Ben Watson

Ben Watson

Senator — District 1

Republican

D GPS Accountability Grade View Full Scorecard ›

Contact Information

Capitol Phone (404) 656-7880
Email ben.watson@senate.ga.gov
Capitol Address 325-A CLOB, Atlanta, GA, 30334

Committee Assignments

Appropriations Health and Human Services Chair Judiciary Administrative Affairs Assignments Economic Development and Tourism Ex Officio Rules Chair

Voting Record on GPS-Tracked Bills

Aligned with reform on 13 of 26 tracked bills.

Bill Description GPS Position Vote Aligned?
HB 162
2025		 Georgia Bureau of Investigation; restriction and seal of First Offender Act sentences until such status is revoked; provide support YEA ✓
HB 176
2025		 Appeal and error; judgments deemed directly appealable; change a provision support YEA ✓
HB 582
2025		 Georgia Survivor Justice Act; enact support YEA ✓
SB 116
2025		 DNA Collection from Detained Immigrants oppose YEA ✗
SB 147
2025		 Correctional Institutions of State and Counties; consent for the release of certain criminal history, vocational, and educational information for inmates upon release; provide none YEA ✗
SB 185
2025		 Inmate Gender Treatment Ban — Transgender Prisoner Healthcare oppose YEA ✗
SB 244
2025		 Criminal Proceedings; the award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs in a criminal case to the defendant upon such defendant making a successful motion to disqualify the prosecuting attorney for m support YEA ✓
SB 39
2025		 Gender Care State Funding Ban oppose YEA ✗
SB 79
2025		 Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act — Fentanyl Mandatory Minimums oppose YEA ✗
SR 432
2025		 Senate Higher Education in Prison Study Committee; create support YEA ✓
HB 364
2024		 Wrongful Conviction Compensation support YEA ✓
HB 505
2024		 Riot Felony Penalty Enhancement oppose YEA ✗
SB 159
2024		 Cell Phone Ban in Prisons oppose YEA ✗
SB 63
2024		 Bail Reform — Expanded Cash Bail Requirements oppose YEA ✗
HB 497
2023		 Health; use of certified medication aides in penal institutions; authorize support YEA ✓
SB 44
2023		 Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act — Gang Mandatory Minimum Sentences oppose YEA ✗
SB 533
2023		 Proceedings; jail-based competency restoration programs; provide support YEA ✓
HB 1216
2022		 Enhanced Fleeing Police Penalties oppose YEA ✗
SB 174
2022		 Unsecured Judicial Release support YEA ✓
SB 441
2022		 Reducing Barriers to Reentry Act support YEA ✓
SB 504
2022		 Expanded Bail Restrictions oppose YEA ✗
HB 168
2021		 Penal institutions; certain information within inmate files of the Department of Corrections shall not be classified as confidential state secrets when requested by the district attorney; provide none YEA ✗
HB 916
2021		 Superior and State Court Appellate Practice Act; enact none YEA ✗
SB 105
2021		 State-Wide Probation System; conditions and procedures under which probation may be terminated early; revise support YEA ✓
SB 257
2021		 Georgia Crime Information Center; criminal history record restrictions for certain persons cited with or convicted of certain criminal offenses; provide support YEA ✓
SB 565
2021		 Sentence and Punishment; any time after conviction; defendant convicted of an offense and sentenced as a direct result of being a victim of trafficking for labor or sexual servitude may petition the s support YEA ✓

Advocacy Directed at This Legislator

📬
4 GPS Postcards
📜
3 Tell My Story Cards
📊
7 Total Contacts
📅
Mar 16, 2026 Last Contact

No responses recorded despite 7 advocacy contacts.

GDC Facilities in District 1

16 deaths in 2026 · 131 deaths since 2020

COASTAL STATE PRISON Port Wentworth · Pop. 1,635
Email Senator Call Office View Scorecard

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