House Higher Education Committee, March 6, 2026

Transcript

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1. 0:28:47

   We're gonna vote them all in.

2. 0:28:48

   Yep.

3. 0:28:49

   Isn't that what

4. 0:28:53

   Good afternoon, everyone. If we could, uh, our, our morning as it were, if we could, uh, go ahead and start settling in, we will, um, get this committee started. If everyone could please take a seat.

5. 0:29:43

   If I could ask someone back in the back, go ahead and, uh, close the door for us. I mean, they can, folks can come in as they wish, but just from a noise perspective. I'll call this meeting of the House Higher Education Committee to order. We have five items, uh, on our agenda this morning. Um, given the time, we are in the rules room, and they start at 9:00. We're going to, uh, try to move for, through these quickly. Um, I wanted to point, uh, out to the members that you are getting five measures. You have seen them all before.

6. 0:30:14

   Um, there's, there's a very small change, um, that will articulate, uh, in 686. Uh, 450 is as you've seen it last year, HR 450. Uh, HB 206, um, has been, uh, I believe, uh, pr- presented to us, and there's a, there's a small change there to clarify the gentleman's definition. Uh, Chairman Carpenter's bill's the same, and the, the substantive change is in a bill that I'll ask you to consider is in 1413.

7. 0:30:45

   So what we're gonna do this morning in, in order to keep things moving along is, um, I'm gonna turn the, uh, chair over to Vice Chairman of the committee, Carter Barrett. Um, a- a- if you will call on me to present 1413. I'm gonna ask, um, the members to keep, uh, their questions, um, to the, to the changes so that we can move forward and, and try to get to these items, and then, uh, we'll, we'll come back to do that. Um, is there, um ...

8. 0:31:15

   Every- everyone have their packet? Everyone have their pack- All right, at this time then, um, having been called to order, I will move to, uh, um, call on, uh, the Vice Chairman of the committee, uh, Carter Barrett, to take over the chair at this time in hopes he will call on me to present 1413.

9. 0:31:43

   Okay. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Chairman, please, uh, y- the, the floor is yours for H- uh, for HB 1413.

10. 0:31:54

    Thank, thank you, uh, thanks, Chairman Barrett. Uh, ladies and gentlemen, I'm bringing back today 1413, um, for the Dream Scholarship. Um, there's been a couple of things done in there that, uh, I will, uh, get to. As, as you will recall before, uh, specific to the Dream Scholarship on ...

11. 0:32:20

    Well, let me, let me refer to my notes 'cause I know it was a ... Basically, what we're doing is we're setting up the funds for the Dream Scholarship into three accounts, the principal account, the scholarship account, and the transitional scholarship account. Um, this is to hold the monies in a non-lapsing, uh, fund, uh, so it- it's protected, um, as an endowment going forward. That's just the, the structure that we needed in Treasury. Uh, we discussed when the, the bill was originally presented, and we hadn't had time, uh, to put that, uh, in the bill.

12. 0:32:55

    Um, and I'm looking for the exact line numbers, uh, to, to show you where that is, and those are, uh, uh, starting on line 75. Cr- cr- created a Dream Scholarship endowment fund with three separate funds, um, going over, um, through the next, uh, several pages of the bill. So that, uh, protects the funding, uh, and puts the decision process on that funding, uh, with the board of the, uh, the Student Finance Commission.

13. 0:33:26

    The second, uh, portion, and this is an add to the bill that I think we can all be excited about, is we are creating another scholarship for post-graduate medical training in Georgia. Um, we all know and, and we've seen, uh, in, in our state that, uh, medical, um, resources are, are at a premium. And we, we have over the time in this committee seen various loan repayment programs. We've seen things to try to get, uh, medical professionals, um, to practice in our state.

14. 0:33:58

    We've tried to help with debt. So what this, uh, does in section two, uh, starting on line 143, is it creates, um, a scholarship opportunity, uh, for, uh, s- medical, um, p- facility or med- medical schools, uh, that teach in the university system to provide, um, a scholarships, uh, based on funding. That would, funding would come from lottery funds and would also be administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission.

15. 0:34:31

    This was done quickly. Um, and to be honest, this will be perfected as we move through, um, the, the legislative process. We hear that a lot, and I don't stand before you today to, to take that, uh, lightly. But we had a target of March 6th to get this through the House and to give Georgians an opportunity. Our target date to, to have an absolute, uh, correct bill is April 2nd to move this forward for Georgia. But that is section two of the bill. Uh, going along with that and with the creation, uh, of, of other, um, funding requirements within the HOPE Scholarship, um, given the revenues and expenses, um, it has been suggested by our appropriations staff in con- consultation with, uh, the budget office that we move the, uh, lottery education reserve to 100%.

16. 0:35:24

    I understand there may be additional discussions on if the 100% is the right number, but they, they fear that 50% with the new requirements of the, uh, spending on lottery might not be enough given the, um, um, revenue and the, and the expense, um, you know, charts. So I would ask your consideration again to move that discussion forward so that we protect the HOPE Scholarship for all the, uh, um, levels that it is funding today. Those are the three, uh, substantive changes to the bill.

17. 0:35:57

    Um, but I would ask the committee's, um, approval to move this forward so that we can keep the DREAM Scholarship moving, we can look at creating a post-graduate medical scholarship, and we can protect HOPE in section three. I, I stand for any questions. I know the time, our time is short.

18. 0:36:18

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We do have some questions at this time. Um, first, uh, Chairman Carpenter. Uh, thank you. Rapid fire. Uh, one, uh, as you work through this process, are you going to make sure that the people that are receiving the medical scholarship actually work in the state when they're finished? Tha- tha- thank the, thank the gentleman for the question. Uh, yes, there is a contract that would have to be signed, and, and currently in the bill, it's, it, you would have to practice in Georgia for four years. I guess that's subject to question. You know, should it be four years? Should it be six years?

19. 0:36:48

    I think, um, history tells us if a medical professional starts a practice and stays there four years, they're, they're part of the community. They've got a practice going in the state. But I, I, I should've, uh, brought that up. Yes, sir. Okay. That is part of the bill. Uh, second question, I know we talked about moving those hours on the needs-based to nine versus six. I hope we can continue that conversation. And the third piece is I know that, uh, chancellor had talked about, uh, raising money privately. Will that pour into this same fund, or will, will there be a separate fund at USG for the private funds?

20. 0:37:22

    Th- that is still under discussion, um, with the, um, o- office of planning and budget in the governor's office. But the chancellor remains committed. Just this morning I talked to the system office. Um, they, they remain committed to this DREAM Scholarship, and, uh, I, I fully, uh, expect them to be a good partner as I do, uh, the Technical College System of Georgia. Okay. Thank you. Thank the gentleman for the questions.

21. 0:37:52

    Excellent. Uh, Governor's Floor Leader Gambill. Thank you, Chairman Barrett. Uh, call of the question.

22. 0:38:03

    Second. Second. We're gonna do it all together. Oh. Your microphone is ... I think there's something w- I want it. I want it. I, I'm sorry. I think there's something wrong with your microphone. Oh. Chairman Dubnik. Really wanted to second that motion but ... You, I hope you get that opportunity in a little bit. Uh, Chairman Martin, thank you. Chairman Carpenter took care of a couple of my questions. And, uh, I just really wanted to, uh, ask and make sure to Chairman Carpenter's point that as we move forward that needs-based scholarships that are and have been established at, at independent USG institutions would, would not be affected in any way by this, uh, nor funds commingled, uh, accordingly.

23. 0:38:43

    For example, with Georgia Tech's Promise scholarship, just would want them to continue to be able to fundraise as well as receive funds from this endowment. Ye- yes, sir. I mean, I, I can't comment on, on each individual institution's foundation, but this bill does not contemplate those foundations having to contribute here. In fact, there will, there'll probably be mu- If, if, if you will, this would be a multimodal opportunity for people to, to get help through college because remember, we still have the completion grant. That's all I was hoping to hear, sir. We still have the completion grant. Yes, sir. Chairman, thank you. Uh, Chairman Barrett, at the appropriate time.

24. 0:39:15

    Thank you, sir. Uh, Woodpark.

25. 0:39:27

    There we go. All right, there we go. Thank you, sir. Um, so the, uh, dreams, um, Chairman Martin, uh, so the DREAM scholarsh- the, the endowment, i- is that gonna be... Can you help clarify, uh, will that be under student finance or just, um, or the state treasury? Well, yes, sir. It, it says it is gonna be administered by student finance. In, in, in practical terms, the s- the treasury manages all of the investments for the state. They just included that directly in this bill. But i- if, if it were silent, then my understanding is funds deposited with the, the, the State of Georgia are, are administered by the state treasury.

26. 0:40:04

    So but the, but the funds would be controlled by the s- by student finance, and the decision and policy you see about the allocation of those funds, the, the earnings on the principal account to the scholarship am- amount would be done in a policy set by the board of the Student Finance Commission. Thank you, sir.

27. 0:40:26

    Uh, Representative Barnes.

28. 0:40:30

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, my question is, like 145, which medical fields are we covering? That's my first question. And then, well, which medical fields are we covering? Like, how are we dictating which medical fields are eligible for the scholarship?

29. 0:40:58

    Well, well, in, in, up, up in, as you're referring to 145, it's just a description of, of what is, is being changed in the bill. I think the, the scholarships are post-graduate medical scholarships. And, and so it could be, um, I, I'm not a medical expert. I'm glad I have a good doctor that, that takes care of me. But there, there... No, I'm, I'm serious. There, there are multiple fields. This is not just for general practitioners. This is not for specialists. This is, um, for post-graduate medical school. It's limited to the lady eight semesters and, and, um, so, but it could go to multiple, um, I'm gonna say the wrong word there, I'm sure, but multiple modalities.

30. 0:41:36

    Somebody in the medical field help me- Sorry ... uh, describe the, the pract- multiple practice areas, I would say. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm asking because, um, are we, uh, directing the scholarships to maybe a workforce shortage, uh, in the medical field? Like if we're short on nurses that year, are we kinda like directing the scholarship to that or short on, uh, surgeons? Uh, that's my first question. And then my second question, how, um, should we look into how long medical students are staying in the state of Georgia and then leaving to dictate how long we should ask them to stay and work in Georgia?

31. 0:42:16

    Like, you're just saying four years. I think that's kinda short. I think we should try to get them to stay in our state and work for a few more years. But I'm just wondering how long it is that they're leaving. Ye- y- yes, ma'am, and if, if the lady is, those, those are two good questions. Um, and I'm gonna answer the last one first and ask you to repeat the first one because, um, I was, I was concentrating so hard I lost that. No, and, and se- seriously, the, uh, the conversation about how long is enough to, when you enter into a contract, that may even, uh, over time, it, it'll be done in policy rather than statute, I, I would recommend.

32. 0:42:54

    And it might be done based on your practice area. You know, if, if your practice area is this time it may be a more transient practice area, easier to move, we may wanna make that, uh, you have to practice in Georgia more, uh, typically a doctor. And, and I, I apologize to the lady. The first question was relative to, uh, how do we decide which, which areas? And, and I would go back to there and, and say the lady brings up a, a, a great question, and I think that's gonna change over time. And I, I think we in this committee, through the workforce and other non-medical areas, have, have placed that over on the workforce board so that that may change over time because our, our times changing rather than dictated in statute.

33. 0:43:33

    Thank you.

34. 0:43:38

    Great. Thank you. Representative Glaize.

35. 0:43:42

    Thank you, Chairman. And, um, I just have one question. If we could go back to, um, line 73 and 74. I think I brought this up in the last session, um, when we ask about or we talk about, uh, engaged in paid or unpaid work at least part-time, um, and we included internships, externships. And we were talking about allowing athletes who were not on full scholarship to utilize that time as a part of their work experience.

36. 0:44:18

    And would we go back and consider that? I thought that was something we kind of agreed on. Ye- yes, ma'am, and, and we do. And, and I would just draw the lady's attention to, um, paid or unpaid work at least part-time, which may include but shall not be limited to the, the enumerated items. So I, I would again hope that we would lean back to the financial, um, folks that are, are helping us identify the students that need this and lean on them. But I think that enumerated list is, is shall not be limited to that list.

37. 0:44:49

    Those are just some things that are pointed out. But it, it, as this moves through the process, I think it is probably fair to have a discussion if you would wish to make, um, the, the fact that you're in an athletic, uh, endeavor, if you wanted to make that part of the list, um, I would not object to it. Um, and then I'd continue to work with the lady. But it is not now precluded because of the shall not be limited to. Thank you. I would love to see that, um, inside the bill so that we have no issues with parity. Thank you so much for bringing the bill.

38. 0:45:20

    Yes, ma'am. Thank, thank you, Representative Glaize. Mr. Chairman, I think at this time we'd, uh, I know, know we're gonna cover a couple other bills- Yep ... really quickly before we get to, uh, considering bills. Yes, sir. So if you'll come back to your chair and take back over, that'd be great.

39. 0:45:44

    Thank you, Vice Chairman. Thank you, Vice Chairman Carter. I'm gonna move now to, um, call on, um, Representative Reeves to come forward. And while you come forward, we're gonna, uh, allow him to, um, give us a brief, um, description of HR 450 and HB 686. Um, I, I would, uh, after your description, um, um, take, take questions relative to the change. I know HR 450 is exactly as it came before this committee, and if, if you would just articulate the, the two, uh, changes in, uh, 686.

40. 0:46:21

    Thank you, Chairman Martin and members of the Higher Ed Committee. Uh, present to you HR 450. This is the ballot question on online sports betting. There are no changes, uh, since last year. This has been on file for a year. On HB 686, the, uh, related legislation

41. 0:46:40

    To carry out the ballot question if it's approved, uh, there are two minor changes. One is on page, uh, or line 602. The tax rate is being increased from twenty-four percent to twenty-seven and a half percent. The second change, uh, or changes are on lines thirty-seven through fifty. These are, uh, clerical changes. They are not substantive. They are just based on some changes in other codes since last year, and they update that. Uh, the money would go to, uh, HOPE and pre-K just like last year.

42. 0:47:12

    No changes.

43. 0:47:16

    You have a question, Representative Burnough? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, on this bill for, uh, sports betting, and I'm not against gambling. However, the people who will participate in this are the same people whose children can't use the HOPE. So what is there in this bill so that the people who are spending all their money, because we made all this money for, uh, with the lottery, and their children, when it's time for their children to go to school, all of a sudden everything changes.

44. 0:47:51

    The rules change. So I'm just trying to understand how is this gonna, who is this gonna benefit, um, this bill? Because we're not doing anything to help anybody in other things. We're not providing healthcare or any of the needs that they need. And like I said, then their children can't go to college on HOPE. Um, thank you, Representative. I would refer back to Chairman Martin's bill, House Bill 1413, that provided, uh, funds to graduate med- medical education so that doctors in the emergency room, doctors in labor and delivery, postgraduate nurses, many other people could provide healthcare from Morehouse Medical School, Mercer Medical School, the other medical schools in Georgia and areas in Middle Georgia, South Georgia, North Georgia, Atlanta, all around our state.

45. 0:48:40

    Uh, additionally, if you look at the other states, and Georgia would be the 40th state in the union in the last eight years, uh, to regulate and tax online sports betting if this is approved. Uh, based on our population and our economy and our sports and airport and all that, we estimate about two hundred million dollars a year, that's two billion dollars over a decade, would be provided for the education of the children of Georgia and for education of healthcare based on Chairman Martin's, uh, bill he just presented. Okay.

46. 0:49:11

    Can I have one more? Uh, Representative, uh, we're gonna go to the next one. We're, we're g- we have to get here by 9:00. I'll come back if there's time, Representative. Rep- Representative Barnes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, have we, uh, thought about, um, fully funding school meals with some of the funds, uh, if we're bringing in so much from sports betting? Uh, let, let, let me answer that question just in the interest of time. The constitutional amendment goes to the, the lottery, the, goes where lottery money goes. There, there's a list of five things that can be funded out of that.

47. 0:49:42

    That's in the Constitution. So we're, we're not changing, you know, we're not changing that. It's, it's a good d- discussion for, for a different day, but today we brought you the constitutional amendment as we've seen it, it before, um, to go into the pool of money that is for educational scholarships. And I would remind the, the committee that this constitutional amendment has been in place since 2025. The, the needs-based scholarship got a, a posit out of that, that pool because it is a scholarship, um, out, out of the HOPE monies this year.

48. 0:50:14

    So th- while the two aren't tied together, that is what will ultimately happen when we raise more money and put it into the pool for scholarships. Okay. Can I- Thank you. Uh, is that, uh, Whip Park?

49. 0:50:28

    Yes. I won't. I don't, I don't remember him. That's good. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, as this, uh, constitutional amendment is structured, would any of these funds be permitted to go toward early education and development, zero to three? Uh, Whip Park, I would refer to H.R. 450, lines 119 to 121. The ballot questions specify that the funds go to HOPE and pre-K, and so pre-K, uh, does get funded specifically on the ballot question and under HOPE. Zero to three is not pre-K. Uh, if, if pre-K is included in that, uh, that would be the case.

50. 0:51:01

    So just pre-K. No money from this CA would go towards zero to three early childhood development. It depends on how the Georgia law and the lottery defines that. Let me go, we, we already, Whip Park, the, the, it's going into the lottery funds. You know there are the, those five areas in the lottery funds. I, I believe the way those, uh, that constitut- the Constitution currently exists, this is not changing where the, the money can go. It's going into the fund set up in the Constitution back in the '80s. I think it's been changed once since then, but- So the answer is no, to my question.

51. 0:51:32

    No, I, I don't, I don't believe that is the case. I believe money can be budgeted if we... I'll, I'll pull it, pull it up while we're taking other questions and look at it and, and at the current Constitution. It can be, but it's subject to appropriation. Thank you. And, and I'll, I would add, Mr. Chairman, pre-K of course has literacy component, that this helps literacy.

52. 0:51:55

    Um, governance floor leader, uh, Representative Gambill. Uh, you, I don't know what number you- I'm on, uh- All right. There you go. There you go. Um, you know, a lot of questions about where the funding goes, and I see where the funding's outlined right now. I'd, I would be remiss. I've, I've talked quite a bit to our colleague, uh, Mayor Representative, uh, Edna Jackson for some time about Savannah State, the project at Savannah State that she's been very adamant about getting funding for. I, I had the Board of Regents send me the information they had pulled together about the facility, uh, the cost to repair, demolish, rebuild, the different things like that, and is it not possible in this bill to account for our HBCUs, uh, in a funding, uh, mechanism, even if it was a small number, uh, where there would be some designated fundings for capital projects such as hers?

53. 0:52:48

    I know she's told me she's not planning to come back next year, and I think we're missing an opportunity to include that if this is something that's, uh, that's gonna move.

54. 0:52:58

    Floor Leader Gamble, I would respond that House Bill 1413 would provide funding for graduate medical programs at Savannah State and any other colleges that would have it. Let, let, let me, let me bring us back in. I mean, to, to the Governor's Floor Leader. In the current Constitution, the, the fifth item says capital outlays for educational facilities. It's allowed in the current Constitution. It's subject to the tuition scholarships, grants, loans to citi- citizens one and two have to be fully funded. Well, it's allowed right now in the state budget, but she hadn't been able to get her funding.

55. 0:53:29

    And so what I'm saying for specifically for HBCUs, is that not something that could be included if we're gonna talk about trying to provide some funding for them? It, it, I, I think, uh, well, that, that's the gentleman's point. I think we're not, we're... But what we have before us today is a constitutional amendment that's been in play for two years that doesn't impact where the money can go. There, it, it, that's served us, you know, well for, you know, over 25 years, and I think one has to be careful about, um, doing set-aside funding in a constitution 'cause things may change over time.

56. 0:54:05

    It's allowed under the Constitution. It's, it's up to, uh, the, this folks to, um, to, to budget accordingly. Are there further questions? No further questions on this one that... Well, you really pr- presented them both, is that correct? Yes. Yes, Mr. Chairman. Okay. No, no further questions on that. Um, all right. We, we have a, have a couple more items. We're running late on time. Um, we've got to, um, we've got to get to these items. I'm going to move, um, action on th- these first three items, and then we'll try to get to, uh, the second, um, the second item.

57. 0:54:41

    We've had before us, uh, last year and this year, um, items, um, HR 450, HB 686. I'll first, uh, move back to H- HR 450. What's the pleasure of the committee in regards to this item? Move to pass. Second. I have a motion. We do pass, um, that this move forward with a do pass recommendation. Is there a discussion? HR 450, is there a discussion? Discussion?

58. 0:55:12

    Hearing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed, no? No. Yeah, we have a hand voting

59. 0:55:21

    no. The, um, chair would rule as the ayes have it. The lady has requested a count. Um, if we can do that, then. All those in favor say a- or excuse me. All those in favor say aye and raise your right hand. Aye. Help me count.

60. 0:55:41

    Reverse. One, two, three,

61. 0:55:47

    four, five. Motion passes. This moves forward to rules. Next item, we have HB 686. Uh, what's the pleasure of the committee on this item? Move to pass. Second. I have a motion and a second that this move forward with a do pass recommendation. Is there a discussion? Discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed, no? No. Lady wish to count on that one as well? Yes. All those in favor say aye and raise your right hand. One,

62. 0:56:23

    two, three, four,

63. 0:56:29

    five, six, seven. Reverse. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Chair, uh, votes aye. It moves forward. Um, moving now to HB 1413. This is the, the bill I presented today. Um, there were substantive changes. I would normally give, uh, the committee ti- time to look at that. If there's not objection, uh, we'll move forward on action on this day. It is day 28. Without objection, we'll move forward with this. HB 1413, what's the pleasure of the committee in regards to this item?

64. 0:56:59

    Move to pass. Second. I have a motion and a second to just move forward to full committee with due pass recommendation. Is there discussion? Discussion? Hearing, hearing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed, no. I love it when we all get together. Uh, this moves forward to, uh... No, I, it, it, I don't mean to be flippant about that. Th- this is a good measure for all of Georgians and, and on, on several different, uh, occasions. We have two, two more items. If, if y'all will hang with me, we, we'll, we'll do this quickly.

65. 0:57:30

    You have before you House Bill 693 from Chairman Carpenter. This is, uh, a, um, a measure to provide the opportunity for tuition equalization grants, uh, to a particular institution. Um, Chairman Carpenter, do you wanna give us a brief, um, discuss- discussion or a brief presentation? Are you number one? Yeah. Uh, yeah. Yes, sir. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman. Glad to be back here on this issue. Just would open up TEG opportunities to the students of Hersing, uh, focusing on, uh, our nursing and our nursing workforce, uh, for the, the not typical student.

66. 0:58:09

    So, um, pretty simple bill. It's narrowly tailored to make sure that it's just for this university. Um, so I would appreciate your support. One

67. 0:58:21

    question. Sorry. Representative Glaize, do you have a question? No. Thank you. Lady Wade. Are there further questions on this item, HB 693? Hear- hearing none, what's the pleasure of the committee in regards to this item? Move to pass. I have a motion this item move forward with a do pass recommendation. Is there a discussion? Discussion? Hearing none, all- Did we not get a second? I'm so sorry. I'm new here. Second. Second. We have a second. Chairman Carpenter, you didn't second your own bill. Yeah. All right, let me back up then.

68. 0:58:52

    We have a motion and a second. Is there a discussion? Discussion. I hate it when I do that, not in front of my committee. Hearing none, uh, hearing no further discussion, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed, no. No. You move forward to, um- You need to work out something with Chairman Dubnik back there, I think. I know. Uh, you move forward with a do pass recommendation. Um, we have the, the next item, um, Representative Bell, uh, had brought us this and he's been working on it for two years.

69. 0:59:25

    Uh, you have in your packet, um, the definition of personal use, this, this very narrowly drawn, uh, to not throw folks off their, their loans or scholarships for a, a, uh, what would be a misdemeanor charge. Um, and, uh, if everyone's comfortable with that, again, you have the change that's been out there for a day. Um, do you have any questions? I, I told ... Oh, Representative Bell is actually here, so he can, he can present the bill to us if you can do it briefly. I didn't see you, Representative Bell.

70. 0:59:55

    Uh, let me call on him for a moment, uh, and, and remind you that rule starts at 9:00, and you have to go there if you're successful here, so.

71. 1:00:04

    Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the Higher Ed Committee for working on HB 263 for the last few years. Um, this bill would provide, uh, this bill will make sure that individuals who previously had drug convictions will not be kicked off their HOPE Scholarship and will be able to be productive members of our society. Uh, I want to thank the chairman for helping to get this succinct language to make sure that individuals who are trafficking drugs at high quantities are not, um, prevent the same provision. But with that, um, I really appreciate the language. I really appreciate the time of the committee.

72. 1:00:35

    And when there's time to make a motion, I please hope this, uh, committee does vote to do pass. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the work on the bill. Thank you, committee, for hearing this. And, um, I yield my time.

73. 1:00:46

    Yeah, I, I, I thank the, um, gentleman. I, I think he may have, uh, sounded the wrong bill number. We are on 206 LC 4920-

74. 1:00:53

    Excuse me, sir

75. 1:00:54

    ... 759, but, uh, he, he is a proponent of this. Uh, Representative Glaize.

76. 1:01:00

    At the proper time, do pass.

77. 1:01:02

    Moving to Rules. Like wise. So y'all 15. No further questions? Q- no further questions on this, this item? And again, I appreciate the gentleman working with us. You can look, uh, uh, on lines 34 through 37. It's a very tightly driven, uh, tightly drawn, uh, you know, and, and fair representation. Any further s- or, or, sorry, is there a motion to move this forward? Motion. I have, I have a motion and a second that this move- Second. D- moves forward. A third and a fourth. I, uh, um, a motion and a second this move forward.

78. 1:01:34

    Is there discussion? Discussion on the gentleman's proposal? Hearing none, all those in favor of moving him to Rules, signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed, no.

79. 1:01:45

    No. Chair, uh, deems this has the, uh, appropriate votes, and we'll move on to Rules.

80. 1:01:49

    Thanks, sir. Thank you, members of the chair, uh, committee.

81. 1:01:51

    I have no further items. Um, we will be meeting next week, uh, as we have some wonderful Senate measures that we'll, uh, work to perfect. I thank everyone for their time this morning, and if there's no further business, we'll stand adjourned without objection.

82. 1:02:28

    We are adjourned.