Today, he is a practicing dentist with his son, Ben, in Gainesville, Georgia.

Dr. Hawkins was elected president of the Georgia Dental Association (GDA) in 2003. Later, he served as chairman of the delegation to the American Dental Association. He has been recognized by his colleagues as an Honorable Fellow of the GDA, Northern District Dentist of the Year, selected as a Fellow of the American College of Dentist, a Fellow of the International College of Dentistry, a Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy and has received the Meritorious Service Award from the Emory Dental Alumni Association.

In 2007, Hawkins was elected to the Georgia State Senate, where he served until 2010.

During this time, he served as the chairman of State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, vice chairman of the Reapportionment and MARTOC committees and secretary of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee. He also served as a member of the Health and Human Services and Natural Resources and the Environment committees.

In 2013, Hawkins was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, where he represents the House District 27, which includes portions of Hall and Lumpkin counties.

He currently serves as Chairman of the Health Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health, Banks & Banking, Human Relations & Aging, Insurance, Regulated Industries and Rules committees, as well as the Special Committee on Healthcare. He also serves as an Ex-Officio member of the Public and Community Health Committee.

Hawkins has received the following recognitions- Legislator of the Year Award Award of Excellence by the Academy of Independent Pharmacy Friends of Agriculture Legislative Award from the County Commissioners of Georgia President's Award from the Free Dental Clinics of Georgia He and his wife, Sharon, have seven children- Nora, Ivory Michelle, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Meredith, Jim and Charlie.