rep	Donna	McLeod	D	Lawrenceville	$34
Sen	Sheila	McNeill	R	Brunswick	$0
Rep	Steven	Meeks	R	Screven	$378
Sen	Nikki	Merritt	D	Grayson	$536
Rep	Marie	Metze	D	Atlanta	$64
Sen	Butch	Miller	R	Gainesville	$3,594
Rep	Billy	Mitchell	D	Stone Mountain	$2,576
Rep	Rebecca	Mitchell	D	Snellville	$0
Rep	Martin	Momtahan	R	Dallas	$2,618
Rep	Angela	Moore	D	Stonecrest	$18
Rep	Beth	Moore	D	Peachtree Corners	$555
Sen	Jeff	Mullis	R	Chicamauga	$3,510
Rep	Yasmin	Neal	D	Jonesboro	$613
Rep	Sheila	Nelson	D	Augusta	$55
Rep	Mark	Newton	R	Augusta	$3,443
Rep	Bee	Nguyen	D	Atlanta	$20
Rep	Randy	Nix	R	LaGrange	$0
Rep	Mary Margaret	Oliver	D	Decatur	$620
Sen	Nan	Orrock	D	Atlanta	$2,235
Sen	Elena	Parent	D	Atlanta	$1,988
Rep	Miriam	Paris	D	Macon	$180
Rep	Sam	Park	D	Lawrenceville	$678
Rep	Butch	Parrish	R	Swainsboro	$2,091
Rep	Don	Parsons	R	Marietta	$476
Sen	Chuck	Payne	R	Dalton	$362
Rep	Jesse	Petrea	R	Savannah	$2,089
Rep	Clay	Pirkle	R	Ashburn	$695
Rep	Alan	Powell	R	Hartwell	$6,481
Rep	Brian	Prince	D	Augusta	$3,151
Rep	Robert	Pruitt	R	Eastman	$970
Sen	Sheikh	Rahman	D	Lawrenceville	$0
Rep	David	Ralston	R	Blue Ridge	$583
Sen	Michael	Rhett	D	Marietta	$254
Rep	Trey	Rhodes	R	Greensboro	$1,962
Rep	Bonnie	Rich	R	Suwanee	$694
Rep	Jason	Ridley	R	Chatsworth	$3,399
Rep	Shea	Roberts	D	Atlanta	$186
Sen	Randy	Robertson	R	Cataula	$1,198
Rep	Mary	Robichaux	D	Roswell	$290
Rep	Steven	Sainz	R	St. Marys	$2,520
Rep	Kim	Schofield	D	Atlanta	$1,112
Rep	Mitchell	Scoggins	R	Cartersville	$1,001
Rep	Sandra	Scott	D	Rex	$315
Rep	Devan	Seabaugh	R	Marietta	$1,259
Sen	Valencia	Seay	D	Riverdale	$638
Rep	Ed	Setzler	R	Acworth	$170
Rep	Renitta	Shannon	D	Decatur
Rep	Dexter	Sharper	D	Valdosta	$273
Sen	Freddie	Sims	D	Dawson	$613
Rep	Philip	Singleton	R	Sharpsburg	$0
Rep	Lynn	Smith	R	Newnan	$464
Rep	Michael	Smith	D	Marietta	$94
Rep	Richard	Smith	R	Columbus	$397
Rep	Tyler Paul	Smith	R	Bremen	$2,623
Rep	Vance	Smith	R	Pine Mountain	$3,329
Rep	Calvin	Smyre	D	Columbus	$2,799
Rep	Ron	Stephens	R	Savannah	$2,658
Sen	Brian	Strickland	R	McDonough	$469
Sen	Carden	Summers	R	Cordele	$1,112
Rep	Jan	Tankersley	R	Brooklet	$749
Rep	Steve	Tarvin	R	Chicamauga	$898
Sen	Horacena	Tate	D	Atlanta	$0
Rep	Darlene	Taylor	R	Thomasville	$892
Rep	Rhonda	Taylor	D	Conyers	$296
Rep	Brad	Thomas	R	Holly Springs	$1,173
Rep	Erica	Thomas	D	Austell	$96
Rep	Mandisha	Thomas	D	South Fulton	$706
Sen	Bruce	Thompson	R	White	$800
Sen	Blake	Tillery	R	Vidalia	$1,873
Sen	Lindsey	Tippins	R	Marietta	$253
Rep	Will	Wade	R	Dawsonville	$419
Sen	Larry	Walker III	R	Perry	$4,683
Rep	Dale	Washburn	R	Macon	$4,932
Sen	Ben	Watson	R	Savannah	$2,345
Rep	Sam	Watson	R	Moultrie	$1,459
Rep	Bill	Werkheiser	R	Glennville	$2,306
Rep	Marcus	Wiedower	R	Watkinsville	$4,284
Rep	Mike	Wilensky	D	Dunwoody	$527
Rep	David	Wilkerson	D	Powder Springs	$2,985
Rep	Al	Williams	D	Midway	$6,068
Rep	Mary Frances	Williams	D	Marietta	$248
Rep	Noel	Williams	R	Cordele	$5,900
Rep	Rick	Williams	R	Milledgeville	$1,026
Rep	Bruce	Williamson	R	Monroe	$9,083
Rep	Matthew	Wilson	D	Brookhaven	$166
Rep	Bill	Yearta	R	Sylvester	$1,177
TOTAL					$336,502

Read more about our three award winners, the top 10 associations or lobbying firms and the amounts they reported spending on individual lawmakers last year:

State Affairs presents the annual Georgia Golden Fork awards to Georgia lawmakers

Contact Jill Jordan Sieder on Twitter @JOURNALISTAJILL or at [email protected].

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