Comité Economic Development and Tourism del Senado, 23 de marzo de 2026

Transcripción

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1. 0:02:55

   You good? All right. Uh, good morning, everybody. Glad, uh, glad, glad we got us a quorum here. We can go ahead and get started. Um, Senator, uh, the good farmer from Moultrie, you mind opening us up in a word of prayer?

2. 0:03:12

   Thank you. Let's pray. Dear Father, we just thank you this day. Just thank you for waking us up and, uh, bringing us here today, and for all the many great things, uh, that you've provided for us. Just, uh, continue to watch over our state and be with us, lead and guide us through this meeting. And, uh, just asking a prayer that you'd be with, uh, uh, the farmers back home as, uh, people begin to start to plant. And, uh, a lot of, a lot of things are starting to happen, and folks are having to make tough decisions. Just, uh, watch over and be with our families, uh, while we're away. Give us all a great week, and, uh, just watch over us, protect us, and, uh, in your name we pray, amen.

3. 0:03:49

   Thank you. Uh, we've got, uh, three bills this morning and, uh, and a resolution. I'm gonna go ahead, um, Senator, uh, Chairman Tim Bearden, he's got a, uh, uh, HB 718 he's got a committee sub. He may have to leave, so I'm gonna go ahead and let him get started with that one.

4. 0:04:07

   Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, Senar, 15.

5. 0:04:12

   I think I'm... There we are.

6. 0:04:14

   Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This, uh, committee sub to House Bill 718 is a brand promotion and marketing initiative to assist our Georgia-based breweries. Um, similar to other states such as Tennessee, this will allow a Georgia brewery to establish no more than two satellite taprooms to r- to promote their products. Under this proposal, they can only sell their beer at the taprooms and must purchase these beverages from the wholesaler to be distributed through the wholesale network, ensuring the integrity of the three-tier system's upheld.

7. 0:04:45

   That is all the bill does, and I ask for your con- favorable consideration.

8. 0:04:54

   Thank you, Chairman. Got, uh, lights, uh, lighting up right now. I got, uh, Senator Watson.

9. 0:05:05

   Just like to make a motion to do pass with appropriate time, Mr. Chairman. Good bill.

10. 0:05:10

    Thank you.

11. 0:05:14

    I'll second.

12. 0:05:15

    Uh, I got Senator Burns. Uh-

13. 0:05:17

    Yeah, ju- just to... Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a question. Um, can you give us the background where this legislation came from, Senator?

14. 0:05:27

    Actually, um, 15. This bill actually came through the House. Thought it was gonna make it. Don't know if it is or not. Or it didn't make it over, so we're just trying to help our friends on the House side get this thing pushed through.

15. 0:05:38

    What was, what was the House bill number, please?

16. 0:05:40

    I do not know the House bill number. Sorry. 1466. 1466.

17. 0:05:45

    And who was the sponsor?

18. 0:05:47

    Jason.

19. 0:05:48

    Jason Ridley.

20. 0:05:49

    Ridley?

21. 0:05:50

    Or Representative Ridley.

22. 0:05:51

    Thank you. Thank you.

23. 0:05:56

    Senator Ginn.

24. 0:05:57

    Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, help me, Senator, said the, uh, uh... When I look at a satellite tasting room, uh, what's the difference between a satellite tasting room and, say, a bar? If I went to a, uh, a bar that, that, uh, so then we're gonna do some educational things at a bar, would that be the same?

25. 0:06:23

    No.

26. 0:06:23

    What's, what... Can you tell me a little bit about what is w- is, is this a s- totally owned facility by the, the, uh, brewer?

27. 0:06:32

    Think of a brewer that you may have in your hometown. These folks actually, uh, helped a lot with, uh, revitalizing downtown areas. Sorry, we're getting some echo. Uh, so basically, they're still upheld to s- 6,000 barrels that they can sell. You, you see that in the bill. But allows them to have two other areas if they go through a distributor, which this is m- forcing them to go through the distributor, and it's only their product that can be sold at this, uh, taproom. So it's just helping them market their facility and helping with economic development.

28. 0:07:03

    So the only product that can be sold is from that particular-

29. 0:07:06

    Correct

30. 0:07:06

    ... brewer.

31. 0:07:07

    Correct.

32. 0:07:08

    No other brands, no other-

33. 0:07:11

    Correct

34. 0:07:11

    ... opportunities there. The, uh... And in doing so, uh, uh, I'm, I'm just reading your synopsis here. The, uh, uh, the... If, if that manufacturer, uh, makes a dozen beers, they could sell a dozen different beers or w- whatever on the product.

35. 0:07:35

    As long as it's straight from their brewery, correct.

36. 0:07:37

    As long as it's only coming from one brewery.

37. 0:07:38

    From, from their brewer. Correct.

38. 0:07:40

    Okay. There you go.

39. 0:07:46

    Senator Burns.

40. 0:07:47

    Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ju- again, just to follow up, uh, going back to 1466, uh, Chairman Ridley's, uh, original legislation, what committee was that in in the House, and what was their action?

41. 0:08:03

    I believe it's Regulated Industries.

42. 0:08:05

    It's Regulated Industries?

43. 0:08:06

    Believe so.

44. 0:08:07

    And what was the action of, of their House committee?

45. 0:08:12

    I'm gonna ask if we can get, get some sides up on the

46. 0:08:15

    You want to come up here today?

47. 0:08:20

    Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. Jason Ridley here representing Creature Comforts Brewing Company, uh, one of the many Georgia brewers who would benefit from this legislation. Uh, Chairman Burns, the answer to your question is the iteration that was introduced in the House looked a lot different than this. This is a much more pared down version where you will see that the, uh, brewer has to go through the wholesale distribution network. The original legislation did not have that provision in it, and therefore did not get a hearing in the House Regulated Industries Committee. So this is, uh, this again is a much more pared down, uh, piece of legislation just to help some of our hometown breweries out there, again, uh, n- uh, maintaining the integrity of the three-tier system by still having to go through the wholesale distribution network.

48. 0:09:01

    Thank you. A follow-up, Mr. Chairman?

49. 0:09:03

    Yes, sir.

50. 0:09:03

    Uh, you know, I, I recognize the timeframe that we're in, uh, uh, towards sine die, so we don't have a lot of time. I recognize that. I'm also concerned about a House Bill coming over that was vetted, it was not really vetted in a House committee, and it was modifications made. The bill was never on the agenda until we walked into the room this morning. And I have some, I, you know, while I may not have objections to the underlying bill, I have objections to the way the bill has been, uh, shepherded through the process.

51. 0:09:35

    So, um, I have concerns. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

52. 0:09:41

    Senator Hodges.

53. 0:09:43

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, let's just take Creature Comforts as a example here for my question. Um, Creature Comforts makes their own beer. They will sell it to the distributor, and then they will buy it from the distributor for sale in their, uh, satellite taprooms. And they pay the same price that anybody else would to the distributor, and then it's up to them to charge whatever they want to in their taproom.

54. 0:10:12

    That, that-

55. 0:10:13

    It's basically a bar with only, a taproom is a bar only selling their products.

56. 0:10:18

    Yes. Uh, well, uh, so, so what, what we have seen in Athens, Georgia, for instance, with Creature Comforts, their number one retailer, uh, actually in, uh, in Athens is right across the street from the brewery-

57. 0:10:32

    Yeah

58. 0:10:32

    ... and they sell, you know, at the same, uh, at the same price. So you're not gonna see, um, these brewers that are gonna deeply discount their own products because obviously they want to maintain that relationship with the retailers through the three-tier system.

59. 0:10:46

    So basic- basically, if I buy a Creature Comforts at Winn-Dixie, I'm gonna buy it in the taproom for about the same, well-

60. 0:10:53

    That, that's-

61. 0:10:54

    ... probably the same thing.

62. 0:10:55

    That's correct.

63. 0:10:56

    Okay. Thank you.

64. 0:10:57

    Yep.

65. 0:10:58

    Mr. Chairman. Senator Ginn.

66. 0:11:03

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, help me out, Mr. Raynor, so the, uh, what's the difference between the, the language in this satellite taproom as far as what can be sold? You know, if I go to a brewery, I can walk away with X number of cases a day. Two cases, I think, is what-

67. 0:11:22

    Right

68. 0:11:22

    ... what the, the, uh, current law is. I can, uh, do certain things in, in the way this, this bill, and I haven't had a chance to digest the whole thing.

69. 0:11:32

    Yeah.

70. 0:11:32

    Is there anything different?

71. 0:11:33

    The limitations are exactly the same from what we currently operate under state law. The 6,000, uh, barrels per year, uh, and the case, uh, allocation is exactly the same under this. The only thing we're changing is to allow for these two satellite taprooms under the current structure that we have to be purchased and transferred through the wholesale distribution process. And so it's a very, very narrow marketing and promotional effort to help some of these local brewers who unfortunately are relegated to these industrial areas.

72. 0:12:03

    This will help to promote a presence in these downtown areas to help some of these brewers who are, who are, um, facing some significant challenges currently in the state.

73. 0:12:13

    Can you help me make sure I understand this correctly?

74. 0:12:15

    Yes.

75. 0:12:16

    That, that the product from the brewery is sent to the distributor.

76. 0:12:20

    That's correct.

77. 0:12:21

    And then the distributor takes it to their satellite taproom-

78. 0:12:24

    Correct

79. 0:12:24

    ... and, and distributes it to them, and then the, the, um, uh, brewer can sell at the taproom, provided they, they put in the, uh, I think there's, uh, language that says-

80. 0:12:36

    Under the current limitations that we have in state law. Correct.

81. 0:12:38

    Yes.

82. 0:12:39

    Right.

83. 0:12:39

    Okay.

84. 0:12:40

    We wanted to make sure that we upheld the integrity of the three-tier system through going through the wholesale distribution network in this, in this iteration.

85. 0:12:49

    Thank you.

86. 0:12:49

    Thank you.

87. 0:12:50

    Senator Hodges.

88. 0:12:52

    Thank you. Just, I th- thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think, um, Mr. Raynor just answered my question. My question was, what's the purpose of this legislation? I think, I think he just answered it. Basically, what you're trying to do is, is, again, let's use Creature Comforts. They're, it's a marketing ploy.

89. 0:13:08

    That's correct.

90. 0:13:08

    They're trying to, they're trying to focus their beer out there, which helps them sell their bill, their beer, uh, through other retail, um, places.

91. 0:13:19

    That's correct. And you'll, you'll see that there's a number of guardrails, um, I think in subsection H of the bill, uh, which mandates, uh, what these breweries or what these taprooms would have to do, including tours and tastings. So it truly is a marketing and promotional, uh, effort for these local breweries.

92. 0:13:39

    Senator Burns.

93. 0:13:42

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, I apologize for being ignorant. Um, so if I understand it correctly, the tasting room would only sell or provide access to that, um, brewer's pro-

94. 0:13:57

    That's correct

95. 0:13:57

    ... is that correct?

96. 0:13:57

    Mr. Chairman. Yes.

97. 0:13:58

    So, so they would either provide it as a tap, uh, option, or could they provide retail sales as well?

98. 0:14:05

    Uh, they could under the limitations of the current law, which would be one case per customer per day.

99. 0:14:10

    One case per customer per day.

100. 0:14:12

     All, all within that 6,000 barrel per year cap that's currently in state law.

101. 0:14:17

     Fine. Thank you. Um,

102. 0:14:21

     if, if I look carefully, I, I recognize, you know, what, what kind of tour would be provided at a taproom?

103. 0:14:30

     So for, for the taprooms where there is a-

104. 0:14:32

     Or satellite tasting room

105. 0:14:33

     ... where there is a brewing, uh, presence on premises, you would have, um, you would have a tour to show how the beer is manufactured. Um, and there are, there are other mechanisms where, you know, you could show a video of the, uh, main brewery, um, and, and any kind of historical perspective around, uh, the brewery and its inception. So, um, pretty much the, the sky's the limit, however you wanna brand or market your, your products, um-

106. 0:15:01

     But there would be no actual, uh, production at-

107. 0:15:05

     There could be. Yes, there could be

108. 0:15:06

     ... at the, at the tap, at the tasting room?

109. 0:15:08

     There could be, yes.

110. 0:15:10

     Uh, i- if that were the case, then they would not go through the retail-

111. 0:15:14

     Three-tier

112. 0:15:14

     ... process. They would not go through the three-tier system.

113. 0:15:17

     Yes, they-

114. 0:15:17

     They would brew on prem-

115. 0:15:18

     They would. Uh, these, these brewers are not gonna put a significant brewing presence on premises if they have to go through... once they go through that distribution, uh, process from the main brewery. Which is why, which is why we included, uh, the wholesale distribution network in the legislation.

116. 0:15:33

     Thank you.

117. 0:15:34

     Yeah.

118. 0:15:35

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

119. 0:15:38

     Any other questions?

120. 0:15:41

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

121. 0:15:42

     Oh, uh, right quick, um, are there other groups that are supportive of this?

122. 0:15:46

     Uh, yes, sir. The Georgia Association of Manufacturers is in full support of the legislation as well.

123. 0:15:51

     All right, thank you.

124. 0:15:52

     And we are authorized to say that.

125. 0:15:54

     All right. Thank you. All right, I'm gonna go back over here to the good farmer now that we have two Senator Watsons in here.

126. 0:16:04

     Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to make a motion to pass on HB 718, LC 560665S.

127. 0:16:12

     Got a motion to pass. Got a second. All in favor of the, uh, sub... Okay.

128. 0:16:21

     Um, s- senator, again, brought up a good point, or a s- good suggestion. I was just gonna take him up on it, 'cause currently we are only allowed to do 288 ounces in a current bre- brewery, which is one case, and which is significantly lower than most states around us. So on line 49, if the committee would be willing to accept the amendment of moving to 88, 288 ounces to 576, 576 ounces, which would allow two cases of beer to be sold from a brewery.

129. 0:16:53

     Line 49, and just move that to 576. I think that would be a good amendment to help our economic development friends. That takes a big chance in improving our downtown areas throughout the state.

130. 0:17:09

     I guess I'll need to read the part of that, uh, line in front of it. I was about to say two case-

131. 0:17:13

     It's, it's-

132. 0:17:13

     ... two cases, drinking it on site's a pretty good bit of beer myself.

133. 0:17:16

     No, no.

134. 0:17:17

     I see, I, I-

135. 0:17:18

     This is for them to, this is for them to-

136. 0:17:19

     Yeah

137. 0:17:19

     ... take and sell.

138. 0:17:19

     I see it. I see it.

139. 0:17:21

     So sales for consumption off the premises shall not exceed a maximum of 288 ounces, which is just a case of beer. And so I like the idea that, uh, Senator Gin- Ginn brought up about, uh, two cases, so move that to 576 and that would be my amendment, it's, if the committee is, uh, receptive.

140. 0:17:39

     Mr. Secretary, I second.

141. 0:17:42

     Go ahead, Senator Ginn.

142. 0:17:44

     I, I, I just want to, uh, say I, I think I agree with, with, uh, uh, Senator Burns, that this, this bill didn't go through the appropriate committee, the, uh, in regulated industries. And before we go to changing something like that, I, I can, I can be in support of the bill of leaving it 288, and I think that's the, the right answer. And then, uh, if, if there's a, uh, opportunity in regulated industries to come back and change that, I think we, we can, uh, do that through the proper committee.

143. 0:18:15

     If this would allow my friend to vote for this bill, keep that 288, we'll move forward with the bill and I'll withdraw that amendment and go with the vote of the bill.

144. 0:18:23

     All right. We're going back to the committee sub then, uh, since Senator Bearden re- uh, withdrew his amendment. Uh, all in favor of the substitute, uh, LC0, excuse me, LC560665S, if you will raise your right hand.

145. 0:18:44

     Any opposed? Thank you. Motion.

146. 0:18:48

     Mr. Chairman?

147. 0:18:48

     Yes, sir.

148. 0:18:49

     I might make a comment. I, I'm not opposed to it on the line item. I'm opposed to the way it's come to the committee. And I hope you'll recognize that as a Democrat.

149. 0:19:00

     Thank you.

150. 0:19:09

     All right, let's go ahead and, uh, we're gonna go ahead and do, uh, HB 466. That's Representative Cameron from the first.

151. 0:19:23

     Good morning, Mr. Chairman.

152. 0:19:24

     Good morning.

153. 0:19:26

     Uh, HB 466 is, um, at the request of the Livestock Conservancy of Georgia. The Marsh Tacky horse were brought over here, uh, approximately 500, 600 years ago by the Spanish. It's a smaller horse, about 13 hands. It's, it's not real tall, and it was used a lot, uh, it's a workhorse. I mean, I d- d- don't mean to use that term, but it was a workhorse. It was used in the Revolutionary War. It was used in the Civil War. It was used by, uh, Native American tribes all over the Southeast.

154. 0:19:57

     Uh, it was used in farming. The Gullah civilization down in Southeast Georgia used it, and it was a predominant breed. And over the last 100 years, that breed has dwindled to under 2,000. And there's concern that, uh, this breed is dwindling it to the point where it may go away eventually. And, uh, we're trying to bring attention to this breed to, uh, to groups like the Livestock Conservancy, who wanna preserve this breed, and, uh, and make sure that it, you know, it'll never be back where it was, but we don't want it dwindling down to a few dozen or a few hundred, where the, the horses don't exist in, in essence.

155. 0:20:33

     So that's the bill, sir. It's LC, let me put my glasses on. LC620080.

156. 0:20:42

     Thank you, Representative. We got any questions of Representative Cameron?

157. 0:20:55

     Yes, sir, Mr. Ginn.

158. 0:20:56

     Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

159. 0:20:57

     Do you own one of these horses?

160. 0:20:59

     No, sir. I do not.

161. 0:21:00

     What's your affinity for-

162. 0:21:02

     Uh, well-

163. 0:21:02

     ... pushing the bill?

164. 0:21:03

     Uh, uh, uh, I'm on the Ag committee, and Representative Dickey asked me, Chairman Dickey asked me if I would carry something To preserve this. And I, and I grew up part of the time in Walker County, but part of the time in Murray County, where there's a lot of livestock. So I understand that, uh, we don't want this to go completely away or dwindle to the point where there's not very many of these left, because if we don't manage them now, then they go down the road, and we end up with a few dozen of them. And that's what the Livestock Conservancy wants to do, is to bring attention to this where we can make sure that these don't go away completely.

165. 0:21:38

     Okay. Thank you.

166. 0:21:39

     Yes, sir.

167. 0:21:42

     Senator Bearden.

168. 0:21:43

     At the proper time, I'd like to make a motion.

169. 0:21:45

     Second.

170. 0:21:56

     Got a motion due pass, and Senator Sam Watson, uh, with a second.

171. 0:22:02

     Mr. Chairman.

172. 0:22:03

     Yeah.

173. 0:22:03

     At the proper time, it's not dealing with beer or alcohol, but I do have an amendment I would like to offer.

174. 0:22:08

     We're not raising horses, Senator.

175. 0:22:10

     No, we're not.

176. 0:22:11

     Okay.

177. 0:22:11

     We're not raising horses.

178. 0:22:12

     Nor, nor are we going to bet on them.

179. 0:22:14

     Okay. Go ahead. Go ahead.

180. 0:22:16

     On line 32, um, I believe this came from, um, Chairman Dickey and Representative Howard. They had a different bill, I think. They was trying to get it on something else. But also making the, uh, Piney Woods Cattle as a designated, or the designate as the official Georgia heritage cattle breed on line 32.

181. 0:22:38

     Mr. Chairman, that comes from the same group. Uh, Representative Howard's bill did not cross over last year, so I agreed to add it to this one so both of them will be on the same bill.

182. 0:22:48

     Why didn't Representative Howard show up?

183. 0:22:52

     I don't know, sir.

184. 0:22:54

     He has great faith in his friend from Carroll County. That has, that, that does not own Piney Woods Cattle.

185. 0:23:02

     Representative Cameron, tell him he's got too much faith in his friend from Carroll County.

186. 0:23:06

     We can call him right now.

187. 0:23:09

     I can say gooblet. That's about the best I can do with it.

188. 0:23:13

     Move.

189. 0:23:14

     Yeah.

190. 0:23:14

     Move, yeah.

191. 0:23:15

     I talked to him yesterday.

192. 0:23:15

     I ask that you move on the motion.

193. 0:23:18

     Uh, yes, sir.

194. 0:23:20

     If, if, if adding Piney Wood ca- Is that right, Piney Wood?

195. 0:23:23

     Piney Woods Cattle. It's a smaller breed of cattle as well.

196. 0:23:25

     Okay. My, my, my point is, i- if, if that will keep us from having to deal with another bill from Sen- from Representative Howard, I'm okay with it.

197. 0:23:32

     All right.

198. 0:23:33

     I'll move them. I'll second the motion.

199. 0:23:37

     Thank you. Thank you, Senator.

200. 0:23:38

     Absolutely.

201. 0:23:39

     I, I, I will move. I'll... Mr. Chairman?

202. 0:23:41

     Yeah.

203. 0:23:42

     I, I, I, I do have a lot of, uh, information and, and experience with cattle. I have never seen a... Is it Piney?

204. 0:23:49

     Piney Woods is c-

205. 0:23:50

     I, I, I, I got the feeling of what it might be, but-

206. 0:23:52

     Yeah

207. 0:23:52

     ... it sounds to me like a, hmm, heritage.

208. 0:23:55

     It's a her- yeah. They're, they're going away, and I, I guess the, the whole thing with this-

209. 0:24:00

     Right

210. 0:24:00

     ... with the horses and the cattle is we just don't want them to go away completely.

211. 0:24:03

     I, I, I, I would like one, one question.

212. 0:24:05

     Yes, sir.

213. 0:24:06

     How much of a prime cut do you get out of a Piney Wood cow?

214. 0:24:11

     About half.

215. 0:24:13

     I highly think that would be incorrect.

216. 0:24:16

     No, but-

217. 0:24:16

     If it were true-

218. 0:24:17

     Yeah, but yeah

219. 0:24:18

     ... they'd be-

220. 0:24:18

     Seriously, though.

221. 0:24:20

     A tender. Yeah, like raw hide. Okay, thank you.

222. 0:24:23

     Yeah.

223. 0:24:27

     So, um, do we have any... Let's g- go ahead and vote on the amendment. Um, all in favor of the amendment.

224. 0:24:36

     Which state the amendment just again.

225. 0:24:40

     State-

226. 0:24:40

     On line 30. Local councils down there to point me out on line 32, add Piney Woods Cattle or designate as the official Georgia heritage cattle breed.

227. 0:24:51

     So you're inserting that on line 32?

228. 0:24:53

     On line 32.

229. 0:24:54

     Let me check. You got a number? Yeah.

230. 0:24:58

     That's going to follow section two.

231. 0:25:05

     Piney, Piney Woods Cattle.

232. 0:25:09

     Mm-hmm.

233. 0:25:12

     The way this code section is set up.

234. 0:25:15

     Senator Burns.

235. 0:25:16

     This section has its own special-

236. 0:25:17

     This horse is short enough that I, I could get on it without a stepladder, I think.

237. 0:25:22

     Both of them in the same section.

238. 0:25:23

     That's a small horse.

239. 0:25:24

     Yeah. I think it would make sense to put them in two different sections.

240. 0:25:29

     So create a section three?

241. 0:25:31

     Yeah, I think so.

242. 0:25:32

     Okay.

243. 0:25:32

     I mean, or a part.

244. 0:25:42

     Yep.

245. 0:25:42

     Y'all bear with us just a second.

246. 0:25:43

     Yes, sir.

247. 0:25:44

     There's different sections for horses and, uh, and cattle and goats.

248. 0:25:50

     Goats.

249. 0:25:50

     Section 96 and then that.

250. 0:25:52

     Let's not deal with goats then anymore.

251. 0:25:54

     Okay.

252. 0:25:55

     Code sections, but both are in section two of the bill.

253. 0:25:57

     That's, that's 97.

254. 0:25:59

     I... Correct.

255. 0:26:00

     Okay.

256. 0:26:09

     All right, Senator Bearden.

257. 0:26:11

     Going, going. Representative Howard gave me the wrong code section. So we'll create a sec- new section three on lines 32 under 50-3-97. Time out. Legislative Council's coming back to help me one more time.

258. 0:26:27

     Sorry.

259. 0:26:28

     Sorry about this, Chairman.

260. 0:26:32

     This is 50-3-95.

261. 0:26:34

     Mm-hmm.

262. 0:26:35

     This should be 50-3-96, right? So we need to make that change.

263. 0:26:39

     Okay. I'm with you.

264. 0:26:41

     Yeah. All right. And then-

265. 0:26:43

     And then section 3 to 97.

266. 0:26:44

     Correct. Correct.

267. 0:26:45

     Okay.

268. 0:26:48

     And that'll be your language.

269. 0:26:50

     Okay.

270. 0:26:50

     All right. Sorry about that.

271. 0:26:53

     You, you got two changes. One, it's not my fault. In section two, line 30, that should actually be 50-3-96, so I guess amendment. You mind if I do these amendments on one shot instead of having two different amendments, Chairman?

272. 0:27:09

     You're good if I'm... I'm good if you're good.

273. 0:27:11

     Okay. So in section two of the current bill, line 30 should read 50-3-96. And that will handle the Marsh Tacky Horse, horse. And then a new section III under 50-3-97 would make the Piney Woods Cattle or the designate it as the official Georgia heritage cattle breed and read number, and we should be good. I got the thumbs up from legislative council.

274. 0:27:43

     All right. Um,

275. 0:27:48

     so all in favor of, of, uh, Senator Bearden's amendment.

276. 0:27:52

     Point of order. There's an amendment and who seconded?

277. 0:27:57

     I thought you did.

278. 0:27:57

     It was Sam.

279. 0:27:58

     Oh, Sam.

280. 0:27:59

     Yeah, yeah. Senator Watson's, uh, seconded.

281. 0:28:01

     Yeah.

282. 0:28:01

     Okay. All right. All in favor of, um, the am- the amendment, um, signi- f- uh, the, I'm scu- excuse me. All in favor of the, uh, bill as amendment amended.

283. 0:28:15

     No, you gotta take the amendment first.

284. 0:28:15

     You gotta take the amendment first. Okay, okay. All right. All in favor of the, uh, amended amendment, raise your right hand, please.

285. 0:28:22

     Amendment one.

286. 0:28:24

     All right, thank you. Um, all in favor of, um,

287. 0:28:31

     HB 466 LC620080 as amended, raise your right hand. Any opposed? Thank you.

288. 0:28:43

     Point of order, Mr. Chairman.

289. 0:28:44

     Got confused on that first bill. Go ahead, Senator Ginn.

290. 0:28:47

     Point of order, Mr. Chairman.

291. 0:28:49

     Go ahead.

292. 0:28:50

     In this committee, the, uh, Committee for Economic Development and Tourism, I notice we cover a wide subject of things. Everything from regulated industries, agriculture. So are you telling me that economic development, ah, and tourism covers all aspects of Georgia?

293. 0:29:07

     Absolutely.

294. 0:29:08

     100%.

295. 0:29:08

     Absolutely. Mm. Drink beer and ride little horses. And cows.

296. 0:29:15

     And cows.

297. 0:29:17

     Well, I think it's like the Louis Gossett said, "Shoot low, we're riding Shetland ponies."

298. 0:29:20

     That's right. Thank you, Representative Cameron.

299. 0:29:22

     Thank you.

300. 0:29:22

     Yes, sir.

301. 0:29:23

     Uh, may approach just to show, uh, Senator Burns.

302. 0:29:26

     He's got pictures.

303. 0:29:27

     Well, let me see. It is a fine... Oh, this is the horse. I- I'm good with that.

304. 0:29:31

     It's a Tacky one.

305. 0:29:32

     I want the cow.

306. 0:29:33

     That's the Marsh Tacky cow.

307. 0:29:33

     So yeah, Piney Wood, whatever it is.

308. 0:29:36

     Representative Cameron, who's gonna carry this for you in the Senate?

309. 0:29:41

     Yeah. I- I'll do the horses and cows.

310. 0:29:45

     The drunk cowboy.

311. 0:29:46

     And the preacher can cover the cow.

312. 0:29:53

     All right. Uh, now, sorry, Representative Ford. We've got, uh, HB 1310 from, uh, Representative Jacqueline Ford.

313. 0:30:03

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

314. 0:30:04

     Yes, sir. Thank you.

315. 0:30:07

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, this bill is just making designating cotton as the official fabric of Georgia. Um, Georgia's the number two cotton producing state in the nation behind Texas. Um, Texas has already done this. This is just to kind of draw some attention to this industry and the economic impact that it has on the state, and also to draw attention to microplastics and what the synthetics, us wearing synthetics means to our state and our world.

316. 0:30:39

     Um, 20% of what we wear now is actually synthetic fibers. So 80% of what w- we wear, no, 20% is natural fibers, 80% is synthetic. So this, um, waste just ends up in our water and our air and contributes to a lot of health hazards. And that's pretty much it.

317. 0:31:01

     All right. We got any questions? Senator Burns?

318. 0:31:04

     Oh, uh, Mr. Chairman, I'm a big fan of cotton. I've got a lot of cotton in my district, and I love cotton. So at the appropriate time I'd like to move to pass.

319. 0:31:14

     All right.

320. 0:31:17

     Senator Ginn?

321. 0:31:18

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can you give me the definition of a lint head?

322. 0:31:22

     A lint head?

323. 0:31:23

     Yeah.

324. 0:31:25

     Is it something in a cotton gin? I don't know. I mean, we have a, we have lint cleaners in cotton gins.

325. 0:31:29

     Yeah. Somebody-

326. 0:31:30

     If-

327. 0:31:30

     ... that works in a textile, ah, mill g- full of lint, Sandy, uh-

328. 0:31:35

     Oh, okay. Oh, okay. Lint head

329. 0:31:36

     ... the lint head.

330. 0:31:36

     Well, you know, there's not, they don't, we don't need very many people working in textile mills anymore. So, you know, a huge, somewhere that would employ 300 people now probably employs 30 people.

331. 0:31:46

     And they're all in some other place. They're not in Georgia much as-

332. 0:31:48

     Yeah, they're not in our country anymore.

333. 0:31:50

     Yeah.

334. 0:31:50

     That's right.

335. 0:31:51

     Sad. Sad. Really sad.

336. 0:31:53

     Senator Bearden?

337. 0:31:55

     Going back to legislative council here, this one has cotton under 50-3-96. Didn't we just make an amendment to make something that was 50-3-96 on the other bill, or is this still good?

338. 0:32:06

     It was pushed up. Uh-oh.

339. 0:32:10

     Please don't change the bill.

340. 0:32:11

     The Marsh Tacky horse just went to that code section. Then we did the, uh, the cattle on 97.

341. 0:32:19

     Really?

342. 0:32:21

     All right.

343. 0:32:22

     Are we good?

344. 0:32:23

     I can explain it if you want, but we're good.

345. 0:32:25

     We're good? As long as you're good, I'm good.

346. 0:32:29

     Representative F- uh, Representative Ford-

347. 0:32:32

     I'm sorry

348. 0:32:33

     ... you like, uh-

349. 0:32:34

     I was looking for the other place

350. 0:32:34

     ... obviously you like, uh, cotton clothing, correct?

351. 0:32:38

     I try to wear it when it's available.

352. 0:32:41

     Even if you did not, uh, weren't like, you didn't think that it was a, a nice looking suit or dress or whatever, if it was cotton, you'd still pick cotton over polyester?

353. 0:32:53

     I would try, yes.

354. 0:32:55

     Oh my gosh. You would try.

355. 0:32:56

     She-

356. 0:32:56

     She's not, she's not all behind this thing right here.

357. 0:32:58

     She-

358. 0:32:58

     Not 100% behind this.

359. 0:32:59

     Are you wanting to rep- apology, Chairman Anderson?

360. 0:33:02

     If I can get one. If I can get one, how about one of my s-

361. 0:33:04

     Are you asking for an apology?

362. 0:33:05

     If I'm, if I can get one, I, well, we don't have a motion and a, and a second yet.

363. 0:33:10

     Question.

364. 0:33:11

     Oh.

365. 0:33:11

     Get you ready.

366. 0:33:12

     Got a question from Senator Beard.

367. 0:33:15

     So we hear a lot about hemp. Which one has a more comfortable fabric? Is it cotton or hemp? And what's the difference between the two?

368. 0:33:20

     Cotton. Hemp's kind of rough. Hemp's kind of got a rough, it's more of a, um-

369. 0:33:24

     Abrasive

370. 0:33:24

     ... yeah. It's, it's, it is. It's, it's abrasive and rough.

371. 0:33:26

     What causes that between the two products?

372. 0:33:29

     Well, hemp's more of a bark, but it's more of the bark of the plant, I think, isn't it?

373. 0:33:35

     Mm-hmm.

374. 0:33:35

     And, and cotton's more of the actual fiber, um, and it's softer.

375. 0:33:41

     So shop for cotton, not hemp.

376. 0:33:43

     Yes.

377. 0:33:43

     Okay.

378. 0:33:44

     Mm-hmm.

379. 0:33:45

     Maybe we'll have little cotton fields back on.

380. 0:33:48

     Senator Burns.

381. 0:33:49

     I, ju- just a comment for the, for the representative. I- isn't it enjoyable to come to the Senate and argue a bill about cotton?

382. 0:33:57

     Yes.

383. 0:33:57

     Is it not true?

384. 0:33:59

     It, it is true.

385. 0:34:00

     I- is it not true that perhaps we need to wait on another good senator to arrive?

386. 0:34:08

     I think there's plenty of y'all. Y'all are-

387. 0:34:10

     Oh, no, I think we're-

388. 0:34:12

     Are we waiting on somebody else?

389. 0:34:13

     I don't know.

390. 0:34:14

     We have a quorum.

391. 0:34:14

     I just, that was just a, an observation and a question. Thank you.

392. 0:34:17

     Senator Hodges.

393. 0:34:19

     I just have one question. I know we grow a lot of cotton in Georgia. Where do they grow, um, w- where do they grow polyester?

394. 0:34:27

     They don't.

395. 0:34:28

     Oh, okay.

396. 0:34:28

     It's made from oil. So we're wearing oil on our skin.

397. 0:34:31

     They grow it in Texas, that's it.

398. 0:34:33

     Yeah. Iran.

399. 0:34:37

     Senator Watson.

400. 0:34:38

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to second Senator Burns' motion and move this fine bill on down the road. Uh, but I also do wanna note, I hope this is the beginning of our state investing in our cotton industry in, in our state, just like we have the forestry indus- industry in our state. So, um, I second the motion.

401. 0:34:58

     For the record, Senator Watson's passionate about the cotton industry. I got a motion and a second. All in favor, raise your right hand. All opposed, any opposed? Thank you, Representative.

402. 0:35:10

     Thank you.

403. 0:35:15

     All right, we've got one more. Try to do right quick. Um, Senate Resolution 882, and, uh, I'm gonna give you guys the clean version. This was, uh, Senator, uh, Robertson's. Uh, he's still in his, uh, uh, insurance committee, subcommittee on insurance, uh, right now, so I'm gonna give y'all the G-rated version if that's okay. Um, what, um, SR 882 y'all know as a, um, it's been a, a caucus priority and a, and a priority of the, the entire Senate as well.

404. 0:35:52

     It addresses an urgent issue with the rising cost of housing in Georgia and the role state-adopted, uh, state-adopted building mandates play in affordability. The purpose of this is to urge the, uh, Department of Community Affairs to pause adoption of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code for single family homes. Adoption of the 2024 IECC would raise the cost of a new single family home by thousands of dollars.

405. 0:36:23

     This resolution supports continuing to use Georgia's current 2015 code with state-specific amendments. Georgia's current 2015 energy code already meets or exceeds what neighboring states require. Very few states have moved to the latest version reflecting national concern over the new impacts. This resolution asks that Georgia not rush into costly mandates that worsen affordability without a clear benefit. Austin Hackney, Executive Vice President of the Home Builders Association is here, and he can provide more details if y'all have any questions to this.

406. 0:36:57

     Mr. Chairman.

407. 0:36:58

     You left mic on.

408. 0:37:01

     And so I, I wanna move do pass LC640110S.

409. 0:37:08

     Thank you, Senator. Got a motion.

410. 0:37:12

     Second.

411. 0:37:13

     Got a second from, uh, Senator Burns. All in favor, raise your right hand.

412. 0:37:18

     Mr. Chairman?

413. 0:37:19

     Yes, sir.

414. 0:37:20

     Before we vote, I, I would like just to point out that the, the author of this fine resolution had a committee meeting this morning, is that correct?

415. 0:37:27

     Yes, sir.

416. 0:37:28

     Started at 6:00 AM, is that correct?

417. 0:37:29

     Early bird.

418. 0:37:30

     Early bird. I'm just thankful, uh, Mr. Chairman, that you did not start this committee meeting at 6:00 AM. I wanna thank you for that.

419. 0:37:35

     Oh, noted. N- noted.

420. 0:37:37

     Thank you very much.

421. 0:37:38

     Thank you. So we got a motion and a second. All in favor, raise your right hand.

422. 0:37:44

     Any opposed? Thank you.

423. 0:37:49

     With that, we are adjourned. Thank y'all very much.

424. 0:37:55

     Holy cow.