Sharon Cooper

Sharon Meyer Cooper was born on October 23, 1942, in Houston, Texas. She has called Georgia home for over 39 years and was married to the late Dr. Tom Cooper for more than 33 years. Cooper is a Republican representing District 45 in the Georgia House of Representatives, which encompasses parts of East Cobb County, located just north of Atlanta.

Education and Professional Background

Cooper is a former registered nurse and medical administrator with a Master of Science in Nursing . Her background in healthcare has significantly shaped her legislative priorities and committee work throughout her career.

Political Experience

Cooper's political career began in 1996 when she was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives for District 45 . She was sworn in on January 13, 1997.

Cooper quickly rose to leadership within the Republican caucus. In 2002, she was elected Caucus Chairman by her Republican colleagues, and in 2004, she became Majority Caucus Chairman, making her the highest-ranking woman in the Georgia House at that time. In 2007, she assumed the role of Caucus Chair Emeritus to focus on her expanding committee responsibilities.

Currently, Cooper serves as Chairman of the Public and Community Health Committee, one of the busiest committees in the House. She also serves on multiple other committees including Human Relations & Aging, Intragovernmental Coordination, Judiciary Non-Civil, Regulated Industries, and Rules, as well as the Special Committee on Healthcare.

Notable Achievements

Cooper has championed significant healthcare legislation throughout her tenure, including the HIV screening bill for pregnant women, the Georgia Smoke Free Air Act, and the "Health Share" Volunteers in Medicine Act. In recent years, she has focused on combating the state's opioid crisis, passing the first House bill to make Narcan available to first responders.

Cooper received the 2000 Legislator of the Year award from the Georgia Republican Party and the 2014 GA Senior Living Association Legislator of the Year Award.