The walk from parking to the Georgia State Capitol building in Atlanta is just under a mile. For Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) junior Zoreida Reyes-Garcia, that walk and her determination led to her drafting original legislation during Georgia’s 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.
“Representative Beckles had me networking with her constituents on her behalf to learn about their concerns,” she said. “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 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’ names, offenses, dates and number of violations, while protecting victims’ identities. Tennessee is currently the only state with a similar registry.
For Reyes-Garcia, the legislation is deeply personal.
“I’m a survivor of domestic violence,” she said. “There was a moment when a Georgia State Trooper pulled my fiancé over during an argument. The argument was pretty bad. He said that if I didn’t leave that situation, I could die. Hearing that changed everything for me.”
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’ support. Following two readings, Reyes-Garcia was invited to testify before a legislative committee.
“I rewrote my testimony 12 times,” she said. “I 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.”
When she looked up to face the committee members, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
“Everybody was clapping,” she said. “And HB 1142 passed.”
While the bill didn’t pass the Senate to ultimately reach the Governor’s desk, the experience reinforced her career goals.
“After I graduate from GGC, I want to go to trooper school and become a Georgia State Trooper,” she said. “I’ve looked at the application many times. I know that criminal justice is my chosen path. Someday I’ll have the chance to save someone else like that trooper did for me.”
As a first-generation college student, Reyes-Garcia gives credit to her family.
“My mom and my two brothers motivate me,” she said. “I chose GGC because I wanted to stay close to my mom. At GGC, you have to work for what you want, but that’s a good thing. School has always been in my heart.”
Once she wraps up her career as a Georgia State Trooper, Reyes-Garcia has the next chapter already in mind.
“Someday I want to return to the Capitol as a House Representative,” she said.
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