Georgia Gwinnett College junior Zoreida Reyes-Garcia drafted original legislation during Georgia’s 2026 legislative session, according to an April 13 announcement. Reyes-Garcia interned for State Representative Arlene Beckles, where she conducted legislative research, analyzed bills, and communicated with constituents.
Through her outreach work, Reyes-Garcia identified a gap in protections for domestic violence survivors. She said, “Representative Beckles had me networking with her constituents on her behalf to learn about their concerns. One that caught my attention was the lack of protection for domestic violence survivors. So, I did all the analysis and research, and she encouraged me to write legislation.”
The resulting bill proposed creating a statewide domestic violence registry in Georgia—a centralized database intended to improve communication among law enforcement agencies, courts, and social services. The registry would list offenders’ names and offenses while protecting victims’ identities. Tennessee is currently the only state with a similar system.
Reyes-Garcia’s motivation stemmed from personal experience. “I’m a survivor of domestic violence,” she said. She described how advice from a Georgia State Trooper prompted her to leave an abusive relationship: “He said that if I didn’t leave that situation, I could die. Hearing that changed everything for me.”
After securing sponsorship from Rep. Beckles and testifying before a legislative committee—where she recounted her story—House Bill 1142 passed in the House but did not advance through the Senate.
Despite this outcome, Reyes-Garcia remains committed to public service: “After I graduate from GGC, I want to go to trooper school and become a Georgia State Trooper… Someday I’ll have the chance to save someone else like that trooper did for me.” She credits her family as motivation: “My mom and my two brothers motivate me… School has always been in my heart.” Looking ahead, she hopes one day to return as a House Representative.
