Tyler Harper

Tyler Harper
Senator
District 7

Senator Tyler Harper was first elected to the Georgia State Senate on November 6, 2012, and was sworn in to serve Georgia’s 7th Senate District on January 14, 2013. He was re-elected, unopposed, for his second and third terms in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee and Vice Chairman of the Public Safety Committee. He is also a member of the Appropriations Committee and Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

Senator Harper is a lifelong resident of Irwin County and a proud alumnus of the Irwin County School System. He is also a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Engineering (BSAE) and holds an Associate of Science Degree from Abraham Bald- win Agricultural College.

As a small businessman and farmer, Senator Harper understands and knows firsthand the importance of agriculture and small business to both our state and nation. Since joining the General Assembly, Senator Harper has been a champion for agriculture, natural resources and public safety. He has not only passed numerous pieces of legislation supporting agriculture and those in the public safety arena, but he is also the host of the annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day at the Capitol a time for members of the General Assembly to recognize and show their support to our State and local law enforcement. Furthermore, Senator Harper has dedicated many hours to various study committees researching topics such as transportation, rural broadband, and other issues important to the 7th District and the State of Georgia. Along with those study committees, he had the honor of serving, as an appointee of Governor Nathan Deal, on the Governor’s Education Reform Commission, which intently evaluated our state’s education system and funding, was appointed by Governor Deal to the Law Enforcement Task Force and was appointed by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle to serve on the Compensation of Police and Sheriffs (COPS) Task Force.

Since joining the Senate, Senator harper has received numerous awards and honors. He has been named a “Defender of Liberty” by the American Conservatives Union and has been selected by GOPAC as one of twenty Emerging Leaders, a program comprised of promising state legislators from across the country. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce has given Senator Harper an “A” rating and the NFIB has rated his performance in the legislature at “100%” for his stance on business issues. He continues to receive the highest rating of an “A+” by the NRA for his continued fight for our 2nd Amendment rights. He has been named the Legislator of the Year by the Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia and the Georgia State Firefighters Association/Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs, as well as being named an Outstanding Young Alumnus by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Senator Harper has been honored with Associate Life Membership by the Peace Officer Association of Georgia and has been recognized by the Georgia Department of Driver Services and the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police for his work on public safety issues in our state. As a member of the National FFA Organization in high school, Senator Harper was honored to have been chosen to receive the Chapter, State and American Honorary FFA Degrees. Senator Harper is also a proud graduate of Leadership Georgia, a graduate of the Legislative Leadership Institute and a graduate of the Georgia Academy of Economic Development.

As an active member of his local community, Senator Harper has served in many leadership capacities. Senator Harper is a past President and active member of the Ocilla Rotary Club, a past State President and active member of the Georgia Young Farmers Association, and is an active member in multiple local and state organizations. He also serves as a member of the University of Georgia Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Alpha Eta Chapter Alumni Board. Along with these positions, he previously served on the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Strategic Planning Committee and on the college’s Alumni Association Public Affairs Committee. Senator Harper is also a former member of the Ben Hill – Irwin Joint Development Authority.

Senator Harper began his political career serving as a Congressional Fellow to Senator Saxby Chambliss, as well as serving as the County Campaign Chair for the election of Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black. Senator Harper is an avid outdoorsman, a rated helicopter and fixed-wing pilot and is a member of Satilla Baptist Church and serves the church as a musician with his God-given talents on the piano and guitar.