Comité Regulated Industries and Utilities del Senado, 27 de enero de 2026

Transcripción

489 turnos. Seleccione un tiempo para reproducir ese momento del video.

1. 0:11:48

   Our Regulated Industries Committee meeting to order, our first one of the year. 2026 just sounds strange to the ears, doesn't it? Uh, but here we are. Appreciate everybody showing up today after a long day on the floor hearing about all the evils of Minneapolis, like, as if we could do something about it here in Georgia. Uh, that kept us late in session and delayed all our committees, so we're gonna act promptly as we can here today. This is mostly leftover business from last year.

2. 0:12:19

   Uh, most of these bills passed out. Uh, Senator Hufstetler has said he is willing to defer to another day on his if we don't have time, so, uh, unlikely that we will deal with that one. We had agreed it would be a hearing only. There's so much conversation going on about the data centers. We wanna spend some time in this committee this year making sure Georgia's handling that situation right. Uh, folks on the committee, you got all these bills in your folder in the order we're gonna take them up.

3. 0:12:50

   We had about 19 or 20 bills that were recommitted to this committee, most of which had passed last year and either got held up in rules or didn't make it to the floor, uh, before we adjourned last year. So some of these have already been through here and, uh, shouldn't be too time-consuming. My good friend, Chairman Hawkins, uh, came to us twice last year. In the last meeting, we didn't have a quorum to take action on your bill. I promised you you'd be first up this year, so you're the, the first House bill I'm gonna take up is House Bill 571, and if you would present, it's easiest, uh, if you do that from the podium, uh, Representative.

4. 0:13:30

   I don't know how much detail you want me to go into. We-

5. 0:13:33

   Uh

6. 0:13:33

   ... we heard this bill, y'all heard this bill twice. What you got before you was a substitute that we did not have a quorum to lis- uh, to hear this. This is a substitute that was actually created by all parties that, that had a little issue with the bill. So the substitute, uh, the changes in this substitute from the last bill, uh, line five, um, I mean, page five, excuse me, line 107111 has provision for non-invasive procedures under general supervision.

7. 0:14:03

   Examples of the non-invasive procedur- procedures would be taking medical history, informed consent, that type of thing. Then on page eight, 171 changes w- right now it says January. I, I would ask for a change, a committee amendment to July on, uh, line 171 and 181, uh, that, that gives the, uh, folks more time to go ahead and get their applications into the board. This thing is, has board oversight, the Composite Board of Medicine.

8. 0:14:36

   As you remember, they've go- they've gone through this subject. They approved this and, um, then the last change is on, um, page eight, 187. Again, it says general supervision for non-invasive procedures.

9. 0:14:51

   Okay.

10. 0:14:51

    That's, those were the changes in this substitute from the original bill heard by this committee.

11. 0:14:55

    Okay. I'm gonna let you give us just a little more overview what you're trying to accomplish 'cause it has been, you know-

12. 0:15:01

    Okay

13. 0:15:01

    ... a year since-

14. 0:15:02

    Sure

15. 0:15:02

    ... we've heard it all.

16. 0:15:03

    Sure.

17. 0:15:04

    Just to refresh some of our committee members-

18. 0:15:06

    Okay

19. 0:15:06

    ... and we-

20. 0:15:06

    No

21. 0:15:06

    ... we've got a couple new ones that may need to learn a little bit about it. I do wanna make sure I'm right on one thing. You pointed out a change on page five, down there lines 107 to 111.

22. 0:15:18

    Yes.

23. 0:15:19

    And this is when you're discussing a radiologist assistant-

24. 0:15:23

    Right

25. 0:15:23

    ... what they can do. The way I understood part of the compromise is that the, the board can expressly restrict that activity.

26. 0:15:32

    Yes.

27. 0:15:33

    And so that's sort of your check and balance that they can do it unless the board steps up and says certain actions-

28. 0:15:39

    That's right

29. 0:15:40

    ... we do not believe are proper.

30. 0:15:41

    That's right. That's right.

31. 0:15:41

    So we're still leaving that-

32. 0:15:43

    Yes

33. 0:15:43

    ... with the board.

34. 0:15:44

    Yes.

35. 0:15:44

    And that is a composite medical board.

36. 0:15:46

    Yes.

37. 0:15:46

    Is that who we're talking about?

38. 0:15:47

    Right.

39. 0:15:47

    Okay.

40. 0:15:47

    Right.

41. 0:15:48

    All right. Give, give-

42. 0:15:48

    They, they have total oversight over this. The radiology assistants who are in the state of Georgia right now but are not recognized as they are in other states act, act like a tech. So they're, they're doing non-invasive, you know, uh, um, MRIs, that kind of thing. Uh, there are some techniques that are done in other states, needle-guided procedures, that may be in the future, but this is just a first step. Uh, that would also be oversight of the board.

43. 0:16:19

    Um, radiologists came to me that talked about this, said that they would train just like a, a medical residency in the hospital with oversight of the board. So the board would have oversight and licensing ability. So it's gonna be tightly held. The reason this bill was brought is because we're not producing enough radiologists at this point. So with the limited, uh, ability of a, of a tech right now or a radiology assistant, which is above what a tech is, with their limited scope of what they can do now, things are getting held up.

44. 0:16:53

    I mean, I, I don't know about y'all, but I've had a couple MRIs, and it, you know, you wait a week or so, and then you may, you wait a few days before you hear the results. Well, if you've got cancer or somebody in your family has cancer, you wanna get this done as soon as possible, and the radiologists want it done as soon as possible in our hospitals. So everybody's looked at this and have been in agreement. That's it.

45. 0:17:17

    Are there any questions from members of the board?

46. 0:17:21

    No.

47. 0:17:21

    Committee? All right. Mr. Pro Tem, you are recognized for a question.

48. 0:17:26

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I'm new to this boar- uh, this committee, uh, s-

49. 0:17:32

    Okay

50. 0:17:32

    ... representative, so I didn't have the opportunity to hear the discussion last session, so forgive me if I'm trying to catch up here.

51. 0:17:41

    That's fine.

52. 0:17:42

    Um-

53. 0:17:43

    There's no insurance involved with this one.

54. 0:17:46

    Uh, you know, you and I have worked a lot together on-

55. 0:17:49

    Yeah

56. 0:17:49

    ... on a lot of other issues trying to s- uh, s- Solve some of our healthcare workforce issues. And I, I know that this is creating a new license, and I have just naturally concerns that, um, we're putting more barriers to, um, to the workforce and to, um, people getting, you know, in shortage of providers in getting the care they need. I, I do appreciate the substitute language that allows them to do the, some things under general supervision.

57. 0:18:28

    Um, the bill I first read only had direct supervision all through it, and that gave me, uh, pause. But I guess my question would be,

58. 0:18:42

    h- how many hospitals are you aware of now that are using radiology assistants? Because a lot of my area is rural, and I'm not sure they even have radiology assistants.

59. 0:18:53

    Yeah. Some hospitals do not use them. I believe the one in Athens, Mr. Chairman, does not have a, have one. Uh, we actually had testimony from one of the radiologists over there, and the reason they don't is because they're not in code. So they're concerned about using, uh, a, a radiology assistant. This allows this to go into code, oversight with the board. We've met with the board. We've been through this. The board approves this, and, and really, I think the board's looking forward to this. It will expand access. But yeah, that's a good question.

60. 0:19:24

    Do you need follow-up?

61. 0:19:24

    Yes, sir-

62. 0:19:25

    Go right ahead

63. 0:19:25

    ... if you don't mind. Uh, Representative, couldn't the Composite Medical Board, don't they have the authority to define the scope of practice for radiology assistants currently without us putting it in code?

64. 0:19:41

    Um, we had that discussion, and I think they are more comfortable if it is in code. It, it, you know, they can... Uh, they're gonna provide oversight, and once this is established, probably come back with additional duties. But, uh, I believe it was the feeling of the board th- to have this in code.

65. 0:20:02

    I know we got a lot of business, but do you mind if I ask a couple more?

66. 0:20:05

    No, go right ahead, Will. We just got three bills.

67. 0:20:07

    So Representative, the, uh, this does not in any way impede the ability of radiology technologists, the rad techs, to do their job that they're currently doing?

68. 0:20:18

    No. No.

69. 0:20:20

    Um-

70. 0:20:20

    No, no, no. Uh, the, this, this adds radiology assistants, which are in the state but are not licensed as an assistant 'cause we don't recognize them. But no, it does not affect the, the, the rad techs at all.

71. 0:20:35

    And Representative, currently we allow physician assistants and advanced nurses to work under a protocol agreement with a physician with general supervision. Direct supervision, as you well know, means the, the radiologist has to be physically-

72. 0:20:53

    That's right

73. 0:20:53

    ... in the same building and physically present.

74. 0:20:56

    That's right.

75. 0:20:56

    Does that not, uh... Why would we not treat these the same way we treat physician assistants or advanced nurses?

76. 0:21:03

    That's a v- very good question. Under general supervision, they will be doing non-invasive, uh, procedures. Invasive procedures, which are needle-guided procedures under f- fluoroscopes, where they can see the needle going, that's a d- that, that is, that would be under direct supervision. That's an invasive p- procedure. We're not going there with this, but that may be there in the future.

77. 0:21:28

    Right now there's not a license for a radiologist assistant.

78. 0:21:32

    That's right.

79. 0:21:32

    So it gives you that authority to set the criteria to get that license and training, education, and maintain the license.

80. 0:21:40

    Composite Board of Medicine gives them the ability to do that.

81. 0:21:43

    If a hospital's daring, they could go ahead and hire somebody to be a radiologist assistant now. They just would be an unlicensed person.

82. 0:21:50

    That's right. W- what I understood from your area and some others, they worry about the liability of having-

83. 0:21:56

    Right

84. 0:21:57

    ... a radiology assistant, which is not recognized in the state of Georgia.

85. 0:22:00

    How many other states do recognize it? It's, it's not uncommon.

86. 0:22:03

    Yeah, I don't know. I know there's a school in North Carolina, right across state line, that actually trains radiology assistants.

87. 0:22:09

    Okay. Other members have questions for Representative Hawkins?

88. 0:22:14

    Can you repeat the two changes?

89. 0:22:17

    Can you repeat the two changes?

90. 0:22:19

    Sure.

91. 0:22:19

    The first one was on page five.

92. 0:22:20

    Yeah. Page five, lines 107 to 111, adds provision for non-invasive procedures under general supervision. Page eight, line 171, now this is a change to what you have presently, asking, I'm asking the committee to, to amend from January to July, um, because it doesn't give enough time since the bill is now th- at this point in the second session. And the same thing on line 181, January to July, change that.

93. 0:22:54

    Um, on page eight, line 182, provision for RAs who are already in the state must apply for the board by license of that date. That is what I'm referring to on changing that date to July. On page eight, line 187, same thing as we talked about earlier, allows for general supervision of non-invasive procedures.

94. 0:23:20

    Uh, Senator Albers for a question.

95. 0:23:22

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, Chairman Hawkins, always great to see you. Love all the wonderful work you do.

96. 0:23:26

    Thank you.

97. 0:23:27

    For the date, knowing that if this bill passes through and the governor signs it, it would be effective July 1, they may have a very short window. I know the original bill was looking at January 1st, '26.

98. 0:23:39

    Right.

99. 0:23:39

    Should it not be January 1st, '27, to give them time from the governor's signature to implement it?

100. 0:23:44

     I've asked that question. Uh, is Becky Rouse in here?

101. 0:23:48

     She is.

102. 0:23:48

     She's behind you.

103. 0:23:51

     Would you like to address that?

104. 0:23:52

     She represents the radiology assistants.

105. 0:23:57

     Come on up, Ms. Rouse. I thought that's the change you were asking for, is change that January 1st, '26 to '27.

106. 0:24:05

     He said July.

107. 0:24:07

     July.

108. 0:24:07

     July.

109. 0:24:07

     No, actually July of 2026.

110. 0:24:11

     Okay. Ms. Ryals.

111. 0:24:14

     Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I'm Becky Ryals, representing the, um, Association of Radiologic Technologists, um, who serve first as RTs, and so they become a rad tech, and then this, um, radiologist assistant gives them a career path. Currently, when they go into clinical practice as a rad tech, that's as far as they can advance. When they go back to school to become a radiologist assistant, then it gives them a clinical path, um, to stay in medicine and function at a higher level.

112. 0:24:50

     Um, so in answer to your question about the dates, we had discussed this last session, and the agreement was if we gave them the six-month window, because it says on or after July 1st, 2026. So, um, that would then leave it open to the board to, um, set the timeline that is conducive for them. But we're happy to change that date to whatever you think appropriate, Mr.

113. 0:25:22

     Chairman.

114. 0:25:23

     We've had this discussion, but I made the point too.

115. 0:25:26

     Okay. And the, uh, the other answer to the question that was asked is the number of states. There are 32 states who license radiologist assistants. There are numerous, um, hospitals as well as radiology groups, outpatient radiology groups, who hire radiologist assistants, and the others, as Chairman Hawken mentioned, they would like to hire radiologist assistants, but they are reluctant to without the licensure and oversight. In fact, I've had radiologist assistants come to me and say the hospital won't credential them because they are not a licensed healthcare professional.

116. 0:26:04

     So we see this as a pathway to expand the healthcare workforce, to move some rad techs into becoming a radiologist assistant if they so choose. If they would prefer to stay a rad tech, then of course that is their option. This just would create a mid-level provider to expedite the work that a radiologist does, both in the procedure room as well as interpretation. Because one of the biggest things that an RA will do for a radiologist is keep them in the reading room longer.

117. 0:26:40

     They can do a lot of work in prepping a patient before, um, a diagnostic study. And so it would allow the RA to help make sure the patient is ready, prepared, has, has done the preparation work prior to coming in that day, and then the radiologist can come in and assist with that procedure, um, as clinically appropriate.

118. 0:27:03

     Do you know whether Medicaid or Medicare or insurance reimbursement rates vary for a radiologist assistant versus a radiology tech?

119. 0:27:12

     Currently, um, CMS recognizes radiologist assistants, but we are not quite there in this billing process. So once Medicare does recognize, uh, radiologist assistants to be able to bill as other mid-levels do, such as, um, just other mid-level p- providers who are recognized by Medicare and CMS to bill, um, we feel that that eventually will come, but, but we are not there yet, which is why for patients in Georgia, this will increase the access, expedite the access to a diagnostic study, and also give them, um, results in a more timely fashion.

120. 0:27:56

     So those are our two goals, um-

121. 0:27:58

     But as of now-

122. 0:27:59

     ... for now

123. 0:27:59

     ... it will not increase the patient's cost because that person cannot bill independently.

124. 0:28:04

     That is correct.

125. 0:28:05

     That's a win-win.

126. 0:28:06

     Can I close-

127. 0:28:07

     Any other questions? Yes, go right ahead Senator Orrock.

128. 0:28:08

     Can I close with one? I'm, I'm not sure I got to the end of my question there. Uh, it's... I believe what you said was the Composite Medical Board was looking for that six-month timeframe, knowing that if this bill passes, and the governor signs it, it comes on July 1st. It seems consistent, whether you say that would push that to 2027 of January 1. Does that not make sense?

129. 0:28:32

     It-

130. 0:28:33

     Last year's bill, you wanted January '26, if we had've passed it in March of '25.

131. 0:28:40

     Right.

132. 0:28:41

     Yeah.

133. 0:28:41

     I'm okay with that. I mean, I, I, I... You know, the, the question is, are people already out there, do they have time to make the application that are RAs but not recognized as RAs? You know, I, I think that's fine. W- we've had this discussion. They, they felt like they wanted to, you know, have a sooner date, but I see your point. I saw your point before, so I'm okay. It does say on or after on line 171.

134. 0:29:12

     Um, maybe it should say on or after that, that, uh, July date also, so it gives them the flexibility.

135. 0:29:20

     I'm not trying to talk you into it, Mr. Chairman. I'm just trying to make sure we're consistent.

136. 0:29:24

     Yeah. So I, I will take your change. If-

137. 0:29:27

     I will note that the bill is effective upon signature. This one doesn't have an effective date of July 1st.

138. 0:29:33

     Right.

139. 0:29:33

     We're gonna be out, hopefully, April 2nd, so what's that give the governor, till May the 2nd or thereabouts to sign. So this could be effective-

140. 0:29:42

     That's right

141. 0:29:43

     ... sooner than July. But I... We will defer. I mean, what are your wishes on this? But we wanna get it right, but-

142. 0:29:49

     No

143. 0:29:49

     ... you know.

144. 0:29:52

     I would say on or, on or after July on line 181, include that, so just like on 171, so it gives flexibility

145. 0:30:04

     So you need changes-

146. 0:30:04

     "On or after," you know, gives them more flexibility

147. 0:30:08

     You would change both lines, 171 and 181?

148. 0:30:10

     Yes, sir.

149. 0:30:12

     I got it.

150. 0:30:14

     Senator Albers, is that-

151. 0:30:15

     Yeah

152. 0:30:16

     ... good with you?

153. 0:30:16

     Anybody got-

154. 0:30:17

     Yeah.

155. 0:30:17

     Yeah

156. 0:30:17

     ... further questions?

157. 0:30:19

     Okay.

158. 0:30:20

     All right, we got a couple other people signed up. Uh, Scott Young, if you are, uh, with us.

159. 0:30:26

     Yes, I am.

160. 0:30:27

     You-

161. 0:30:27

     My bill's

162. 0:30:28

     Oh, your next bill. Okay, good. So we have nobody against your bill- ... or, or anybody else for it either. Don't we, Scott?

163. 0:30:34

     They've all passed away by now.

164. 0:30:35

     Yeah. Uh, you're recognized, Senator Ginn.

165. 0:30:39

     Mr. Chairman, if it's not too much trouble and, and somebody r- knows all those changes we made, I move do pass.

166. 0:30:46

     All right. Well, let's now have discussion on that and any proposed amendments. Senator Albers, I'm gonna recognize you for an amendment if you are so inclined.

167. 0:30:55

     I do have one, Mr. Chairman.

168. 0:30:55

     All right, what's, uh, what's your preference?

169. 0:30:57

     Uh, I'd like to amend LC 461244 S, beginning on line 171, by striking January the 4th word and replacing it with July. And then again on line 181, toward the back end of that sentence, striking the word "until" and adding "on or after," striking the word "January," replacing it with "July," making both of those 2026 as they are.

170. 0:31:24

     All right. Ben, you got that? Okay. Any, is there a second to that amendment?

171. 0:31:29

     Second.

172. 0:31:30

     Second by my Vice Chairman, Senator Summers. Any discussion on that? All right, all in favor of the Albers Amendment, raise your hand. Are there any opposed? No, that passes unanimously. All right, now I'm back to you, Senator Ginn. So your motion now would be do pass-

173. 0:31:47

     Do pass

174. 0:31:47

     ... as amended-

175. 0:31:48

     Yes

176. 0:31:48

     ... LC 461244 S. And it's seconded by Chairman Albers. Any discussion on the bill at this point? All right. All in favor, raise your hand. And any opposed, like sign. Once again, that passes unanimous.

177. 0:32:05

     Thank you.

178. 0:32:05

     Mr. Chairman, do you know who you'd like to carry this for you, uh, in the Senate?

179. 0:32:10

     Uh, I think he has asked me again.

180. 0:32:12

     I may not ask you till you get to rules, but we like to go ahead.

181. 0:32:14

     I, I think Senator Albers was gonna do it for me last year. You still up for that?

182. 0:32:17

     Glad to.

183. 0:32:18

     I appreciate it.

184. 0:32:19

     All righty.

185. 0:32:19

     Thank you.

186. 0:32:20

     Thanks for being with us.

187. 0:32:21

     Thank you. Appreciate it.

188. 0:32:21

     Hope to see you again this year.

189. 0:32:22

     Thank you.

190. 0:32:27

     All right, one up, one down. Let's move on through the list, folks. Uh,

191. 0:32:33

     I'm gonna now call up Senate Bill 146. Senator Williams, you are carrying this one.

192. 0:32:39

     Yes, sir.

193. 0:32:40

     You may speak from your seat if you'd like to, or go to the podium, whatever is most, uh, comfortable with you.

194. 0:32:45

     I can just speak from here if that's okay, Mr. Chairman.

195. 0:32:47

     All right, that'll be just fine. We have your bill in our folder. You might wanna tell them just briefly the history of this. Uh, this is your baby.

196. 0:32:58

     Thank you. Uh, committee, this bill came about because of a cemetery up in North Georgia that was on the, uh... It was, uh, on some land that was, uh, acquired by, uh, a landowner. She purchased, uh, some land, and it had an old cemetery on this land. The cemetery, the Eden Cemetery, was over 100 years old, and it was a family cemetery.

197. 0:33:29

     And, um, this person decided they wanted to build a house, uh, where this cemetery was located. They went to the coroner to try to get, uh, the graves moved, and just old historical cemetery, and the coroner, you know, declined that they didn't need to move those graves. Um, this landowner actually went and hired someone to move the headstones off this cemetery and take them to another cemetery about 15 miles away and just stack them over to the side.

198. 0:34:06

     This is just closing up the loopholes to make it stronger. Uh, and apparently she had not seen the movie Poltergeist. I don't know if any of y'all did, but, uh, I saw it, and I don't wanna see it again.

199. 0:34:20

     We told you this was a fun committee. Welcome on board.

200. 0:34:24

     Uh, but, uh, that's what this, uh, bill is, is to make sure that these cemeteries are respected, not abused. And, um, then just, just a couple of weeks ago, I was told about another one here, uh, in one of the suburbs right outside of Atlanta, that a church had, uh, closed down. Another church bought that existing church building, had an existing cemetery over 100 years old on it also, and they've started putting fence around it and restricting how...

201. 0:34:57

     And it's an active cemetery. Um, a funeral home here in Atlanta had to go take down part of the fence in order to get, uh, even the pallbearers to walk in to carry the casket. So, uh, be glad to answer any questions.

202. 0:35:12

     Just a couple from me. So it, and I'm going largely by my memory from last year and the, the summary that, that our, uh, office has, has given us here. Sounds like under your bill, you now have to have a, a permit to disinter and reinter remains. Is, is that currently the law you would have to do that? You're mentioning just family members or whoever digging bodies up and moving them.

203. 0:35:40

     Well, it, it, it is, and it's actually already more stringent than it used to be. In Macon, Georgia, there was a couple that was divorced, and the father went and disinterred, had disinterred a child, and carried the child's grave and marker to, to Kentucky, I believe it was. He got there, and he didn't have a permit, so he couldn't inter the child in a cemetery in Kentucky without that permit.

204. 0:36:13

     Um- So DPH has strengthened the permitting process a couple of years ago that, uh, whoever is applying for the permit has to prove kinship now. So that's already been strengthened that, um, I couldn't just go get a permit to disinter any grave. I've got to prove kinship and next of kinship that, uh, that you have the rights for disposition now.

205. 0:36:41

     Who issues these permits?

206. 0:36:43

     These permits are issued by the probate judge in most counties, or health department or vital statist- vital records. Uh, as in some counties it would be the, uh, health department, in a lot of counties it would be the probate court.

207. 0:36:59

     Okay. And currently you have to have that permit before you can disinter and reinter a body?

208. 0:37:05

     That is correct. Yes, sir.

209. 0:37:06

     Um, can you do it in a cemetery that has not been abandoned?

210. 0:37:12

     You, you can. Um, you can do that in any cemetery. And it also, uh, lays out in this code section what an abandoned cemetery is. There's one change in this bill that I wish to make though, and that was on line 491. This is talking about establishing c- a private cemetery on private property. Right now it has at least one acre in size.

211. 0:37:43

     I wanted to move that to a half acre. So if anyone wanted to, um, create a cemetery on private property, they would have to set aside at least a half acre. Also, what this bill addresses, uh, in this bill, uh, and one representative, Jesse Petrie, had this situation come up in Burke County, Georgia. His old family cemetery is located on a farm of about 250 acres.

212. 0:38:16

     Someone from Florida came up and bought that farm, and then put up a fence and no trespassing sign, so they're not able to maintain their family cemetery. So what this does is also, uh, gives you an avenue to seek relief through a superior court judge, and that he can work out when you might, when you may be able to go to that cemetery to maintain it, clean it up, to make sure that it's, it stays maintained.

213. 0:38:50

     Um, but it leaves that up to the superior court to make that decision in, in relation and not to interfere with the property owner's rights of enjoying his property. But it does give the heirs to that cemetery access to go to the cemetery to maintain it and keep it up.

214. 0:39:12

     Does current law require any movement of a grave to be supervised or monitored or carried out by a funeral director, or is that a change your bill's making?

215. 0:39:22

     No, that, that, that is, uh, now, um, if, if you move a grave in the same cemetery, a funeral director does not, does not have to be present. Under this bill it would. And if a, an old grave is disturbed, then an archeologist that has been trained to recognize and realize what they're doing, and to do the grave moving, and a licensed funeral director has to be there to supervise this also.

216. 0:39:55

     Current law, or you're making that be the law?

217. 0:39:57

     That, that's in this law. Yes, sir.

218. 0:39:59

     The, the change that-

219. 0:40:00

     The change

220. 0:40:01

     ... that you're presenting.

221. 0:40:01

     Uh-huh.

222. 0:40:01

     All right. So you're, you're now requiring that if this permit is granted it must be monitored, supervised or carried out by a f- a licensed funeral director.

223. 0:40:11

     R- well, a... Yes, sir. That's on line 403.

224. 0:40:16

     Okay.

225. 0:40:17

     Um, by the applicant's archeologist and a licensed funeral director.

226. 0:40:22

     Okay. Senator Ginn, you have a question? You're recognized.

227. 0:40:25

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, uh, don't know a whole lot about, about, uh, cemetery business, but I had a constituent that was trying to move a, a c- a cemetery... Or a grave, a single grave that was out in the middle of a pasture. Said to me and it was more complicated than any lawyers we could find that wanted to touch it. Said then, and what happens? My question is, at the end of the day, would that constituent be able to, to have clear guidance f- the, uh, about all the things that gotta happen? And can a, can an average lawyer figure out what steps gotta happen to make a, a single grave move the, uh, out of a pasture?

228. 0:41:03

     Right. He's gonna, first of all, have to prove direct lineage, kinship even by blood or adoption, and the line of kinship. And-

229. 0:41:13

     I don't know that there's any relatives of this person still alive, but, but if that was... How do, how... What happens if there is-

230. 0:41:18

     But he can-

231. 0:41:18

     ... or is not?

232. 0:41:19

     ... he can petition the county to allow him to move that grave to a, another cemetery, and this would allow this, and outline the procedure in which that could happen.

233. 0:41:31

     So it would be... It's, it's spelled out here pretty clear.

234. 0:41:34

     Yes. Yes.

235. 0:41:34

     Okay. And then, then one of the things that, uh, sitting here, when, when I look at the very first page, I'm not sure exactly what it means. But u- up, uh, before we get to line one, it says moot, and I don't know what moot is all about. If you look at the top right-hand side of the page.

236. 0:41:50

     The bill, bill did not pass the Senate. Usually it'll say as passed. Where this, this bill passed the committee. I believe it got out of rules and was put on the, um-

237. 0:42:00

     So what does moot mean?

238. 0:42:00

     ... calendar. The bill didn't pass.

239. 0:42:03

     Okay.

240. 0:42:04

     Yes, sir.

241. 0:42:04

     We- we're back to start.

242. 0:42:05

     Okay. So it's a total new bill?

243. 0:42:09

     Well, every one of them is.

244. 0:42:10

     Okay.

245. 0:42:11

     Everything that didn't pass got recommitted to where they came, and we're starting from scratch. But this is the one we're considering, is the same version that passed this committee last year And was put on the general calendar but never called up. All right, uh-

246. 0:42:27

     Never had seen that moot me in, Mr. Chairman

247. 0:42:29

     ... that old legal word. Senator Summers.

248. 0:42:34

     Senator, um, several, several cemeteries down in my area, very old, dilapidated graves. This bill will- that change, anybody can go in there and fix those graves up without permission. They can modify- you know, bring them up to standards and new re- I mean, they're made out of brick. I mean, I'm sure you've seen those things. They're just, they've, they're falling in, they're gone. I mean, do you have, does this bill change any of that? Can they, can they just family members go in there and fix those graves?

249. 0:43:00

     Yes, they can.

250. 0:43:02

     Okay.

251. 0:43:02

     Yes, they can.

252. 0:43:02

     No questions then.

253. 0:43:03

     Yep. Just make sure that they are given permission and the rights to access that cemetery-

254. 0:43:08

     That cemetery

255. 0:43:09

     ... to restore the graves, yes.

256. 0:43:11

     Okay.

257. 0:43:14

     All right, I had one other. When y'all got me thinking now about the timeliness of this, um, your bill last year was intended to be effective, I think July 1st of 2025. Now, we're past that.

258. 0:43:28

     Where's that?

259. 0:43:29

     Oh, I saw it somewhere. Um... Line 46. 46. 4- 486 or 494. Okay. So you got two different places. Is, is that something you wanna change just like-

260. 0:43:41

     Certainly. Uh-

261. 0:43:41

     ... Representative Hawkins did?

262. 0:43:43

     What line again, 490?

263. 0:43:45

     496. Uh, no, what'd you say?

264. 0:43:48

     4-

265. 0:43:48

     484 494.

266. 0:43:50

     489, also July 1, 2025. We can do 2026.

267. 0:43:55

     Basically, anywhere this reference says July 1, '25, you would change that to July 1, 26.

268. 0:44:00

     To '26. Yes, sir.

269. 0:44:02

     All right, so I'm looking at line 486 for sure.

270. 0:44:06

     Right.

271. 0:44:06

     And 494. Ben, what else did you find? Just those two. Those are just the two? All right, so that will be a, a friendly amendment if somebody chooses to bring that to get you up to date.

272. 0:44:16

     Yes, sir.

273. 0:44:17

     Okay. Are there other questions from committee members? How about some minority members? Y'all got any questions? Got any family cemeteries in y'all's districts? Luke? No, they got them down in Macon. You got big-

274. 0:44:28

     Down there in Macon, huh?

275. 0:44:31

     All right. Okay.

276. 0:44:32

     Mr. Chairman, I make a motion.

277. 0:44:33

     All right, I recognize my vice chairman for a motion.

278. 0:44:36

     Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that we do pass this with an amendment, uh, on line 490.

279. 0:44:41

     Let, let's get it on the board first.

280. 0:44:42

     Amendment. Give me the amendment. Yeah, get amendment on the board.

281. 0:44:44

     So you're moving due pass LC55-0532S.

282. 0:44:48

     Yes.

283. 0:44:48

     Second. And there's a second by Senator Albers. Uh, now any discussion or any proposed amendments?

284. 0:44:54

     Mr. Chairman, if I may.

285. 0:44:55

     You may.

286. 0:44:55

     I'd like to make an amendment to line 494 to change 2025, 2026.

287. 0:45:01

     Okay.

288. 0:45:01

     On line 496, I'd like to change from one acre to a half acre.

289. 0:45:07

     And back up one page.

290. 0:45:08

     And go back one page back on line 486 from July 1st of 2025 to 2026.

291. 0:45:16

     Any discussion on that proposed amendment? Is there a second, I guess, first for your amendment? Second. Second by Senator Albers once again. All right. Having no discussion, we'll take a vote on that. The, we'll call it the Summers Amendment.

292. 0:45:28

     Yeah. You got 48, line 486.

293. 0:45:31

     Yep. Raise your hand if you're in favor of the amendment.

294. 0:45:34

     The half acre, Mr. Chairman, what's-

295. 0:45:36

     It has three things. On line 486, he changes the date to 2026. On line 494, he changes it to 2026, and on line 496, he changes it to one half acre. You gotta pay attention in this committee.

296. 0:45:49

     I know.

297. 0:45:50

     All right? You're on it. Okay. All right, let's roll. All in favor, raise your hand.

298. 0:45:56

     Gotta roll, baby.

299. 0:45:56

     Any opposed? All right. It, it passes unanimously. Now we'll go to the, um, the measure as amended. The motion is due pass LC55-0532S as amended. Any discussion? You content with this?

300. 0:46:14

     Yes, sir.

301. 0:46:15

     All right. All in favor, raise your hand. All opposed, raise your hand. All right, it passes unanimously. All right, what'd you say down there, Senator? We're rolling?

302. 0:46:24

     We're rolling.

303. 0:46:25

     We're rolling.

304. 0:46:25

     All right. We got, we got lots of bills to deal with. Let's move along.

305. 0:46:29

     I'll get you a new handkerchief yet.

306. 0:46:31

     Senate Bill 239, originally authored by Senator Walker, but the new sponsor is again Senator Williams. We're gonna finish up these undertaker bills and figure out what your other skill set might be here in the next couple months.

307. 0:46:46

     I'm not sure we wanna know that.

308. 0:46:47

     We're gonna let you present it to us, and we actually, this one might be controversial. We have two people s- signed up to testify, so you need to be persuasive.

309. 0:46:56

     I, I, I think I can be s- persuasive on this. I graduated mortuary college March of 1972, and back then, you may have one cremation a year. And, uh, back then, you did not have to be an embalmer to be a funeral director. The law in Georgia was you could register and serve apprenticeship for three years, register to take Georgia test, and if you passed them, then you became a funeral director.

310. 0:47:29

     In order to be an embalmer, you had to go to mortuary college. In 1976, the law changed, uh, trying to upgrade the profession, um, and get everybody educated. Well, we, we, we've moved, and we're professional and, uh, proud of the fact. Now, in 2026, over 50% of the deaths in Georgia are cremated. We, uh, no longer are embalming.

311. 0:47:59

     If you remember last year, we even started composting human remains. So what this does is goes back to where you don't have to be an embalmer to be a funeral director. Back when I was growing up, my father was not an embalmer, he was just a funeral director. My mother was a funeral director. I have a older sister who's a funeral director. They were not embalmers. Uh, there are a lot of, uh, funeral homes that are owned by people, uh, that are not embalmers, and, uh, they just hire trade embalmers.

312. 0:48:32

     There are people who do that for several funeral homes. So what this bill does, it goes back and it's kinda li- And I compare it to, like, my regular physician. He's not a surgeon. He's a family practitioner. Uh, if I need surgery, he'll refer me to someone for surgery. Um, he's not a cardiologist. He, uh, is just a general practitioner.

313. 0:49:03

     So what this also does keep into effect, anyone who is the funeral director in full and continuous charge of a funeral home would still need to be a licensed funeral director and embalmer. So each funeral home pretty much would have a funeral director embalmer that's in full and continuous charge. But, uh, matter of fact, I have a guy that has worked for me for 50 years. This year, he has worked for me for 50 years, and he went to mortuary college and became a funeral director embalmer.

314. 0:49:41

     Actually won the valedictorian, um, of Gupton-Jones Mortuary College here in Atlanta. Can he embalm a body? No. He can tell you how, he can quote the book, but can he do it? No. Would he do it? No. Has he ever done it? No, but he got his license. But in simple, just putting it in plain fact, uh, that everybody, uh... And we had a meeting at, uh, A.S. Turner Funeral Home that's owned by Sy Hume, who's here in life, and, um, signed up to speak.

315. 0:50:16

     And there was, um, a one African American, uh, funeral director that was here that owned, uh, one of the big funeral homes, and I know Mr. Hume can relay who it was, but he had, uh, 14 embalmers and, uh, none of them, they didn't want to wait on a family. They didn't want to direct a funeral. All they wanted to do was embalm. And he had funeral directors that didn't wanna embalm. All they wanted to do was wait on families and take care of funerals. So, uh, be glad to answer any questions, uh, Mr.

316. 0:50:47

     Chairman. I hope I was persuasive.

317. 0:50:51

     I was lost about a third of the way into it. Uh, I... Right now, if your bill doesn't pass, what do you have to do to embalm somebody? Don't tell me how you do it. What's your educational requirements?

318. 0:51:08

     You mean, you mean anybody?

319. 0:51:09

     Yeah, anybody.

320. 0:51:11

     Um, well-

321. 0:51:13

     Do you have to have a degree or not to be an embalmer?

322. 0:51:16

     Yes, you have to attend mortuary college and, um, I forget how many hours. Uh, it's almost an associate degree.

323. 0:51:22

     You gotta be licensed.

324. 0:51:24

     Gotta be licensed.

325. 0:51:24

     What about a funeral director?

326. 0:51:26

     You gotta be licensed. The other issue, what Mr. Chairman-

327. 0:51:30

     So what are you... I don't see what you're changing then.

328. 0:51:31

     Well, what, what it does... Let me, let me explain it this way, and this goes into relationship to one of the bills we passed a few years ago of military couples. A military couple move from Florida to Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky. Any of them move to Georgia, and their spouse is a funeral director in those states, cannot be reciprocated into Georgia to practice funeral directing because they're not an embalmer.

329. 0:52:11

     So this also opens up, I think there's 26 states that you do not have to be an embalmer to be a funeral director. But this also will allow this military spouse, who's a funeral director in one of these other states, to be able to come into Georgia, get licensed, and go to work.

330. 0:52:32

     Okay. Right now in Georgia, you can either be an embalmer or you can be a funeral director, or if you do all the education and licensing, you can be both.

331. 0:52:40

     You have to be both in Georgia right now.

332. 0:52:42

     Right.

333. 0:52:43

     This license is fixing it so that you do not have to be both.

334. 0:52:47

     Okay.

335. 0:52:47

     It's relaxing-

336. 0:52:49

     You can embalm without being a funeral director-

337. 0:52:51

     You can-

338. 0:52:51

     ... or you can direct without embalming.

339. 0:52:52

     That's correct. Yes, sir.

340. 0:52:53

     Okay. What do you do? You do both of them?

341. 0:52:55

     I, I do both. Yes, sir.

342. 0:52:56

     Okay.

343. 0:52:56

     I've had my license since 1974.

344. 0:53:00

     Okay.

345. 0:53:01

     I'm a dinosaur.

346. 0:53:01

     And this makes it easier to recognize folks coming in from other states without having to do the educational things if they're already licensed as one or the other.

347. 0:53:10

     That is correct, sir.

348. 0:53:11

     Okay.

349. 0:53:11

     Yeah.

350. 0:53:13

     All right.

351. 0:53:13

     Thank you.

352. 0:53:14

     Uh, question, Senator Summers?

353. 0:53:18

     Senator, when you started your comments a while ago, you started off with, with talking about, um, 50% of the people now, or 50% of the families are choosing to be, uh, uh, not, not embalmed. They're, uh, going through the, uh-

354. 0:53:31

     Cremation

355. 0:53:31

     ... cremation. How does that affect... And, uh, do you have to be an embalmer or a licensed funeral director to do a cremation? How does that work?

356. 0:53:37

     No. In Georgia, you have to be, uh, trained to do cremation to be a crematory operator. But, uh, you can actually be trained to be a crematory operator without being a funeral director or an embalmer. But just has got to have a funeral director in charge of it.

357. 0:53:54

     Huh. Thank you.

358. 0:53:56

     All right. Senator Ginn, you're recognized for a question.

359. 0:53:59

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hey, uh-

360. 0:54:01

     I get-

361. 0:54:02

     You know, we, we start talking about what's going on in the grave and, you know, some of these, these things are pretty old. The, uh... But I think about, okay, when, typically, when somebody is cremated, there's some ashes that, that are given back to the family.

362. 0:54:15

     Yeah.

363. 0:54:16

     They said, "Here's the ashes of Uncle Fester," or whoever it might be. The, uh, what w- Can, can an, can an individual, individual do anything they want to with those, those ashes, or is there-

364. 0:54:27

     Of course

365. 0:54:28

     ... is there a requirement that they, they, they say, "No, we, you gotta keep 'em," or you, can you spread 'em out on the ground or-

366. 0:54:36

     No

367. 0:54:36

     ... you know, I, I've had, I've had a lot of people tell me what they've done with Uncle Fester-

368. 0:54:40

     50

369. 0:54:40

     ... but I don't know that it's all legal, and I'm kind of wondering.

370. 0:54:43

     Legal.

371. 0:54:44

     According to the Georgia death certificate, the place, the crematory is where the disposition takes place. Once you give the cremains back to the family, they can do with them as they wish. Some people keep them. Some people scatter them. Some people-

372. 0:55:03

     Turn them, made it into a diamond

373. 0:55:04

     ... uh, can turn them into a diamond. They can load them into fireworks and load them into gun-

374. 0:55:11

     Wow

375. 0:55:11

     ... shotgun shells and have them over a dove field on opening day.

376. 0:55:15

     Really?

377. 0:55:15

     That sound like something you might like.

378. 0:55:17

     Bam, bam.

379. 0:55:18

     There you go.

380. 0:55:19

     Is that the-

381. 0:55:19

     I just-

382. 0:55:20

     ... ashes, ashes, does it this thing?

383. 0:55:23

     Yeah, kind of sort of. I don't know.

384. 0:55:25

     Okay.

385. 0:55:25

     I learn something every day here, Mr. Chairman.

386. 0:55:27

     Senator Lucas.

387. 0:55:28

     Thank you.

388. 0:55:28

     I just wonder, I, I just want to know, did anybody been cremated or embalmed complain about it?

389. 0:55:36

     Not yet.

390. 0:55:40

     If anybody doubts the value of a citizen legislature, this is an example how we have experience in many different areas, uh, in serving in our state legislature. All right, we got two people signed... You got a question?

391. 0:55:52

     No.

392. 0:55:52

     All right. Two people signed up to speak. I'll get back to Scott Young. I was about to make you talk about something different there earlier. If you would, introduce yourself, and then give us your thoughts on this bill.

393. 0:56:04

     Thank you, uh, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. Um, my name's Scott Young. I represent the largest provider of death care services in North America, as well as Georgia. Um, I'm currently dual licensed, as Senator Williams, uh, pointed out, both in Indiana and Georgia. Um, I've been in the industry over 50 years. Um, I, like Senator Williams, I don't do both.

394. 0:56:34

     I've never embalmed in my professional career, only waited on families. So I think our experience in the industry gives me these key points, and I think he pointed about, I'm probably gonna, uh, step on his toes a little bit, but he, he's very persuasive. We strongly support this bill, uh, allowing for a separate license for funeral director and embalmer as endorsed by Senator Williams, as we did last year as well.

395. 0:57:08

     The 2024 data that we get from the Cremation Association of North America, as he pointed out, reflects that approximately 55% of the families in Georgia select cremation as opposed to a traditional funeral service, so what we're used to referring as the traditional funeral service, that's now becoming traditional itself. In addition to that, with no embalming, you have religious groups, i.e. Jewish families, that don't embalm.

396. 0:57:40

     You have Muslim families that don't embalm and find it very offensive that, um, for them to open up a location, they would have to go to mortuary school. In addition, there, um, this bill, we're not modifying, as he pointed out, the requirement to be dual licensed to be the funeral director in full and continuous charge. That person who's responsible for the day-to-day activities that go on throughout the entity, they need to know everything about, uh, the industry.

397. 0:58:15

     So with that, there are no surrounding states of Georgia who require dual licenses. As Senator Williams pointed out, there are 26 that currently don't have them, but if you look at a geographical map, S- S- South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Lou- Louisiana, Mississippi, uh, Florida do not require dual licenses. So with that, um, I'll keep it brief. I know you've been here a long time today, and appreciate your time.

398. 0:58:48

     I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.

399. 0:58:53

     Was I more persuasive than Senator Williams?

400. 0:58:56

     Incredibly.

401. 0:58:57

     Yeah, I think-

402. 0:58:57

     Must be. I see no questions so far. Any questions by committee members? All right, thank you so much-

403. 0:59:03

     Thank you

404. 0:59:03

     ... for taking the time to share with us. One more, uh, speaker, Cy Hume, A.S. Turner & Sons.

405. 0:59:14

     Oh. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, committee. My name's Cy Hume. I represent A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home here in Decatur, one of the largest family-owned firms. Unlike my colleague, Scott, he, he's got the whole country. I just got Atlanta, so, or Decatur. Uh, we've been around since 1903.

406. 0:59:34

     A little older.

407. 0:59:35

     And we're... A.S. Turner's has always been in the forefront of what's coming new or what's, what families are requesting. Just like last year, I stood here before you about the NOR Bill, and that was passed. We already have that equipment in our facility and ready for families to use if they choose to use that. An embalmer is not required for that, not even, even needed. This bill does not diminish our profession in any way. It actually adds to our profession in the sense that we have...

408. 1:00:06

     I, just like, uh, Senator Williams was mentioning about my colleague, Mr. Leavitt, we ha- I have embalmers at my facility I would not put in front of a family if I had to. They could not say the right words that just comforted that family. But I have funeral directors that I could not put in the back to make things work well in the back and give a pr- presentation to a family This bill does not take away any education from being a funeral director or being an embalmer. And kind of in answer to, to your other question that you want to ask about the, uh, licensure requirements in Georgia, you have to be a licensed embalmer today before you can be a funeral director.

409. 1:00:48

     That was something that was fixed in 1976 or '77.

410. 1:00:52

     So that's before you can be a funeral director.

411. 1:00:54

     That's correct.

412. 1:00:54

     So every funeral director in Georgia is a licensed embalmer.

413. 1:00:57

     No, sir. There was some glo- grandfathered in people-

414. 1:01:00

     Okay

415. 1:01:00

     ... that were grandfathered prior to 1976, um, to be, to be that, to be, still being em- em- a funeral director. I'm sorry.

416. 1:01:09

     All of them that are under 50 then.

417. 1:01:11

     Correct.

418. 1:01:11

     Okay.

419. 1:01:13

     All the younger people, that's right.

420. 1:01:15

     Yes.

421. 1:01:16

     But all we're doing is separating the fact that you can go one path or the other. You're still gonna be required to serve an apprenticeship. You're still gonna be required to go to mortuary school. Instead of taking embalming courses, you're gonna take counseling or business courses that would s- better suit you as being a funeral director versus being an embalmer. If you wanna do both paths, that just makes you more valuable to me as, as a, as a business owner.

422. 1:01:41

     Is anybody against this? I hadn't heard anybody in the last year come argue against this bill.

423. 1:01:47

     Everybody that I've heard of that is against it hadn't read the bill.

424. 1:01:50

     They haven't.

425. 1:01:51

     Okay.

426. 1:01:52

     There's no, there's no, nothing that takes anything away from our profession with this bill.

427. 1:01:57

     Okay. I, I hadn't heard any pushback. Any committee members have questions? I didn't-

428. 1:02:03

     Yes.

429. 1:02:04

     Yes, sir.

430. 1:02:04

     I think-

431. 1:02:04

     Senator Lucas, you're, you're recognized.

432. 1:02:07

     I think what has happened, there used to be a fight between embalmers and funeral directors because you had some folks for years had got grandfathered in because they had owned a funeral home, and say the wife ended up inheriting the funeral home and never embalmed a body, but they got a funeral director license. I think it's pretty well-known with everything that's going on, it's vice versa. Now they've worked the, they've worked it out is what, what has happened.

433. 1:02:37

     They've worked out the fighting between the embalmer and the funeral director. So-

434. 1:02:41

     Yeah

435. 1:02:42

     ... now we're on one accord for dead folks.

436. 1:02:45

     You may wanna make a motion. All right. Any other questions? Yes, Senator, you're recognized.

437. 1:02:52

     Hold it.

438. 1:02:52

     Thank you-

439. 1:02:53

     Janice

440. 1:02:53

     ... Mr., um, Chair. What about the, um... Has anyone spoken to or heard from the funeral home directors or associations or are they in favor, or are they-

441. 1:03:02

     We have one of our very own that's carrying the bill.

442. 1:03:05

     I know, but it's members-

443. 1:03:06

     He's in favor

444. 1:03:07

     ... mem- members of the organizations.

445. 1:03:09

     They, they in favor.

446. 1:03:11

     Okay.

447. 1:03:12

     Um, repres- Mr. Hume is a member of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association. I've, I've not heard anything from them. I'm not an active member. I am a member of the Georgia Funeral Practitioners Association, which is the African American funeral directors.

448. 1:03:30

     Okay.

449. 1:03:30

     But I'm a member of theirs, and I've not had any opposition from that.

450. 1:03:34

     But I wanna be clear on something. I do not represent Georgia Funeral ... I represent A.S. Turner & Sons as a privately independent firm here in Atlanta.

451. 1:03:45

     How's this help your company?

452. 1:03:47

     This gives me the ability to hire people to wait on families. We're, we're not getting the people in that wanna do both anymore. They don't wanna go to the back and be in e- You get a group of pe- Yes, you do get a group of people that that's all they wanna do is be in the back and embalm and work in the crematory and work in the, that side of things, but you need a compassionate person to be up front, and you can't always get both in one. Uh, I am a Georgia licensed funeral director, both an embalmer and a funeral director.

453. 1:04:18

     I went to mortuary school 35 years ago. And having a compassionate person to be up front, a minister, a therapist, or however you wanna look at, they don't wanna be in the back. That, that's not their, that's not their cup of tea. We could hire people. It's not gonna diminish their pay. It's gonna keep pretty much the same. But I will tell you that an embalmer will be more... Most likely, d- down the road, an embalmer will be more valuable to me because there won't be as many.

454. 1:04:52

     But this bill does not diminish the education.

455. 1:04:55

     All right. So they're equally qualified after we pass this bill as they were before.

456. 1:05:00

     In my opinion, yes, sir.

457. 1:05:02

     Got it. Any other questions from committee members?

458. 1:05:03

     Make a motion.

459. 1:05:04

     Uh, I'll recognize the dean of the Senate if you got a motion over there, my friend.

460. 1:05:08

     Move, move, move approval.

461. 1:05:10

     Got a motion to do pass. Uh, and what we're gonna be talking about, let me make sure I got the right LC numbers, is LC 55-0528.

462. 1:05:22

     Oh, yeah.

463. 1:05:23

     I got a motion to do pass. Is there a second?

464. 1:05:25

     Second.

465. 1:05:26

     Any proposed amendments? Senator Walker.

466. 1:05:30

     I think on line 173, Mr. Chair-

467. 1:05:33

     And change that date

468. 1:05:34

     ... change the date.

469. 1:05:35

     Uh, from 2025 to 2026.

470. 1:05:38

     Mm-hmm.

471. 1:05:38

     Ben, did you see that anywhere else in the bill where the date's referenced?

472. 1:05:42

     I don't.

473. 1:05:42

     I reckon we're gonna have to do this on every bill that's been recommitted. All right. Um, so there's a motion to amend the date by President Pro Tem. Is there a second?

474. 1:05:53

     Second.

475. 1:05:54

     Second by Senator Summers. Uh, any discussion on that amendment? Any opposition from you, Mr. Sponsor?

476. 1:06:00

     No, I'm fine.

477. 1:06:01

     All right.

478. 1:06:01

     Thank you.

479. 1:06:02

     All in favor, raise your hand. All opposed, like sign. That amendment unanimously passes. Now we have before us a motion do pass LC 55-0528 as amended. Any discussion? All right. All in favor, raise your hand. Any opposed, like sign. That also passes unanimous. Boy, we are singing from the same page in here today.

480. 1:06:25

     Going down.

481. 1:06:26

     All right. I, I'm showing on my clock 6:25. We're not gonna have time to hear-

482. 1:06:32

     That's okay

483. 1:06:32

     ... uh, Senate Bill 34. Senator Hufstetler anticipated that, and I notice he's not even here for it, so he knew we were gonna run shy of time. I'm gonna go ahead, uh, here just shortly and adjourn us. I do wanna mention to committee members and those that are, um, senators that are not on this committee, I have 17 remaining Senate bills that have been recommitted to this committee or else never passed the committee last year. So in the rest of the committee, we have 17 bills before any new ones even get, uh, introduced this year.

484. 1:07:07

     If any of you have a bill in this committee that you want heard, please let me know. You don't have to have a formal letter. Uh, you can give me a phone call or come see me on the floor. It's fine, and I'll make a note of it. But if you want to drop something off with Paige in our office, and, and I will, uh, try to get you on our schedule. We're gonna try to move through some of these bills in the next couple of weeks before the new action gets going. The... And it may be sometimes I have people that, you know, that there was a House version of their bill that passed, or they've changed their focus, or are moving on to other issues.

485. 1:07:45

     So you, you're not required to, but don't expect me to be putting things on unless I just have a special interest in it, unless you request it. So with that, uh, we're adjourned. See everybody Thursday afternoon.

486. 1:07:58

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

487. 1:07:59

     Good work.

488. 1:08:00

     Thank

489. 1:08:48

     you.