Raised right here in Gwinnett County, Nabilah Islam Parkes is the youngest woman ever elected to the Georgia State Senate. She is also the first Muslim woman and the first South Asian woman elected to the Senate.
Nabilah is a lifelong organizer and community advocate. The daughter of working-class immigrants, Nabilah watched her parents work long hours to put food on the table. When she was in high school, her mother was injured at the warehouse. Nabilah saw firsthand the devastating effects our broken healthcare system can have on families.
During her time in the Senate, Nabilah has been a staunch advocate for Georgia’s families, fighting to lower drug costs, make healthcare more affordable, fully fund our public health agencies, expand Medicaid, and protect abortion rights. Her innovative measures to eliminate taxes on essential household items like diapers, menstrual products, and school supplies will put more money in the pockets of hardworking Georgians.
Nabilah grew up in Norcross and Lawrenceville, and graduated from Gwinnett County Public Schools. Nabilah put herself through college at Georgia State University with the help of the HOPE scholarship and by working part-time in Peachtree Corners.
Nabilah serves on several important committees including Government Oversight, Science and Technology, State Institutions and Properties, and Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security. She was also elected Vice Chair of the Gwinnett County Senate delegation.
Nabilah lives in Duluth with her husband Bryan, and she’s “bonus mom” to two daughters. This year, Nabilah will become the first woman in the Georgia Senate to give birth while serving.
Nabilah’s priorities in office include:
Co-sponsor of a bill to expand Medicaid to ensure 400,000 more Georgians get the health care they deserve.
Co-sponsor of the Reproductive Freedom Act to repeal the draconian six-week abortion ban and eliminate other restrictions around abortion care.
Working on legislation guaranteeing paid sick days for all Georgia workers and 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
Introduced legislation that would eliminate the sales tax on menstrual products and products for babies such as diapers and bottles.
Re-introduced legislation that would bring back the school supply tax holiday.
Introduced gun safety legislation to prevent the sale of firearms near schools, hospitals and mental health institutions.
Passed legislation to protect our commissioned officers in the Georgia National Guard.
Introduced legislation to protect military members from predatory lending practices.
Introduced legislation to provide low interest loans to veterans to help them with housing, food and healthcare costs.