Representative Edward Lindsey is an Atlanta native. He is a graduate of the Atlanta public schools, Davidson College (B.A. History 1981) and Georgia Law School (J.D. 1984).

Representative Lindsey was first elected in 2004 to the Georgia House of Representatives, representing the Buckhead and Sandy Springs communities in Fulton County. In the State House, he serves as House Majority Whip and is on the Appropriations, Industrial Relations, Education, Ethics, Judiciary, and Rules Committees. In addition, Representative Lindsey has been appointed as one of Georgia’s Commissioners to the Uniform Law Commission and is Vice Chairman of the Georgia Child Support Commission.

Representative Lindsey is a founding partner with the law firm of Goodman McGuffey Lindsey & Johnson, LLP, a thirty-five lawyer litigation firm with offices in Atlanta, Savannah, and Orlando, Florida. He and his wife Elizabeth live in the Brookhaven of Atlanta and have three sons -- Harman, Charlie, and Zack.

Representative Lindsey’s legislative accomplishments include the following:

2009 Session

Moratorium on Property Reassessment Increases (HB 233): Sponsored this legislation to impose a three year moratorium on increased property reassessments for tax purposes to protect property owners during the current economic crisis.

Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (HB 126): Sponsored this legislation to provide for uniform requirements for transacting business over the internet.

Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act (HB 127): Sponsored this legislation to provide for a statewide uniform system for electronic filing of court documents in each of Georgia’s 159 counties.

Sales Tax Exemption on Construction for the Atlanta Zoo (HB 129): Sponsored this legislation to exempt the Atlanta Zoo from sales taxes on its planned expansion.

Placement Assistance for Hard to Place Foster Children into Permanent Adoptive Homes (HB 237): Sponsored this legislation to assist foster children who are older or who have special medical or emotional needs in permanent adoptive homes.

2008 Session

Charter School Reform (HB 881): Representative Lindsey chaired the House Education Sub Committee on Charter Schools which held hearings in the fall of 2007 on needed changes to Georgia’s Charter School laws. The result was HB 881 sponsored by Majority Whip Jan Jones and co sponsored by Representative Lindsey. The bill provides for a dual track chartering system between the local school board and the state and insures that state and local education dollars follow the child.

Uniform Environmental Covenants Act (HB 1132): Sponsored this legislation to create a uniform statewide system for recording and maintaining environmental restrictions on contaminated property that cannot be realistically returned to a pristine condition. By doing so, property owners are able to return the property to a marketable state and reduce brown space, while at the same time protecting surrounding property owners.

Child Guardianship legislation (HB 1040): Sponsored this legislation which provides the courts with a third alternative in chronic child abuse and neglect cases. In such cases, the courts historically could only choose between termination of parental rights and continuing temporary foster care. This bill allows for the child to be placed with a permanent guardian, which allows the child to maintain at least some connection with his/her biological family.

Revise Foreclosure Notice Requirements (SB 531): Representative Lindsey chaired the House Judiciary Sub Committee that heard this bill first sponsored by Senator Bill Hamrick in the Senate. The legislation enhances the notice requirements for distressed property owners prior to foreclosure and encourages the parties to try and negotiate a compromise.

2007 Session

Georgia Development Impact Fee reform (HB 232): Sponsored this legislation to require local governments that collect impact fees for transportation purposes to actually use the funds collected in the area impacted by the new development.

Georgia False Medicare/Medicaid Claims Act (HB 551): Sponsored this legislation that provides for a State Medicare/Medicaid False Claims Act to provide for civil remedies to sue those entities which engage in fraudulent Medicare/Medicaid activity.

Child Custody Reform (HB 369): Representative Lindsey served on a study committee in 2006 with Chairman Tom Rice and Chairman Earl Ehrhart to review how child custody proceeding are conducted in Georgia. The result was this legislation which Representative Lindsey co sponsored and presented to the House. The bill provided for greater definition of what constitutes the "best interest of the child," encourages greater cooperation between the parents, requires expedited rulings in contested custody cases, and allows for direct appeal of child custody orders.

Notary Qualifications (HB 274): Sponsored this legislation which tightens the requirements for those seeking to become a notary in response to the concerns that have arisen in the mortgage fraud crisis.

2006 Session

Increased fines for bars (HB 1501): Sponsored this legislation that provides for enhanced penalties for bars selling alcohol to minors or otherwise operating as a nuisance in their communities.

Pre Trial Diversion Programs (HB 718): Sponsored this legislation that provides for an expansion of the pre trial diversion program in state, magistrate, and city courts for certain crimes.

2005 Session

City of Sandy Springs (HB 37): Co Sponsored this legislation to finally allow for the creation of the City of Sandy Springs.

Georgia Residential Mortgage Fraud Act (SB 100): Sponsored in the House this legislation that gave the Georgia Attorney General the power to investigate and prosecute mortgage fraud and provide for enhanced penalties under Georgia’s RICO statute.