| First elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1997, Penny Houston (R-Nashville) has
distinguished herself as a tireless advocate for children and those in need. She represents House District
170 covering Berrien and Cook counties and part of Tift County.
Houston serves as Chairman of Appropriations Economic Development Subcommittee, budgeting funds
for the Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture, Department of Community Affairs,
Department of Economic Development, Georgia Ports Authority, World Congress Center, Georgia
Forestry Division, Public Service Commission, and the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission.
She also serves on the Banks and Banking, Ways and Means, State Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight
committees.
In addition, she serves on the Joint Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee, the Economic Development and
Tourism Committee, the Study Committee on Licensing and Inspection of Child Welfare Providers, the
Georgia Tobacco Community Development Board, the National Conference of State Legislatures Health
and Education Committees, the Georgia Commission on Family Violence Board, Georgia General
Assembly's House Study Committee on Medical Education and State Health System, and the Southern
Legislative Conference Fiscal Affair and Government Operations Committee. She has also represented
Georgia at the National Conference of Agriculture Leaders in Washington, D.C.
Prior to her election to the State House, she served on the Special Committee on Certificate of Need, the
Special Committee on Grady Hospital Rep. Houston was the first woman to serve on the Berrien County
School Board, serving eight years, three as Vice-Chairman.
During Rep. Houston's tenure in the House, she has served as Vice-Chairman of Agriculture, ViceChairman of State Planning & Community Affairs, Chairman of Education Subcommittee Curriculum and
Instructions and Chairman of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight committees. Before assuming
Chairman of Economic Development Appropriation Subcommittee, Rep. Houston was Chairman of
Appropriations Human Resources Subcommittee.
At home, Rep. Houston is an active member of the Nashville United Methodist Church. She is a member
of the Nashville Woman's Club, the Berrien, Tift and Cook County Chambers of Commerce and serves as
an executive member of the Berrien County Chamber's board. She is an honorary member of the
Nashville Rotary Club. She has been involved with the Georgia Sheriff's Youth Homes for more than 30
years and currently serves as a member of the Boys Ranch board of Directors in Hahira. Rep. Houston
also serves on the Advisory Board of the Atlanta Speech School and on the Board of Directors of PenfieldChristian Homes.
A life-long Georgian, Rep. Houston grew up in Leary but has resided in Nashville for more than 40 years.
She graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and from the University of Georgia. She has
three children and five grandchildren. |