Ed was born in Prattville, Alabama, and raised in Montgomery. He graduated from the Career Academy School of Broadcasting and attended Troy State University at Fort Benning. He is a recipient of the Purple Heart.

Ed worked as a public relations and advertising consultant, a broadcast journalist, and served four years in the U.S. Marines prior to his political career.

Ed Harbison has been serving as the Georgia State Senator for the 15th District since 1992. He is currently the Chairman of the State Institutions and Property Committee and Vice Chairman of the Veterans, Military and Homeland Security committee. He also holds ranking positions on several other committees, including Banking and Financial Institutions, Insurance and Labor, Interstate Cooperation, Reapportionment and Redistricting, and Ethics. Additionally, he has been appointed to serve on the Georgia Joint Defense Commission and as Legislative Officer for the Department of Georgia Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Candidate website

Believes a 7,100 personnel cut could lead to a 5.74% population decrease, 3.16% sales loss, 4.99% income drop, and 5.94% fall in employment, severely impacting low-income groups.

Supported Senate Resolution 201, which opposed proposed cuts to the Department of the Army.

The candidate's website says, "Counties/Municipal Corporations; shall not charge a business license fee or administrative fee to certain disabled veterans"

Sponsored  SB 447 which stated that "counties/Municipal Corporations; shall not charge a business license fee or administrative fee to certain disabled veterans."

Supports bipartisan efforts to review COAM industry regulations, ensuring compliance with Georgia Lottery rules, and appreciates Lt. Governor Duncan's confidence in his committee role.

Supports bipartisan efforts to review Coin Operated Amusement Machine industry regulations, ensuring compliance with Georgia Lottery rules.

Supports maintaining Fort Benning's personnel levels, emphasizing the base's critical economic role in Columbus and the potential negative socioeconomic effects of the Army's proposed cuts on the local community.

Supports amending Georgia's retirement system to allow beneficiaries to reselect options or nominate a new contingent beneficiary if their original choice predeceases them, including provisions for enactment and repeal conditions.

Supports creating a lottery to aid veterans, ensuring it complements existing Georgia Lottery benefits for education without disrupting the current system, following thorough research for effective legislative action.

Supports creating a lottery to aid veterans, ensuring it complements existing Georgia Lottery benefits for education without disrupting the current system.

- Supported Senate Resolution 201, which opposed proposed cuts to the Department of the Army.
- Sponsored  SB 447 which stated that "counties/Municipal Corporations; shall not charge a business license fee or administrative fee to certain disabled veterans."
- Supports bipartisan efforts to review Coin Operated Amusement Machine industry regulations, ensuring compliance with Georgia Lottery rules.
- Supports maintaining Fort Benning's personnel levels, emphasizing the base's critical economic role in Columbus and the potential negative socioeconomic effects of the Army's proposed cuts on the local community.
- Supports amending Georgia's retirement system to allow beneficiaries to reselect options or nominate a new contingent beneficiary if their original choice predeceases them, including provisions for enactment and repeal conditions.
- Supports creating a lottery to aid veterans, ensuring it complements existing Georgia Lottery benefits for education without disrupting the current system.

Economy

Supports the program for its cost-saving benefits to Georgia state agencies, as evidenced by positive outcomes in departments like Corrections and Transportation, and appreciates the state and Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority's efforts in energy conservation promotion.

Supports the Energy Savings Performance Program, which "promotes energy conservation among our state agencies.”

- Supports the Energy Savings Performance Program, which "promotes energy conservation among our state agencies.”

Energy & the Environment

As of July 25, 2024, Ed Harbison’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Healthcare

Voting & Elections

Supports banning synthetic marijuana in Georgia, citing hospitalizations of Atlanta teens, by passing SB 498 to classify these substances as Schedule 1 controlled drugs.

Plans to amend Georgia law to stop the state council from issuing and renewing drug recognition expert certifications, address related issues, and repeal any conflicting legislation.

The candidate's website says, "Motor Vehicle; require policies that prohibit law enforcement officers from impermissibly using race/ethnicity in determining whether to stop a vehicle"

Plans to require "policies that prohibit law enforcement officers from impermissibly using race/ethnicity in determining whether to stop a vehicle."

The candidate's website says, "During the 1994 General Assembly, Sen. Harbison successfully steered legislation through the Senate to give the Governor the authority to order the Georgia National Guard to assist state law enforcement agencies in anti-drug efforts."

Supported legislation to "give the Governor the authority to order the Georgia National Guard to assist state law enforcement agencies in anti-drug efforts."

The candidate's website says, "Sen. Harbison is also responsible for legislation which successfully led to the installation of Emergency Call Boxes in the state along Interstate I-85 from LaGrange to Columbus. ..."

Supported legislation which successfully led to the installation of Emergency Call Boxes in the state along Interstate I-85 from LaGrange to Columbus.

The candidate's website says, "There is always a significant amount of danger present when first responders such as our police officers and firefighters have to evacuate or secure a building," said Sen. Harbison. "It is vital that we fully fund the building mapping information system to provide first responders with information they need to be successful when disaster strikes."

Advocates for the full funding of the building mapping information system "to provide first responders with information they need to be successful when disaster strikes."

Plans for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to develop and manage a statewide building mapping system, sharing it electronically with various government and public safety entities, and allowing voluntary data contributions from private and governmental participants.

Supported Senate Bill 33, which allows Georgia Emergency Management Agency to develop and manage a statewide building mapping system, sharing it electronically with various government and public safety entities, and allowing voluntary data contributions from private and governmental participants.

- Supports banning synthetic marijuana in Georgia, citing hospitalizations of Atlanta teens, by passing SB 498 to classify these substances as Schedule 1 controlled drugs.
- Plans to amend Georgia law to stop the state council from issuing and renewing drug recognition expert certifications, address related issues, and repeal any conflicting legislation.
- Plans to require "policies that prohibit law enforcement officers from impermissibly using race/ethnicity in determining whether to stop a vehicle."
- Supported legislation to "give the Governor the authority to order the Georgia National Guard to assist state law enforcement agencies in anti-drug efforts."
- Supported legislation which successfully led to the installation of Emergency Call Boxes in the state along Interstate I-85 from LaGrange to Columbus.
- Advocates for the full funding of the building mapping information system "to provide first responders with information they need to be successful when disaster strikes."
- Supported Senate Bill 33, which allows Georgia Emergency Management Agency to develop and manage a statewide building mapping system, sharing it electronically with various government and public safety entities, and allowing voluntary data contributions from private and governmental participants.

Public Safety

The candidate's website says, "Technical College System of Georgia; establish policies for granting academic credit for college level learning from military service, work experience"

Supported Senate Bill 18, which establishes policies for granting academic credit for college level learning from military service and work experience.

The candidate's website says, "Education; board of regents shall establish a process; academic credit for/exemption from required coursework for veterans"

Supported Senate Bill 150 which calls for the board of regents to establish a process detailing academic credit for/exemption from required coursework for veterans.

The candidate's website says, "Relating to lottery for education... to provide that the Georgia Lottery Corporation shall offer one or more games to benefit veterans... to provide for the deposit of proceeds into the general fund... to provide for a special account to be appropriated for veterans’ programs... to provide for purposes for which appropriations shall be made..."

Supported Senate Bill 54 which states, "To provide that the Georgia Lottery Corporation shall offer one or more games to benefit veterans... to provide for the deposit of proceeds into the general fund... to provide for a special account to be appropriated for veterans’ programs... to provide for purposes for which appropriations shall be made..."

The candidate's website says, "University System of Georgia; Board of Regents establish process; granting veterans academic credit; previous instruction while in military"

Supported  Senate Bill 328 which grants veterans academic credit for previous instruction while in the military.

The candidate's website says, "A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 27 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to lottery for education... to provide that the Georgia Lottery Corporation shall offer one or more games to benefit veterans; ... to provide for the deposit of proceeds into the general fund; to provide for a special account to be appropriated for veterans’ programs; ... to provide for purposes for which appropriations shall be made; ..."

Supported Senate Bill 54 "To provide that the Georgia Lottery Corporation shall offer one or more games to benefit veterans; ... to provide for the deposit of proceeds into the general fund; to provide for a special account to be appropriated for veterans’ programs."

The candidate's website says, "Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children; adopt; provide for purpose/policy of said impact"

Supports the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children in which "states participating in the Compact would work to coordinate graduation requirements, transfer of records and course placement and other administrative policies."

The candidate's website says, "Education; provide for transfer of students who are military dependents into a local school system"

Wants to provide for transfer of students who are military dependents into a local school system.

The candidate's website says, "During the 2008 General Assembly, Sen. Harbison successfully sponsored a bill to ease barriers and alleviate bureaucratic “red tape” for children of military officers who transfer from one state to another while in service."

As a state senator, sponsored a bill to "ease barriers and alleviate bureaucratic “red tape” for children of military officers who transfer from one state to another while in service."

- Supported Senate Bill 18, which establishes policies for granting academic credit for college level learning from military service and work experience.
- Supported Senate Bill 150 which calls for the board of regents to establish a process detailing academic credit for/exemption from required coursework for veterans.
- Supported Senate Bill 54 which states, "To provide that the Georgia Lottery Corporation shall offer one or more games to benefit veterans... to provide for the deposit of proceeds into the general fund... to provide for a special account to be appropriated for veterans’ programs... to provide for purposes for which appropriations shall be made..."
- Supported  Senate Bill 328 which grants veterans academic credit for previous instruction while in the military.
- Supported Senate Bill 54 "To provide that the Georgia Lottery Corporation shall offer one or more games to benefit veterans; ... to provide for the deposit of proceeds into the general fund; to provide for a special account to be appropriated for veterans’ programs."
- Supports the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children in which "states participating in the Compact would work to coordinate graduation requirements, transfer of records and course placement and other administrative policies."
- Wants to provide for transfer of students who are military dependents into a local school system.
- As a state senator, sponsored a bill to "ease barriers and alleviate bureaucratic “red tape” for children of military officers who transfer from one state to another while in service."

Education

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Ed Harbison

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Georgia State Senate.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process. 
- State Senators are involved in approving some appointments by the Governor.
- The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up our state lawmaking body: the Georgia General Assembly.
- There are 56 Georgia senators, each representing a single district.
- State Senators are elected to two-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $17,342.