--- title: House Governmental Affairs Committee, February 23, 2026 collection: meetings id: 2026-02-23/house-governmental-affairs cite_as: House Governmental Affairs Committee, February 23, 2026, video https://vimeo.com/1167467915 (machine transcript by Georgia Commons) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-23/house-governmental-affairs md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-23/house-governmental-affairs.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-23/house-governmental-affairs/text source_url: https://vimeo.com/1167467915 date: 2026-02-23 status: machine transcript corpus_version: meetings-2026-10-23-8c15ead0f18d license: Machine transcript and summaries by Georgia Commons from the General Assembly's public video; the video stays on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-23.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-23/house-ways-and-means.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-23/senate-judiciary.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/index.md chamber: House body: House Governmental Affairs Committee body_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/house-governmental-affairs.md meeting_kind: committee session: 2025-2026 Regular Session start_time: 2026-02-23T15:00:00-05:00 location: 506 CLOB duration_seconds: 9156.0 video_id: 1167467915 video_title: 2.23.26 Governmental Affairs agenda_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/agendas/house/Governmental Affairs%2FUPDATEDGovernmental Affairs Committee Meeting Notice 2-23-26.pdf bills_discussed: - HB 1302 - HB 1396 - HB 1362 - HB 1166 - HB 1177 - HR 1348 summaries_model: gpt-6.1-sol transcript_turns: 526 transcript_chars: 146447 parts: - https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-23/house-governmental-affairs.md?start=0 - https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-23/house-governmental-affairs.md?start=59650 - https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-23/house-governmental-affairs.md?start=119426 --- # House Governmental Affairs Committee, February 23, 2026 House Governmental Affairs Committee; February 23, 2026; 2025-2026 Regular Session. Video, on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/1167467915. Agenda: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/agendas/house/Governmental Affairs%2FUPDATEDGovernmental Affairs Committee Meeting Notice 2-23-26.pdf. > This is a machine transcript of the General Assembly's video, made by a speech-recognition model. It is not an official record and can mishear words, names, and numbers. Speakers are not identified. The video is the record: every timestamp links to the moment it plays. ## Summary written by Georgia Commons Written by gpt-6.1-sol from the transcript below. It is not part of the record. Quote the transcript or the video, not the summary. The committee heard proposals on workforce coordination, homelessness services, public officials’ financial interests, housing and local school superintendents. It approved [HB 1396](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1396), approved [HB 1362](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1362) with an amendment extending restrictions to federal agencies and departments, and approved [HR 1348](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1348). Members heard [HB 1166](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1166) without voting and requested revisions addressing concerns about its scope. The committee amended [HB 1177](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1177) to raise its income limit, then tabled it while another amendment remained unresolved. The opening portion covered [HB 1302](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1302), but the transcript shows no vote on that proposal. ## Bills discussed (6) Each account was written by gpt-6.1-sol from the stretch of the transcript it names. The bill's number is said in that stretch, unless it was the only bill on a committee's agenda. ### HB 1302. Education and Workforce Strategy Act; enact [HB 1302](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1302) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [0:01:36](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=96s), turns 5 to 100. The sponsor said [HB 1302](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1302) would improve coordination among education and workforce agencies by renaming the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement as the Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Strategy and making it the lead coordinator. The sponsor described a comprehensive workforce plan, combined federal planning requirements, a career navigator tool and designation of the Technical College System of Georgia as the state apprenticeship agency. Responding to questions, the sponsor said local school systems could recommend regional workforce needs, existing education funding would continue, and the bill would impose no financial obligation on local schools. The sponsor said adult retraining already remained available through technical colleges and Quick Start. A technical college system representative said apprenticeship oversight would help the state identify programs and regional gaps without changing existing programs’ operations. Asked about access to training outside areas with new employers, the representative said many colleges teach transferable manufacturing skills. The sponsor said about $445,000 in unspent leadership academy funds would support added coordination duties, with separate budget funding for the navigator. The transcript shows no vote before the meeting recessed to change rooms. ### HB 1396. State government; require certain privately funded organizations that operate a shelter or provide outreach services to homeless individuals participate in the Georgia Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) [HB 1396](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1396) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [0:48:06](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=2886s), turns 114 to 129. The sponsor said [HB 1396](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1396) would require certain privately funded homelessness service organizations in Fulton County to use the Georgia Homeless Management Information System. The sponsor said organizations receiving government funding already use the system, and broader reporting would improve service coordination, grant data and tracking ahead of the World Cup. The sponsor said the existing system meant there would be no additional state cost. A committee member asked whether a noncriminal citation for noncompliance would carry a fine. The sponsor said enforcement could involve an ordinance-type citation but expected warnings directing organizations to register their activity. Another member asked how tracking would help people and affect warming and cooling shelters. The sponsor said reporting could help identify population shifts when shelters open and improve use of public funding. The committee approved a do-pass motion by voice vote. ### HB 1362. Public officers; persons having certain financial interest shall be ineligible to hold certain public offices; provide [HB 1362](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1362) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [0:55:04](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3304s), turns 129 to 134. The sponsor said [HB 1362](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1362) would prohibit constitutional officers from holding state contracts while in office and prohibit people holding state contracts from becoming candidates for those offices. The sponsor presented the proposal as an ethics measure. A committee member offered an amendment adding federal agencies and departments to three provisions of the restrictions. The committee adopted the amendment and then approved the bill as amended, both by voice vote. ### HB 1166. Local government; zoning decisions shall not affect or be required for certain residential dwellings of 400 square feet or fewer; provide [HB 1166](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1166) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [0:58:00](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3480s), turns 134 to 264. The sponsor said [HB 1166](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1166) would remove zoning barriers to dwellings of 400 square feet or less, helping homeowners house relatives or renters. Citing Moody’s Analytics, the sponsor reported shortages of 41,000 ownership homes and 35,000 rental units. The sponsor said building codes, septic rules, historic-district protections and local short-term rental regulation would remain. Several members supported more housing options but questioned whether the language allowed unlimited units, standalone developments, separate lot sales or institutional investor purchases. The sponsor said separate sales were not intended and agreed to review the language. Another member argued the proposal was already narrowly aimed at homeowners. Witnesses for the Georgia Municipal Association and ACCG raised concerns about water, sewer, traffic and loss of local land-use decisions, while acknowledging some safeguards. A Georgia Realtors witness supported the proposal for aging in place and housing adult children, saying permits, fees and property taxes would help local governments. A Home Builders Association of Georgia witness said minimum-size rules increase costs and that building permits and inspections would still apply. The chair made the discussion hearing-only and requested revised language. No amendment or bill vote occurred. ### HB 1177. Development authorities; certain affordable housing uses of property qualify as projects; provide [HB 1177](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1177) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [1:33:46](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5626s), turns 265 to 425. The sponsor said [HB 1177](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1177) would let development authorities choose to support workforce housing through acquisition, construction, improvement, leasing or financing, initially for households earning no more than 80% of county median household income. The sponsor argued housing shortages impede hiring and rural growth. Another member said the proposal would clarify powers that some authorities already have and described 80% as a common affordability benchmark. Members questioned unelected authorities’ construction powers, bond approval and taxpayer risk. The sponsor said authorities generally use financing that passes through to developers, with developers responsible for repayment, and hire qualified builders rather than build directly. Asked about later income increases, the sponsor said there was no annual recertification and opposed penalizing buyers’ success. The committee adopted an amendment raising the income limit to 100%, after its proposer argued new-home costs also exclude households at that level. A second proposed amendment would require a recorded agreement preserving income restrictions for at least 30 years. Members questioned its effect on homeowners and its placement in the law. Before resolving that amendment or voting on passage, the committee voted to table the bill. The chair encouraged revisions and possible reconsideration Wednesday. ### HR 1348. School superintendent; qualifications, duties, and salary shall be established by the board of education and elected by voters; provide - CA [HR 1348](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1348) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [2:12:41](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7961s), turns 426 to 523. The sponsor said [HR 1348](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1348) would propose a constitutional amendment allowing counties to choose elected school superintendents through local legislation and a local referendum, while retaining appointed superintendents elsewhere. The sponsor argued residents should be able to elect officials administering school spending and said elected superintendents would live in the district and serve four-year terms. One committee member opposed the proposal, questioning who would supervise an elected superintendent, how it would fit accreditation rules and whether statewide demand had been established. The sponsor said district constituents supported the option but could not give a statewide percentage and said they were unfamiliar with the accreditation rules raised. Another member supported election as a way to increase accountability for property-tax spending. In response to questions about authority, the sponsor said the board would set policy and approve actions while the superintendent handled administration and implementation. The chair also described that division of responsibilities, and the sponsor agreed. The committee approved a do-pass motion by voice vote. > The transcript runs 146,447 characters. A reader that cannot take it at once can read it in 3 parts: part 1 https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-23/house-governmental-affairs.md?start=0; part 2 https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-23/house-governmental-affairs.md?start=59650; part 3 https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-23/house-governmental-affairs.md?start=119426. ## Transcript (526 turns) [0:00:38](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=38s) Okay, um, w- I'm gonna go ahead and ask everyone to get settled. If you are still signing the sign-up sheet, that is fine. Go ahead and, and continue to sign up. But I'm gonna go ahead and call this meeting to order, since we are running, um, just a little bit behind, um, 'cause we do need to vacate this room at 3:00 for the next meeting. Um, Representative Donatucci, if you, um, will tell me your number, I will call on you to, to open us in a word of prayer. [0:01:10](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=70s) 26. [0:01:11](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=71s) Okay. Thank you so much. If you'll bow with me, everyone. [0:01:14](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=74s) Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunity to come together today. Lord, I just pray for all of these, uh, members that are here. Lord, I pray for wisdom, God, for guidance, uh, and for wonderful things to happen today. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. [0:01:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=91s) Amen. [0:01:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=91s) Thank you. Um, okay, our first bill that is up today is HB1302. And Floor Leader Gambill, if you are ready, and when you get situated, if you would give us your LC number. [0:01:56](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=116s) Well, thank you, Madam Chair, for the opportunity to present today. Uh, I'm working off of House Bill 1302, LC 492638. So that should probably- [0:02:12](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=132s) Okay [0:02:12](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=132s) ... be what y'all have. [0:02:13](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=133s) That's what we got. [0:02:14](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=134s) Very good. Um, well, uh, I don't want to alarm you with a large bill. Um, I know that's always a concern for all of us, and, and I know you're probably sitting there saying to yourself, "My goodness, this is a long bill." But let me give you just some quick stats on the bill. Um, first of all, there's only 20 pages of it that I would say is substantive. There's 27 pages that repeal, name change, or clean up existing code. [0:02:45](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=165s) So over a half of this bill in front of you is cleanup. So if you'll just kind of g- give me that grace. Uh, but, but I do understand it is a long bill, and we're gonna get through this today, and I'm gonna be, uh, try to be as concise as I can as we walk through kind of w- what we're trying to do as a part of the governor's Top State for Talent initiative, which is something that we're all familiar with now. Uh, we've had several iterations of this bill, and the whole goal of what we're trying to do, what the governor is trying to accomplish, is to better align, uh, our workforce education programs in the state, K through higher ed, Department of Labor, State Workforce Investment Board, and all of the entities that are involved, just to make sure that we're all working together. [0:03:34](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=214s) And we, we have. We've come a long way, and this just continues to build on that work. And so I, I'll, I do wanna start by reminding all of you that, um, I am a product of the Cartersville City School system. I graduated from Cartersville High School. And these career and technical education programs that I'm speaking to you about today is not something that I sit here and consider to be for someone else's children, but it was for me. It was for, and is for, all of our students. [0:04:05](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=245s) And I think that what we're trying to do here, too, is to encourage and get more students in, plugged into these courses earlier on and help them transition to the u- university system or the technical college system or the apprenticeship opportunities or the military, whatever it might be that they ultimately transition to after high school, um, this is the goal, is to encourage them to pursue high-demand careers and to look at these along the way. So for me, it was graphic arts at Cartersville High School. Now, I did go on to college. [0:04:36](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=276s) I got a degree, but the graphic arts pr- uh, program that I was in, I took three semesters, and I always tell people if I had gone to work straight out of high school, I could have gone to work down at the local newspaper or one of our, uh, printing or marketing businesses there in Cartersville. Uh, I could've, I could've gotten hired on just with those skill sets. I still use those to this day, even though I didn't go into that profession, but I, I learned those things that have helped me throughout my career. Um, I have two high school students at Cartersville right now. [0:05:08](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=308s) They're both involved in CTAE. One of them is in work-based learning, uh, and she, uh, is getting credit for that, uh, right now. And then I have my son, David, who is actually with me today. He's on winter break, so David's back there in the back. David, wave your hand. Um, David is currently enrolled in the automotive program at Cartersville High School. David completed business tech last semester, and he completed the Microsoft Word certification and was told that he got the highest score on the Microsoft Word certification that had been recorded for Cartersville High School, so we were proud of that accomplishment. [0:05:48](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=348s) And he's also involved with the aeronautics program that we have there at Cartersville High School. So I passionately believe in the power of what technical education does in the lives of our... citizens, uh, whether they encounter it young or whether they get reskilled when they're older and we try to plug them into any of these high demand careers that we've got. This is a bipartisan, wonderful thing that we all can celebrate that Georgia has led in for a very long time. [0:06:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=378s) And so that's why I'm excited, uh, to be here today and present this legislation. But again, this is the Education Workforce Strategy Act, which is the final piece of Governor Kemp's workforce development package that aims to build a structure that ensures important work done over the past few years continues. This legislation does this by designating the Governor's Office of Student Achievement, GOSA, as the lead coordinator to bring together all of the agencies that have participated in the Governor's Workforce Strategy Team. [0:06:53](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=413s) This is the same group that envisioned and implemented the Georgia Match program, which y'all remember it. We're now sending all of our high school seniors a letter telling them where they're eligible to go to school at the technical college or the university system level, how they can get connected up to the Hope Career Grant or the Hope Scholarship, who they need to speak to. Uh, that's, this is how we got Georgia Match, which is, uh, the state's high demand career list is also what flew, uh, overflowed from this legislation, uh, and the Top State for Talent Act. [0:07:25](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=445s) To align with these coordinating responsibilities as well as their role in preparing the high demand career list, the articulation agreements report and other items, GOSA will be renamed the Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Strategy. So it will have a name change, but again, it's not that we're creating anything new. We're just changing its name and giving some additional responsibilities. The State Workforce Development Board, who has been tasked with a greater role in overseeing workforce development efforts in this state over the past few years, would be assigned to the new GOSA in order to prevent any image of bias or one implementing agency over another. [0:08:13](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=493s) So GOSA or the Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Strategy would be somewhat of a neutral entity to bring everybody to the table so that we're coordinating and working collaboratively together. Additionally, this legislation would codify the requirement for the Technical College System and the Department of Education to submit a unified Workforce, uh, Investment Opportunity Act and Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education State Plan to the federal government, as they did for the first time this past year. [0:08:47](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=527s) So they've already done this in practice. It was executed wonderfully, and you can ask anybody from TCSG or the department about how that process went, and I want to commend both the commissioner and, uh, the department and, uh, Dr. Wall, who oversees our CTA programs, for working together to do that. So they've already done this, so all this bill does is it just kind of codifies the process that they've already gone through this past year. Both of these plans govern the federal funds geared towards workforce development that the state receives, with the WIOA providing training and education services to youth and adults and Perkins supporting CTAE programs. [0:09:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=571s) Now y'all remember that the Perkins funding was once called the Smith-Hughes Act, but it, it still does the same thing, and it started in 1917. It originated from the state of Georgia. It was the first federal funding for any education, public education purpose, and it was specifically for, at that time, vocational agricultural education. It came from the state of Georgia and was adopted as, as national policy. Now since that time, you know, the federal government funds a lot of additional things in education. [0:10:04](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=604s) But the Perkins was the very first funding that we received, again, to fund, at that time, agricultural education. Through the years, it expanded to include all of the different CTAE programs that we now offer, but that's, that's where it started. To ensure the clarity and accessibility of the newly created workforce reports over the past few years, House Bill 1302 would create one comprehensive state workforce plan that incorporates the federal plans, state required reports, and goals that the state will strive for in this space, with the plan being updated on the same cycle as the federal plans. [0:10:46](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=646s) The bill, at the request of the United States Department of Labor, also designates the Technical College System of Georgia as the state apprenticeship agency. In practice, this means that the state will have more autonomy and oversight over their federally approved apprenticeships, and without this language, the state has a weaker ability to really know the full scope of their offerings. TCSG is the right agency for this because of their role in workforce development. [0:11:19](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=679s) The apprenticeship dollars they currently receive and, and the number of apprenticeships that they already have, house. Um, and let me clarify too, when we're talking about these apprenticeships, these are federally recognized apprenticeships. This does not apply to your high school work-based learning programs, your high school apprenticeships like my daughter's doing in Cartersville. Those still operate just as they have operated, but these are very specific apprenticeship programs that the technical college would, would have, uh, responsibility or, or oversight, uh, as designated through our legislation. [0:11:57](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=717s) This change does not impact existing programs as TCSJ- G does not foresee any changes to their direct operations, and they will not be stepping into any active role to run them. So if any of you have been contacted and told that in any way that we don't need the apprenticeship programs that we have, whether they're union or non-union, we have to have them. Those don't change. Those continue on. The technical college is not interested in taking those on to run. [0:12:28](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=748s) We have great partners in this state that already provide those services, and that will continue. Nothing about that changes with what we're doing here in this legislation. And lastly, this legislation, along with the governor's budget recommendation, set into motion a plan to develop a new career navigator tool as the governor announced at his workforce summit last fall for those of y'all that were able to attend there. It was at the Georgia World Congress Center, and he mentioned that, um, during the summit. [0:13:02](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=782s) So the funding to create that career navigator for all Georgia students has been accounted for, uh, in the budget. The, the, the... And the tool will assist Georgia students and job seekers in finding their best fit when it comes to cor- continuing their education or pursuing a career within the state. Many of the items in this bill and in the workforce development bills of previous years have been proposed because of the Joint Study Committee on Dual Enrollment for Highly Skilled Talent at Younger Ages. [0:13:37](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=817s) And we continue to be thankful for, uh, Chairman Matt Dubnik and Matt Brass, as well as Chair Lady Ballard, for their efforts and contributions to this important work. That's where, uh, so many of the ideas for this whole Top State for, uh, Talent initiative, uh, it's where they've come from. Ultimately, if we want to maintain our status as the top state for business, we must have the homegrown workforce ready to fill the new jobs that are coming to our state. [0:14:09](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=849s) This bill ensures that this is the case and we'll con- and that we will continue to play a pivotal role in making Georgia the top state for talent, which is something that I think we all can be proud of. And I've said this when I've been with economic developers and different groups, but, you know, a lot of the incentives that we've offered are great. We've brought a lot of business here, but the way that we keep the business and the way that we, uh, provide for our, our hardworking Georgians is to make sure that they're, they're getting plugged into these high-demand careers. [0:14:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=880s) And so that is the, that's the power of what, uh, of what we have here, uh, in front of us. So I have a section-by-section breakdown of the bill that I'd be happy to go through. I have Alex Huskey here with me as well, um, from the governor's office, and also Mark Peevey is here from the technical college system and is able to answer questions. Um, but with that, that is the summary of, of the bill. And again, I know it's a long bill, but I wanted to tell you what all was in it and kind of give you some context on what some of those pages were, clean up language and, and whatnot. [0:15:16](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=916s) So, uh, Madam Chair, I'm happy to answer questions, uh, or to proceed however you would, you would like for me to. [0:15:24](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=924s) Um, well, at this time I see one question, and I think that it is, um, Representative Howard. [0:15:33](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=933s) Thank you. Thank you for the bill. I think it, the workforce development is very important. Couple of questions. The first one is, uh, will lo- the local school systems have any flexibility in determining industries that's facing shortages? Uh, how do we determine where the shortages are? [0:15:50](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=950s) Yes. So in the bill we passed last year to, uh, create the unified central high-demand career list that's controlled by the State Workforce Investment Board, and remember, that board is comprised of folks in education, K12, business people. We created the opportunity where a local region could identify a high-demand career that might not be, let's just say it might not be in Northwest Georgia, but it may be in Southwest Georgia. And so those local school systems have the opportunity to provide that feedback to the State Workforce Investment Board and say, "Hey, we need you to take a look at this. [0:16:27](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=987s) This is a local need we have, and we need for this to be high demand so that, that, that matches up" and that ultimately those students are able to take advantage of the funding for high demand, 'cause remember, if they pursue the high-demand careers, we cover their tuition completely at the technical college system. [0:16:45](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1005s) Yeah, I ask the question w- I'm, I'm in an area where there are two nuclear plants w- and probably not, uh, you know, anywhere else in Georgia like that. [0:16:52](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1012s) Mm-hmm. [0:16:52](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1012s) So that would be, I know that would be a high demand. Then my, my second part of the question is has any consideration been given to, to, to schools how to cover the long-term budget obligations? I heard you said the career navigator's already funded. [0:17:06](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1026s) Yes. [0:17:06](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1026s) How about the rest of the, the obli- long-term obligations to school systems? [0:17:10](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1030s) So here's the, also the good part of this too. The current funding that we have in the state that comes down from the federal government for Perkins, which is split between the Department of Ed, ultimately owned of our 181 school systems, and the technical college system, that doesn't change. So they continue to receive those funds, and y'all remember, within the state budget, in the Department of Education's budget for career and technical education, there is still specific line item funding for all of these programs. That doesn't change as well. [0:17:41](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1061s) So the funding for the programs itself continues. The funding that you speak of for the career navigator, that is new one-time funding to create this navigator tool so that the students, uh, can sign up and register for that. But that's not a burden that we're putting on our local school systems. That will be housed and maintained by the Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Strategy, and again, uh, that is to create the tool and get it up, uh, uh, online and running. There would be no financial obligation whatsoever for our local school systems to have to shoulder as a result of this legislation. [0:18:19](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1099s) Thank you. [0:18:20](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1100s) Uh, number 26, is that, uh, Representative Donatucci? [0:18:24](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1104s) Yes. Thank you for this bill. Is it possible, um, to include a, a reeducation program? For instance, if an IT person had lost their job, not somebody that is just beginning, but somebody that perhaps was in IT that lost their job and they just need an updated training on new software, um, or, or something where it's, maybe it's just short-term, it's six to eight weeks- [0:18:48](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1128s) Mm-hmm [0:18:48](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1128s) ... to reeducate to get back up to speed so that they could seek a job. [0:18:51](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1131s) In, in your scenario, you're speaking of someone that would be i, in, in the adult population. [0:18:56](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1136s) Yes. [0:18:56](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1136s) Is that correct? So currently as it is, and with, with or without this legislation, what that individual would need to do would be to go get connected to their local technical college, and many of them have programs that will help them get re-skilled and learn an, a new skill in particular. Um, or in many cases in the communities that we live, a lot of the quick start, uh, programs have s- have started to build, uh, uh, quick start training facilities where they will skill the folks in the area around new industry in a very specific skill set, and it might be that in that scenario, they're eligible to go to one of the quick start training facilities and get directly plugged into one of those high demand careers through that. [0:19:41](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1181s) But they would have both of those options to pursue, and this bill really doesn't change that or address that. Again, remember, all this bill is about is just the coordination and alignment of how we're collaborating and working together in this space. [0:20:00](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1200s) Um, I think number 16, is that Representative Lupton? [0:20:06](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1206s) Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, thank you, Representative Gambill. You and I have had several conversations about what a fan I am- [0:20:12](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1212s) Yes [0:20:12](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1212s) ... of technical education. [0:20:13](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1213s) Absolutely. [0:20:14](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1214s) Um, so I'm glad to see a bill that's really paying some close attention to that. [0:20:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1218s) Mm-hmm. [0:20:19](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1219s) Something that you said in explaining the bill caught my ear, and I realized I'm not quite sure what you're talking about. You said that no matter where the apprentice programs or what the apprentice programs are right now, like where they live, whether they're state or union or federal, are they all coming under the technical college system of Georgia? [0:20:37](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1237s) So, and I'm gonna ask Mark to come up and address that because I know we have several of them here in the room, and I want him- [0:20:42](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1242s) Okay [0:20:42](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1242s) ... to be able to speak directly to that because the technical college will have a, a different role in that space. [0:20:49](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1249s) Okay. [0:20:49](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1249s) But again, I want to reiterate w- we need, we need those programs. They are not going away. I have t- toured and visited many of those and known of them for a very long time. And so Mark, I want you to speak specifically to, to the question. [0:21:05](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1265s) Nothing, and, and as you mentioned already, Representative Gambill, nothing would change about those programs. The, the, the, the challenge that this piece, um, begins to solve for the state is currently right now, if the governor or any of you folks, uh, here were to ask the question, how many apprenticeship programs are there in the state of Georgia? The state at our level has no ability to see all of those, for lack of a better way to put it. The only ones that we at the technical college have oversight on are the ones that are done through our colleges right now. [0:21:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1291s) Mm-hmm. [0:21:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1291s) Our friends at the Federal Department of Labor have asked and are pushing many states, um, to apply for this type of status, the State Apprenticeship Agency, to really open the, op- crack the lid open, so to speak, of all the, the federally based programs. And so, um, as that happens, it pushes down really autonomy, um, to the state level to be able to see what those programs are. And I think if we really think about it from a state oversight standpoint, it has to reside with an agency. Um, we at TCSC are happy to be that if that's the, the, the, where the governor and this body sees fit to place that. [0:22:04](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1324s) But it really is the opportunity for the state to be able to look at all the apprenticeships across the entire footprint of the state, uh, to be able to see if, if, uh, perhaps there's a p- a portion of the state or a region of the state that doesn't have as many. Or perhaps there's a new industry coming in where we don't have any of those, um, apprenticeships that really apply. So that's really what this is, is that federal, uh, what, what is now currently federal oversight, it gives the state the ability to have that oversight, if that helps. [0:22:28](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1348s) Okay. [0:22:32](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1352s) Um, thank you. Uh, Representative Carter. [0:22:37](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1357s) Thank you, Chair Lee. Thank you all for what you are working on. Question for me is, one of the things that we've seen, uh, where there's been a cluster of, um, new industry or new businesses coming into the state, and I do understand that what we're attempting to do here is to make sure that those high demand areas that we have, uh, workers. With that in mind, is there an opportunity if we are, if the, the new industries or the higher demand jobs are in a certain area, how do we ensure that students that are in other parts of the state- [0:23:15](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1395s) Mm-hmm [0:23:15](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1395s) ... or potential workers in other parts of the state also have access for that training opportunities that they may actually be able to, um, obtain some of these positions? Because sometimes, like I say, you, we see this big old plant down in, uh- [0:23:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1409s) Bryan, Bryan County [0:23:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1409s) ... just before you get to, uh, yeah- [0:23:32](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1412s) Yeah [0:23:32](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1412s) ... just before you get to Savannah. This whole new city that just got created- [0:23:34](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1414s) Yeah [0:23:34](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1414s) ... it's a beautiful sight. But then you may have some students here in the metro area- [0:23:39](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1419s) Mm-hmm [0:23:39](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1419s) ... who, uh, could benefit, but they might not necessarily have access to that training. So how do we ensure that all students around the state have opportunity for these high demand areas without putting a huge, huge burden on the, uh, budget? [0:23:54](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1434s) Right. And the last thing that we want is a brain drain. We want our students to stay in Georgia and to take advantage of the opportunities that they have here, even if it's not in their local area, uh, or in y- the case of what you described, going down to Bryan County or coming up to Bartow where I'm at and, and, and taking it some of the advantage that, that exists there. I think that that is a challenge that we've always seen in technical education is, um, uh, having to walk that fine line between only tailoring what we offer to local needs versus the fact that- Students are transient. [0:24:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1469s) They may go on to live somewhere else. They may move to a different region. They may move to another state. But again, the, the power of what we're doing here is that it gives the new Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Development ... And again, it's, it's not a new agency, it's just a rebranded agency. It gives them that ability to pull these coordinating agencies together. No one loses their power or authority over what they're doing currently, but they are gonna address issues like what you're talking about, where we will have better opportunity to make sure students know about the careers that exist in our state and to take advantage of that. [0:25:05](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1505s) Now, that's my answer. I'm gonna let Mark also ... Mark, if you wanna chime in and add a little bit on how do we get on top of that and, and what are we maybe currently doing that addresses that? [0:25:16](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1516s) Uh, I think, and, and appreciate the question, because I think it is very important. Um, uh, at, using that plant as example, the Hyundai plant as example, the training that we are doing and we are, we as a, as a system, uh, through our Quick Start division is, is training and our, one of our tasks is to train all 8,000 or 10,000 or whatever that number eventually ends up being of their brand-new employees. And so at a, at a very specific local level there in Bryan County, we are, we are training those 8,000 folks on exactly what, uh, Hyundai wants us to train them on. [0:25:46](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1546s) But at the core of what we're training those folks very specifically on is an advanced manufacturing program. In many places around the state we have advanced manufacturing programs. Um, and so the, the, the vast majority of those programs, using that as example again, um, can be taught and are taught at many of our 22 colleges. If, if you wanted to be able to take an advanced manufacturing program, um, at, at, at a local college, wherever that student might be, and then they decided, "Hey, you know what? I think that, uh, opportunity down at Hyundai sounds like a great one to me," I guarantee you could walk right in the door at Hyundai, they'd sign you up right now because you'd already have 80% of what we're training them specifically on. [0:26:20](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1580s) So we do, and I think that's one of the, uh, significant portions of the high-demand career list as we identify those. And they are around the state. We are training, um, for those programs in many places in most of our colleges. And so you have that opportunity to pick up 80, 90% of what we might be training on a very local level for a very specific company. If that answers your question. [0:26:41](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1601s) Thank you. [0:26:42](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1602s) Turn the mic on. Our last question, uh, Representative Adesanya. [0:26:46](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1606s) Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I definitely am encouraged by this bill, um, looking at what our workforce should really be. And, um, I just wanted to just clarify something. I know in creation of the Office of Education Workforce Strategy- [0:27:03](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1623s) Mm-hmm [0:27:03](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1623s) ... the primary goal of this bill is to try and make sure it coordinates all the, uh, stakeholders. [0:27:09](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1629s) Mm-hmm. [0:27:10](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1630s) Um, as far as the physical note is concerned, is it just related to just the awards? And if, if it is just related to just the physical, not just related to awards that will be given students, which is very critical, uh, do we have an idea of how many awards will be given out yearly that we anticipate? Um, I think it's important to make sure we anticipate the kind of funding and tracking the success and seeing how that is, you know, next five years, 10 years, things like that. [0:27:38](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1658s) Certainly. And so, so again, any of the current funding that we're already receiving, whether it be through WIOA or Perkins, continues to flow down. That doesn't change. Any of the current state funding that's appropriated for the technical college system, for the Department of Ed, for the Department of Labor, for the State Workforce Investment Board, or for this new Governor's Education and Workforce, uh, Strategy Department, that continues. GOSA, or the Governor's Office of Workforce Strategy, they continue to do everything they've been doing, and they, they do a lot more than the collaboration that we're talking about today. [0:28:15](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1695s) That doesn't change. But now they've been charged with a little extra work, and in order to fund this new extra work, they have been able to repurpose some existing funds that they had through the Governor's School Leadership Academy. It's about $445,000 that had not been spent that will be used to help them get up to speed with this collaborative part of what they'll now be doing. Um, but I don't know if I answered your question specifically- [0:28:42](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1722s) No, you did [0:28:42](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1722s) ... but I, I think that that's the, the goal of what we're trying to do, uh, in, in adding the additional responsibility on top of what they've been doing. [0:28:50](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1730s) All right. Thank you very much. [0:28:53](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1733s) Okay. Um, before we get to our speakers, the, the wonderful Courtney has arranged for us to move to a new room so that we can hear all the bills today. So y'all, we're going on a field trip. [0:29:10](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1750s) Okay. [0:29:11](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1751s) And we are all going to go in a very nice and orderly way to room 415. [0:29:17](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1757s) All right. [0:29:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1758s) So we are gonna stand in recess, and I will see you downstairs. [0:29:21](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1761s) So members can take their stuff. Okay. [0:29:23](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1763s) And members, grab your stuff. Take all your things with [0:30:16](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1816s) you. [0:31:22](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=1882s) Check one, two. Check, check. Check one, two. [0:44:47](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=2687s) Yeah, we're gonna stand at ease for just another minute. I got two members that were here just a minute ago, and they should be right back. So we'll get started as soon as they get right back. [0:46:56](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=2816s) Okay, I think, uh, we definitely have a quorum now. We're gonna get ready to get started. Uh, I'd like to, if we could, I'll ask Chairman LaHood if he would, uh, offer up a word of prayer for our, our committee and our meeting. [0:47:10](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=2830s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let's pray. Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for bringing us all together here safely. Thank you for, uh, uh, so many people here to, uh, try to do good things for, uh, the citizens of Georgia. Pray that you give us wisdom today and courage to do the right things, and for wisdom to guide us. In your name we pray, amen. [0:47:33](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=2853s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. All right. This is the House Governmental Affairs full committee, uh, meeting today, so we're gonna get right into the agenda. We're gonna go a little bit out of order from the way they're printed on here, just due to other commitments. So first I'd like to ask, uh, Majority Leader Efstration to present, uh, House Bill 396, and, uh, Mr. Leader, you're welcome to present from your seat if you'd prefer. [0:47:59](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=2879s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman, if that's all right, I'll just, uh, just do that. So, um, House Bill 1396, LC 560608, is really the next stage of a project that I've undertaken over the past few years. So I've had a real passion to allow for unsheltered homeless to have a path to, uh, to future success, to address, um, addiction issues, to provide for job training in a structured framework within which, um, services can be provided similar to the accountability court system, where I have worked as an attorney, and I've seen the success that comes from accountability courts helping individuals, um, um, move forward with their lives and, um, and better utilizing governmental funds that are used to pay for services. [0:48:53](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=2933s) And so it's with that interest that I'm bringing House Bill 1396. What, uh, you will recall is two years ago I carried legislation to create a, a, a separate part of the State Housing Trust Fund to provide an accountability framework for the homeless. And what we're now dealing with, particularly in the discussions around the upcoming World Cup games coming to Atlanta, is a need to really track the data around services that are being provided to the homeless, unsheltered homeless, so that we can accurately and mo- more effectively ensure that, uh, governmental funding is using actu- used actually to their benefit. [0:49:34](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=2974s) So there is an existing system called the Georgia Homeless Management Information System that tracks this. The difficulty is that that tracking is not being done by certain organizations, um, that are not receiving governmental funds. And so this, on a very limited basis, would require that that tracking, uh, now be utilized. There's no additional cost, uh, to the state as part of this, because the system is already up and in place. I n- understand that there's some advocates here, um, if necessary for the committee to hear testimony, but I'd be happy to answer any questions if anyone has any. [0:50:13](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3013s) Okay. Uh, before we get into questions, I will just make this one announcement. We do have one member of our committee that we have, uh, made arrangements, uh, to participate via Zoom. Uh, Representative Mary Margaret Oliver has, uh, just finished a, uh, stint in the hospital, and she is home, so she- ... is feeling well enough to, uh, participate, so we're keeping a monitor of that. Uh, uh, Mary Margaret, I can see you on the, on, uh, Molly's screen here, so, uh, she will be participating if needed from via Zoom today. [0:50:48](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3048s) Uh, does the... Any questions on the part of the committee for, uh, Leader Efstration? [0:50:55](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3055s) Okay, we have one. Let's see. Representative Williams. [0:51:00](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3060s) Yes, sir. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, um, section B1, um, or actually... Okay, B2. Um, owner or operator that violates this subsection b- shall be issued a citation by a law enforcement officer, and the violation shall be deemed non-criminal. Can you talk a little bit about what that citation would mean? Is there a fine attached? Is there... Can you tell me what, what it, it would look like- [0:51:33](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3093s) Yes, ma'am [0:51:34](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3094s) ... when we receive this? Thank you. [0:51:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3095s) Thank you, Representative. Great question. So as part of the discussions in preparing this legislation, there had to be some, um, consequence if there was non-compliance with part, with the conditions that we put in place. But a priority of mine was that there would be no criminal, uh, charge that would result from this. These are individuals who are helping, um, unsheltered homeless, our, um, some of our most, um, uh, you know, sensitive populations to, to, uh, to, to assist. [0:52:07](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3127s) And so the idea would be that, uh, law enforcement would have the ability to provide any non-criminal type means. That could be a, a ordinance, uh, violation type citation, but what I really expect is it would be a warning of such. It would be, "Here's the, uh, system with... Here's the HMIS system within which you have to register the activity." And again, this is, this is purely for the important work of data tracking. The data, as I understand it, is critical for grant funding. [0:52:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3160s) It's critical to make sure that there's best use of services for the dollars that we appropriate as a general assembly. And so we just want some ability to have some, uh, means by which it can be enforced. Thank you for the question. [0:52:57](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3177s) Okay, uh, Representative Sanchez. Thank you, Chair, and thank you leader, uh, leader for this piece of legislation. Very important issue. Um, quick question. So lines 56 through 60, um, I'm assuming are talking about a very specific city. Is this just only applied to the City of Atlanta? Fulton County. Yes, sir. So Fulton County? Yes. Got it. And then follow-up, so to what extent does this, um, program, in your view, I guess, support unhoused individuals rather than simply tracking them? [0:53:30](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3210s) So the difficulty, as I understand it, is that, uh, programs receiving governmental funds already use HMIS. They have to- Mm-hmm ... as part of receiving those funds. But then the difficulty is there are a lot of organizations, very well-meaning, great people, I mean, these are good, good people who are trying to help, but they're not utilizing HMIS, and this would require in a very specific area of the state that they begin using HMIS. That's the, that's the real objective. Okay. And one more question if I may, Mr. [0:54:01](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3241s) Chair. Um, so would these rules have any impact on the... You know, we have a lot of issues with when it comes to the resources we have on warming and cooling shelter services. Would this have any impact on that, uh, in any way? So if I understand your question, I think it would only be a beneficial impact in this sense, that as I understand it from particularly metro Atlanta counties, when these warming stations open, there can be a population shift of unsheltered homeless to different areas. Right. And there would be the greater, a greater ability, I believe, to track where those unsheltered homeless individuals are. [0:54:37](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3277s) Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, I see no other questions at this time. The chair will entertain a motion. We have a motion do pass. We have a s- we have a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. The bill passes committee. Thank you. Thank you, sir. All right. Now we're gonna move on to the next bill. We're gonna move one up on our agenda. House Bill 1362, Representative Jason Ridley, if you'd like to just come to the table. [0:55:16](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3316s) Your mic is active. You can- Correct ... proceed when you're ready. All right. Thank you. Um, I have, uh, House Bill 1362, LC474055. Um, and this is just a great governance bill. Um, I've kind of started down this road in '23, '24 session with, uh, House Bill 1850. Um, and I think we all just want everything to be fair. And so with that bill, what it said was if, if you were a family member of a legislative or executive branch, that you could not lobby or hold any state contracts, that kind of stuff. [0:55:49](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3349s) So that's kind of where this bill has kind of grown from, and this bill kind of does the same thing. So what, what it does is it basically says if you're the constitutional officer, you can't hold any state contracts, uh, while you're in office, and you can't be a candidate to run for office if you hold any state contracts. Um, and I think that's just a good, fair, uh, ethical bill, and that's pretty much what the bill does. Okay. Thank you. Any questions on the part of the committee? [0:56:21](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3381s) Seeing none, we'll entertain a motion. Have a motion do pass. We have a second. Do we have a dis- any discussion? Oh. Yeah. Yeah, Chairman Thomas. Yeah, I'd like to... A motion to make a couple small amendments, uh, to this bill. Uh, beginning at line 25, I'd like to insert "or any federal agency or department" after agency. [0:56:56](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3416s) Uh, line 27, uh, it would be insert "or any federal agency or department" after state agency. You see it? Mm-hmm. All right. And at line 28, I would also like to insert "or any federal agency or department" after state agency. Those are... That'd be all-encompassing of the amendment that I offer. Okay. We have a motion to amend, adding those three sections to those three lines. [0:57:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3449s) Uh, do we have a second on that motion? We have a second. Any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all in favor of the amendment say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The amendment carries. Now we're back to the underlying bill as amended. Uh, no s- no further discussion showing on the screen. Uh, all in favor of the bill, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Bill carries. You're passed. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Now we're going to move on to House Bill 1166. [0:58:03](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3483s) Representative Herring, if you'll come to the... Would you like the table? Okay. Thank you. [0:58:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3498s) Good afternoon. Proceed. Yes, ma'am. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and committee members. I wanna thank the chairman for the opportunity to present this bill to poor committee consideration today. The American dream of homeownership is quickly slipping away out of the hands of many Georgians. We are facing a dual crisis right now. We have skyrocketing costs that are hurting families, and we have a desperate lack of housing inventory. A recent report from Moody A- Analytics fa- found that Georgia is facing an acute housing shortage, with a deficit of 41,000 homes in the homeowner market and a shortage of 35,000 rental units. [0:58:59](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3539s) Simply put, we do not have enough homes in Georgia. [0:59:02](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3542s) For our Georgians. This crisis is hurting those near and dear to me, which are veterans, seniors, first responders, educators, and so many others. That same Moody report highlighted that this housing crisis is most severe in the workforce rental market. The Georgia Association of Education Educators have pointed out that teachers in Georgia make around 26% less than many professionals with the same experience, and noted that long commutes are c- contributing to the teacher shortage. [0:59:36](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3576s) The crisis has become so severe that we are now seeing developers like Teachers' Villages in Atlanta preparing to break ground just to provide educators with apartment units at below market rate. This is exactly why I introduced House Bill 1166. My bill removes unnecessary zoning barriers, prevents homeowners from bu- prevents homeowners from building safe, high-quality sec- secondary dwellings of 400 square feet or less, often called tiny homes, carriage houses, or granny flats. [1:00:10](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3610s) It simply allows property owners to build these homes on their own property. [1:00:17](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3617s) Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, we are not here today to talk about zoning charts. We are here to talk about single, the single biggest issue facing Georgia families, the spiraling cost of living. I look forward to working with stakeholders, including G- G- GMA, to solve these issues. I would like to present to you all today House Bill 1166, LC 473783. I'm aware of the concerns, uh, regarding violations of home rules, local control, unfunded infrastructure strain, neighborhood character, and property values. [1:00:56](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3656s) However, we must address, address the housing issue. Violation of home rule and local control, this legislation is about, not about state takeover of zoning, but rather a resolution or restoration of individual property rights. The government should not dictate that a safe and code-compliant home is illegal simply because it is small. Furthermore, the bill explicitly preserves local control over the things that truly matter, such as building codes, fire safety, and infrastructure capacity. [1:01:34](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3694s) Unfunded infrastructure strains. This bill includes specific safety valves to protect local infrastructure. If you look at Section C, it clearly states that local government restraint retain full power to enforce regulation s- related to septic tanks and drain fields. In a specific lot, it cannot, it cannot safely support the water and utility load of an additional unit. [1:02:04](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3724s) The local health department and municipalities still possesses the authority to deny the permit based on infrastructure limits. Neighborhood character and properties, this is also addressed in the bill. The legislation explicitly requires these dwellings to adhere to the state minimum standard codes. This ensures that structures are permanent, high quality, and safe, preventing creation of shanty towns. Additionally, the bill specifically protects local authority over designated historic districts. [1:02:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3760s) Real estate data consistently shows that adding an, an, anecent, sorry, accessory dwelling unit to a property generally increases the overall appraisal value of the lot. Short-term rentals and institutional investors is another concern. This bill addresses the physical size and construction of the dwelling. It does not strip local government of the ability to regulate business operations, including short-term rentals. [1:03:11](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3791s) Municipalities remain completely free to pass ordinances requiring owner occupancy, accessory dwelling units, and placing limits on commercial short-term rentals within residential zones. Increased code enforcements and administrative burdens. By providing a legal and transparent pathways for small homes, this bill actually improves public safety. Currently, restrictive zoning forces many families to build unpermitted, unsafe structures. [1:03:45](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3825s) Legalizing these dwellings allows local governments to collect standard permitting fees, conduct proper sa- proper safety inspections, and legally add new structures to their tax digest, which pays for the administrative cost and insight. With that, Mr. Chairman, I'll be happy to take questions. And also at the appropriate time, I would like to bring some speakers to the bill. [1:04:09](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3849s) Okay. Thank you. We've got some speakers that have signed up for the bill, so if you got, we'll, we'll get, when we get to that, we'll make sure we got your list covered. Uh, Representative Bazemore. [1:04:19](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3859s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to my friend and my colleague, Representative Herring. I so appreciate you bringing this bill. We have been dealing with this issue for s- many years. And, um, I heard you mention GMA. I heard you mention the municipalities and different orient- ordinances. And so my hope is that we can put forth this bill and correct some of the issues that we have with not having enough units on the market, and that we can allow individuals to be able to purchase homes, and not just to usurp, as you were saying, the municipality's codes and, and their home rule. [1:05:07](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3907s) But we have to do something. And I thank you again for doing this. As I sat on that study committee, we talked about everything that you mentioned, and it is so needed. Thank you, ma'am. [1:05:19](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3919s) Okay, thank you. Now we're gonna, uh, recognize via Zoom Representative Mary Margaret Oliver. [1:05:27](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3927s) Good afternoon, Chair. Thank you very much for recognizing me, and I assume I'm unmuted and you can hear me. Thank you for this opportunity on these two bills, uh, 1166 and 1177. As you and I have talked prior to the session, and we'll carry on through the session, there- the minority caucus has presented a large package of a variety of bills, and these two bills are part of our package that are bipartisanly supported. [1:05:58](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3958s) We know that in order to deal with the housing crisis across Georgia, that we have to produce more doors. We have to produce more options, more opportunities. The, uh, benefit of and the controversy and the questions about, uh, accessible dwelling units, ADUs, or tiny homes plays out differently in every part of Georgia, but it is a concept that is being used in a lot of different ways in different cities and different communities to allow homeowners who own their property to build an ADU without an unnecessary and irrational zoning obstruction. [1:06:37](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=3997s) Uh, this bill, 1166, simply gives the homeowner more freedom to use his property, her property in order to, uh, build an ADU, probably for a family member, maybe for an in-law, maybe for a friend. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this bill, and I, uh, appreciate Representative Herring's leadership on this issue. Thank you. [1:07:03](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4023s) Thank you. Uh, Representative or Chairman Momtahan. [1:07:08](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4028s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Representative, for your bill. Um, it's interesting. Uh, I've actually ran into a, a sort of similar issue with, uh, with my county as it pertained to, um, an access- an accessory dwelling unit, um, I think these are ADUs, is that correct, what we're talking about today? [1:07:28](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4048s) Yes. Yes. [1:07:28](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4048s) Um, for my mother-in-law, uh, who was widowed and then needed a place to live, so we were able to do that, and it did require some of these types of draconian zonings, uh, there. But on the other hand, I have to ask, 'cause this is a much bigger picture, that that was permitted by the, by the, by the county at that point. And so the question becomes this, and so I, I see that we are, and, and, and maybe this is a very legal question, I have no idea. [1:08:00](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4080s) So you're constructing the ADU, right? You have this kind of now a broad power to, uh, let's say a broader power to, uh, restrict the local government from having a say on this 400 square foot or, or smaller ADU. My question would be, is it in and of itself resellable or, or is it truly an accessory, right? So is this something that has to be sold as a package with a home? [1:08:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4111s) Or is this something that has to, that could be... 'Cause I just wanna make sure, and maybe you can show me the language here where it says, uh, you couldn't just sell that in a, in, in, in and of itself. Kinda walk me through that. [1:08:48](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4128s) Okay. So the thought process of the bill is that if you have y- for example, your backyard, and you, as you stated, you wanted your mother or mother-in-law to live in that, that ADU, they, they could. And if you sell the home, that comes as part of the home. You can't just sell that piece of property with the tiny house. It comes along with your home. I had a triplex at one point, and I ended up putting a in-law suite on the back of my triplex, and I had used it, used it as a rental resource at that time. [1:09:20](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4160s) So when I sold the property, all of that was together. So it would not be something that would be sold separately. It would have to be sold along with the home. [1:09:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4169s) Yes. [1:09:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4169s) Is that what you're asking? [1:09:30](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4170s) It kind of... I- is that something... So I'm just making sure that in this bill- [1:09:34](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4174s) Mm-hmm [1:09:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4175s) ... um, I wanna make sure that it is, that it's in the bill. So I, I guess I don't see where that kind of action could be prohibited, right? So I would imagine that I have a larger parcel, and then I'm shrinking that down to maybe just around the ADU. I'm creating an easement from the roadway to the ADU, and now because of the zoning restrictions, it becomes in and of itself a dwelling, because they can't regulate zoning on less than 400 square feet. [1:10:12](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4212s) Maybe I'm wrong, but I, I, I just don't see the prohibition on that kind of action, and I don't know that that's what you're looking to do, or that's the intention there. Because again, I support this idea that families should live together. I think that's healthy. Uh, I think my children enjoy, uh, the short brisk walk down to, uh, grandma's cottage, right? But I just wanna make sure that if, if, if the compelling interest here is the... And it could be a renter, right? Could be that you have a, a, maybe a, you know, traveling nurse, right, who's looking for a home, or a police officer who's just starting out on his own, or whate- whatever other circumstance in which a 400 square foot, uh, dwelling would be, you know, would make sense. [1:10:59](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4259s) I guess I would just make sure that that is, that cannot be sold in and of itself. [1:11:03](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4263s) Definitely. [1:11:03](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4263s) Maybe I'm wrong, but I just don't see it in the bill. [1:11:06](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4266s) I understand what you're saying, and I agree. But the thought process, you're correct, on this bill is to make sure that we provide housing on our own property for an in-law suite or a college student. I have college children myself. They're getting ready to graduate. They can't afford apartments. It's almost $2,000. So to be able to have that personal space that they can have right on our property, that is the thought process behind it. Or a traveling nurse or a police officer. A lot of our community service workers can't afford housing right now. [1:11:36](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4296s) So what we're trying to do is come up with creative ways that they can have housing on properties that are already there. Um, it could be family members or it could be rental property. But there are a couple barriers that you can see on lines 39 through 43, where there are some guidelines for that. [1:11:53](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4313s) So, and sh- and walk me through that. What was those lines there? [1:11:55](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4315s) Um, if you look at line 39, it says the org- ordinances and regulations related to properties or structures. It tells you what those are, um, located in the area designated as historic districts. So all of that is here in the bill. So I hope I'm answering your question, but I do understand what your concerns are. [1:12:15](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4335s) Let me give a hypothetical, Representative. And that is, a person or a group of people- [1:12:22](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4342s) Mm-hmm [1:12:22](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4342s) ... right, of Georgians, who, having rarely owned a home, let's say here in Fulton County, Georgia. You have 3,000 or 4,000 ADUs that are built based on the permissive nature of this language here. [1:12:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4355s) Mm-hmm. [1:12:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4355s) Right? Then a institutional investor comes in. They believe that with the right, with the right narrowing of such land lot and a great easement protecting the entry of a tenant from the roadway to the ADU, could that create its own new class of institutional investor-owned s- single family residential detached home, in which they become renting out to, uh, you know, people who would ordinarily have a person-to-person contact, right? [1:13:13](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4393s) So just imagine, we're imagining here that people are renting to other people, right? That a, that a, a family rents to a person, or, or a family is renting to, you know, this, uh, this in-law relative, or, or even permitting them to live there at no cost, right? And then to be a tenant in that location. But I think you would wanna have some protections that keeps these ins- as we have this broader conversation about institutional investors, that keeps these out of the hands of institutional investors who have been plaguing the communities around our state. [1:13:48](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4428s) And I s- I guess I don't see those protections in this bill. Now, that's notwithstanding that it could be somewhere else in our code section, but I think those kinds of protections are what Georgians are expecting today as it relates to, um, where we're going with housing in the state. [1:14:05](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4445s) Okay. Thank you for now. [1:14:07](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4447s) Okay. Thank you. [1:14:07](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4447s) Thank you. Uh, we're gonna recognize now, uh, Chairman Sainz. [1:14:12](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4452s) Thank you, and thank you to the author for, uh, for sure the objective, I think we can all agree, and, and, uh, there definitely needs to be some solution to this, uh, uh, affordability problem, uh, in terms of homeownership. Uh, just to get a better idea of the implications of what's a pretty broad, uh, implication to local governments, is there another state that's implemented this or a similar measure just to look at in terms of what the end result would be? [1:14:42](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4482s) There have been some states, but I don't have the specific states that have, um, have done this. But I know that a lot of states are coming up with creative ways to have housing, because we're, this is not just a Georgian problem, this is a problem across the country. So many states are coming up with creative ways to make sure they're providing housing for families in their states. But I can't give you specifics right now. [1:15:02](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4502s) Thank you. [1:15:06](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4506s) The, uh, Representative Adesanya. [1:15:13](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4513s) Thank you, Chairman. Um, thank you, Rep, um, Herring, for this. As my colleagues mentioned, it helps with, um, the affordable, um, issues we have with housing. Um, I was curious, so when, with this ADU, um, proposal, um, is it something that can be allowed to be rented? I know it makes a lot of sense for, um, a homeowner to have that extension to a, um, say, in-law that wants to live with them, but would it be open to building and ha- having that open for rental, rental properties? [1:15:49](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4549s) Yes. So if you ha- if you build a unit in your, on your own property, it is open for you to rent it. Okay. But the guidelines are on line 39 through 43. Those are the guidelines in which you cannot do certain rent, certain properties on your property. You can't do certain rentals on your properties, like tiny homes or cottages. Lines C, s- 39C tells you what those restrictions are. But you can rent the property out. I just gave an example of that with a triplex that I had. [1:16:22](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4582s) I built it for a in-law suite, ended up renting it out because my mom only stayed for a few months after we had a child. So you can do that, but when you sell the home, you will sell those pro- that, those properties along with it. So it won't be an individual purchase on your property that you sell. [1:16:39](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4599s) Okay. Quick follow-up. Just, just one more. And, um, and I know, um, Rep Sainz, um, asked if other states were doing that. I know, um, I was at a conference and it talked about that, and Maine and Connecticut were two states that recently adopted that. I thought it was helpful. Um, but, uh, with your bill, would that be the size is g- not going to exceed 400, um, square feet, correct? [1:17:02](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4622s) Correct. These are for tiny homes or cottages, or granny su- you know. [1:17:08](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4628s) Yeah. [1:17:09](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4629s) Okay. Thank you. [1:17:09](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4629s) Thank you. [1:17:10](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4630s) Uh, we got just a few more questions. And Representative Oliver, I do see you on the list. We'll get to you in just a second. Uh, Representative Thomas. Chairman Thomas. [1:17:20](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4640s) Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, I just wanna kind of mirror, uh, Chairman Momtahan's comments. I, I, there are a couple concerns I have about the broadness of this language. Um- specifically, I don't see that there's a, a limit to the number of properties of 400 square feet. Um, that's, that, that... I would be concerned that we've, are now creating many apartment complexes that, uh, that go without zoning. Although, I will tell you, I, I, genuinely do believe and appreciate the intention of what it is that you're working on. [1:17:52](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4672s) Um, um, the other issue that I have is, i- the way that you've, the way this is currently written, and I'm just gonna say this, you can... Uh, let's see, "Modification, placement, or use of dwellings of 400 square feet or fewer on or upon any property zoned for or in which resident- residential uses are authorized." That doesn't, to me, I don't read that to be my house. That could be any, any property, and that's where I, um... It's one thing if it's like, "Hey, I wanna have my, a, a place for my mom to stay in retirement." It's another one just to say any residential property can pop one of these up. [1:18:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4709s) There's no limit to the amount of houses that you can put on it, and there's no limit to institutional investors, which I very much agree with my friend over there. It's, uh, been very difficult for those of us in the metro area to have to deal with, who have taken the opportunity of homeownership away from, uh, you know, single-family buyers, and instead turn 'em into proper, uh, revenue-generating sources for money to get sent out of state. So I, I, I think we gotta do a little cleanup language here. I think the intent is good. I think it's a... I, I applaud you on, on that. [1:18:59](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4739s) I would say I think this is your first time presenting in Governmental Affairs. [1:19:03](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4743s) It is. [1:19:04](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4744s) You've done a really good job. I just would suggest maybe we can tighten this language up a little bit. And, uh, otherwise, that's, that's about all the comments I have at the moment. [1:19:12](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4752s) Thank you so much. [1:19:13](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4753s) No problem. [1:19:13](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4753s) The intent really is to start the conversation again about having h- more housing for Georgians, and making sure that we come up with creative ways to do, do that. We have a lot of families now who are living in hotels, which is classified as homeless, and we have a lot of people who are working every single day to make sure that they can just make it. And affordability is what you've been talking about, so I appreciate you, um, giving me that suggestion. [1:19:43](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4783s) Representative Sanchez. [1:19:45](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4785s) Thank you so much, Representative Herring, for this bill. I think this is, is an insanely important issue, so I really appreciate you bringing this forward. I do think this is, um, a good piece of legislation. I think that we do need to have more, uh, housing options in general, right? And to the gentleman's question about in- institutional investors, I think there's two sides of the coin on this issue, and I believe yours addresses one side, and then there's that other side that hopefully can potentially be addressed in this committee. I know there's other pieces of legislation that are also addressing that issue that have gone through this committee, including from myself, Representative Olaleye, and others. [1:20:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4818s) And so, uh, my question is really about, um, d- in regards to this legislation, uh, are you, uh, when it comes to the insti- institutional investors, do you think that this would create a huge issue with that, where you could divide up the parcels, or is this more meant to be like an ADU kind of situation? [1:20:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4840s) It's more meant to be a ADU situation, and I'm sure we can look at the language and make sure that we address some of the concerns that have been brought forth in this committee today. [1:20:49](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4849s) Yeah, that'd be great. Thank you so much for this bill. [1:20:53](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4853s) Thank you, and we're g- we're gonna go back to Zoom and recognize Representative Oliver. [1:20:58](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4858s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The, the issue of an easement or a property line change changes the whole dynamic of this bill. Clearly, that is not going to be, uh, a u- proper use of this bill. When you talk about redrawing landlines, then you are opening up other kinds of options. This is for the single-family owner who ha- owns his own home and wants to expand on his own property. Every, not every city in my area, but several of the cities in DeKalb County are creatively looking at a variety of different housing options. [1:21:38](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4898s) We have to start exploring those options, uh, more thoughtfully and more fully. This is a good opportunity bill to give the local, uh, cities, local counties options for property owners. We c- And it is not a bill that I think would be used by investors. It's just too narrowly drawn. A tiny home, on some cases, uh, is movable. You know, they're like trailers for some of the way they're built, but as we know, trailers, mobile homes, modular homes on wheels, all of those are licensed in a totally different way and don't own property. [1:22:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4938s) These ADUs relate directly to property owners. [1:22:27](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4947s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:22:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4949s) Okay, thank you. [1:22:32](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4952s) And hope I'm- [1:22:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4955s) Yeah. [1:22:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4955s) Just one sec. Representative Momtahan, would you like to be recognized? [1:22:41](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4961s) Uh, just at the pro- proper time, I'd like to make an amendment, uh, but I don't know what, uh, posture the committee's in. [1:22:47](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4967s) Okay. We're not in a posture to accept an amendment yet. Uh- [1:22:51](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4971s) Really? [1:22:52](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4972s) At this moment, I see no more lights blinking on the screen, so we're gonna move to our sign-up sheet and have some folks come and speak to the bill. Uh, first on the list, we have Ms. Kaylyn Day and Mr. Noah Renets. If y'all would come to the podium and, uh, introduce yourselves, and proceed. [1:23:12](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4992s) Oh, good afternoon, Chairman, committee members. My name is Noah Renets with the Georgia Municipal Association. [1:23:16](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4996s) And I'm Kaylyn Day with ACCG. [1:23:19](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=4999s) Appreciate the time to be here, and as I begin, Chairman, I'd like to wish you a happy belated birthday. [1:23:28](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5008s) Shut up. Shut up. [1:23:28](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5008s) Happy birthday. [1:23:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5009s) You're funny. [1:23:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5011s) Did y'all know that? [1:23:36](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5016s) I, I don't know if that's good or bad now. [1:23:38](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5018s) It's not. [1:23:38](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5018s) Thank you. Thank you. [1:23:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5020s) Um, but I'd like to thank Representative Herring for bringing the legislation and having some conversations with us. I know we had the opportunity to speak on Friday. Um, a lot of what the committee has brought up thus far, a- again, I do ideate some of the concerns that the Municipal Association brings here today, is that this bill creates kind of two pathways. It creates a pathway for the development of accessory dwelling units, and it also creates a pathway for the development of standalone cottage-type homes. And the conversation I had with you, Representative Herring, last week was really focused on accessory dwelling units. [1:24:12](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5052s) And when we talk about the developments of ADUs, I have cities all across the state of Georgia that are putting those ordinances on the books, or currently evaluating ordinances for the development of ADUs, but it comes with a, a specific set of circumstances that you must evaluate. To let property owners develop ADUs by right can effectively work to really strain the infrastructure in a way that was not planned for in an overnight way. You do have good protections in this legislation as it relates to minimum building code, um, regulations around septic tanks, that would go through DPH. [1:24:43](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5083s) But in a community of 100 homes, if overnight by right you could develop ADUs, you could have maybe 40, 30 ADUs developed in a year, and the strain on the water, sewer capacity could reach such a level that the local government can no longer effectively serve that. Or traffic considerations. As we continually talk about ADUs, I want to be clear about the language here. Um, draw your attention to line 30. Uh, "Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, no zoning decisions shall affect or be required for the construction, modification, replacement, or use of dwellings." One of the really important things about the development of ADUs is where that's going to be accessed from, right? [1:25:22](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5122s) If it's going to be a rental property, um, how, how are those people going to be coming in and out of the home, right? Are you gonna place that in the front of the house? Are you gonna place that in the back of the house? If this is a, a live-in for maybe an in-law suite, maybe that's not as big of a consideration, right? 'Cause they'll all be sharing the same living quarters in some sense. But we do have some consternation with that language. Um, back to the other methodology that this bill could be used for. It's, this could be, you could build these tiny homes on any property that is allowable for residential use. [1:25:53](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5153s) Well, that could be low-density residential, medium-density residential, high-density residential, and I don't really think that's the intent of what this legislation seeks to capture. Um, where a community might see best fit for a, a mixed-use development or a condo development or an apartment development, you could build cottages there, 400 square foot cottages, 10, 12, 15. That may not be the highest and best use case for that property itself. So just one thing that we want- that's one item that we wanted to see addressed in the legislation. So that kinda concludes my remarks. [1:26:23](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5183s) I'll, I'll share it to Kaylyn, and happy to stand for any questions. [1:26:26](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5186s) Yeah. Thank you. I think Noah really hit the nail on the head, on the head with our shared concerns. Um, again, I commend the intent of this bill. Um, it's just with zoning being so important to land use and managing our infrastructure, this is something that we couldn't go by without our membership having some heartburn over it, so I really look forward to the opportunities to look at other solutions for this bill. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. [1:26:51](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5211s) Yeah. [1:26:51](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5211s) Okay. Thank you very much. Next, we're gonna invite Mr. Jeff Ledford to come up. And, uh, Mr. Ledford, if you'll come to the podium, introduce yourself, and proceed with your remarks, please. [1:27:02](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5222s) Mr. Chairman, I, I, too, wanna wish you a, that you had a wonderful birthday. I hope it was fantastic and the best ever. Uh, no, Jeff Ledford with the Georgia Realtors. Um, and th- this is a subject that honestly, uh, we, we've been looking at for a long time. Uh, I've had discussions, uh, concerning this topic with everybody from AARP to, uh, Tiny Houses Atlanta to just... But on a national scale, this is something, um, that there has been a lot of discussion. Uh, Representative Momtahan, I know you had some concerns about subdividing the property and about, uh, the, the potential wild uses you could have. [1:27:39](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5259s) I think there's some easy, easy fixes on that. Uh, looks like you may have even thought of some. L- looking at the look on your face. Good. Um, this is something... And I, I'd worked on a model policy very similar to this a couple years ago. Um, this is something that can allow someone to age in place. This is something that is not just, I would say, something we need to look at solely for the purpose of housing affordability, though that does have a component. But this is something that can allow somebody like my mom to be able to continue living where she wants to live and be able to have someone nearby, to be able to, um, have, uh... [1:28:20](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5300s) I'm, I'm, I'm in Generation X, and Generation X is being known as the generation that's taking care of their parents and their adult children. [1:28:27](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5307s) Mm. [1:28:27](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5307s) Um, this is a great way to have the kids that are trying to launch be able to launch, and it could be one in the same ADU. It could be used for one, one day, and grandma, you know, a, a kid one day and grandma the next. Uh, it is something that's very usable. And I would add, uh, for any concern on, you know, what, what this may add to the weight of the cities and the counties that are having to deal with this, you still have all the permits and fees that you normally get with anything else. [1:29:00](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5340s) And on top of that, this is gonna add to the value of the home, so you should also be seeing a, a slight uptick in the property taxes you're collecting. So, um, while I hate that they may have a little heartburn, I would love to see that someone like my mom, someone like, uh, my adult kids, are not gonna have the heartburn and may be able to have a little bit simpler path on how they want to live out their, their remaining years. So we would, um, highly recommend a due pass on this bill, and I'd be happy to take any questions. [1:29:32](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5372s) All right. Thank you. Next, we have, uh, Mr. Austin Hackney with the Georgia Home Builder Association [1:29:44](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5384s) Mr. Hackney, same, uh, instructions. If you'll just, uh, introduce yourself and proceed. [1:29:53](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5393s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee. Thank you, Representative Herring, for bringing this bill forward. Uh, uh, my name's Austin Hackney with the Home Builders Association of Georgia, and, uh, up here today to support the bill in front of you. And I just wanted to give a couple of quick notes because I think most, most of everything's been said already. But, um, the Georgia Public Policy Foundation a few years ago did a study of, uh, minimum home size requirements, uh, around the state, and found that 16 counties, 30 cities in Metro Atlanta, and 25 county seats, uh, contain single-family residential districts with minimum home size requirements above 1,000 square feet. [1:30:34](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5434s) And, uh, found an additional eight counties, three cities in Metro Atlanta, and six county seats, uh, that have, uh, home- minimum home size requirements, uh, with a number below 1,000 square feet. So that's a real government regulation that requires housing to be more expensive, just on a cost-per-square-foot basis. And so what we're talking about today is a bill that would say that, uh, where a community has done a comprehensive plan, they've set zoning districts in their community, and they've said that these areas are right for residential use, um, the bill would say that, that no further zoning decision's required. [1:31:15](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5475s) So I think on behalf of a homeowner that wants to add some value to their property and bring their family closer to them, um, this just keeps them from having to go through six months of paperwork to get to a conclusion that should already be there because of what's in the comprehensive plan, what that community's already decided is an appropriate use for the space. So, um, I will, uh, add that Georgia has a, a construction code just for tiny houses, for residential-use structures of 400 square feet or less. [1:31:46](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5506s) So any of these structures that get built in the state of Georgia are gonna be built to the same high standard for, uh, quality and safety. And, uh, if anybody has any questions about that or anything else I just said, be happy to answer. [1:31:59](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5519s) Okay. We do have a question showing here. Uh, Representative Adesanya. [1:32:02](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5522s) Adesanya right here. Uh, thank you for presenting. Um, I agree with the measure in its entirety of allowing the, um, ADUs. Um, I believe it helps us, um, with, you know, a little more housing. Now, given what you mentioned, if we, um, now, um, take the power to the state, does that mean that if I own a home and I want to, um, add a small unit to it, um, does that take the powers away from the county? Don't, don't I still gotta go through the county zoning regulation? [1:32:32](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5552s) And I ask that, too, because not every houses have conducive... Would say you might have the space, but the way the pipes sometimes are ran, the storm water, um, it's important to consider that. So does that take the ability away from the county? [1:32:48](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5568s) So my reading of the bill would be that you would still have to apply for a building permit, same way you would. You're not looking for a, a rezoning decision from a planning commission, but the building inspector would still be involved in the construction of the unit. [1:33:02](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5582s) Thank you. [1:33:05](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5585s) Okay. Thank you, Mr. Hackney. Uh, at this moment, we would, uh, we're, we're going to be in this posture. We're gonna do this as a hearing only today. Uh, we will have another full meeting Mon- or excuse me, today is Monday, Wednesday. And, uh, I would, uh, request the author, if you could, just get with, uh, uh, Representative Momtahan, Thomas, um, any of the, the folks here that have had comments and that sort of thing. Let's see if we can get some language in here. I think we are all in agreement that this is a, a good first draft and, uh, we'd like to see something that we can get, get through. [1:33:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5620s) So... [1:33:41](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5621s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:33:41](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5621s) Thank you. Thank you very much. All right, now we're gonna move on to House Bill 1177, and invite, uh, Representative Al Williams to come to the table, sir. [1:33:55](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5635s) Could be the finest bill of this session. This bill- [1:34:00](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5640s) My expectations are high, so... [1:34:03](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5643s) I don't know if happy birthday will do it, but, uh- This is, um, in the words of the Silver Fox, former Senator Kidd from Middlefield, "It's a little bill, won't hurt nobody." This, uh, uh, LC473782, it is a very simple bill, and what it does, in this state, we have development authorities in every county. [1:34:36](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5676s) And in the times that we live in, it's become imperative that sometimes we step outside of the box when we address housing issues. All this bill does, and not all development authorities are constitutionally created, but all this bill does is gives any development authority that so desires the opportunity to deal with and get involved in, from close, from very close up, workforce housing. [1:35:11](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5711s) Workforce housing is one of the most compelling problems we have in Georgia. I'm chairman of a development authority, and workforce housing is tough. And it is, it certainly impedes growth, especially in rural areas. We have here another tool in the box, the opportunity if a development authority so chooses to get involved. And what it does is by getting involved in the building, the planning, and improvement or leasing, and everybody qualifies- They can't exceed 80% of the median income, household income, in order to qualify for this program. [1:36:00](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5760s) Now, I've been looking at housing problems for years from the development authority side, and it's difficult to hire, because not all companies pay 30, 40, $50 an hour. And $20 an hour, which is considered a decent wage in rural Georgia, but as with a family and he the only employer and none of the houses right now they can purchase, this is a possible solution. [1:36:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5795s) Um, are there any questions you might have? Very simple bill. Got due pass written all over it. [1:36:45](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5805s) All right. Well, we, we do have a question. Uh, Chairman Sainz. [1:36:50](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5810s) Thank you, uh, uh, Mr. Chairman, and to my friend in the coast. My, uh, first, uh, question is, how sweet do you feel this policy would be if passed? [1:37:01](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5821s) How sweet? Not quite as sweet as cherry wine, but pretty sweet. [1:37:07](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5827s) Oh, I appreciate that. But, uh, and to further, uh, clarify, uh, where... Uh, I, I think this is great, and I think, um, our development authorities are a well-suited, uh, framework for this, especially since they're dealing with the economic development, uh, uh, cap of housing limitations. Um, where is that 80% coming from? I'm not objecting to it or not, but just curious where that comes from. [1:37:34](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5854s) The, the poverty line is set by the United States Census. Comes from, from government, uh, figures. That's how it's determined. That's the only way it can be fair. One for the entire country. [1:37:45](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5865s) So poverty line is 80% of median household income, that's why we're using it? [1:37:49](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5869s) No. The, the poverty line, 80% of the median household, it does cannot exceed 80% of the median household income. Median household income in Georgia right now is about 57, $58,000 a year. And, and, and that does not qualify a whole lot of Georgians for any kind of loan at any kind of bank. [1:38:13](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5893s) And that's... So my question, and it's fi- It, it might correlate to some kind of benchmark, but it, is there a reason why we wouldn't do just median household income instead of it being restricted to 80% of that household income? [1:38:26](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5906s) The intent is to generate as much building as you can. [1:38:30](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5910s) Okay. [1:38:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5911s) 80%. [1:38:32](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5912s) Thank you. [1:38:36](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5916s) Okay. Uh, are there any other questions on the part of the committee? I'll recognize, uh, uh, Representative Mary Margaret Oliver. [1:38:47](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5927s) She- [1:38:47](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5927s) Oh. Oh, um, uh, okay. We're trying to get you unmuted. [1:38:52](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5932s) Um, I think I'm good now. Sorry, sir. [1:38:53](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5933s) There you go. Yes. [1:38:55](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5935s) Thank you again for hearing this good bill about expanding housing options across Georgia, whether you're DeKalb County or Liberty County. I have been talking with development authorities in different sizes in different parts of the state about whether or not they think now they can build single family home projects, and I get a variety of answers. Uh, Liberty County and Putnam County, which is having a dispute right now about this kind of issue, both are constitutional development ar- authorities, meaning that they have a different kinda set of powers and statutes. [1:39:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=5969s) So they, uh, do have the legislative powers. Others aren't sure. But I think we should give specifically the power to do lower income housing projects through development authorities if the development authority wants to do it. The 80% of AMI, uh, Chairman Sainz, does come from a lot of different way housing affordability issues are defined through LIHTC programs or market type or other kind of low income, uh, h- housing availability is frequently defined by an 80% AMI, uh, measurement. [1:40:07](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6007s) It's a consistent measurement. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This clarifies for those development authorities that have a need, and most communities do, for affordable housing to use their powers to develop a project if they wish to. And it, it clarifies the dispute that's going on in Putnam County right- Putnam County right now, where they're having kind of a internal war, uh, about that power assignment, and this helps them, I think, also. Thank you, Mr. Chair. [1:40:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6040s) Okay, thank you. Uh, Chairman Momtahan. [1:40:46](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6046s) Thanks, Chairman. Uh, I have a question, I think, for the author. I'm trying to understand a little bit about what your bill does. Um, so this would... Uh, I, I guess the, the, the impetus of this would be to, for construction projects for affordable housing, you could use a development authority. So in, you know, a development authority that is duly granted power by the general assembly. So a lot of times that's through local legislation. [1:41:16](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6076s) You create a development authority, you give it powers. That would be the body that's authorizing, uh, these development projects, right? [1:41:26](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6086s) Right. [1:41:27](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6087s) S- so the question I have is, in that authority, they can use bonds, right? [1:41:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6095s) That's correct. [1:41:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6095s) So if... And, and I know that prior to 19 probably 77 or 78, the general assembly allowed for the self-bonding of some of these authorities. I believe that the city of Atlanta and others cities who at that time had imagined a, uh, these development authorities in that period- [1:41:59](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6119s) They can take out, uh, those bonds by the vote of the committee, right? Yes, they can. And so those bonds would be able to be utilized for the construction of this affordable housing without really a vote of the commission. [1:42:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6138s) That is correct. The authority is given certain authority, given the constitutional- Right ... amendment, a certain authority. But, uh, to be very honest with you, it would be our authority members are appointed by the county commission. I've found that as chairman of the development authority, I periodically check in with my chairman and the commission. Now, one of the things that happens here, Liberty County at this time, we're looking at several large projects, around 3,200 rooftops. [1:42:55](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6175s) And if you can, and, and that's not in this bill, that would be up to the different authorities, but if you can float a bond issue, because you're not gonna reduce the cost of housing till you reduce the cost of building them. Builder's not gonna build a house cheaper than, uh, sell a house cheaper than he can build it. Now, and, and you can relieve some of even the tax money that's being f- floated while he's building. It can show up a- a- and then you have the assurance. [1:43:27](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6207s) You, you wanna deal with the 80% here, but the 3,200, you know, it will be broken up into sections probably. I'm just trying to pick out a particular housing project, but there's so many opportunities. But what it does, it gives housing authorities, if they so choose, there is nothing mandated in here, if they so choose to get involved in housing, they could very easily. Further question, Mr. [1:43:58](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6238s) Chairman. So, but I think, I think you're saying here on line 20, the acquisition, construction, improvement, modification, right? So I, I get, I guess, the leasing or financing. Mm-hmm. I, I guess I understand that you could finance this- Uh-huh ... with an understanding that the, that the, you know, developer is gonna repay. But I think what I want, I just wanna make clear to know what I'm voting on today. And, and, and maybe I'm wrong. And you- And- ... and he's correct and I, I- Yeah ... [1:44:28](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6268s) I likely am wrong. If you ask my wife, she'll tell you I'm always wrong. All right. So I, I just wanna, I just wanna ask. Now, the financing end, it, almost no development authority's able to get into the financing business. This, this, this... What you do with bonding, if you're gonna build a big project, is you don't put the responsibility for repayment on the authority or the commission. We become just a pass-through, uh, conduit to get it done. [1:45:00](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6300s) But we, we, we, we have, I have hundreds of millions of dollars worth of projects where we're not on the lamb for the project, but we make sure that the person who is is financially able and is able to pay their bills, and have shown that they can pay their bills. We're not on the lamb for not one bond that we've ever done. Thank you. Uh, again, I just wanna make crystal clear what we're doing here. And I don't have the, the preceding subparagraph to understand in what context this is happening. [1:45:32](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6332s) Mm-hmm. So maybe that is why I'm so, um, so out, out of loop here. But when I read this, it says the acquisition, construction, improvement. So what I'm imagining is, is that a local, uh, a local body, right, an authority, is could acquire, construct, or improve an existing apartment complex, and then effectively force that on the taxpayers- Mm-hmm ... where they are currently not able to do so. [1:46:03](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6363s) Now tell me I'm wrong, or- Yeah, I think- ... maybe that's possible here. What has happened, I've, I've read many of these. Almost all bonds start out saying the very same thing. But you, you certainly don't go out and put yourself in a liable position by doing the financing. It's pass-through. 99% of them are pass-throughs. And when you pick a builder or anybody else that has the financial wherewithal and the history of being able to be successful, you take on and you make it very plain in your bond issue that that's their responsibility. [1:46:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6400s) That's their- Representative, I guess I, I, I get the financing side of it. T- talk to me about the construction side of it. Construction side is just like any other project. If I build a big industrial project and they go out and hire Evans Construction, who has a heck of a reputation for building it, very few developers do the building. They hire a construction firm who has the reputation or they've done business with. Very same thing with the big housing project. You hire builders that you've had experience with, that are financially able, and you certainly know what they're doing. [1:47:12](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6432s) So you, you, the development authority's not gonna get involved in the actual construction of any project. And, and that's what that's... I, I guess when you say you, and, and Mr. Chairman, I, I don't mean to, to, to go too far. Oh, that's, that's fine. You- Maybe, maybe someone else can give me an answer to this question. But I'm trying to figure out, are we allowing, right, an authority to both create an affordable housing, which I think they might already have the authority to do so today. Mm-hmm. But now we're adding a further subsection that says, "Unless 80% of the," you, you know, unless they meet this new income threshold. [1:47:49](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6469s) And I guess I don't understand. I wanna be very clear that we're giving a pretty broad authority to some folks who, while being appointed by the commission, are not in and of themselves elected. Okay. My, my authority already has it the Constitutional Act. We could go out and do it today. This gives the authority to those who don't have it, should they choose to do it. Thing about it is that when you're dealing with affordable housing, it's not gonna fix itself. [1:48:20](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6500s) Now, if we deal with what we did five years ago, we're gonna be right where we are today, going nowhere. This is an opportunity to look at another way to help. And the 80% says it's directly pointing toward workforce, the people who actually do the jobs. You have to put an incentive in there to make sure that they, the people intended to get these houses can get them. You make $100,000 a year, you might not be able to build a $5 million house, but you can build a pr- pretty nice house, and that's not always true somebody who's making 40, $50,000 a year. [1:48:55](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6535s) In, in your bill, do you contemplate them qualifying at 80,000 and staying, they could stay 5, 10 years without a recertification? Is there an annual certification? [1:49:06](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6546s) No, there's not an annual certification. It's like any other transaction. You buy that, that, and you pay the fixed, you pay it based on that. I, I don't like flexible stuff because things change. If it's an 80% , you're qualifying 80% of the median income as it is established today, that's where you are. And if you continue five years from now, that median income might have gone up some. [1:49:30](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6570s) Mm-hmm. [1:49:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6571s) And so that changes there, but it won't change the, the, the purchase at th- at this given day. [1:49:36](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6576s) If somebody purchases a house and they're making this threshold, and then they, um, you know, end up getting their master's degree and PhD and they're still s- they're still there, I think the idea is that they could probably afford, right, w- we'll call it the Mandami effect. [1:49:54](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6594s) Well, I ain't in the business of pun- punishing success. I would certainly hope they get a PhD making a whole lot of money, but, but it would be very, very difficult if you, y- y- you to, to, to project that if you do good and you're successful, we're gonna come in and punish you and make you pay more. That's punitive, and I think it, it, it, it, it, it... We're dealing with where you are now, hoping that you certainly can do better. [1:50:21](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6621s) Yeah. [1:50:21](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6621s) And we ought to have a reward for him if he gets a PhD and triples his income. [1:50:25](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6625s) I don't wanna argue your point. [1:50:26](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6626s) Yeah. [1:50:26](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6626s) Uh, but I think your point is we're trying to give more access to homes and affordable housing to those folks who, uh, who need it. [1:50:36](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6636s) Correct. [1:50:36](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6636s) My worry is, your argument, not mine- [1:50:39](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6639s) Okay [1:50:39](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6639s) ... 'cause I don't know that my commission would want this or my development authority, 'cause we have one of those development authorities- [1:50:45](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6645s) Mm-hmm [1:50:45](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6645s) ... in Paulding County that can vote these things in and, and create a bond without a vote of, of the elected county commissioners. But the question becomes, you know, are you, are you gonna end up with people who make more than that income who lived there for 30 or 40 years? That's your argument, not my argument. I frankly would rather not have it at all. But I think that's an issue in your bill from your standpoint and your argument. [1:51:11](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6671s) And my argument is what? 'Cause- [1:51:13](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6673s) That- [1:51:13](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6673s) ... I want make me understand my argument. [1:51:15](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6675s) Your argument is you want, you want people who don't make a lot of income to stay in these homes, 'cause effectively you're fixing some sort of, you know, rent you want- [1:51:22](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6682s) Of course. W- w- workforce. I want people who could not normally under the... Today, I don't know what the median income, I don't know what the average starter home price is in your county. But the starter home price in my county, you know, it is not what it five years ago, and you can't qualify. I want folk that cannot qualify. We have an affordable housing crisis in this country, and if we don't think outside of the box, if we're upset because somebody's getting a break, then it ain't gonna ever change. [1:51:56](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6716s) That's, that's not the purpose of this bill. The purpose of this bill is to make more people eligible to buy a home which puts them on a tax-paying roll. [1:52:07](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6727s) Today, but not- [1:52:08](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6728s) We're not gonna come off the tax rolls now. I mean, you know, in spite of what we're talking about, you better pay a little taxes in this life. [1:52:14](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6734s) But understand we're not... I mean, I, I get the construction and the condo argument, but I'm also thinking about a leasing argument. I'm thinking about someone who you're trying to provide a affordable home for, I think that's the impetus of your bill, but they're not checking that on a regular basis. So in 10 years they're making a million dollars a year, and they're far outside of your income standard that you wanted for these people who are living in these apartments or condos, and they're absorbing, like I think Zohan Mandami in New York is living in a, in a, in, in a fixed, you know, rent apartment, and they're living in, in your fixed, you know, rent apartment. [1:52:52](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6772s) Okay, we're gonna- [1:52:52](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6772s) I mean, you, you kinda stretching it now and- [1:52:55](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6775s) If, if everybody can- [1:52:56](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6776s) ... different imagination, Joe, so. [1:52:57](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6777s) Let's hold on. All right. We're gonna, we're gonna, uh, we're gonna move on at the moment. Right now I have nobody else showing on the screen to make comments. We appreciate the comments. Uh- [1:53:10](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6790s) Mayor. Yeah, I'll- Representative Sanchez. [1:53:14](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6794s) I'd like to make a motion due pass. [1:53:16](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6796s) Okay. We have a motion due pass. Do we have a second? We have a motion and a second. We're in discussion. Uh, let's see. [1:53:27](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6807s) Representative Momtahan. [1:53:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6811s) I'll, I'll forgive that, Mr. Chairman. Um- [1:53:33](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6813s) Thank you. Please forgive me. [1:53:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6815s) That, um, if the author is, is amenable to what I think would be a friendly amendment, um, uh, and I'd, I'll recant it, I think I'd be supportive of the ability to raid, but I'd like to propose on line 26 after the word exceed, before e- the, uh, number 80, to modify that from there to strike out 80% and put 100% of area median income then to continue with the word of, or sorry, then to continue with the word of the county in line twenty-seven. [1:54:12](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6852s) Uh, this is the premise of that. Um, you know, and I'm using Camden County, which has a, a pretty- [1:54:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6858s) Sure [1:54:19](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6859s) ... above average- [1:54:20](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6860s) Sure [1:54:20](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6860s) ... household income because of, uh, of the military. That, like I... That is a $72,000, uh, a year household income. They would likely be approved for a home of around 227 to, to- [1:54:36](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6876s) Yeah [1:54:36](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6876s) ... 300,000. That's still far below the average market rate of- [1:54:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6880s) Sure [1:54:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6880s) ... a 2026 new build. So it's still going to the premise of incentivizing workforce housing, but not having as much of a limitation as that 80% standard might have, uh, just to bump that up a little bit given the cost of new builds. But if you- [1:54:57](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6897s) I don't have, I don't have a problem with the 100%. I'd rather the 80. But I think to achieve something for some folk who normally would not be able to build a home, I'm fine with that. [1:55:11](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6911s) So I'm gonna put that as a motion. I'll see if it's seconded or not. [1:55:15](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6915s) We have a motion for an amendment. Um, g- can you please restate the amendment? [1:55:19](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6919s) Sure. Um, i- on line 26, strike out 80% and place 100%. [1:55:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6931s) Okay. Now, if in, in, in my hearing of your original motion, you had the word area median income in there. Is that- [1:55:41](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6941s) All right. Mr. Chairman, I, I got the term area median income 'cause that's what HUD uses. Um, I, I'm guessing legislative council, uh, um, has verified median annual household income, though I have not seen that. Happy birth- [1:56:04](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6964s) Happy birthday. [1:56:05](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6965s) That's funny. Yeah. [1:56:06](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6966s) Okay. I do apologize. Uh, momentary lacks of decorum for the committee. So, uh, so- [1:56:15](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6975s) There's no bad time to celebrate you, Mr. Chairman, even if it's within a motion. [1:56:21](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6981s) Um, but- [1:56:24](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6984s) Is that a median? [1:56:25](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=6985s) Yeah, I, I, I would refrain from changing too much. I, I know area median income is within a lot of the federal programs. I don't know if that's worth paralleling, but for the purposes of the bill, I think the intent is clear, may, uh, is to just strike out 80% and put 100%. [1:56:43](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7003s) Okay. So the motion is to amend the language on line 26, striking out 80% and replacing it with 100%. [1:56:57](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7017s) Do we have a second? We have a second. Any discussion on the motion? [1:57:05](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7025s) All right. Seeing none, we'll take a vote on the motion. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Okay. In the opinion of the chair, the motion passes. Uh, sorry, the motion for the amendment passes. Thank you. Uh, now we'd like to recognize Chairman Thomas. [1:57:26](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7046s) I, I just kinda wanna mirror my friend, uh, Chairman Momtahan's comment. I got a little bit of concern about the term, th- without the context of what else is behind it, the acquisition, construction, improvement, modification, leasing. Uh, and, and development authorities getting involved in those particular aspects. I'm fine with them supporting financing, which is kinda what you're talking about, right? Like pass through finance. But I don't know if I necessarily am overly in love with the idea of giving people that really aren't in the construction business the ability to, uh, hire construction companies. [1:58:02](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7082s) They don't know how to vet these companies. They don't really have the experience in doing that. Uh, I, I'm- [1:58:08](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7088s) This is, if I might. [1:58:10](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7090s) Yeah, absolutely, please. [1:58:11](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7091s) This is the language of most bills that come through the development authority. Now, if you think your development authority is gonna abuse it, then you need to change your development authority, because the development authorities don't appoint themselves. They're appointed by elected officials. And all I'm saying is this is something that can already be done by constitutional. Uh, this gives everybody the opt-in. It doesn't say folk are gonna run and start doing it. [1:58:42](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7122s) I just think that we've proven that we don't have much from a state standpoint we can do about affordable housing, and this directly impacts the cost of a house. [1:58:54](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7134s) A- and that's the reason why I would say I, I, I tend to lean a little bit more towards the, the financing piece of it than the giving just blanket ability for any, um, development authority just to be able to start building con- doing construction on property. I don't really, I'm not gonna make an amendment on it. I, I do just, I just, I, I'd like to have a little bit more context. [1:59:16](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7156s) Okay. [1:59:17](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7157s) But I, I'm just gonna drop it at this point. [1:59:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7158s) Let me just ask, ask this if, if, if I might- [1:59:21](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7161s) Absolutely [1:59:21](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7161s) ... say this, and I'd be finished. These construction companies, I can speak for mine, we do $100 million projects all the time, and we've never built one, and we're not gonna start building them. That's not what we do. But we go out and find the best who can financially support, and they build. When any, any con- any development authority gets into the building business is not long for this world. [1:59:48](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7188s) A- and but the only, the major difference between a con- a private enterprise and government is private enterprise, if it messes up, it goes out of business. If a g- government messes up, then now all the taxpayers are on the hook for it, and that's the reason why I, I do fundamentally find the two entities to be a little bit- [2:00:05](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7205s) No [2:00:05](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7205s) ... to have to be treated differently, and that was the re- that was really what was driving my concern with the amendment. [2:00:09](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7209s) Yeah. If you put them on the hook, they will be. [2:00:11](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7211s) Well, they won't, but- [2:00:12](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7212s) You don't put anybody else on the hook for construction [2:00:15](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7215s) ... the board, the board members aren't on the hook, and the taxpayer's the one on the hook. [2:00:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7218s) Uh. [2:00:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7218s) And, and that's, that's just where my concern drives. [2:00:20](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7220s) They're using taxpayers too. [2:00:22](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7222s) Yeah. Yeah, well. [2:00:23](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7223s) Okay. [2:00:24](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7224s) All right. [2:00:24](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7224s) Thank you. Thank you. We're gonna move right on down the list here. Uh, Representative Momtahan [2:00:30](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7230s) Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm not sure if it's the proper time to make an amendment. I don't know if we have a motion of second. We have a motion and a second. We have approved one amendment, and we are in a posture to accept another, uh, motion for amendment. Okay. Um, I've got a couple. We'll, we'll listen to these. So, uh, on page two, after line 28, uh, this would be a new subsection P, "Any project undertaken pursuant to subparagraph O shall be subject to a recorded land use restriction agreement requiring compliance with the income limitations set forth therein for a period of not less than 30 years from the date of initial occupancy of the project." Okay, uh- So, and, and the reason for that is you're gonna see that if the gentleman's, if the gentleman's want is to, to have some sort of protected housing, then it has... [2:01:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7289s) The ha- the tax benefit has to help the public good, and I think a 30-year period is probably appropriate, uh, for a project like this. Okay, and that's in the form of a motion? In the form of motion, yeah. I'm ready. Hold on. Okay. I second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Now we're in discussion on the amendment. I'm gonna recognize Mr. Morelli. Um, not, not to go to the substance of the amendment, but it's gonna have to not go into a subsection P because this is- Right ... [2:02:01](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7321s) this section we're amending is a definitional section, so putting it in P would not work. It's either gonna have to go in O, or we're gonna have to sig- significantly re- rework the bill to add a substantive code section in this chapter. Okay. Uh, then I, I'm, I'm happy to create a new section there. Uh, Mr. Morelli, is that, is that amenable to you? No problem. We'll have some compliance. [2:02:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7351s) We'll have some compliance here. Would you like that as a new section? [2:02:38](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7358s) Okay. Uh. Okay. We, we, we have a, uh, we have your, uh, motion on the, the amendment that was seconded. We're in discussion of that. Uh, would you like to withdraw or amend your proposed amendment? If so, we'll need to withdraw the second. [2:03:00](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7380s) Well, I, I've gotta ask the questions of our attorney here, and that is, the issue was that I said to create a new subsection. Is that correct? Is that correct? If I were to say just add a new subparagraph, is that amenable to it, adding P or no? It has to either be... [2:03:24](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7404s) I'm trying to make it easy, 'cause I know you're gonna have to draft them. It has to be part of O, or we have to add a new section- Uh ... to the bill creating a new substantive code section- Okay ... or vision in the bill. It... That would amend the whole chart. That would amend the, the chapter. Okay. So let's just continue from the period on line 20, or after the period on line 28. I think that's, that's probably the best place to put it, then, under that. It should be- I don't [2:04:23](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7463s) Okay. So are we sticking with the original amendment, or are we- We just change... Should we rescind the, the previous amendment? Uh, uh, let's, let's do that. Okay. Yes. Um, uh- One second. Okay. Rescind, uh, that amendment. Okay. We are back to the original bill as amended under the First Amendment. Okay. I think that was, uh, Representative Sanchez amendment, so... Now, Mr. Momtahan, I still recognize you. [2:04:53](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7493s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So what I'm trying to do here is make sure that we, we record this affordability covenant. If that's, if, if it's gonna serve a public good, we've gotta kinda have some accountability measures put in here. That is, after the, after the period on line 28, any project undertaken pursuant to this subparagraph shall be subject to a recorded land use restriction agreement requiring compliance with the income limitations set forth therein for a period of not less than 30 years from the date of the initial occupancy of the project. [2:06:24](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7584s) Okay. So are we sticking with the original amendment, or are we- We just change... Should we rescind the, the previous amendment? Thank you. Okay. Uh, uh, we've got a couple of things here, Representative Oliver, but, uh, before we do that, I'm gonna recognize, uh, ledge counsel's represent-, uh, Mr. Morelli [2:06:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7600s) I really need that language repeated a few more times or significantly slower. Y- y- you and me both. Uh, let's see. Let me, let me go back to it. So... [2:06:57](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7617s) Okay, so this would be on line 28. After the period on line 28, any project undertaken pursuant to this subparagraph shall be subject to a recorded land use restriction. Oh. I'm gotta write all this by hand. All right, buddy. And I can, I might could text it to you, if that makes things- It would make it significantly easier for me if the committee understands- Well, I've got it wr- I've got it written down. [2:07:32](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7652s) If the committee understands, we can just, we can move forward. Yes. I'll send this to you. How about that? Works for me if it works for the committee. Okay. So we'll take up the motion, i- if that's okay, Mr. Chairman, and I'll s- I'll submit this by email if it is the will of the committee to accept such amendment. We've- Okay, so we have the motion, it is seconded. We're into the, uh, discussion phase. I've got, uh... I'd like to recognize Representative Oliver. [2:08:02](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7682s) Uh, Representative Oliver, I think we still have you muted. Hold on. I apologize, Mr. Chair, for, uh, not being able to follow this as well from afar. It, it seems that the purpose of the amendment is to kill any opportunity for a person to stay in their house 30 years. That's right. I mean, if, if you're gonna force somebody to sell their house after 10 years, uh, it kind of defeats the whole project. Uh, I'm not focused on rent control in New York City or the mayor of New York. [2:08:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7715s) I'm more focused on the real world of, uh, Georgia, and we have to provide more doors for people within the discretion and the good judgment of our development authorities. Um, I would like to see the bill move forward, but with an amendment that forces somebody to sell their house as soon as they make more than $100,000, or a 30-year restriction on a piece of property, uh, I'm confused about the real intent. [2:09:07](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7747s) Two. Okay. Thank you. Uh, Representative Thomas. Chairman Thomas. Thank you. And, and I, I very much understand where you're coming from on this one. I, I, I'm concerned that we're not gonna be able to get there with the way that we've got this constructed right now. If there's any possibility, maybe we can either continue to work on that or, you know, as it moves through the process, um, I, I would appreciate that. Just, uh, gonna put that two cents out there. [2:09:37](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7777s) I think Stewart could probably, with his genius, uh, abilities of his, probably can work what it is you're trying to do, but I don't know if we're gonna be able to do it on the fly today, is the only statement I have. Okay. Thank you. Uh, Representative Mary Frances Williams. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So in looking at the preceding code sections, which are basically the definitions of the develop- uh, development authority, and, uh, it seems to me that, um, that putting, adding this amendment that's been proposed would possibly be in conflict with the definition of, in the law already, of development authority and their, uh, their powers. [2:10:25](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7825s) I, I, I think it, I think it, um, conflicts with current language in the preceding section, which defines dev- development authorities and their powers. [2:10:37](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7837s) Can ledge counsel confirm that? [2:10:42](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7842s) Mr. Clerk. Mr. Clerk Reilly, you're recognized. Uh, the, the new subparagraph O is just adding a, adding to the definition of what a project that could be undertaken by a development authority is. So, uh, I'm not certain how a def- definition in, you know, one of... I'm gonna do the math in my head, however many subparagraphs O is, um, of different type of projects that are authorized by a, uh, development authority. [2:11:15](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7875s) Um, I, I don't, I don't see the concern because this is just a definition for the type of projects that a development authority can undertake. [2:11:25](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7885s) Rest- The rest- Well, um, with restrictions that it puts into place, it seems to me that it would, it would be a conflict. Thank you. [2:11:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7900s) Okay. Chairman Thomas. I'm actually gonna motion to table at this time. Okay. The chair will recognize a motion to table. Uh, table, m- motion to table requires no second, and there is no discussion. All in favor of tabling this bill, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it, and this is not a, a kill of the bill. This is to give us time, and really a tabling just for, for our purposes here, so everybody will understand, tabling is a way to get out of unwinding all of these, uh, proposed amendments we have. [2:12:20](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7940s) Uh, so Representative Williams, I, I would- Right. Sure ... I would encourage you to reach out to some of the, the committee members. I'd love to bring this back up Wednesday if we could do that, so. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Uh, [2:12:34](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7954s) okay. Next, uh, we will have, uh, Chairman Alan Powell to present House Resolution 1348. [2:12:48](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7968s) Chairman Powell, you may proceed when you're ready, sir. [2:12:59](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=7979s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and ladies and gentlemen of the committee. You know, very simple resolution. I'm gonna give you the background of this. In, uh, 1993, '94, '95, the state elected their state, their local school superintendents. And what passed at that time was a reversal of that, so everybody was appointed. Up until that time, you could appoint a superintendent through local act and a referendum in your county. [2:13:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8011s) At that time, you only had a handful of counties that had appointed superintendents. I think it was Fulton, Dekalb, possibly Gwinnett, I can't remember if Gwinnett was or not, but you also, I think, Cobb County, and there was a few of them, just very few. They appointed their superintendents. Now, this was passed, but since then, it has been the same complaint around the state from a lot of the jurisdictions, that we need to be electing our local school superintendents, and that's, quite frankly, because the issue at hand is the principal people who spend your tax money are not elected. [2:14:10](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8050s) School board's elected, but quite frankly, when all this changed, the whole methodology changed. The board of, uh, the elected school boards would hire a superintendent, but yet the superintendent still carried the overwhelming authority of the actions of all the school boards. Quite frankly, what this bill does is very straightforward and very simple. We're not doing away with the appointed school superintendents, but we're saying that if passed by the people of Georgia, that in those counties that wish to have an elected school superintendent through local act and referendum, then they can do so. [2:14:47](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8087s) Very simple, very straightforward. Uh, I'm the one that, uh, puts the authority of local government in the hands of the local citizens, and I think that they ought to have that right to do so. Now, passion or not, the reason I'm doing it, I think I'm the last serving member of the legislature that voted against the proposition in 19, I believe it was '91 or '92, when that was passed. Uh, it's a bipartisan bill. I have found that people on both sides of the aisle support this concept, and I would certainly ask the members here to move this bill forward. [2:15:23](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8123s) It'll be, it's a constitutional amendment. I think there are some 80 or so people that signed this resolution, which is, uh, you know, pretty good, pretty good amount of steam behind it, even though the rest of the folks will have to decide what they wanna do. And that, Mr. Chairman, and ladies and gentlemen, is what this bill does. [2:15:43](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8143s) Okay. And this is House Resolution 1348. [2:15:46](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8146s) Absolutely. [2:15:46](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8146s) Uh, Representative Burnough. [2:15:49](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8149s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I was one of those people who did not sign the, uh, bill, um, because, um, we're, it's like we're, we're on a, um, seesaw, okay? So now we're gonna tell the people they can, uh, vote for their superintendent, but then we wanna be the legislators and have all the power over all the departments. There are so many things that go in. That's a large budget of money. We have school boards, so the school board is hiring the superintendent. [2:16:22](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8182s) They have that power. Then, okay, so then who is that elected superintendent gonna work for? Because right now under SACS, the school board is the super- only the boss of the superintendent. If we start electing our superintendents to be over our schools, then what we're saying is that the, everybody runs the school, and I just, as a retired educator, I just find this as to be the most absurd thing to do. [2:16:56](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8216s) I've never seen a body that's never taught, never been in school, none of their children are in school now, but they always wanna make changes for educators when they, they don't really know what, what they're doing. And so I can't see the benefit of this. Clayton County used to have, um, used to elect their superintendent, and then they stopped. Um, as a person who has worked for seven superintendents very closely, I just don't see why we would put this on as a constitutional amendment for people to decide. [2:17:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8255s) There are more important things that we could do that would have a positive impact, like give the schools the money they need, since we know that the money that is there is, um, t- 20 years old. So, um, I, I just, I, I don't, I don't understand why you think that this would be a good idea. [2:18:01](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8281s) If I may answer that. [2:18:03](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8283s) I hope you do. [2:18:04](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8284s) If I might make a point or two. We're not doing away with the school boards. They're still elected. Superintendent will be elected. [2:18:12](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8292s) Okay, but if I'm elected- [2:18:14](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8294s) A- and- [2:18:14](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8294s) ... and you're elected, if I'm elected and you're elected, you're gonna be over me? 'Cause elected officials can't be over, over other elected officials. [2:18:23](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8303s) Functions are described in law. You have a school board, and you would have a superintendent, and this is only in counties that wish this to, to put, if it's put before them, and it would have to be through the normal, through the normal system of the process. That a legislator, if he has a support, he or she has a support, then they can propose it, and it would be on the ballot for the locals to make a decision. Now, where you come from, maybe y'all don't want an elected school superintendent. That's certainly the folks there, but in the case of home rule- Then this means a lot to a lot of the other jurisdictions in this state, that a lot of them want to then, uh, they want to elect their school superintendent. [2:19:06](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8346s) What's the percentage of those- [2:19:07](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8347s) I mean- [2:19:07](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8347s) ... that want to elect? [2:19:08](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8348s) Could not tell you. [2:19:10](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8350s) Okay, so why would we vote on something, make it a constitutional amendment, when we haven't done the research to find out who? Because to me, this is just another way to destroy public education, which seems to be the goal. But, um, I just, I don't see... You don't have any research that, uh, you can't tell me that out of all of our counties, out of all our school districts, the percentage that would like to have this. [2:19:37](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8377s) Well, my research is done, by the way, the old-fashioned way. It's from people I listen to in my district. [2:19:43](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8383s) But that's a limited amount of people. [2:19:47](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8387s) It means a lot in my district 'cause I represent those three counties. [2:19:50](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8390s) But, but we, we're here to represent the whole state of Georgia. [2:19:53](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8393s) Well, then you don't have to put it on the ballot, your jurisdiction. I don't know what your, uh, delegation rules are, but it goes through a system, and the system is that if you put it on, then it's gotta be voted on by the public to change it this way. I would also like to remind you, good lady, that school taxes today are at about two-thirds across the state, in some cases more than that, on ad valorem taxes, which has prompted all of this discussion about realignment of taxation and such as that. [2:20:28](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8428s) So, you know, I put my faith in the public. People who are voting for the folks that represent them, or the folks that run the schools, or the folks that enforce the law, they have a right to vote for those. By that way of train of thinking that you're thinking about, then the sheriff, maybe that sheriff needs to be appointed, or maybe that clerk of court, or the probate judge, or the tax commissioner. I put faith in the public to decide. If they want this right, give them the right to do this. And if they don't, then they won't do it. [2:21:02](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8462s) Okay, we gonna- [2:21:03](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8463s) I'm gonna, I'm gonna let you go, and I've already voiced my opinion. Thank you. [2:21:07](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8467s) Thank you. All right, uh, Representative Sanchez. [2:21:11](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8471s) Thank you, Chair, and thank you for this bill. I was one of the people who did sign on on it, um, so I appreciate it. I, I do, um, think concerns are valid, but I also wanna say that, um... Regardless, let me get back to the point, the question. The, um, in regards to electing, if we do end up electing the superintendent, does that mean the superintendent has to live in the- [2:21:34](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8494s) They would [2:21:34](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8494s) ... school district? [2:21:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8495s) They would. They have to be a member of the, a citizen in that jurisdiction. The same way all other elected officials are elected, they have a residency requirement, and they also have the requirements as whatever is set forth by the legislature. [2:21:49](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8509s) Got it. Okay. And the second question, does, is there a, will the terms just remain the same as they already are right now, or how would that work? [2:21:58](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8518s) That would be a four-year term. [2:21:59](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8519s) Four-year term. [2:22:00](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8520s) Right. [2:22:00](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8520s) Thank you. [2:22:01](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8521s) Yes. [2:22:02](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8522s) Okay. Uh, Representative Bazemore. [2:22:05](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8525s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for bring, bringing the bill, um, my colleague. Just quick question. I think you answered it already, but is this an opt-in? Like, it's not going to affect everybody across the whole state? [2:22:20](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8540s) It- [2:22:20](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8540s) They would have to agree? [2:22:22](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8542s) Right now, the state constitution says that school superintendents can, were appointed by their boards. [2:22:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8549s) Mm-hmm. [2:22:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8549s) This changes that to say that you can have, you'll have that appointed school superintendent unless the will of the legislative delegation- [2:22:38](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8558s) Mm-hmm [2:22:38](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8558s) ... and the citizens of that county decides that they want to have an elected school superintendent. [2:22:44](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8564s) Right. But this is a constitutional amendment, you said. [2:22:47](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8567s) Yes, it is. [2:22:48](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8568s) So once it goes into effect, that's my question, is there, does it say that individuals in whatever county or whatever municipality can opt in or opt, opt not? [2:23:01](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8581s) Oh, you opt in, opt out by virtue of whether you, your legislative delegation introduces a bill and it, and it's put on the ballot to be voted on by the citizens. We can't do this in a constitutional amendment. We can't just ap- say we're gonna have an appointed school superintendent. [2:23:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8598s) No. [2:23:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8598s) The only thing a delegation can do is propose a local bill to be voted on by the people of that community. [2:23:26](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8606s) Thank you. [2:23:27](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8607s) Thank you. [2:23:29](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8609s) Okay. Uh, Chairman Gullett. [2:23:31](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8611s) Thank you. You remind me how many people signed this bill? How many members? [2:23:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8615s) I, it was a bipartisan, uh, signatory list, and I think it was a little over 80 maybe. [2:23:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8620s) Yeah. I think it's a, I think it's a great bill. I've, I've supported it in the past, uh, to say, um, you know, it's, to erode school systems or to, to tank school systems or whatever the wording, it's just not, it's just not fair. My school district, 71% of the, or my tax digest, 71% of the money I get taxed on for my, my home is for the school, to the school district. And, uh, I'm, I have, [2:24:10](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8650s) I have a good school super- I have a good school superintendent now, but any questions I ever ask of the school board, primarily they go back to the school superintendent, who is not, uh, who is not elected. And, um, I think it's important that, that they have accountability, especially with that much money coming in from the, from the property taxes, especially when that many, that many students, um, with parents having a say back in the school. So I appreciate the bill, and at the appropriate time I'd like to make the motion. [2:24:40](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8680s) Okay, we, uh, wanna recognize, uh, Representative Burnough. [2:24:45](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8685s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, in your bill, just based on what, um, the gentleman just asked, um, schools do have a large budget. It's one of your largest budgets in your county, I understand that. But, um, who's gonna be in charge of who? I still ask that question because under SACS- Which all the schools are governed under. Are we gonna go back now and change the rules under SACS? Because under SACS, the school board is the boss of only the superintendent. [2:25:21](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8721s) And so if I get mad at my current superintendent, I do have his statement, I'm gonna send it to you, but if I get mad at him, then we run and then we get somebody else, but I'm not really that knowledgeable about that other person. So while you were saying that it takes emotion out of it, how does... I mean, are we changing that part? Because even, I'm talking about for the ones that decide that's something they wanna do, are we now saying that the superintendent and the board are on equal footing now? [2:25:53](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8753s) Because under SACS, the board, the board, the only boss that the board has is the superintendent. The board can't tell. When I worked for the school, they couldn't come tell me what to do. I, I, I answered to the superintendent. So I'm just trying to be clear on who is answering to who, 'cause right now under that system, it doesn't look like anybody's only answering to... It, it would be just like having a, a district-wide PTA meeting. If somebody doesn't like something, they all come in, they're yelling and screaming. [2:26:26](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8786s) So I'm just trying to understand. Under SACS right now, which is our accreditation agency, or, or maybe we getting ready to get rid of SACS, but under our current accreditation agency, the school board, the only person that's in charge, the only person they're in charge of is that superintendent. So are we changing that rule, too? [2:26:47](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8807s) When you elect your school superintendent, if you elect a school superintendent, and if you elect a school board, they stand on equal footing. The school board's duties are set forth the same as the school superintendent. The school superintendent, and I can only describe how it once worked. Once upon a time when we had elected school superintendents and a school board, they worked hand in glove together in most cases. The superintendent carried out the functions of what the majority of the school board asked for. [2:27:18](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8838s) That was quite simple how it worked in that day and time. Now, I'd also bring to your attention that I notice in some places we turn over, a lot of the sc- counties turn over a school board fairly rapidly. They turn them over a lot quicker than they do in other, other parts of the state, if I may say that. And, you know, I see the, the salary schedules, and I see the buyouts and stuff like that. Well, if you put your name on the ballot... And I'll also tell you that I don't know of the day when we had elected school superintendents that the elected school superintendent weren't educators that ran for office. [2:27:57](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8877s) Everyone I ever knew had been an educator, and they ran for office because they had a desire to run that school system in the best possible manner, and they had the assistance of the school board. [2:28:10](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8890s) Well, I'm an educator. I have a specialist. So I guess if I d- if Clayton County decides, then I could go, but I know I'm not capable of running a school district, so I'm, that would not be something that I would want to do. But I still go back to the part that if everybody's on equal footing, then maybe we sh- why do we even need the school board if that's the case? I mean- [2:28:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8915s) So- [2:28:35](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8915s) ... I'm just trying to get a understanding, because like I said, are we gonna change the rules of SACS? Because under SACS, the board is in charge of the superintendent. If they are now on equal footing, who is in charge of anything? [2:28:52](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8932s) Well, I apologize, I'm not familiar with SACS. [2:28:56](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8936s) It's the Southern Accreditation. [2:28:58](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8938s) But I am familiar with legislation. [2:29:01](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8941s) Mm-hmm. [2:29:01](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8941s) And I am familiar with government organization, and I am familiar with something that's called power of the people to choose the people who run their local governments and that spend their money. [2:29:14](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8954s) Mm. [2:29:14](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8954s) And that's quite frankly what this is about. This is about giving the people in those jurisdictions that want it. If you have a jurisdiction that doesn't want it, then there's no change. They're keeping an, an appointed superintendent, and that's, there's no change to it. [2:29:30](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8970s) Well, I just think the bottom line to this is money. So I'm mad because Atlanta, all these school superintendents make a lot of money, their boards, they have a lot of money. So now this is just another way to get rid of public education. [2:29:50](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8990s) I respectfully, respectfully disagree with the lady. [2:29:54](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=8994s) Okay, we have one more light flashing, but I'm gonna jump in real fast and just ask the, the author, uh, is, is it not true that what you are proposing and the way that our school system should be operating even now with appointed superintendents mirrors the way that our state government is set up, where the school board's primary function is to establish the policy that the school system operates under, and the superintendent is to implement that policy? Is that not true? [2:30:20](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=9020s) You are correct. [2:30:21](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=9021s) Okay. I'll recognize Chairman Thomas. [2:30:23](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=9023s) Uh, that was kind of along the, the lines of what you were talking about. I, I'm just, it would help me out a little bit if you could explain how the, how the two work together, the, the board and the superintendent. Is that more like the superintendent's like a kind of mayor position and the board are like council people, if I was to use some kind of, like, you know, metaphor of how... Is that kind of what you're envisioning happening? Uh, uh- [2:30:47](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=9047s) I remember how the system worked in its day. You had appointed, you had hired superint- you had hi- elected school boards, generally a cross-section of the, uh, conscience of a community, and they made recommendations. Any action has to be passed by that school board, quite frankly. And the superintendent is there for the administrative functions of carrying out the duties and to make recommendations to that school board. That's quite frankly how it works. [2:31:19](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=9079s) And it worked quite well in a lot of parts of the, of our state at that time. [2:31:27](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=9087s) Okay. Thank you. I have no other questions showing on the board. Uh, we would entertain a motion at this time. We have a motion to do pass. Do we have a second? [2:31:37](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=9097s) We have a second. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. [2:31:46](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=9106s) Aye. [2:31:46](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=9106s) Any opposed say no. Any opinion of the chair, the ayes have it, the motion passes, and the bill proceeds. [2:31:53](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=9113s) Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, goodbye. [2:31:54](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=9114s) Thank you. That is all the bills we have. I do, we do have one additional sign-up to speak to a bill that is not on the, uh, agenda, which, uh, I would invite Mr., uh, David Schaefer to come to the podium if he's still here and would like to address the committee. I know some of our committee members have to get out to other functions, but I'll be glad to stay. Mr. Chair, I'll wait until the bill is back us. Okay. Thank you, sir. In that case, we're adjourned. Thank you. [2:32:27](https://vimeo.com/1167467915#t=9147s) Oh.