About

cooperSharonBorn in Houston, Texas, Sharon Cooper is proud to have called Georgia home for over 40 years. After teaching nursing for several years in Atlanta, she met Dr. Tom Cooper — they married in 1980 and purchased their first home together in East Cobb. Dr. Cooper passed away in 2013 but Sharon continues to call East Cobb home. Sharon holds several degrees, including a B.S. in Child Development; a M.A. in Education and MSN in Nursing. Sharon has written two textbooks on Psychiatric Nursing and in 1994 she authored Taxpayer’s Tea Party – a how-to book that encouraged the average citizen to become politically active.

First elected in 1996 as State Representative, by 2000 Sharon was chosen as legislator of the year by the Georgia Republican Party and in 2002 she was elected Caucus Chairman by her Republican colleagues. In 2004 she was elected Majority Caucus Chairman making her the highest ranking woman in the Georgia House.

A graduate of the first class of the Coverdell Leadership Institute, Rep. Cooper was able to pass a major revision of the state’s stalking law while still in her freshman term. By 2002 A.G. Ashcroft appointed her to the President’s 30- member, National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women. In 2006 Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens credited Rep. Cooper as being the major catalyst behind the creation of Cobb County Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit. Continuing to gain recognition and respect as a leader in the State House, Rep. Cooper has previously been appointed chairman of the Special Committee on Certificate of Need as well as chair of Health and Human Services and the Special Committee on Grady Hospital. In 2023, she became Chair of the Public Health Committee.

As a registered nurse and educator in the healthcare arena, Rep. Cooper continues to author and foster legislation that promotes improved health care for Georgians. Rep. Cooper’s impact includes the HIV Screening Bill for Pregnant Women, Georgia Smoke Free Air Act, and the “Health Share” Volunteers in Medicine Act as well as Margie’s Law. She has also led recent initiatives to improve elder care services, provide mental health reform, reform step therapy practices, reduce maternal mortality, and increase transparency while reducing costs in pharmacy benefit programs.

Rep. Cooper has earned the reputation of being one of the hardest working legislators at the Capitol as well as being honest, straightforward and committed. Former governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller often called her the little legislator that tells it like it is. Among her many honors, the Atlanta Business Chronicle named Sharon as one of Atlanta’s Women of Influence in 2021. She has a strong and trusted reputation for bringing together groups with opposing ideas, and facilitating a balanced approach and solutions to difficult situations – often without the need for legislation.

CLICK HERE for Rep. Cooper’s most recent legislation & Committee Assignments