State Rep. Lynn Smith

First Day Back in Session! 🏛️

Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones and I were honored to welcome Rep. Bill Fincher, the newest Republican member of the Georgia House representing House District 23 (Cherokee County). Rep. Fincher brings a strong background in public service, including prior experience in law enforcement and the legal field, as he begins his service at the Capitol.

It was great to see old friends and respected leaders on the House floor, including:
• Rep. Chuck Efstration — House Majority Leader, representing District 104 (Gwinnett County)
• Rep. James Burchett — House Majority Whip, representing District 176 (Ware County and surrounding areas)
• Rep. Rick Townsend — representing District 179 (Lowndes County)
• Rep. Gerald Greene — Chairman of the State Properties Committee and Dean of the House, representing District 151 (Southwest Georgia)

🧾 Already Passed by Consensus:
House Resolutions HR 995, HR 996, HR 997, and HR 998 were adopted by consensus at the start of the session. These resolutions address procedural, scheduling, and organizational matters necessary to begin the legislative session and ensure the House operates efficiently.

📌 What “consensus” means:
Consensus passage reflects bipartisan agreement on non-controversial measures, eliminating the need for a contested vote and allowing the General Assembly to focus quickly on the work ahead.

➡️ A strong start to the 2026 General Assembly. Looking forward to working with colleagues to deliver results for Georgians.

It was a profound honor to read a House Resolution at Rotary’s Christmas meeting, standing with Leah Sumner, in remembrance of her late husband, Mike Sumner, and his extraordinary life of service to Newnan and Coweta County.

Mike was a tireless servant leader — past President of the Rotary Club of Newnan, Chair of the Coweta County School Board, and a driving force behind the development of the Central Educational Center and the Nixon Centre for Performing and Visual Arts. In addition to his public roles, Mike devoted countless hours providing trusted legal guidance to schools, nonprofits, and community organizations, often behind the scenes, helping move important work forward with clarity, integrity, and care.

So much of what our community benefits from today bears Mike’s fingerprints — often unseen, always essential. His leadership, generosity, and commitment to doing things the right way leave a legacy that will be felt for generations. Leah, herself an attorney, has also long served this community in the same spirit; together, they embodied a shared devotion to service and to the place they called home.

Mike Sumner’s legacy lives on in the institutions he helped build, the people he advised, and the community he served so faithfully.

Celebrating 100 years of Sprayberry’s Bar-B-Q was more than a treat today — it was a tribute to community, family, and one of the South’s most enduring food legacies. What started in 1926, when Houston Sprayberry sold barbecue out of the back of his gas station, became a place generations have made part of their lives, their travels, and their traditions.

For a century, the Sprayberry family has carried this place forward — keeping the original recipes, the wood-smoked pork, and that unmistakable Brunswick stew alive generation after generation. Along the way, Sprayberry’s has welcomed everyone from locals to legends — even a young Alan Jackson, who once worked here before becoming a country music icon, and writer Lewis Grizzard, who famously called it “merely the best barbecue joint on earth.”

The celebration was made even sweeter with a beautiful anniversary cake by Bonne Boyd Bedingfield — a meaningful full-circle moment, as her father, the late David Boyd Sr., a deeply beloved artist and pillar of Newnan, originally drew the iconic Sprayberry’s logo so many of us instantly recognize.

You’ll still find me stopping in for lunch whenever I can — because some places never lose their magic, and Sprayberry’s is one of them. This isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a cornerstone of Newnan. Here’s to 100 years, and many more to come.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a season filled with kindness, connection, and joy.

Happy Thanksgiving! I have so much to be grateful for this year — especially the opportunity to serve my constituents and our community. Grateful for our families, our neighbors, and the place we all call home. Wishing you a warm and wonderful holiday.

It was a privilege to represent Georgia at the 65th Annual Meeting of the Southern States Energy Board (SSEB) at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa in Point Clear, Alabama. As the Georgia House appointee, I joined governors, legislators, and regional energy leaders for discussions on innovation, energy reliability, and the priorities shaping the Southeast.

Governor Brian Kemp delivered remarks during the meeting, alongside SSEB leadership and board members working to strengthen collaboration across our states.

Pictured: Ken Nemeth, Secretary of the Southern States Energy Board; Gov. Brian Kemp; and Lynn Smith (me 😊) SSEB Board Member. Several governors from across the Southeast also attended and participated in the conference.

Last week, I had the honor and privilege of attending Dinner with the Delegation hosted by the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce. This fabulous group embodies such deep care for Coweta County — leaders who show up, stay engaged, and work collaboratively to support the growth and well-being of our community.

The purpose of this dinner is to strengthen relationships between our Chamber Board of Directors and the elected officials who work every day to advance the priorities of Coweta County.

Pictured (R–L): Rep. Robert Dawson, Georgia House District 65; Michael Fouts, Coweta County Administrator; Lynn Smith; Rep. David Jenkins, Georgia House District 136; Candace Boothby, President & CEO, Newnan-Coweta Chamber; Ashley Collins, President & CEO, Newnan-Coweta Habitat for Humanity; Matt Ingold, Manager of Government & Community Affairs, Atlanta Gas Light; Jeff Butterworth, Area Manager, Georgia Power; and Sen. Matt Brass, Georgia Senate District 28.

Candace Boothby, Lisa Smith, and I had a great, soulful Sunday evening at the ever-buzzing Nixon Centre! We loved An Evening of Sade performed by the fabulous Shana Tucker. If you haven’t been lately, the Centre’s lineup is incredible — so many great shows coming up this season. Treat yourself to a night out and go see one!

Earlier this month, the Georgia House/Senate Natural Resources & Environment (NRE) Policy Academy met in the Savannah area. We spent the day on the water getting a firsthand look at The Skidaway Institute’s oyster research and the local farms supplying restaurants with Georgia-grown oysters.

And yes — if I look cold, it’s because I absolutely was!

Honored to attend the inauguration of the University of West Georgia’s new President, Mike Johnson, alongside Carroll County Commission Chair Michelle Morgan. Exciting days ahead for UWG and our community! Go Wolves!

My husband, First Lieutenant Charles M. Smith, served in Viet Nam. Our communication was limited to “snail mail,” and I often asked him to take photos of life on base when he wasn’t engaged in delivering critical supplies to soldiers under attack. I needed reassurance that there were moments of rest and relief amid the danger.

He couldn’t get film developed while overseas, so one of the first things we did after he returned home was to develop his film together. Sharing that experience — seeing the photos for the first time and hearing his stories — helped me to process his tour of duty in Viet Nam. Yet, only once in all our years together did he ever speak of the conflict itself.

Our veterans often bury their painful memories in search of a normal life once more. I am deeply grateful to all who have served and to the many supporters of our veterans here in Coweta County.

My heartfelt thanks also go to The Newnan Times-Herald for their annual magazine honoring our veterans and to the local businesses whose continued support makes this meaningful tribute possible.