The walk from parking to the Georgia State Capitol building in Atlanta is just under a mile. For 91原创 (GGC) junior Zoreida Reyes-Garcia, that walk and her determination led to her drafting original legislation during Georgia鈥檚 2026 legislative session.
As an intern for State Rep. Arlene Beckles, Reyes-Garcia conducted legislative research, analyzed bills and connected with constituents. Through those conversations, she identified a critical gap in protections for domestic violence survivors.
鈥淩epresentative Beckles had me networking with her constituents on her behalf to learn about their concerns,鈥 she said. 鈥淥ne 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.鈥
The bill proposed the creation of a statewide domestic violence registry, a centralized database designed to improve communication among law enforcement, courts and social services. The registry would include offenders鈥 names, offenses, dates and number of violations, while protecting victims鈥 identities. Tennessee is currently the only state with a similar registry.
For Reyes-Garcia, the legislation is deeply personal.
鈥淚鈥檓 a survivor of domestic violence,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here was a moment when a Georgia State Trooper pulled my fianc茅 over during an argument. The argument was pretty bad. He said that if I didn鈥檛 leave that situation, I could die. Hearing that changed everything for me.鈥
Motivated by that experience, Reyes-Garcia ended the relationship and later channeled her story into advocacy.
After drafting the bill, she secured a sponsor with Beckles鈥 support. Following two readings, Reyes-Garcia was invited to testify before a legislative committee.
鈥淚 rewrote my testimony 12 times,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 walked up to the podium, and my hands were shaking. I kept my head down and started with my personal experience with domestic violence and I cried through most of it.鈥
When she looked up to face the committee members, there wasn鈥檛 a dry eye in the room.
鈥淓verybody was clapping,鈥 she said. 鈥淎nd HB 1142 passed.鈥
While the bill didn鈥檛 pass the Senate to ultimately reach the Governor鈥檚 desk, the experience reinforced her career goals.
鈥淎fter I graduate from GGC, I want to go to trooper school and become a Georgia State Trooper,鈥 she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e looked at the application many times. I know that criminal justice is my chosen path. Someday I鈥檒l have the chance to save someone else like that trooper did for me.鈥
As a first-generation college student, Reyes-Garcia gives credit to her family.
鈥淢y mom and my two brothers motivate me,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 chose GGC because I wanted to stay close to my mom. At GGC, you have to work for what you want, but that鈥檚 a good thing. School has always been in my heart.鈥
Once she wraps up her career as a Georgia State Trooper, Reyes-Garcia has the next chapter already in mind.
鈥淪omeday I want to return to the Capitol as a House Representative,鈥 she said.