--- title: House floor session, March 16, 2026 (legislative day 32) collection: meetings id: 2026-03-16/house-floor cite_as: House floor session, March 16, 2026 (legislative day 32), video https://vimeo.com/1172986678 (machine transcript by Georgia Commons) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/house-floor md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/house-floor.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/house-floor/text source_url: https://vimeo.com/1172986678 date: 2026-03-16 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/2026-03-16.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/house-rules.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/senate-floor.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/index.md chamber: House body: House floor body_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/house-floor.md meeting_kind: floor legislative_day: 32 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session start_time: 2026-03-16T10:00:00-04:00 location: House Chamber duration_seconds: 11813.0 video_id: 1172986678 video_title: "Session Day 32: 3.16.26" bills_discussed: - HR 1681 - SB 524 - SB 435 - HB 244 - SB 432 - SB 160 - SB 177 - SB 535 - SB 89 bills_read_aloud: 40 official_records: - https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/house-journal-document-library/2026-regular-session-house-journal.pdf?sfvrsn=e39df1be_2#page=2634 summaries_model: gpt-6.1-sol transcript_turns: 453 transcript_chars: 149061 parts: - https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/house-floor.md?start=0 - https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/house-floor.md?start=59542 - https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/house-floor.md?start=118879 --- # House floor session, March 16, 2026 (legislative day 32) House floor; March 16, 2026; legislative day 32; 2025-2026 Regular Session. Video, on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/1172986678. > 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 House passed six Senate bills, including [SB 177](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb177) on disclosure of foreign-funded political activity, which drew extended debate over transparency, constitutional rights and effects on Georgia organizations. Members also passed [SB 160](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb160) on speed-limiting devices for certain drivers and [SB 535](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb535) on state oversight of community service boards. The House agreed to the Senate substitute for [HB 244](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb244) and reassigned [SB 89](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb89) to another committee. Other business included bill readings, committee reports, adoption of honorary resolutions and recognition of the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee through [HR 1681](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1681). The House adjourned until March 18, 2026, at 10 a.m. ## Bills discussed (9) 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. ### HR 1681. Atlanta World Cup Host Committee; commend [HR 1681](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1681) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [0:42:32](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2552s), turns 52 to 81. The clerk read [HR 1681](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1681), commending the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee. The presenting member said Atlanta would host eight matches, including a semifinal, and described expected benefits for tourism, hospitality and businesses across Georgia. A host committee representative said the first Atlanta match was 91 days away and thanked legislators for supporting four years of preparation. The representative said planning was on track according to FIFA and discussed future major sporting events. The chair thanked the committee and members for their support. No vote was shown. ### SB 524. License Plates; specialty license plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia; establish [SB 524](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb524) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [1:22:24](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4944s), turns 191 to 196. Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2641: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/house-journal-document-library/2026-regular-session-house-journal.pdf?sfvrsn=e39df1be_2#page=2645. The presenter said [SB 524](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb524) would create a Girl Scouts of Georgia specialty license plate, with proceeds distributed to Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia. The presenter also described a plate marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, with an anniversary message replacing the county decal. No members asked questions. The House passed the bill 155-0. ### SB 435. Georgia Development Authority; rename as the Georgia Agricultural Development Authority [SB 435](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb435) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [1:26:03](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5163s), turns 197 to 200. Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2642: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/house-journal-document-library/2026-regular-session-house-journal.pdf?sfvrsn=e39df1be_2#page=2646. The presenter said [SB 435](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb435) would rename the Georgia Development Authority as the Georgia Agricultural Development Authority. The presenter described it as a departmental request intended to reduce confusion about the authority's mission and that of another organization. There were no questions, and the House passed the bill 154-0. ### HB 244. State auditor; local governments to request and receive in certain circumstances due date extensions related to filing annual audits; provide [HB 244](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb244) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [1:28:58](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5338s), turns 203 to 214. Confirmed by the bill's status history on the General Assembly's website (House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub, 2026-03-16): https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69849. The sponsor moved to agree to the Senate substitute for [HB 244](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb244), concerning local government audits. The sponsor described two changes made in coordination with the state auditor's office: clarifying that the bill's special-purpose financial reporting framework applies to all local governments spending $2.5 million or less, and expanding audit-cooperation requirements beyond county constitutional officers to public officers and employees serving local governments, including state personnel specifically assigned to them. No questions were asked. The House agreed to the Senate substitute 151-4. ### SB 432. Education; nonlapsing revenue of institutions of the University System of Georgia and units of the Technical College System of Georgia; extend automatic repeals [SB 432](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb432) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [1:31:52](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5512s), turns 215 to 223. Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2650: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/house-journal-document-library/2026-regular-session-house-journal.pdf?sfvrsn=e39df1be_2#page=2654. The presenter said [SB 432](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb432) would extend an expiration date from July 2026 to July 2031. The presenter explained that the provision, in place since 2003, allows the university and technical college systems to retain certain tuition and fee revenues rather than let them expire, subject to a limit of 3% of tuition collected. There were no questions. The House passed the bill 153-2. ### SB 160. Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty [SB 160](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb160) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [1:35:16](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5716s), turns 223 to 236. Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2651: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/house-journal-document-library/2026-regular-session-house-journal.pdf?sfvrsn=e39df1be_2#page=2655. The presenter said [SB 160](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb160) would let certain people whose licenses were suspended for reckless stunt driving seek limited driving permits by installing speed-limiting devices. The presenter described continuing injuries from stunt-driving events and said the proposal aimed to improve safety while allowing people to travel to work. The presenter said the Department of Driver Services would set rules and certify devices, and that revisions followed discussions with the governor's office after an earlier veto. The minority leader asked why drivers under 21 and commercial license holders were excluded. The presenter cited discussions with the governor's office and younger drivers' lack of experience, without separately explaining the commercial-license exclusion. Asked about the July 2028 effective date, the presenter said implementation required time. The presenter believed multiple device suppliers were available. Another member asked why the House version restored a forfeiture penalty that the Senate version had replaced, but received no substantive explanation. The House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 130-26. ### SB 177. Government Transparency and Campaign Finance; transparency in foreign funded political activities within the state; provide [SB 177](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb177) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [1:41:47](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6107s), turns 237 to 378. Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2663: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/house-journal-document-library/2026-regular-session-house-journal.pdf?sfvrsn=e39df1be_2#page=2667. The presenter said [SB 177](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb177) would require registration within 10 days for political activity on behalf of hostile foreign principals and disclosure of relevant contributions received during the previous five years. The presenter said it targeted advocacy, not investment or business operations, and exempted trade and professional groups. One member questioned the pre-1950 exemption and its possible application to the NRA. The presenter confirmed that organizations formed before that date would be exempt. Another member relayed business and constitutional concerns. One opponent argued that overlapping federal requirements invited litigation. A second warned of costs to businesses, universities and investment. A third raised speech, association, vague-definition and unequal-treatment concerns. A fourth questioned whether ordinary purchases could trigger reporting. A fifth criticized exemptions and other political funding practices. The minority whip warned of selective enforcement by the attorney general. Supporters argued that disclosure protected voters, complemented federal law and resembled requirements upheld elsewhere. During voting, another member asked about employees and churches, without receiving a substantive clarification. The House withdrew the committee substitute, adopted the Rules substitute and passed the bill 98-65. ### SB 535. Mental Health; the re-creation of community service boards; provide [SB 535](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb535) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [2:50:20](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10220s), turns 378 to 392. Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2676: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/house-journal-document-library/2026-regular-session-house-journal.pdf?sfvrsn=e39df1be_2#page=2680. The presenter said [SB 535](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb535) would make community service boards more consistent so people with mental illness could receive the same basic services across Georgia. The presenter said it matched a measure the House had passed the previous week and would allow the commissioner to appoint executive directors who would become state employees. Asked who would have final authority, the presenter said the commissioner would if necessary, while executive directors would work with boards toward agreement. An opposing member warned that the change would weaken local control, particularly in larger counties. The opponent cited roughly $15 million allocated by DeKalb County for a new facility and questioned transferring authority to the state over locally supported services. The House passed the bill 130-31. ### SB 89. Income Taxes; amount of a tax credit based on the federal tax credit for certain child and dependent care expenses; increase [SB 89](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb89) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [2:57:59](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10679s), turns 396 to 399. Confirmed by the bill's status history on the General Assembly's website (House Withdrawn, Recommitted, 2026-03-16): https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69886. A member requested that [SB 89](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb89) be moved from Ways and Means to Regulated Industries, saying both committee chairs agreed. The clerk read the caption describing an increase in a tax credit based on federal child and dependent care expenses. The House approved the reassignment without objection. There was no discussion of the bill's policy details. ## Bills read aloud (40) Read aloud only (a first or second reading, a committee's report), with no discussion. - [HB 1539](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1539) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Ware County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee: [0:50:02](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3002s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HB 1540](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1540) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Ware County; State Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee: [0:50:14](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3014s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HB 1541](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1541) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Ware County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee: [0:50:26](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3026s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HB 1542](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1542) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Worth County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee: [0:50:39](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3039s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HB 1543](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1543) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Chattooga County; school district ad valorem tax; homestead exemption; increase income cap: [0:50:51](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3051s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HB 1544](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1544) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Chattooga County; ad valorem tax; county purposes; provide a homestead exemption: [0:51:03](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3063s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HB 1545](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1545) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Putnam County; board of commissioners; current board members to continue their terms of office; provide: [0:51:13](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3073s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HB 1546](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1546) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Local government; requirements for local authorities retaining legal services on a contingent fee basis; provide: [0:51:26](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3086s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HR 1663](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1663) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Dr. Anthony Smith Highway; Clayton County; dedicate: [0:51:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3116s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HR 1664](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1664) (2025-2026 Regular Session), General Wallace Intersection; Dawson County; dedicate: [0:52:11](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3131s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HB 1547](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1547) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Liberty County; board of elections and registration; provide staggered terms for certain future appointees: [0:51:42](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3102s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HR 1665](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1665) (2025-2026 Regular Session), House Study Committee on Environmental Protection Division Permit and Variance Procedures and Rights to Review; create: [0:52:25](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3145s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HR 1666](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1666) (2025-2026 Regular Session), John W. Ralston Memorial Intersection; Lumpkin County; dedicate: [0:52:40](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3160s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HR 1667](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1667) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Bryce Johnson Memorial Bridge; Worth and Tift Counties; dedicate: [0:52:54](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3174s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HR 1668](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1668) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Education, Department of; local school systems; prioritize the inclusion of ex officio, honorary, and nonvoting student representatives on its local boards of education; urge: [0:53:12](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3192s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HR 1669](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1669) (2025-2026 Regular Session), House Study Committee on End of Life Issues; create: [0:53:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3210s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HR 1670](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1670) (2025-2026 Regular Session), RESCUER initiative; recognize importance of voluntary community based resource recovery efforts; encourage counties to explore voluntary resource recovery programs: [0:53:46](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3226s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HR 1671](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1671) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Reverend Bennie R. Mitchell Jr. Memorial Intersection; Chatham County; dedicate: [0:54:08](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3248s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HR 1672](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1672) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Huxsie Scott Bridge; Chatham County; dedicate: [0:54:25](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3265s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HR 1673](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1673) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Jimmy "Lord" Brown Intersection; Chatham County; dedicate: [0:54:40](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3280s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HR 1674](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1674) (2025-2026 Regular Session), House Study Committee on State Governance of Emergency Medical Services; create: [0:54:55](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3295s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HR 1675](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1675) (2025-2026 Regular Session), House Study Committee on Community Associations; create: [0:55:12](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3312s); confirmed by its status history (House First Readers) - [HB 1535](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1535) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Sandy Springs, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum: [0:55:46](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3346s); confirmed by its status history (House Second Readers) - [HB 1536](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1536) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Eatonton, City of; provide a new charter: [0:56:01](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3361s); confirmed by its status history (House Second Readers) - [HB 1537](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1537) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Bibb County; ad valorem tax for educational purposes; provide a homestead exemption: [0:56:10](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3370s); confirmed by its status history (House Second Readers) - [HB 1538](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1538) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Macon-Bibb County; ad valorem tax for county purposes; provide a homestead exemption: [0:56:26](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3386s); confirmed by its status history (House Second Readers) - [HR 1655](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1655) (2025-2026 Regular Session), House Study Committee on Diabetes Related Amputations; create: [0:56:57](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3417s); confirmed by its status history (House Second Readers) - [HR 1656](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1656) (2025-2026 Regular Session), House Study Committee on School Nutrition, Student Food Security, Georgia Agriculture, and Student Success; create: [0:57:11](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3431s); confirmed by its status history (House Second Readers) - [HR 1657](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1657) (2025-2026 Regular Session), House Study Committee on Medicaid Waiver Populations and Long-Term Financial and Administrative Sustainability; create: [0:57:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3450s); confirmed by its status history (House Second Readers) - [HR 1658](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1658) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Representative Michele Henson Interchange; Dekalb County; dedicate: [0:57:46](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3466s); confirmed by its status history (House Second Readers) - [HR 1662](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1662) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Trump, President Donald J.; recognize leadership; commend the courage and professionalism of the United States Armed Forces: [0:58:00](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3480s); confirmed by its status history (House Second Readers) - [SB 441](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb441) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Local Government Investment Pool; certain pooled investments to be approved by the State Depository Board; require: [1:00:16](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3616s); confirmed by its status history (House Committee Favorably Reported) - [HR 1393](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1393) (2025-2026 Regular Session), House Study Committee on Rural Hospitals; create: [1:00:45](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3645s); confirmed by its status history (House Committee Favorably Reported) - [HR 1522](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1522) (2025-2026 Regular Session), House Study Committee on Evaluating Community Health; create: [1:00:48](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3648s); confirmed by its status history (House Committee Favorably Reported) - [HR 1527](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1527) (2025-2026 Regular Session), House Study Committee on Georgia Department of Transportation Contracting; create: [1:00:50](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3650s); confirmed by its status history (House Committee Favorably Reported) - [HR 1529](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1529) (2025-2026 Regular Session), House Study Committee on the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI); create: [1:00:52](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3652s); confirmed by its status history (House Committee Favorably Reported) - [HR 1582](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1582) (2025-2026 Regular Session), House Study Committee on Veteran Teacher Compensation; create: [1:00:54](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3654s); confirmed by its status history (House Committee Favorably Reported) - [SB 240](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb240) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Georgia Native Plant Month; designate April of each year: [1:01:02](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3662s); confirmed by its status history (House Committee Favorably Reported) - [HR 1052](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1052) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Day; express support for State designation: [1:00:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3656s); confirmed by its status history (House Committee Favorably Reported) - [SR 800](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr800) (2025-2026 Regular Session), Joint Study Committee on the Generational Sustainability of Family Farms; create: [1:00:59](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3659s); confirmed by its status history (House Committee Favorably Reported) ## Official records of this meeting - 2026 House Journal, pp. 2630 to 2684 (2026-03-16): https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/house-journal-document-library/2026-regular-session-house-journal.pdf?sfvrsn=e39df1be_2#page=2634 > The transcript runs 149,061 characters. A reader that cannot take it at once can read it in 3 parts: part 1 https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/house-floor.md?start=0; part 2 https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/house-floor.md?start=59542; part 3 https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/house-floor.md?start=118879. ## Transcript (453 turns) [0:21:38](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1298s) Without a- We have two soccer balls right there. All members will please come to the floor. All members please come to the floor because the hour convening, for convening having arrived, all members please come to the floor and take your seats. Mr. Clerk, will you please ring the bell? [0:23:06](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1386s) Thank you, Mr. Clerk. All members will please come to the floor because we're going to have the morning roll call. Have the morning roll call. All members present will please vote green to signify their presence in the chamber, and Mr. Clerk will unlock the machines. [0:23:53](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1433s) Have all members now voted their presence? [0:24:08](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1448s) Chairman Hitchens, you're being paged. [0:24:18](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1458s) All members now voted? All members voted. If so, Mr. Clerk will lock the machine. Doorkeepers, please close the doors and keep them closed. [0:24:35](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1475s) As is our custom, we will begin our day with scripture reading and prayer by our chaplain. I'm glad to see our chaplain back today. He's a good man, and I appreciate his presence here. After which, we will pledge allegiance to the flag of our country. And we're gonna do something just a little bit, little bit different when we, um, have Representative Taylor to, uh, introduce our chaplain. I'm also gonna ask her to recognize some folks that we have in our gallery this morning, which is a little bit different, but we're gonna do that this morning. [0:25:06](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1506s) Wanna make sure we get them acknowledged, and it won't happen, that will not occur during morning orders, but will occur right now as she comes to, uh, recognize some guests and introduce our chaplain of the day. The lady from the, um, one, from the 92nd House District, Representative Rhonda Taylor, is recognized to introduce our speaker. [0:25:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1530s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning. It's a wet, rainy day. It is my pleasure to welcome you all to AME Day at the Capitol. [0:25:44](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1544s) We have in the gallery some AMEs who have driven far and near to join us this morning, and if you are with us, please stand and be recognized. Yes. [0:26:08](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1568s) Thank you so much for weathering the weather and, and, and being able to come and join us. It is, um, uh, AME Day, and on AME Day, we always try to get m- my bishop to come and speak in conjunction with the day. So it is my pleasure to present to some and to introduce to others Bishop Michael L. Mitchell, who is the 134th elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, presiding prelate of the 6th Episcopal District. [0:26:40](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1600s) Born in Perry, Florida, Bishop Mitchell is the ninth of 15 children, and is a lifelong member of African Methodist Episcopal Church. While in high school, he answered the call to the ministry and preached his first trial sermon at the age of 17. On August the 28th, 2024, at the 52nd Quadrennial Session of the African Methodist Episcopal Church General Conference, Bishop Mitchell was assigned by the Episcopal Committee to the 6th Episcopal District, which is Georgia. [0:27:14](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1634s) His awesome, beautiful wife, Ms. Cordelia Mitchell, is also a lifetime member. Let's recognize her. [0:27:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1648s) She is a human resources executive and a proud graduate of Spelman College and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. [0:27:40](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1660s) The two have two daughters and three grand-grandchildren. And together they embody a legacy of leadership and service, inspiring others to embrace their calling and make a lasting impact in their communities, and most importantly, in kingdom building. Without further delay, I would love to bring up my bishop, Michael Mitchell. [0:28:05](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1685s) Thank you. [0:28:05](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1685s) Beautiful lady you have. [0:28:07](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1687s) Yeah. [0:28:08](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1688s) You're looking in. [0:28:09](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1689s) Appreciate it. Amen. Thank you so very much, uh, Representative Taylor. And certainly, um, he wanted, uh, the speaker wanted me to know that I married a beautiful lady, amen. And I always say that I married up, amen. So we're grateful. And let me say good morning, uh, Mr. Speaker. And, um, in a point of priv- personal privilege, again, I do thank, uh, the members of the Sixth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, as well as Representative, uh, Rhonda Taylor a- and other representatives who are part of the AME Church, and to the members of this house, distinguished guests and fellow citizens of the great state of Georgia. [0:29:00](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1740s) It is both an honor and a sacred privilege for me to have this opportunity to stand before you as the chaplain of the day as we celebrate and observe AME Day at the Capitol on behalf of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. For more than two centuries, the African Methodist Episcopal Church has been committed to spiritual, social, and moral uplift of all people. Our founder, Richard Allen, believed that faith must not only be proclaimed within the walls of the church, but also lived out in the public life of community and our nation. [0:29:44](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1784s) As we gather today, we're reminded of the words of scripture found in Micah 6:8, "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" These words offer timeless guidance for anyone entrusted with leadership and entrusted with responsibility. [0:30:15](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1815s) To do justice is to ensure that the laws and policies crafted within this chamber reflects fairness, dignity, and opportunity for every citizen of this state. In other words, you're called to do the right thing as it relates to fairness, dignity, and opportunity for every citizen of the state of Georgia. To love mercy is to remember that behind every policy discussion are real people. [0:30:50](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1850s) There are families, there are children, there are workers and communities whose lives are shaped by the decisions made in rooms like this one. So as you gather, we ask and encourage you to do the right thing. And to walk humbly is to recognize that leadership is not merely about authority, but about stewardship. The privilege of public service carries with it the responsibility to seek wisdom, to listen carefully, and to act with integrity. [0:31:27](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1887s) You are encouraged to do the right thing for every citizen of this state. Members of this house, the work that you do here, it matters. The conversations that you have, the votes that you cast, and the laws you shape will influence not only the present moment, but the future of generations yet to come. Therefore, may wisdom guide your deliberation. [0:32:00](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1920s) May civility mark your disclosure. And may a sincere commitment to the common good shape every decision that you make in this chamber. As a people of faith and citizens of Georgia, we pray that God will grant each of you clarity of mind, courage of conviction, and compassion for those whom you serve. May God bless your service. May God bless this house, and bless the great state of Georgia. [0:32:34](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1954s) Do the right thing for every citizen of this state. Will we please, can you please stand for our prayer? Let us pray. Oh, most wise and eternal God, we pause at this moment to first thank you. God, we thank you for this day which you have made. We thank you for your grace, for your mercy. Gracious God, you are good to us. [0:33:07](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=1987s) You brought us safely through the storm and through the rain, and allowed us to be here today in this chamber. So God, we wanna say thank you. God, as we gather today, we continue to seek your peace in this world. God, we pause in this moment to acknowledge your presence and to seek your guidance We thank you for the privilege of public service and for the men and women who have been entrusted with the responsibility of leadership in this house. [0:33:39](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2019s) I pray, God, that you would grant them wisdom as they deliberate, discernment as they consider the needs of the people they serve, and courage to do what is right even when the path is difficult. Lord, remind us that leadership is a sacred trust. May every decision made within these walls reflect justice, fairness, and compassion for all who call this state of Georgia home. Bless the Speaker of this house, Representative Jon Burns, every representative, their staff, and their families. [0:34:15](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2055s) Strengthen them for the work before them and grant them patience, integrity, and understanding as they carry out their duties. We pray for the citizens of this great state of Georgia. May our communities be places of opportunity, places of peace and shared prosperity. Oh God, guide us to walk in humility, to seek wisdom beyond our own understanding, and to serve one another with grace and respect. [0:34:45](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2085s) And now, may your wisdom guide this house, your peace guard every heart, and your grace sustain us in the days ahead. In your holy and mighty name we pray, and we all said amen. [0:35:02](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2102s) Amen. And we do the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Amen. Perfect. I appreciate you. Thank you. We're good. [0:35:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2128s) Okay. South Wing steps. [0:35:41](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2141s) For a hot lunch. All right. By Billy Mitchell. Folks that are here with, um, the bishop, you are gonna have, um, at 11, you're gonna have a photo on the South Wing steps, these steps, and then you're gonna be at 216 for a lunch provided by Representative Billy Mitchell. All right. Thank you, Representative Mitchell. So doorkeepers, you may open the doors. Members, I wanna tell y'all something else we found out this morning. Thank you, Bishop, for those words of encouragement. [0:36:13](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2173s) We're also have a new partner when it comes to literacy. Yes. When we look at the members of the AME Church around this state, gonna be a powerful partner as we deal with literacy issues around the state. Thank you, Bishop. We appreciate what y'all are gonna help us with there. Thank you. Mr. [0:37:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2248s) Clerk. Members, you may join the bishop in the South Ante Room and thank him for his service today, and get a photo op with him. [0:38:47](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2327s) Members, our Doctor of the Day today is brought us, brought to us by Representative Mack Jackson from Sandersville, Georgia. You have the Doctor of the Day today, and that's Dr. Jennifer Christie. Thanks to Dr. Christie for being here. And if you need Dr. Christie, you know where she's located. Thank you, Representative Jackson. [0:39:21](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2361s) Chair now will recognize Chairman Hilton, the chair of the Committee on Information and Audit. Chairman Hilton. [0:39:27](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2367s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We had an extra day, and so we read the journal. Your Committee on Information and Audit has read the journal the previous legislative day, and we found it to be correct. [0:39:37](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2377s) I bet you read it twice, didn't you? [0:39:38](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2378s) Yes, sir. [0:39:39](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2379s) Absolutely. Chairman Hilton, the chair of the Committee on Information and Audits, reports that the journal of the previous legislative day has been read and found to be correct. Is there any objection to dispense with the reading of the journal? Hearing none, the reading of the journal is dispensed with. Is there any objection to the confirmation of the journal? Hearing none, and the journal is confirmed. Mr. Clerk, will you read the resolution establishing the order of business for the day? [0:40:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2404s) Representative Efstration of the 104th moves the following be established as the order of business during the first part of the period. Unanimous consent. Introduction of bills and resolutions. First reading and reference of House bills and resolutions. Second reading of bills and resolutions. Reports of standing committees. Morning orders. [0:40:25](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2425s) Is there any objection to, uh, to the adoption of the re- resolution establishing the order of business for the day? Hearing none, the resolution is adopted. [0:40:54](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2454s) Members, if you will come to the floor and take your seats and give your attention to the Appropriations Chairman. We have an invite resolution I think you'll find pretty interesting. I'll let you guess what it's about. [0:41:15](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2475s) And that's not the guy, what was that movie with the guy with the, uh, soccer ball? [0:41:23](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2483s) He was lost on an island after the plane crashed. Come on, y'all. [0:41:27](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2487s) Cast Away. [0:41:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2488s) Cast, that's it. Yeah. [0:41:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2490s) Wilson. [0:41:31](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2491s) Wilson. Y'all know what I'm talking about. N- Goo- Google it, uh, Mr. Chairman, Prince, and then you'll know what I'm talking about. All members, please come to the floor. [0:41:55](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2515s) All members come to the floor. [0:42:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2524s) What resolution? [0:42:18](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2538s) Members, just for our order of business for the day, we'll go on to morning orders after we enjoy this resolution and honor some folks, uh, with an invite resolution. Mr. Clerk, will you read House Resolution by Chairman Hatchett, House Resolution 1681. Will you read the caption? [0:42:36](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2556s) House Resolution 1681 by Representative Hatchett of the 155th, Efstration of the 104th, Burns of the 159th, Hugley of the 141st, Gambill of the 15th and others. A resolution commending the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee. [0:42:54](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2574s) Chairman Hatchett is recognized to speak to House Resolution 680- 1681. Mr. Chairman. [0:43:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2584s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, today it's my honor to welcome members of the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee to the Georgia House, as we recognize their leadership in preparing our capital city and state for one of the largest sporting events on the planet, the FIFA World Cup 2026. We're now 91 days until Atlanta's first FIFA World Cup match on June 15th. Specifically with us today are Dan Cor- Corso, President of Atlanta Sports Council, Katie Kirkpatrick, President and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and Dietmar Exler, Chief Operating Officer of Arthur M. [0:43:47](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2627s) Blank Sports and Entertainment. This summer, the world's eyes will turn to Atlanta and Georgia for the biggest World Cup ever, where we'll host eight matches, including five group matches, a round of 32 match, a round of 16 match, and a coveted semifinal. With a world-class stadium, the busiest airport on the planet, and a storied history of hosting major sporting events, including the 1996 Olympics, two Super Bowls, two CFP National Championship games, we're well-positioned to showcase Atlanta and Georgia to millions of visitors and billions of viewers worldwide. [0:44:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2670s) But this moment is about more than soccer and the matches on the field. It's about economic development, tourism, and global visibility for our entire state. It's about small businesses, restaurants, hotels, and our hospitality communities across Georgia benefiting from the excitement of the FIFA World Cup. So today, we proudly welcome to the Georgia House of Representatives and thank them for their leadership as we prepare to host the world right here in the Peach State. [0:45:05](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2705s) You want me to talk? [0:45:06](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2706s) Yeah. [0:45:10](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2710s) Thank you, sir. Thank you. You got it. All right. [0:45:19](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2719s) Good morning, everyone. Good morning. Speaker Burns, Chairman Hatchett, thank you so much for this opportunity. On behalf of Dietmar and Katie, uh, we are thrilled to be with you here today, uh, 91 days away, from the State of Georgia welcoming back the world to our state, 30 years removed from the first time we welcomed the world back in 1996 with the Summer Olympics. This will mark the State of Georgia as only two states in this country- [0:45:45](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2745s) Hosting the two biggest sporting events in the world, the '96 Olympics and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. And as we continue to go through the planning process 91 days away, we wanna thank all of you for your support and your engagement from day one. Going back four years we've been working on this event, preparing to host this event all over the region and all over the state. And without your support, without that engagement from you from day one, we would not be in the position that we are right now. [0:46:16](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2776s) According to FIFA, we work with them on a daily basis in the planning for this event. We are right where we should be 91 days away, and we've got more work to do, but we know that we're gonna get there because of the engagement they have from a public and private level. So thank you for that support. And I will tell you this, you know as well as I do that this state is used to being number one in a lot of things, including the number one state to do business year after year after year. That's a great thing. But we are also known as the number one state in the country to host large scale sporting events. [0:46:49](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2809s) And after this summer, don't take a break 'cause there's more coming. 2028, as you heard the chairman say, we have our next Super Bowl. As we hit March Madness here in the country this week, we've got March Madness coming back in 2031 for the fifth time. And we're also working on the opportunity to get the College Football Playoff National Championship back to this state for a third time in the early part of next decade. We cannot do the work that we do, uh, without your support, and we can't do it without you. So we look forward to the opportunity to host the world again this summer and host the nation and the world again in the years to come. [0:47:23](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2843s) Thank you all very much for this opportunity. Appreciate it. [0:47:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2848s) Thank you, Dan. Thank you. [0:47:29](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2849s) Can you take it? [0:47:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2850s) Thank you. [0:47:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2850s) No, but it's good. [0:47:31](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2851s) It's finished. [0:47:31](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2851s) D1. I guess it's for the next one. [0:47:31](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2851s) Thank you. [0:47:32](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2852s) No, I didn't. [0:47:38](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2858s) Oh. Good. Thank you. [0:47:40](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2860s) You got it. [0:47:41](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2861s) Oh, all right. Looking good. [0:47:43](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2863s) Good. Thank you. You can leave that there. [0:47:45](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2865s) They might leave it on. Chairman, would you like this? [0:47:49](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2869s) I've got it. It's fine. [0:47:52](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2872s) Hey, Dan. Thanks, man. I mean, this is pretty awesome. I've been... I don't know about you all, I didn't grow up with soccer, but I've gained an appreciation for it since my grandchildren play soccer, and I'm even learning some of the rules, Dan. So I need to, we need to put some of the rules out there so we'll understand it better. But what a wonderful opportunity that we have in this state to host a FIFA World Cup here, and all the work's been done. Members of this house, thank you for supporting our efforts, that have supported their efforts too as well, is bringing this extraordinary event to our state and what it's gonna mean to us. [0:48:27](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2907s) So, uh, Dan, Demar, Katie, thank y'all. Thank for your partnership. Thank y'all for what y'all are doing for us, and we look forward to enjoying a lot of great countries being here that already have a home in Georgia. And we can celebrate them here, but also invite them to do business here as well and be a part of our great state. Thank y'all for what y'all are doing. [0:48:48](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2928s) Thank you. [0:49:55](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=2995s) First reading of bills and resolutions. Mr. Clerk will read. [0:50:02](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3002s) House Bill 1539 by Representative Burchett out of the 176th. A bill be titled an act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Probate Court of Ware County. [0:50:13](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3013s) Intragovernmental coordination. [0:50:14](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3014s) House Bill 1540 by Representative Burchett out of the 176th. A bill be titled an act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the State Court of Ware County. [0:50:24](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3024s) Intragovernmental coordination. [0:50:26](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3026s) House Bill 1541 by Representative Burchett out of the 176th. A bill be titled an act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Magistrate Court of Ware County. [0:50:37](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3037s) Intragovernmental coordination. [0:50:39](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3039s) House Bill 1542 by Representative Yearta out of the 152nd. A bill be titled an act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Magistrate Court of Worth County. [0:50:49](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3049s) Intragovernmental coordination. [0:50:51](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3051s) House Bill 1543 by Representative Lumsden of the 12th. A bill be titled an act to amend an act to provide a $40,000 homestead exemption from certain ad valorem taxes. [0:51:01](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3061s) Intragovernmental coordination. [0:51:03](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3063s) House Bill 1544 by Representative Lumsden of the 12th. A bill be titled an act to provide a homestead exemption from Chattooga County ad valorem taxes. [0:51:12](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3072s) Intragovernmental coordination. [0:51:13](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3073s) House Bill 1545 by Representative Rhodes of the 124th and Washburn of the 144th. A bill be titled an act to amend an act creating the Board of Commissioners for Putnam County. [0:51:24](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3084s) Intragovernmental coordination. [0:51:26](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3086s) House Bill 1546 by Representative Carpenter IV. A bill be titled an act to amend Chapter 80 and Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating the general provisions applicable to counties' municipal corporations. [0:51:41](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3101s) Governmental affairs. [0:51:42](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3102s) House Bill 1547 by Representative Williams of the 168th. A bill be titled an act to amend an act to create the Board of Elections and Registration for Liberty County. Intergovernmental coordination. House Resolution 1663 by Representative Burnough of the 77th, Bell of the 75th, Flournoy of the 74th, and Scott of the 76th. A resolution recognizing Dr. Anthony W. Smith and dedicating a road in his honor. Transportation. House Resolution 1664 by Representative Wade of the 9th and Chastain of the 7th. [0:52:17](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3137s) A resolution honoring the life of Mr. General Wallace and dedicating an intersection in his memory. Transportation. House Resolution 1665 by Representative Townsend of the 179th, Stevens of the 164th, Smith of the 70th. A resolution creating the House Study Committee on Environmental Protection Division Permit and Variance Procedures. Special rules. House Resolution 1666 by Representative Wade of the 9th and Hawkins of the 27th. A resolution honoring the life of Mr. [0:52:48](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3168s) John W. Ralston and dedicating an intersection in his memory. Transportation. House Resolution 1667 by Representative Yearta of the 152nd, O'Steen of the 169th, Ford of the 170th, Gamble of the 15th, Gunner of the 8th. A resolution recognizing the life of Mr. Bryce Allen Johnson and dedicating a bridge in his memory. Transportation. House Resolution 1668 by Representative Crawford of the 89th, Oliver of the 84th, Barnes of the 86th, Olaleye of the 59th, Draper of the 90th, and others. [0:53:24](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3204s) A resolution urging the Department of Education and local school systems. Special rules. House Resolution 1669 by Representative Westbrook of the 163rd, Jackson of the 165th, Evans of the 57th, Frye of the 122nd, Campbell of the 35th. A resolution creating the House Study Committee on End of Life Issues. Special rules. House Resolution 1670 by Representative Adina of the 110th, Jones of the 25th, Thomas of the 21st, Kendrick of the 95th, Prince of the 132nd, and others. [0:53:57](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3237s) A resolution recognizing the importance of voluntary community-based resource recovery efforts. [0:54:07](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3247s) Special rules. House Resolution 1671 by Representative Gilliard of the 162nd and Stevens of the 164th. A resolution honoring the life of Reverend Benny R. Mitchell Jr. and dedicating an intersection in his memory. Transportation. House Resolution 1672 by Representative Gilliard of the 162nd, Stevens of the 164th. A resolution recognizing Ms. Huxsie Scott and dedicating a bridge in her honor. [0:54:39](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3279s) Transportation. House Resolution 1673 by Representative Gilliard of the 162nd and Stevens of the, of the 164th. A resolution recognizing Mr. Jimmy Lord Brown and dedicating an intersection in his honor. Transportation. House Resolution 1674 by Representative Leverett of the 123rd, Sefill of the 34th, Momtahan of the 17th, Gamble of the 15th. A resolution creating the House Study Committee on State Governance of Emergency Medical Services. [0:55:11](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3311s) Special rules. House Resolution 1675 by Representative Lewis-Ward of the 115th, Hugley of the 141st, Greene of the 154th, Camp of the 135th, Washburn of the 144th, and others. A resolution creating the House Study Committee on Community Associations. Special rules. That completes first readers. [0:55:42](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3342s) Second reading of bills and resolutions. Mr. Clerk will read. House Bill 1535 by Representative Silcox of the 53rd, Panitch of the 51st, Holland of the 54th, and Roberts of the 52nd. A bill to authorize the City of Sandy Springs to exercise all redevelopment and other powers under the Redevelopment Powers Law. House Bill 1536 by Representative Rhodes of the 124th and Washburn of the 144th. A bill to provide a new charter for the City of Eatonton. House Bill 1537 by Representative Herring of the 145th, Paris of the 142nd, Jones of the 143rd, Griffin of the 149th, Washburn of the 144th. [0:56:19](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3379s) A bill to provide a homestead exemption from Bibb County School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes. House Bill 1538 by Representative Herring of the 145th, Paris of the 142nd, Jones of the 143rd, Griffin of the 149th, and Washburn of the 144th. A bill to provide a homestead exemption from Macon-Bibb County ad valorem taxes for county purposes. House Resolution Re- 1654 by Representative Flournoy of the hun- 74th, Au of the 50th, Cannon of the 58th, Roberts of the 52nd, Herring of the 145th. [0:56:52](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3412s) A resolution urging Georgia's medical schools to prioritize patient-centered care. House Resolution 1655 by Representative Hawkins of the 27th, Mathis of the 133rd, Greene of the 154th, Taylor of the 173rd, Au of the 50th, and others. A resolution creating the House Study Committee on Diabetes-Related Amputations. House Resolution 1656 by Representative Barnes of the 86th, Erwin of the 32nd, Ballard of the 147th, Hugley of the 141st, Park of the 107th, and others. A resolution creating the House Study Committee on School Nutrition, Student Food Security, Georgia Agriculture, and Student Success. [0:57:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3450s) House Resolution 1657 by Representative Powell of the 33rd, Taylor of the 173rd, Greene of the 154th, Hawkins of the 27th, Stevens of the 164th, and others. A resolution creating the House Study Committee on Medicaid Waiver Populations and Long-Term Financial and Administrative Sustainability. House Resolution 1658 by Representative Barnes of the 86th, Drenner of the 85th, Holcomb of the 101st, Mitchell of the 88th, McLean, uh, McLean of the 109th. A resolution recognizing Representative Michelle Hinson and dedicating an interchange in her honor. House Resolution 1662 by Representative Momtahan of the 17th, Gaines of the 120th, Smith of the 18th, Jones of the 25th, Burchett of the 176th, and others. [0:58:09](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3489s) A resolution recognizing the leadership of President Donald J. Trump. Three second readers. [0:59:53](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3593s) Reports of standing committees, Mr. Clerk will read. Representative Steve Tarver of the se- of the 2nd District, Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight, submitted the following report. Mr. Speaker, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight has had under its consideration the following bill of the Senate. It's instructed me to report same back to the House with the following recommendation. Senate Bill 441, due pass. Respectfully submitted, Representative Steve Tarver of the 2nd District, Chairman. [1:00:24](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3624s) Representative Scoggins of the 17th District, Chairman of the Committee on Special Rules, submitted the following report. Mr. Speaker, your Committee on Special Rules has had under its consideration the following bills of the House and Senate. It has instructed me to report same back to the House with the following recommendations. House Resolution 1393, due pass. House Resolution 1522, due pass. House Resolution 1527, due pass. House Resolution 1529, due pass. House Resolution 1582, due pass. [1:00:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3656s) House Resolution 1052, due pass. Senate Resolution 80- 800, due pass. The Senate Bill 240, due pass. Respectfully submitted, Representative Scoggins of the 17th District, Chairman. That completes the reading of the reports of standing committees. [1:02:24](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3744s) Members, we have some morning orders we'll move on to now, so I'm gonna ask you to come take your seats and give the member in, the member in the well your attention. So if you're down that center aisle, if you'll please take your conversation to another location. [1:02:55](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3775s) I'm going to recognize Whip Park for our first morning order. Gentlemen, we'll suspend just for a moment. [1:03:03](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3783s) We have a number of morning orders. I'm gonna give you a minute and a half, two minutes. That's doesn't apply to you, Whip Park. Um, and I'm gonna ask members to s- members to stand [1:03:16](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3796s) as we welcome Whip Park to the well and recognize some guests and, and an event, sad event that occurred in our state. Whip Sam Park is recogni- recognized for a morning order, and some friends will join him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today marks the fifth anniversary of the March 16th Atlanta spa shootings. Eight lives were taken, six of them Asian women, and in the grief that followed, it was women who stood up first and led the way. Today, I'm honored to welcome to the People's House five of those women, Stephanie Cho, Sangji Kumar, Sara Park, Victory Wynn, and Aparna Bhattacharya. [1:03:54](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3834s) I've seen their work firsthand. [1:03:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3836s) When families needed someone to navigate victim funds and legal services and trauma care across language barriers, those leaders were there. When our AAPI community needed a voice in the halls of power, these leaders spoke. When vigils needed to be organized and coalitions needed to be built, these leaders showed up. Stephanie mobilized a national response. Sanjuhi str- strengthened our civil rights coalitions. Saira ensured Korean American were, Korean American women were seen and heard. Victoria united our grassroots community. [1:04:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3868s) And Aparna connected survivors to the trauma-informed care they deserved. This is Women's History Month, and these five women remind us exactly why we celebrate them. Uh, please join me in honoring them. Thank you for standing and being with us this morning. [1:04:53](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3893s) And if I may have a moment of silence for the victims. [1:04:59](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3899s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield the floor. [1:05:02](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3902s) Thank you, Representative Park. Ladies, thank you for your advocacy. Keep it up. We appreciate you caring about your neighbors and taking care of your neighbors. Thank you so much. And our condolences go out to those families who lost loved ones. [1:05:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3928s) Representative Gambill, Matthew Gambill, is recognized for morning order. About a minute and a half, y'all. If y'all can do it in that l- time frame, that'd be great. Representative Gambill, are you gonna have friends? [1:05:37](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3937s) Yes, sir. [1:05:37](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3937s) Yes, do. [1:05:37](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3937s) I've got some joining me, Mr. Speaker. [1:05:39](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3939s) Y'all give the gentleman the will of your attention, please. Gentleman's recognized. [1:05:45](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3945s) Thank you, Speaker. Tomorrow, March 17th, is recognized nationally as Profound Autism Day. And even though we're a day ahead, since we're out of session tomorrow, we still wanted to recognize the day in light of the fact that many Georgians deal with profound autism. So we've done a resolution recognizing March 17th as Profound Autism Day. I'm honored to have a constituent of mine, Sandy Marcus, here, who, uh, definitely knows firsthand what that means in her family's life. And Sandy, we're glad you're here, uh, and we'll recognize you if you wanna just wave to us back there. [1:06:19](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3979s) But, uh, we wanted to take a moment to recognize tomorrow as Profound Autism Day in our state. [1:06:34](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=3994s) Representative Viola Davis. [1:06:43](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4003s) Rep- You have friends too, don't you? Bring them with you. Let's see who your friends are. Y'all join Representative Davis. There's one, two, three, there's a whole bunch of you. [1:06:53](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4013s) I invite the Divine Nine to join us. [1:07:01](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4021s) Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members of the House, today I ask for your support in recognizing March 16th, 2026, as Si- Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Day at the Capitol. Founded in 20- 1922 by seven visionary educators, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority has spent more than a century promoting scholarship, leadership, and community service across the United States and right here in Georgia. [1:07:38](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4058s) Through their mission of greater service, greater progress, the members of Sigma Gamma Rho continue to uplift communities, mentor young women, and strengthen civic engagement. Today, we proudly welcome these distinguished women to the Georgia Capitol and thank them for their continued service to our state. We now ask Sigma Gamma Rho to stand and be recognized. [1:08:14](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4094s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [1:08:19](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4099s) Is, um, Representative Griffin an honorary member? Is that what you're telling me? Yeah, I think he is. Welcome, y'all. Good to have y'all in the Capitol. [1:08:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4108s) Holy crap. [1:08:42](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4122s) Representative Campbell. Representative Lisa Campbell is recognized for a morning order. Please give the lady your attention, please. Then Chairman Gullett and Newton, you're on deck. And friends. [1:08:55](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4135s) Yes. [1:08:59](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4139s) You need a friend. [1:09:00](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4140s) Yes, we do. Good morning, everyone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 10,700 miles, one unfinished mission. They drove for the vote. We're driving for the ERA. The Golden Flyer never really stopped. In 1916, Alice Burke and Nell Richardson crossed America to, and women won the vote in 1920. But the Equal Rights Amendment is stalled. Today, we're here to say Congress needs the courage to affirm it as the 28th Amendment. The Golden Flyer 2 is now on the road across 25 states, and it's here at the Capitol. [1:09:35](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4175s) Go check it out between the Cloud Building and the Capitol until 11:00. And let's all support the Equal Rights Amendment and end discrimination on account of sex once and for all. [1:09:46](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4186s) Whoo. All right. [1:10:00](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4200s) Chairman Gullett [1:10:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4204s) Chairman Gullett. [1:10:18](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4218s) Chairman Gullett and a whole passel of healthcare professionals. Gentleman's recognized. [1:10:24](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4224s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today we're honored to welcome neurologists and future neurologists from Augusta University Medal College- Medical College of Georgia, who are here advocating on behalf of the field of neurology, and more importantly, on behalf of Georgia patients and Georgia families they serve every day. Wanna welcome Dr. Ratnay, he's my friend, president of the Georgia Neurological Society and assistant professor. Dr. Switzer, professor and, and chair of neurology. Dr. Wallace, assistant professor of neurology. [1:10:55](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4255s) And Dr. Newton's gonna recognize the remainder. [1:10:58](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4258s) Thank you, uh, Chairman. Th- this body's put a lot of effort into expanding residency programs, so I do wanna re- re- recognize to, uh, three of our future neurologists that are, uh, that are in their training. Dr. Jocknell Brown, if you can stand. Dr. Robert Hill. And then a medical student in his first year, but in the s- uh, president of the section of neurology interest group, is, uh, Ryan Dickson. So if you three that are representing the future of neurology, along with these great researchers, thank you for all the work y'all are doing, and welcome to the Capitol. [1:11:26](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4286s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [1:11:39](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4299s) Representative Beckles. Lady's recognized. [1:11:45](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4305s) And friends. Lady's recognized. [1:11:50](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4310s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [1:11:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4316s) Today is Sports Medicine Day at the Capitol, hosted by Super Bowl champion and CEO of ProLevel Recovery, Andrew Adams. Some of you stopped by for breakfast and a massage earlier this morning. As legislators, we spend our days moving quickly between committees, meetings, and important work of lawmaking. While we take pride in the work we do, it is also important to remember the value of taking a moment to pause, breathe, and recover. Welcome, Andrew Adams. [1:12:26](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4346s) Please stand and be recognized. [1:12:34](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4354s) Mr. Speaker, I still have a space for you to get your massage. I yield the well. [1:12:40](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4360s) What time? [1:12:42](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4362s) 11:00. [1:12:43](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4363s) I could go now. [1:12:44](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4364s) My district. [1:12:46](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4366s) Just saying. Representative Beckles, let's send him, send him over to the Senate. They probably... We need some massage, some legislation over in the Senate. That'd be that part. Representative Lim, gentleman's recognized. And friends. [1:13:03](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4383s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative Jasmine- Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative Jasmine Clark and I are very happy to welcome the Meadow Creek High School boys basketball team. We are honoring them with a House resolution because they are this year's Region 7 6A champions, winning their first region championship in 20 years. We also congratulate them on their playoff run, making it all the way to the quarterfinals, finishing with a 24-7 record, and ultimately picking up some honors as well from the Georgia Basketball Coaches Association. [1:13:34](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4414s) Congrats to Coach Terry Smith, Assistant Coach Dominique Davis, Eric Smith, Sean Smith, and all the players. Go Mustangs. And team, would you please stand so we can give you all a warm welcome and applause? [1:13:50](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4430s) It's good to have the kids come out tonight. [1:13:54](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4434s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We yield the well. [1:13:59](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4439s) Meadow Creek. Meadow Creek. Congratulations, y'all. Uh, good to have y'all. Sounds like you had a good year to me. [1:14:16](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4456s) This year and next year. They look mighty young up there. So congratulations, Coach. And you got a good team there. Appreciate y'all being here. Representative Park Cannon. Lady's recognized for a morning order. [1:14:37](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4477s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today we come to honor the Black midwives across Georgia. In 2023, Jamara Amaní and other key midwifery stakeholders got the first resolution honoring March 14th as Black Midwives Day. And for the past three years here in Georgia, we've been doing it as an annual recognition. We do hope there can be a longstanding effort to understand the work that these midwives are doing. They are having a reception today from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM in Cobb Room 502. [1:15:12](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4512s) You are welcome to join them. And with us right now are two of those midwives among the many who are here, and if you would stand. [1:15:23](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4523s) I would like to just add a special note that the former representative from District 56 used to talk a lot about reproductive justice and midwives, and that's because she was best friends with Mama Nazra. And many of us as doulas and birth workers came up under Mama Nazra, came up under Mama Saran. We just thank you for what you do, and the hands that you have used to bring babies into this world. Congratulations, and happy National Midwives Day. Bye. [1:15:54](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4554s) Thank you. Good to have y'all. Appreciate what y'all do, too. Take care of your neighbors. Thanks. Thanks for being here. [1:16:05](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4565s) Chairman Cheokas, then Chairman Hilton [1:16:14](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4574s) And Leader Efstration, this should be interesting. [1:16:21](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4581s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, we have the pleasure of recognizing, uh, the students and staff from the Greek Orthodox Annunciation Day School, located here in Atlanta. These exceptional students not only learn the curriculum necessary for high school graduation, but also become fluent in modern Greek language and are working to receive their Georgia Seal of Literacy in that language. They're standing up over there on my left. Accompanying the students today, uh, we have, um, uh, Adam Greenwood, who is the head of the school, Sos- uh, Sophia Chiotis, and she's the, um, communications and development director, Kaliope Chicourika, who is also a teacher, and then, uh, with the group, we have Constantinos Adamopoulos, who is the Greek consul. [1:17:16](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4636s) So please wave, guys. Anyway, the significance of this is that this coming March 25th will mark the 205th anniversary of the Greek War on Independence. They were greatly outnumbered, but with an unending love of country and democracy, the people of Greece declared their independence on March 25th, 1821 from the oppressive Ottoman Muslim Turkish Empire. [1:17:47](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4667s) The people of Greece were inspired by the American Revolution of 1776. And as a matter of fact, our first US president, George Washington, is praised in the Greek national anthem. The peoples of Greece and the United States have maintained an unshakable bond for over two centuries. Thank you. Please join me in welcoming. Thank you very much. [1:18:20](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4700s) That's awesome information. Thanks for that. Thanks for being with us. I was concerned you were gonna sing it. That's what I was worried about. Chairman Hilton is recognized for a morning order. [1:18:34](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4714s) Then the pro tem of this house is gonna be recognized for our final morning order. You have friends with you as well. [1:18:40](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4720s) Yep. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a group of charter schools here today at the Capitol for Charter School Day, uh, sponsored by the Georgia Charter School Association, Georgia Reads, Liberty Classical, Resurgence Hall. We met with them this morning, and one thing I think, Mr. Speaker, you'd be interested to hear is they are already employing literacy coaches within some of their schools, and they are seeing best practices and tremendous gains in literacy from that. And so i- if this, uh, Northwest Classical, I think they're up there in the gallery. If you guys would stand, please be recognized by this body. [1:19:12](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4752s) Thank you. No, no, you stay. You stay. You're better looking than I am. Mike, I'm barely ... Perfect. Charter schools are public schools, and they do a fantastic job in our state, and we're grateful for you. Thank you. [1:19:33](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4773s) Pro Tem Jan Jones is recognized. Members, if you'll give the lady in the well, and a very special guest who's been to this house a number of times who's in the gallery, so ... And Chairman Martin, give them your attention, please. Let me get their attention, Pro Tem. [1:19:53](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4793s) My friends in the gallery, I want them to recognize my friend. [1:19:57](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4797s) Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, we're gonna recognize and commend Audrey Catella, Miss Georgia 2025. You may remember, she came earlier this year and performed for us. And we wanna recognize your unwavering commitment to education, service, and leadership, Audrey. Uh, she was not only Miss Georgia 2025, representing our state, she was third runner-up in the Miss America 2026 competition. She's very busy woman with her c- a community service initiative aimed at reducing school dropout rates, and she's also classically trained in violin and piano. [1:20:39](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4839s) She exemplifies the ideals of integrity, leadership, and dedication, bringing pride to herself, her family, the city of Milton, where she's from, and the state of Georgia. Please join me in recognizing Audrey Catella. [1:21:02](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4862s) She's joined by her family and the Miss Georgia Scholarship Competition Board of Directors. Thank you. [1:21:14](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4874s) Welcome back. Anytime you wanna come back here, you know you're more than welcome. Thanks for representing our state and for all the good things you stand for, and all those supporting her in the pageant. We appreciate what y'all do. Thank you for that. We appreciate you all. Thanks for being here. [1:22:07](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4927s) Members, es- that concludes our morning orders. I think we're at a point we can move on to the rules calendar. [1:22:20](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4940s) Mr. Clerk will read the caption to Senate Bill 524. 524. [1:22:29](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4949s) Senate Bill 524 by Senator Harbin of the 16th and others to be titled an act to amend Code Section 40-2-86 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating to license plates promoting or supporting certain agencies, funds, or nonprofit corporations so as to establish a specialty license plate honoring the Girl Scouts of Georgia. This bill having been referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, that committee recommends that this bill do pass. [1:23:11](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=4991s) Chairman Clint Crowe is recognized to present Senate Bill 524. Gentleman's recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we ha- There we go. Members, this is a bill that will create a special license plate honoring the Girl Scouts of Georgia. Um, you see it displayed up on the screen here. Uh, the funds raised by this plate will be dispersed to the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia. Uh, it's really done to honor this organization that, uh, has meant a lot to so many young girls around the state. [1:23:48](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5028s) This bill will also create another license plate, uh, since it, we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of America this year. It also creates a plate that commemorates the anniversary of the United States of America's independence. Uh, and the design includes a phrase, "250 years of freedom and liberty" in place of the county decal, and we have a rendering of that as well. You see it up here on the screen. Uh, that's the bill, Mr. Speaker, and I'll be happy to yield for any questions. Gentleman has no questions. I yield the will. [1:24:20](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5060s) Gentleman's yielded the will. Is there any objection to the previous question being ordered? Hearing none, the previous question is ordered. Is there any objection to agreeing to the report of the committee, which was favorable to the passage of the bill? Hearing none, the report of the committee is agreed to. Shall this bill now pass? All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote, bill will vote yes. Those opposed will vote no. And Mr. Clerk will unlock the machine. [1:25:36](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5136s) Have all members voted? For what purpose has Representative Carlton? He waits. All members now voted. If so, Mr. Clerk will lock the machine. On the passage of Senate Bill 524, the yeas are 155, the nays are 0. This bill, having received the requisite constitutional majority, is therefore passed. [1:26:01](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5161s) Mr. Clerk, will you read the caption to Senate Bill 435? 4-3-5. Senate Bill 435 by Senator Goodman of the 8th and others to be entitled an act to amend the Official Code of Georgia Annotated so as to rename the Georgia Development Authority as the Georgia Agricultural Development Authority. This bill having been referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, that committee recommends that this bill do pass. [1:26:33](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5193s) Chairman Meeks is recognized to present Senate Bill 435. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen, I bring to you House Bill 435, uh, as passed by the Senate. Uh, simply adds agriculture to the name of the Georgia Development Authority. It's a departmental bill. Apparently, we have some constituencies across our state confusing, uh, what Georgia Development Authority does and what GFDA does and their different missions. So we're just adding, uh, agriculture to the Georgia Development Agriculture Authority, uh, title. So with that, uh, Mr. [1:27:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5224s) Speaker, I yield for any questions. Gentleman has no questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield the will and ask for your favorable considerations. Gentleman's yielded the will. Is there any objection to the previous question being ordered? Hearing none, the previous question is ordered. Is there any objection to agreeing to the report of the committee, which was favorable to the passage of the bill? Hearing none, the report of the committee is agreed to. Shall this bill now pass? All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote yes. All those opposed will vote no. And Mr. Clerk will unlock the machine. [1:28:00](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5280s) All members voted. All members voted. If so, Mr. Clerk will lock the machine. On the passage of Senate Bill 435, the yeas are 154, the nays are 0. This bill, having received the requisite constitutional majority, is therefore passed. [1:28:38](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5318s) Members, we're going to ... [1:28:42](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5322s) We have a bill that we can take further action on, and that's what we're gonna do right now. We're gonna recognize Representative Chas Cannon for a motion. [1:28:54](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5334s) Mr. Speaker, I move that the House agree to the Senate substitute of House Bill 244. [1:29:00](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5340s) Mr. Clerk, will you read the caption? [1:29:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5344s) House Bill 244 by Representative Cannon, the 172nd, to be entitled an Act to amend Code section 36-81-7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating to audit of financial affairs and transactions. [1:29:18](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5358s) Representative Cannon is recognized to explain the Senate substitute. [1:29:24](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5364s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. House Bill 244, which pertains to local government audit requirements, made it to the Senate last session, almost made it to the floor on sine die. Got there about 8:30 PM, so it didn't quite get there. Uh, having said that, the Senate wanted to make two small targeted changes to the bill in coordination with the state auditor's office. I'll walk you through the two changes, two small tweaks. Number one is clarifying that the special purpose framework outlined in the bill applies to all local governments with expenditures of $2.5 million or less. [1:29:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5396s) This is primarily a technical clarification. And number two, the House-passed version required audit cooperation primarily from county constitutional officers. The Senate substitute broadens that to include public officers and employees serving local governments to include state officers and employees specifically assigned to that local government. Mr. Speaker, these are the two small changes, and I will stand for any questions. [1:30:20](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5420s) Gentleman has no questions. [1:30:22](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5422s) I yield the way. I ask for your favorable consideration, Senate substitute, House Bill 244. [1:30:27](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5427s) On the gentleman's motion that the House agree to the Senate substitute to House Bill 244, all those in favor will vote yes. Those opposed will vote no. And Mr. Clerk will unlock the machines. [1:31:00](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5460s) Have all members voted? [1:31:05](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5465s) Take your time. I got you. [1:31:19](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5479s) All members voted? If so, Mr. Clerk will lock the machines. On the gentleman's motion that the House agree to the Senate substitute for House Bill 244, the yays are 151, the nays are four, and the House has agreed to the Senate substitute to House Bill 244. [1:31:48](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5508s) Mr. Clerk, will you read the caption of Senate Bill 432? 432. [1:31:54](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5514s) Senate Bill 432 by Senator Walker, the 20th and others, to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating to education so as to extend automatic repeals of certain provisions regarding non-lapsing revenue of institutions of the University System of Georgia. This bill having been referred to the Committee on Higher Education, that committee recommends that this, that this bill do pass. [1:32:20](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5540s) The Speaker Pro Tem of this Georgia House is recognized to present Senate Bill 432. Representative Jones. [1:32:29](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5549s) Thank, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, House members, I'd like to ask for your favorable consideration of Senate Bill 432, which you will see on page two makes one change. It extends, uh, an expiration date from July of 2026 to July of 2031. This has been in effect since 2003. It allows revenues collected by TCSG and the regents from tuition, departmental sales and services, continuing education fees, technology fees, and other fees to not lapse as long as it does not exceed 3% of the tues- tuition collected. [1:33:17](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5597s) That's all the bill does. I'm happy to answer any questions. [1:33:24](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5604s) Lady has no questions. [1:33:25](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5605s) Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield the well. [1:33:35](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5615s) Is there any objection to the previous question being ordered? Hearing none, the previous question is ordered. Is there any objection to agreeing to the report of the committee, which was favorable to the passage of the bill? Hearing none, the report of the committee is agreed to. Shall this bill now pass? All in favor the passage of the bill will vote yes. Those opposed will vote no. And Mr. Clerk will unlock the machine. [1:34:57](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5697s) Have all members voted? All members voted. If so, Mr. Clerk will lock the machine. On the passage of Senate Bill 432, the yays are 153, the nays are two. This bill having received a requisite constitutional majority is therefore passed. Mr. Clerk, will you read the caption of Senate Bill 160, 160. Senate Bill 160 by Senator Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and others to be titled an act to amend Code Section 46-390.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating to reckless stunt driving. [1:35:32](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5732s) This bill having been referred to the Committee on Motor Vehicles, said committee recommends that this bill do pass by committee substitute. [1:35:46](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5746s) Chairman Clint Crowe is recognized to present Senate Bill 160. Give the gentleman in the well your attention, please. Representative Crowe is recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, members, if you'll remember, a couple years ago we passed Senate Bill 10 on reckless stunt driving, and since that time, this behavior has continued to be a problem around the state. Events where people are laying drag and doing donuts are spread on social media, creating a great risk to the public. Recent incidents have involved Atlanta, Brookhaven, DeKalb County, Lithia Springs, and other locations. [1:36:19](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5779s) And law enforcement is frequently dealing with these multi-jurisdictional issues, and people continue to be injured in these incidents. Last year, this bill was introduced, um, putting, uh, interlock or intelligent speed assistance devices. Um, it was introduced and substituted into a bill, and that bill ultimately passed the legislature. Uh, however, that bill was vetoed by the governor. And since then, Senator Kirkpatrick and others have worked with the governor's office for several months to accommodate their recommendations on implementation. [1:36:55](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5815s) This bill today is about behavior change. Uh, intelligent speed assistance devices, uh, are devices that prevent an operator from exceeding a s- preset speed, creates a pathway for a person with a suspended license due to a reckless stunt driving conviction to apply for a limited driving permit by having an ISA placed on their vehicle. The other portion of the bill matches the ignition interlock device law and puts DDS in charge of rules and regulations per NHTSA standards and certifying the devices. The devices can use GPS technology to govern speed based on the limit. [1:37:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5848s) It ultimately is designed to make our roadways safer, but help people get back on the road, uh, so they can get back and forth to work. And that's the bill, Mr. Speaker, and I'll be happy to yield for any questions. [1:37:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5876s) The gentleman has a question. Uh, Minority Leader Hugley. Leader Hugley right in front, recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the gentleman yield? Yes, ma'am. So can you speak to the e- exclusions in the bill for dri- certain drivers? Why are they excluded, drivers under 21, those with a commercial driver's license? Yeah, I think that was part of the, the discussion with the governor's office. Um, you know, drivers under 21 are not as experienced, and so y- you wanna make sure that, uh, you, you get them a little more experience before they get back on the road. [1:38:36](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5916s) The other question I have, if you would further yield. I will. Uh, is the effective date. W- why are we a year out, July 2028? Uh, to give time to get the policies implemented and get the s- uh, rules and regulations in place. And then one final question, if you will yield. I will. Um, how many options in terms of, uh, commercial entities that provide this type of interlocking devices, are there multiple options, or is this just one company? [1:39:09](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5949s) Yes, ma'am, I believe there are multiple options that provide this device. Thank you so much. Yes, ma'am. Mr. Speaker, if there's no further questions, I will yield the will and ask for this body's favorable consideration. You have, uh, one more question from Representative Sanchez. Okay, I'll take it. [1:39:26](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5966s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the gentleman yield? I will. Yeah, so I believe this, the version that passed the Senate replaced the forfeiture penalty with speed limiters. Is there a reason we brought that back in the House version? I'm sorry, which line are you referring to? Let me check. [1:39:55](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=5995s) I believe it's, you know, most of it, considering the Senate version was much shorter, but ... Yeah, there's a House, uh, substitute here, so. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. All right. Mr. Speaker, I'll yield the will and ask for favorable consideration. Okay. The gentleman has yielded the will. He had a couple more questions, but he's yielded the will. Is there any objection to the previous question being ordered? Hearing none, the previous question is ordered. Is there any objection to adopting the committee substitute? Hearing none, the committee substitute is adopted. [1:40:27](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6027s) Is there any objection to agreeing to the report of the committee, which was favorable to the passage of the bill? Hearing none, the report of the committee is agreed to. Shall this bill now pass? All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote yes. Those opposed will vote no. And Mr. Clerk will unlock the machines. [1:41:08](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6068s) Have all members voted? All members voted? [1:41:22](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6082s) All members voted? If so, Mr. Clerk will lock the machine. On the passage of Senate Bill 160, the yays are 130, the nays are 26. This bill having received the requisite constitutional majority is therefore passed. [1:41:42](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6102s) Mr. Clerk, will you read the caption to Senate Bill 177, 177. [1:41:50](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6110s) Senate Bill 177 by Senator Anna Nevard, the 31st and others to be entitled An Act to Amend Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating to government transparency and campaign finance. So as to provide for the transparency in foreign-funded political activities within the state. This bill having been referred to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure Innovation. That committee recommends that this bill do pass by Rules committee substitute. [1:44:20](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6260s) Members, we're gonna suspend from the Rules calendar just for a few minutes. And, uh, recognize a very distinguished Georgian who happens to be a former member of this House. That's Chair Lady Penny Housten. And I'm gonna rec- [1:44:50](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6290s) She's just listened to me, and she never listened to me before. I don't know how that works out, but. So we're gonna recognize Representative, Representative Jaclyn Ford and friends to speak to, uh, some information on Representative Housten. So if you wanna join her in the well, this would be the appropriate time. [1:45:11](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6311s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And- [1:45:14](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6314s) Lady, we'll suspend just for a moment. You've got some other friends. [1:45:23](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6323s) I'm not sure if they're your friends or Penny's friends, but- We're gonna let them come down. [1:45:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6328s) What? [1:45:29](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6329s) I think they're your friends, Penny. [1:45:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6330s) I think they're her friends. [1:45:32](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6332s) It's good to see you, Carl. [1:45:34](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6334s) I think they are Representative Penny Housten's friends. [1:45:40](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6340s) The lady's recognized. [1:45:42](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6342s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, and I think this is well earned and, uh, that, that re- former Representative Housten stops the show when she comes in. So, um, we have a resolution honoring her, whereas the Honorable Penny Housten was raised in Leary, Georgia, and graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, and from the University of Georgia. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 1997 and tirelessly represented the interest of her constituents in District 170 for nearly three decades. [1:46:17](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6377s) She served as chairperson of the Appropriations Subcommittee for Economic Development, Tourism and on the Ways and Means, Banks and Banking, Economic Development and Tourism, Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight and Appropriations Committees and Rural Development Council. She's a woman of deep abiding faced, faith and is an active member of Nashville United Methodist Church. Her leadership and guidance have been instrumental for numerous organizations in her counties of Berrien, Tift, and Cook, and she's a lifelong advocate for children. [1:46:51](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6411s) Representative Housten has been involved with the Georgia Sheriff's Youth Homes for more than 30 years and is a member emeritus of the Georgia Sheriff's Boys Ranch board in Hahira and serves on the advisory board of the Atlanta Speech School. She is abundantly fitting, and it is proper that she's, for her remarkable and distinguished acts, that she is recognized by we named a roundabout in her honor. I thank her what, for what she's meant to me and what she's meant to this state. [1:47:21](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6441s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [1:47:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6450s) Thank you. Well, well, if, if I knew I'd gotten this kind of reception, I would've come a long time ago. I'll see y'all next month. This is wonderful. This, this place is home, and I want you to, to understand the best thing that'll ever happen to you when you're a representative are the friends you make, and they're lifetime friends. You can never have any better friends than this, even though you might get on a few. And I, I wanna tell the gentleman on the, on the front row, this is the best day of my life. Thank you. [1:48:01](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6481s) And I c- every, every one of y'all have a special place in my heart, and this place does, too. This is really home, and it'll be home to you. And thank you for serving, and thank you for the friendship, and thank you for loving me and, and making me feel special. I look at Mary Margaret, and she's helped so many boys at the Boys Ranch, but now my mission has changed. I'm with the, was appointed several years ago to the Methodist Children's Home, and we have a tax credit at the Methodist Children's Home. We'd be glad- [1:48:31](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6511s) If you ... And that's a tax credit I approve of. [1:48:37](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6517s) But anyway, thank you, and may God bless each one of you, and, and may God continue to bless America. And I, I, I just love all of you. And, and I hope I get to visit with everybody. And listen, with this, I, I'll come back next week. Thank you so much. Goodbye, and I hope I get to visit. [1:49:01](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6541s) I don't think she likes me. [1:49:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6544s) She did. I think she loved it. [1:49:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6544s) Oh, God, yeah. You can tell. [1:49:06](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6546s) Mm-hmm. [1:49:09](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6549s) Thank you, members. Um, I don't know a- of em- of a member of this House since I've been here for a number of years any more beloved than, than Chair Lady Houston. But her work speaks, uh, for itself because she truly, truly cares about her neighbor. There's no doubt about that. So thank you for continuing to do that. Even though you're no longer an active member of this House, you'll always be a member of this House and a member of this family. So thank you. [1:50:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6628s) I know you all want to, uh, have a moment with this great lady, so we're gonna ask you to join in that south anteroom. We're gonna take up a bill. But we're gonna suspend just for a moment or two. Won't be long, then we'll get back to work on Senate Bill 177. So members, bear with me. We're gonna suspend just for a moment or two. [1:53:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6836s) Thank you, members. Members, we'll move back onto the rules calendar. [1:54:00](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6840s) I'd honor read it. [1:54:02](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6842s) Let's, uh- [1:54:07](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6847s) To ensure everyone knows where we are and which bill we're on, I'm gonna ask the clerk to read the caption to Senate Bill 177 again. Mr. Clerk. Senate Bill 177 by Senator Eric Advarney of the 31st and others to be entitled an act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating to government transparency in campaign finance so as to provide for transparency in foreign-funded political activities within the state. This bill having been referred to the Committee on Technology, Infrastructure, and Innovation, that committee recommends that this bill do pass by rules committee substitute. [1:54:58](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6898s) Chairman Joseph Gullett is recognized to present Senate Bill 177. Gentleman's recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Bring to you Senate Bill 177, and quite simply, this is a transparency bill. It requires disclosure in political activity in Georgia that's conducted on behalf of a hostile foreign government or entities under their control. Before explaining how this bill works, I wanna be clear about what this legislation does not do. [1:55:31](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6931s) This bill does not prevent companies from doing business in Georgia. It does not regulate foreign investment and it does not affect manufacturing, hiring, or job creation in our state. Georgia's economy is global. Companies from around the world invest here, build factories here, and employ thousands of Georgians. And for that, we welcome those jobs and that investment. This bill regulates political activity, not business activity, and that distinction is important. [1:56:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6964s) This bill applies to political activity connected to governments that are designated as foreign adversaries by the United States Secretary of Commerce. If a person or entity is acting on the behalf or as an agent of a hostile foreign principal and engaging in political activity in Georgia, such as lobbying government officials or attempting to influence public policy, public policy, they must register with the State Ethics Commission and disclose that relationship. This is about transparency. [1:56:35](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=6995s) That registration must occur within 10 days and it simply provi- provides basic disclosure information so policy- policymakers and the public can understand who may be behind that advocacy. This bill also requires organizations engaged in political activity in Georgia to disclose if they have received a contribution or donation of money or other things of value from a hostile foreign principal within the previous five years. Importantly, this bill exemptions, includes exemptions for industry and trade associations and other professional organizations, recognizing that legitimate business groups advocate on behalf of their members and should not be swept into a framework simply because one member company may have foreign ties. [1:57:17](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7037s) And again, to reiterate, this legislation does not prohibit advocacy. It does not restrict lawful business activity. It simply requires transparency when advocacy in Georgia may be conducted on behalf of a hostile foreign government or entities under their control. Transparency protects policymakers, transparency protects voters, and transparency ultimately strengthens public trust in our institutions. Members, this bill ensures that when political advocacy occurs in Georgia on behalf of hostile foreign governments, that relationship's disclosed so policymakers and the public can evaluate that advocacy with a full understanding of who may be behind it. [1:57:55](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7075s) Mr. Speaker, that's the bill, and I ask for your favorable consideration. Happy to answer a couple of questions. [1:58:03](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7083s) Gentleman has a couple of questions. Will you yield? I will. Uh, Representative Gissler, to your right, about halfway back to your right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, does the gentleman yield? I do. Um, I appreciate the bill. I appreciate what it's try- attempting to do. It's a problem that needs to be resolved. My concern is in the definition of foreign-supported political organization. There's a, an exemption for organizations that are formed on or before January 1st, 1950, and I was curious about why that date and what the logic is behind that. [1:58:40](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7120s) Yep. So I, I assume that there's, uh, some organizations before that date that, um, the world was different and, uh, that that's an exemption for them, um, at that time. That was, that was part of the bill that came over from the Senate. It's never changed or stated to the, n- never changed from the bill, um, and is still there today. Will you yield for one more question? Sure. Um, a few years ago, there was a, a federal investigation that determined that there was funding from Russia that went to the NRA. Wouldn't this exemption exempt them from that, from that, oop, from having to provide the reporting in this bill? [1:59:17](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7157s) I think it would exempt any organization that was formed before January 1st, 1950. So if they were formed before then and, and I don't know that to be true or just, just true. How about that? Okay. Thank you. Sure. Gentleman, will you yield for one more? I do. Representative Cameron to your right, towards the back. Does the gentleman yield? I do, my friend. Uh, isn't it true that I support this legislation? That's true. And does the gentleman further yield? I do. Isn't it true that there's a corporation in my community, in my district, uh, Roper, who's owned by General Electric, who is consequently owned by Haier, a Chinese concern? [1:59:52](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7192s) Yes, that's true. All right, and one other. Uh, isn't it true that General Motors, uh, asked me to express a couple of things? First, uh, they're concerned on how this is gonna affect their plant in Banestow and other employees, and also they have some constitutionality questions. [2:00:07](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7207s) But I will be supporting the bill. I appreciate that. I, I would just say that, um, all this does is, is require transparency. And so if you are owned or controlled by an entity that the United States considers a foreign adversary, all you need to do is go to the campaign, uh, to the Elections Ethics Office, sorry, the Ethics Office, and file a disclosure saying that you're representing a country or a company that is, uh, either owned or controlled by a foreign adversary of the United States. [2:00:37](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7237s) Appreciate your comments. I appreciate it. And thank you for all the discussion on this bill that we've had. Thank you. You bet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Gentleman has no further questions. I ask for your favorable consideration and, uh, I yield the floor. Gentleman's yield, yielded the will. We have, um, a number of folks who have signed up to speak for the bill, then we have a minority report, and then we'll have the chair's time. There's five of you signed up that are opposed to the bill. You'll have up to three minutes each. That's 15 minutes to speak to the bill. [2:01:09](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7269s) And I'll ask if you will. [2:01:25](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7285s) Yes, we'll put 15 minutes on the timer, and then we'll break when you step down till the next member comes up. We'll start with Representative Draper, and then Representative Tran, you'll be on deck. The lady's recognized. All right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, so I want to address two things today. Constitutional problems with SB 177, and a question of consistency that this chamber owes itself to confront. So on the issue of constitutional problems, the federal government already regulates federal agents through the Foreign Agents Registration Act, FARA, which is administered by the Department of Justice. [2:02:00](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7320s) FARA has governed the disclosure of foreign influence in American political activity since 1938. It is a comprehensive federal scheme covering agents of foreign principals, their political activities, their funding relationships, and their disclosure obligations. When a state enacts legislation in a field that Congress has occupied, the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution requires that federal law prevail where the two conflict. SB 177 creates registration and disclosure requirements that overlap substantially with FARA, covering the same actors, the same categories of conduct, the same financial relationships, but applies different standards, different definitions, different deadlines, and different penalties. [2:02:50](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7370s) An organization that is compliant with federal FARA requirements may nonetheless find itself out of compliance with SB 177 and vice versa. That conflict is not hypothetical. It is built into the bill's structure. Federal preemption litigation is a foreseeable consequence of enacting this bill, and Georgia taxpayers will bear the cost of defending it. The preemption problem is compounded by a structural incoherence that this chamber should not overlook. [2:03:25](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7405s) The bill cannot even define its own scope without deferring to federal authority. It incorporates the Secretary of Commerce's Foreign Adversary de- Designation list by reference. Georgia is simultaneously claiming independent state regulatory authority over foreign influence and admitting it cannot define hostile foreign country without looking to Washington. That contradiction does not just invite preemption litigation, it proves the preemption point. [2:03:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7436s) There is an additional constitutional dimension here that I do want to name directly because it speaks to a principle that members on the other side of the aisle like to invoke frequently. The regulation of foreign affairs and foreign agents is, under the Constitution, primarily a federal function. The conduct of foreign relations, the designation of foreign adversaries, and the regulation of foreign influence in American political life are areas where the federal government holds primary authority. When Georgia delegates the designation of hostile foreign countries to the US Secretary of Commerce, effectively incorporating a federal regulatory list that does not control and creates its own registration regime for agents of those countries, it is stepping into a domain that the Constitution reserves principally to the federal government. [2:04:48](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7488s) I raise this not because I disagree that the countries currently on that federal list pose foreign influence risks. I raise it rather because this chamber regularly hears arguments about the importance of limiting federal overreach into state authority. The Tenth Amendment is invoked here with some frequency to argue that states should be left to govern their own affairs. Well, that principle cuts in both directions. When states attempt to regulate foreign affairs, an area the Constitution assigns to the national government, they invite exactly the kind of fe- federal preemption they claim to resist in other contexts. [2:05:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7528s) You cannot simultaneously agree that the federal government should stay out of the state business and that Georgia should be in the business of designating foreign adversaries and regulating their agents. Now, let me address the consistency problem. The sponsors of this bill have asked us to take seriously the threat of foreign-funded political activity in Georgia. I do take it seriously. What I cannot do is accept the premise that this concern is being applied consistently, not when the political party presenting this bill has a documented record of tolerating enabling, and in some cases directly profiting from precisely the kind of foreign financial entanglement that this bill claims to target. [2:06:21](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7581s) Consider the record on China specifically, one of the four countries this bill doesn't ha- While members of the party sponsoring this bill have loudly invoked the threat of Chinese influence in American institutions, Jared Kushner's firm secured approximately $400 million in financing from Chinese state-linked investors for a Manhattan skyscraper project during and after his time as senior White House advisor. Ivanka Trump received Chinese trademark approvals, including for voting machines and construction materials, during the same period her father was engaged in active trade negotiations with Beijing. [2:06:59](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7619s) These are not opposition research talking points. They are documented transactions that occurred while the administration was simultaneously asking the American public to be alarmed about Chinese influence in our institutions. The pattern extends to the broader question of foreign financial relationships and political accountability. The Trump organization maintained active licensing and branding agreements with foreign government, government-linked partners and throughout both terms in office, in potential violation of the Emoluments Clause, a constitutional provision specifically designed to prevent foreign governments from gaining financial leverage over American office holders. [2:07:43](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7663s) Legal challenges to those arrangements were ultimately dismissed on procedural grounds, not on the merits, but the underlying conduct, an American president retaining financial relationships with foreign entities while setting foreign policy towards those same countries, is exactly what a serious foreign influence transparency law would be designed to protect. The party sponsoring SB 177 spent years arguing that those arrangements raised no legitimate concern. [2:08:17](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7697s) The selective architecture is not merely an interference from political context. It is written into the bill's text. Section 21595 of this substitute explicitly exempts entities covered by Executive Order 14352, signed by President Trump on September 25th 2025. This bill creates a foreign influence registration regime and then carves out, by name, entities protected by a Trump executive order. A Georgia nonprofit that received a small international grant five years ago must register quarterly under a penalty of a $200,000 per violation. [2:08:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7736s) An entity shielded by this president's executive order does not. The sponsors have written their political preferences directly into the exemptions, and this chamber should call that out for what it is. That's not a minor inconsistency. It is a fundamental one. A foreign influence disclosure law sponsored by a party that actively defended foreign financial entanglements at the highest level of the executive branch, and that applied no scrutiny to those arrangements while demanding registration and quarterly disclosures from Georgia nonprofits and advocacy organizations. [2:09:31](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7771s) That does not arrive at this chamber with clean hands. This bill is not a principle transparency measure. It is a selective one, and selective enforcement of foreign influence law is more dangerous to democracy than no enforcement at all, because it concentrates prosecutorial power against political opponents while immunizing those in power. Mr. Speaker, this bill has constitutional problems rooted in federal preemption and in the boundaries of the Consti- boundaries the Constitution draws around foreign affairs regulation. [2:10:05](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7805s) And it contradicts the federalism principles that members on the other side of this aisle, other side of the aisle apply in every other context. And it is being offered by a political party whose record on foreign influence accountability makes the stated justification for this bill impossible to accept at face value. Genuine transparency in foreign-funded political activity is worth legislating. This bill does not achieve that. It creates selective, constitutionally vulnerable enforcement tools and asks this chamber to trust that they will be applied fairly by the same political movement that spent years insisting that far more direct and documented foreign financial relationships required no scrutiny at all. [2:10:52](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7852s) I urge my colleagues to vote no on SB 177. Mr. Ye- Speaker, I yield the floor. [2:10:57](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7857s) The lady has yielded the well. The chair recognizes Representative Tran to speak to the bill. There are fi- about six minutes left. [2:11:13](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7873s) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Members of the changer- chamber, I rise today to speak against Senate Bill 177. I want to focus on something that is of serious concern, and that is the economic consequences this bill will create for the state of Georgia. Georgia is one of the most globally connected economies in the Southeast. Our farm- farmers export agricultural products across the world. Our manufacturers depend on international supply chains. [2:11:45](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7905s) And the Port of Savannah, one of the busiest container por- ports in the United States, moves billions of dollars in goods through our state each year. International trade is not a side issue for Georgia. It is a central pillar of our growing economy. The concern about foreign influence is a legitimate one. But the problem with SB177 is that it uses an extremely broad definition of what constitutes a foreign-supported political organization. [2:12:19](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7939s) Under this bill, any organization that receives something of value from an entity connected to a designated hostile country within the past five years and then engages in political activity could be required to register with the state, file quarterly disclosures, and face civil penalties of up to $200,000 per violation. Now, think about how wide that net really is. A Georgia company that has a supply agreement, a research partnership, or even a licensing agreement with an entity that has ties to a foreign government could potentially fall into this category. [2:13:02](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=7982s) If that same company later comes to the capital to testify on a regulatory issue, participate in a rulemaking process, or advocate for legislation affecting its industry, it may suddenly be treated as a foreign-supported political organization. That is a massive loophole and an enormous regulatory burden. Instead of targeting foreign governments that may want to influence our politics, this bill risks sweeping in Georgia-based businesses that are simply participating in the global economy. [2:13:39](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8019s) And here is the reality. Those foreign governments, those foreign enemy governments, they're not the ones that are gonna be filling out the paperwork with the State Ethics Commission. They will not be the ones paying the compliance costs. They will not be the ones who face the civil penalties. It will be Georgia businesses. Senate Bill 177 also risks damaging our ability to attract international investment. For decades, Georgia has built a reputation as a stable and predictable place to do business. [2:14:12](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8052s) Companies from around the world invest here because they know Georgia welcomes innovation, trade, and collaboration. When a company's legal team looks at a law like this and sees the mandatory registration, public disclosure requirements, and the risk of major penalties simply for engaging in policy discussions, some of those companies are gonna think twice about relocating to Georgia. And we should not ignore the impact on our universities. [2:14:44](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8084s) Institutions like the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Emory are deeply involved in international research partnerships that bring talent, grants, and innovation to our state. Under the broad definitions in this bill, those institutions could face significant compliance burdens simply for maintaining research collaborations and then speaking to policymakers about education or funding. Mr. Speaker, the biggest flaw in SB77, 177 is this: it creates heavy co- heavy compliance costs for legitimate Georgia businesses, universities, and organizations while doing very little to stop the enemy foreign actors it claims to target. [2:15:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8130s) If we truly want to address foreign influence, we should do so with precision and clarity, not with a policy that risks harming Georgia's economy and discouraging international investment. For the sake of Georgia's business, our universities, and our role in the global economy, I urge you all to vote no to Senate Bill 177. And with that, I yield the floor. [2:15:55](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8155s) Gentleman has yielded the well. The chair recognizes Representative Adesanya to speak to the bill. There's one minute left. [2:16:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8164s) Do you wanna wait? He, he waves. That concludes the time, uh, allotted for the opposition. Is there any objection to the previous question being ordered? The chair hears none. The previous question is ordered. We do have a minority report, and the chair recognizes Whip Park, uh, to speak to the minority report. [2:16:29](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8189s) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Uh, due to the limited amount of time that we are provided for debate, I'll be re- recognizing my comments, or I'll be yielding a portion of my time, uh, to my comments so that they have an opportunity to speak, uh, given that the people deserve, uh, for, for this to be a open public debate. So to begin with, um, I'd like to yield the beginning portion of my time to Representative Segun Adesanya. [2:16:54](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8214s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to SB 177 on straightforward constitutional grounds. Whatever the merits of the policy behind this bill, the instrument before us raises serious First Amendment, due process, and vagueness problems that this chamber should not ignore. The First Amendment protects not only the right to speak, but the right to associate, including the right to associate anonymously and without government-compelled disclosure. [2:17:29](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8249s) The Supreme Court established in NAACP versus Alabama in 1958 that forced disclosure of membership and funding relationships in advocacy organizations can constitute an unconstitutional burden on the freedom of association, particularly when that disclosure exposes members and donors to harassment, retaliation, or chilling of political participation. [2:17:59](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8279s) SB 177 requires comprehensive disclosure of an organization's officers, directors, employees, funding sources, expenditures, and political activities, all filed under oath with a state agency on a quarterly basis. On penalties of civil fines up to $200,000 per violation. The question this chamber must ask is whether that disclosure burden is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest. [2:18:31](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8311s) The bill as written is not narrowly tailored. It reaches any organization that has received any portion of its funding from any source with any connection to any country on a federal regulatory list that Georgia legislator does not control and did not define within the past three years, regardless of whether that funding has any demonstrated nexus to political activity being regulated. That is not a targeted dis- re- disclosure requirement, it is a sweeping one. [2:19:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8344s) The due process clause requires that law gives persons of ordinary intelligence fair notice of what conduct is pre- prohibited. SB 177 fails this test in several places. The definition of control extends to informal arrangements to act in concert and other means, including, but not limited to a list of examples that are expressively non-exhaustive. The bill goes further still. Line 46 of the substitute expressly states that control includes arrangements that are, and I'm quoting directly, "undisclosed." A law that imposes $200,000 penalties for failing to register based on a control relationship the registrant cannot see because the statute itself contemplates that the relationship may be hidden, does not give persons of ordinary intelligence fair notice of anything. [2:20:01](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8401s) It gives them no notice at all. The definition of agent of a hostile foreign principal covers anyone whose actions are financed in whole or in part by a hostile foreign principal without any minimum threshold, without any requirement that the financing be directed towards the regulated po- political activity, and without any guidance on what level of indirect connection triggers coverage. An organization that receives a grant from a foundation that itself received a contribution from a corporation with partial Chinese state ownership may not know, and may have no reason, reasonable way to know that it falls within the bill's scope, yet it faces civil penalties of up to $200,000 per violation for failing to register. [2:20:54](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8454s) A law that imposes substantial penalties for conduct that a reasonable person cannot rela- reliably identify as prohibited does not survive constitutional scrutiny. Finally, the bill's narrow exemptions raise equal protection questions. Industry and trade associations are exempt. Membership organizations before 1950 are exempt. I pause there because it makes me understand what did we look like in 1950 in this chamber. [2:21:29](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8489s) The universe, [2:21:34](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8494s) the universe of organizations not exempt, advocacy nonprofits, civil society groups, research organizations skews in a predictable political direction. When a regulatory burden falls on one category of political actors and not another without principled basis for the distinction, equal protection concerns follow. This bill offers no explanation for why a trade association that receives funding is treatly- treated differently than an advocacy nonprofit that received the same funding engaged in the same political activity. [2:22:12](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8532s) This bill now adds a third exempt category, entities covered by a specific presidential s- executive order making the selective architecture not an inference, but a textual fact. Mr. Speaker, these are not minor technical objections. They are structural constitutional defects in a bill that imposes serious civil and criminal penalties. A law that chills protected association fails to give notice of covered conduct. [2:22:45](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8565s) The government's to seek prior restraint on political speech and applies this burden unevenly, unevenly across the political landscape is not a transparency law, it is a liability for organizations it sweeps in and for this state when it faces legal challenges that follow enactment. I urge my colleagues to vote no on SB 177. [2:23:11](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8591s) Gentleman has yielded the well. The chair recognizes Representative Clark to speak to the bill. [2:23:22](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8602s) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good morning, colleagues. Today I rise in opposition to SB 177, and I do so not because I disagree with the intent of this bill. I agree that we do need to have transparency around foreign influence of political activities in our country and our state. That is why I appreciate that we already require certain reporting under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. But intent and impact do not always align, and when we legislate, we must be very mindful of unintended consequences. [2:24:01](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8641s) Therein lies the problem with SB 177. It is overly broad in nature and risks labeling innocuous, well-meaning organizations as agents of for- hostile principals or foreign-supported political organizations. When we- Legislate in here, we must be mindful that bills are written with precision. This bill is not. If you look at line 51 of the substitute, you will notice that the definition of foreign-supported political organizations includes any partnership, committee, association, corporation, LLC, LLP, trust, professional corporation, or political organization that receives anything of value from a hostile foreign principal or agent of a hostile foreign principal. [2:24:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8696s) The problem with that language, thing of value, is that it is undefined, painstakingly vague, and grossly overbroad. What is a thing of value? Pens bought on Amazon that are branded and shipped from China, electronics used to do business, such as Lenovo laptops like the ones that we were all issued by the State of Georgia, and yes, Lenovo is headquartered in China, or literally anything that may have come from one of the countries on the list. [2:25:35](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8735s) This bill does not stipulate or differentiate between donations versus purchases, and many times this is not completely obvious to these organizations. Most of the time when you order something off of Amazon, you just order, you put your, uh, address in there, and it gets shipped to you. You are not necessarily looking at the specific company that Amazon is shipping that from. So you may not actually be aware of the origins. [2:26:08](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8768s) So organizations and corporations may find themselves out of compliance and subject to huge fines because they don't know. They just didn't know. And if you understand the objectives that have been mentioned by the bill's sponsor here in the House, it's supposed to shine a light on organizations or individuals acting as foreign agents on behalf of a foreign adversarial government, not on nonprofits and other organizations and corporations buying branded pens and laptops. [2:26:49](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8809s) This bill fails to have proper guard, guardrails to do the thing that it says it wants to do. Upon passage, any business association or organization that has any opinion or wants to engage in the democratic process of reaching out to agencies or even us right here in this chamber or at the ropes or in our offices can be deemed a foreign-supported political organization acting on behalf of a foreign adversary for buying office supplies. [2:27:24](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8844s) I urge you all to s- take seriously the consequences of our actions in this chamber. What we do here doesn't just go on our campaign mailers. Passage of this bill will harm businesses. It will harm organizations in your districts. Do you want to be on the record for adding administrative burdens and exorbitant penalties in the hundreds of thousands to the hardworking entrepreneurs and the groups that engage in advocating for members of the community? [2:28:01](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8881s) I urge you all to vote no on this bill. Go back to the drawing board and draw a bill up that actually does what this, the bill sponsor said they, they intended to do. Thank you, Madam Speaker, I yield the well. [2:28:21](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8901s) Ladies yield to the well. Chair recognizes Representative Sanchez to speak. [2:28:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8908s) Thank you, Madam Speaker. Uh, obviously I oppose this bill, as my colleagues has already thoroughly, uh, said. This is very overly broad and poorly written. In fact, it was so poorly written that until the bill was edited this morning in rules, it would've included any campaign that receives anything from a Chinese company. Thank goodness this was addressed so that Donald J. Trump for President 2024 would not be inadvertently targeted. Otherwise, he might have to start sourcing, sourcing his merch from an American manufacturer. Oh, no. But let's be serious for a second. This bill would only be reasonable in a world where some distant, shadowy political operator is systematically influencing election outcomes by funneling foreign state monies through millions of individual small dollar donors, which is obviously not the case because we already have PACs that do that already. [2:29:12](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8952s) Dark money PACs, super PACs, leadership PACs. This bill is fighting an imaginary enemy to distract from the real one. I'm not against stopping foreign influence, nor am I suggesting that foreign influence in our elections is not an issue. It is. But this is not the fundamental issue that Georgians are concerned with right now. Threats to our democracy aren't coming from foreign governments or spies, it's coming from here inside this nation. They're coming from the Epstein class, the billionaires and their friends, the huge corporations who are rewriting our laws while they buy up all of our housing. [2:29:43](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=8983s) They literally rewrote this bill, as was, uh, d- acknowledged in the debate on this floor, where they've exempted any company before 1950 from this bill. They're literally rewriting our laws. If you wanna talk about foreign influence, how about the fact that Israel, along with the military-industrial complex, just dragged us into an u- unnecessary war that no one wants and no one voted for? Stop playing games and let's fight the actual groups who are exerting undue influence on our politics. Vote no on this bill. Thank you. [2:30:13](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9013s) I yield. [2:30:19](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9019s) Gentleman has yielded the well, and Chair recognizes Whip Park for the final remarks on the Whip Report. [2:30:26](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9026s) Thank you, Madam Speaker, and, and thank you for allowing, um, members to speak in opposition to the bill as well. Um, so to take us back specifically to the provisions of SB 177, uh, this bill is asking us to create a state-level foreign influence registry. Um, again, um, myself and then, and my colleagues are primarily concerned about three aspects of the bill that I won't rehash, but I will, uh, just highlight, uh, for everyone. First, this bill's definitions are broad enough to ensha- ensnare legitimate civil society organizations, advocacy groups, and nonprofits that receive any funding, direct or indirect, from sources connected to the countries designated as hostile foreign adversaries by the US Secretary of Commerce, a list this legislature does not control and that can expand or contract by federal executive action without any further action by this body, regardless of whether that funding has any relationship to the political activities being re- regulated. [2:31:33](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9093s) Second, the enforcement mechanism places investigative and prosecutorial discretion in the hands of the attorney general, an elected partisan official, creating a structural risk of selective enforcement against political opponents, similar to what we've seen, uh, impose in other authoritarian regimes around the world. Third, uh, based on how much time I may have, uh, this bill, I think it's, it's important for us to take into consideration the context in which this bill is being offered, a moment in which we have seen, uh, the weaponization of laws like this at the federal level against domestic political opponents. [2:32:14](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9134s) And so I think it's incredibly important, given all of the uncertainty, given all of the issues around the world going on, that we are clear-eyed as to what we are being asked to do in this legislation. Now, as my colleagues previously mentioned, Democrats, we care about foreign interference in our elections, and we believe that given the well-documented issue that this has existed, um, that we do need to take action about this. But this is not the right vehicle to do so. [2:32:49](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9169s) Um, the existing Federal Foreign Agents Registration Act, FARA, it is rightfully under-enforced and has failed to capture the full range of foreign influenced political activity in this country. Certainly, voters also have the right to know when political advocacy directed at them or their elected officials is funded by foreign governments hostile to American interests. However, given the poorly constructed nature of this bill and the current political moment that we're in, this carries far s- more serious and graver represent- uh, repercussions that, again, we must take into consideration before we proceed with voting on this bill. [2:33:36](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9216s) So I wanna highlight two things with the last few remaining minutes that I have. Uh, first, when we are comparing this state-level bill to the federal F- Fa- FARA framework, at the federal level, FARA vests enforcement with the Department of Justice that has historically administered, uh, this program in an, in a manner that is insulated from day-to-day political pressures. SB 177 has no such insulation. [2:34:09](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9249s) That concern is not abstract. Again, uh, we, we've seen, uh, so many well-documented instances, uh, especially at the federal level, of foreign influence, um, uh, impacting our federal government. Let's look at 2016, and again, not trying to rehash partisan allegations, but documented fact. The Mueller investigation produced indictments, guilty pleas, and convictions of individuals in Donald Trump's inner circle for conduct related to Russian contacts. [2:34:43](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9283s) Paul Manafort, Trump's campaign chairman, was convicted of financial crimes and of serving as an unregistered foreign agent for Ukrainian interests connected to Russian influence networks. The same can be true, can, can be said for Michael Flynn, for Roger Stone, for Russian efforts to interfere with the 2026 election as documented by the bipartisan, um, federal record. More recently, of course, there's been a lot of concern with the Trump's administration, uh, with respect to his reluctance to hold the Russian, uh, government, uh, accountable, um, for actions that are hostile to American interests, as we see that exception structurally imposed in this piece of legislation with its reference to Executive Order 140-- 14352, signed by President Trump, uh, last year. [2:35:44](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9344s) So I think there are many ways in which we can improve this bill. I appreciate the author of the bill being open to amendments. Uh, unfortunately, it seems in the rule substitute, those amendments were not all included. Again, I think the people of Georgia deserve better than this piece of legislation. Uh, this is a problem that we need to address. This legislation may ultimately result in litigation and additional taxpayer expenses. [2:36:16](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9376s) Um, and so for all of these reasons, I urge members to vote no. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I yield the floor. [2:36:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9388s) Gentleman has yielded the floor. The chair recognizes Chairman Jones for the chairman's time. [2:36:39](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9399s) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I yield my chairman's time to Whip Burchett. [2:36:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9416s) Thank you, Madam Chair. [2:37:02](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9422s) I feel like I'm doing the same thing over and over again up here, but, uh, colleagues, I come before you to speak in favor of, uh, our bill here, uh, Senate Bill 177. Um, first off, let me tell you what the bill does and what the bill does not do. The b- bill requires registration. It requires registration of those who are deemed to be foreign adversaries of the United States of America, and those people are the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Cuba, and the Venezuelan politician Nicolás Maduro. [2:37:43](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9463s) Requires anyone that is related to any of these, these organizations, these countries, these adversaries of the United States to register just like you and I register every year, four times a year, or 15 times a year it feels like. It just requires them to register. And, and I've heard my colleagues come up here and basically read from another bill apparently. They're reading from another bill entirely, because let me tell you, let me tell you who, um, require- does not allow, prohibits contribution and expenditures to candidates or election ballot measures. [2:38:22](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9502s) Let me tell you what states do it. California, done for a long time, been upheld multiple times. Colorado, Hawaii, New York. Um, all of these are, are Democratic-led states that prohibit any n- foreign national, any foreign national whatsoever. If you are not a citizen of the United States, in those states, you cannot give any money to anyone that is running for election, or you could not spend money on any ballot measures. [2:38:55](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9535s) And, and the argument up here from our colleagues on the left is that, well, I, for, for whatever reason, this measure, Senate Bill 177, is gonna be struck down because it's overly broad, and there's a constitutional, uh, protection here. Y- speak to me about the constitutional protection. What constitutional protection do we owe a foreign adversary? They- you're telling me a foreign adversary has a constitutionally protected right to not have to register in the State of Georgia if they're utili- they're spending money in elections? [2:39:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9568s) That is not only crazy, it is preposterous. It's, it's cr- it's not even, it's not even of this world. These are just completely made-up things. There's no constitutional protection for a foreign adversary in the S- in the United States of America whatsoever. I think every lawyer in this, this, this chamber knows that or should know that. [2:39:52](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9592s) I've also s- heard up here that, well, th- this is gonna be another measure that, um, y- the feds already regulate it, and we don't have to regulate it. Well, that is also a complete and to- total fallacy. FARA does not regulate state referendums whatsoever. None, none anywhere. So that, that was just a blatant disregard for what the truth is. [2:40:19](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9619s) In more than one state, Ohio most recently, the federal courts have upheld, the federal appeals court just upheld, um, to, uh, Ohio's provision that does not allow foreign nations to finance campaigns. It was just upheld. So to come in here and say that you can't do it and it's gonna be struck down, again, another untruth, completely untruthful. [2:40:49](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9649s) And if it is challenged, do you recall last year, folks, I stood up here in this well. We had a conversation about, uh, well, maybe it was... Yeah, it was not last year. It was the year before last. It was Senate Bill 420. My colleagues on the left came into this well and said, "Well, this is gonna be struck down. This is the foreign owner- ownership of lands. This is gonna be struck down. This is discriminatory, and this is gonna be struck down." Well, here we are again, um, 2026. That law is enforced, not enjoined. [2:41:20](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9680s) We're rocking right along, and it hasn't been struck down anywhere. So the sky is not falling. Nonetheless, my colleagues from the left come to the well, and they, um, they give political speeches. I g- I understand we're in a campaign season. I understand many of you have a primary, and I understand you have to look like you're defending everybody, even when it means you're defending people that are at war with the United States and who have been deemed by the Biden administration to be adversaries of the United States. [2:41:52](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9712s) So you all are coming to this well telling me that, um, it's, for whatever reason, we have to protect these folks? We have to protect foreign adversaries? I mean, in what world do we live where we can't see who's spending money in our elections? Do you wanna know if the Republic of Iran is putting money in your campaign? I know every one of my colleagues do. Maybe my colleagues on the left do not want that. You don't wanna know where the money's coming from, or maybe it's worse. [2:42:24](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9744s) Maybe you do know where the money's coming from, and you don't want light shed on it. That, I hope, is not the case. I don't believe it is, but it is very hard for me to understand where the arguments are coming from when the only thing we're doing is requiring anybody that has any financial interest from a foreign adversary to register. Register. Disclose. What, what's the problem with that? What's the problem with that? There is no problem with that. This is just another Monday. We're coming in here fantasizing about things that aren't accurate and we're just making political speeches from this well. [2:42:59](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9779s) I challenge the members of both parties of this chamber to come to this right here, pass good policy for the state of Georgia and citizens of the state of Georgia who need help with affordability, who need help with healthcare, and who need help on everyday measures that we're here to work on and we have worked on. But every time we come to the well to pass a bill, there's something wrong. We either didn't go far enough or we didn't, we didn't do something right. I mean, we, we voted on four income tax, or two income tax cuts and two property tax cuts, and the minority party comes to this well and says, "You know what? [2:43:33](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9813s) That's just for rich people." I don't, I don't, I don't, I know I've to- said it before, but I don't think I have to explain to anybody in this chamber how percentages work. Percentages work for $100,000 just like they do for a million dollars. This is a serious place, folks. This is not a place for political speeches. This is not a place to come. This is not where you get reelected. You get reelected at the door in, in your district. You get reelected going to the meetings and doing everything that we all do, uh, back home. This is not a place for political speeches. [2:44:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9844s) This is a place for policy. Leave the pol- leave the politics outside of the door. Let's, let's, let's bring good policy here. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I yield, uh, the rest of my time to Chairman Gullett. [2:44:18](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9858s) Chair recognizes Chairman Gullett to speak to the bill. [2:44:24](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9864s) Well, I'm sorry this bill has interrupted lunch a little bit, but it's important. Transparency is important. [2:44:34](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9874s) Let's talk a little bit about Supremacy Clause. It does not prevent states from requiring transparency in political activity. The Supremacy Clause prevents states from contradicting federal laws, not from acting in areas where states traditionally regulate. Lobbying registration, we regulate that. Campaign finance, we regulate that. Ethics reporting, we regulate that. [2:45:02](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9902s) This is complementary and not conflicting. Kushner and Trump, that's all the left wants to talk about. That's a distraction. Who heard Hunter Biden's name today? I didn't hear Hunter Biden's name today. Let's rem- let's remind everyone about Hunter Biden. CEFC, China-owned energy company. There was documented financial flows from that company to the Biden associates, and that's a perfect real-world example of why transparency matters. [2:45:33](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9933s) The public didn't know the full scope of those relationships at the time they were happening, and that's the gap this bill's addressing. By the time the public finds out, the influence has already occurred. But my friends on the left, they don't want you to know. They don't wanna talk about Hunter Biden. [2:45:53](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9953s) If any American political actor, I'm gonna go on record here, any American political actor, Republican, Democrat, a Trump ally, a Biden associate or son, is operating as an agent of a hostile foreign government, they should have to register. That's exactly what this bill does. The question isn't whether you trust Republicans or Democrats. The question is whether do you trust foreign adversaries. I do not. [2:46:23](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=9983s) My friends on the left do, apparently. And this talk about the true, true most hypoc- it blows my mind. The people most resistant to this are the ones who spent four years, probably longer, they're talking about it today, s- four years screaming about Russian interference, and yet they won't vote for a mechanism that would actually require disclosure and transparency. Only here in the state capitol can you get that kind of absurdity happening. [2:46:54](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10014s) This bill doesn't protect one party, it protects Georgia, and anyone who votes against this owes their constituents a very clear explanation of why foreign-funded political activity should stay hidden. With that, I urge your favorable consideration. I yield the well. [2:47:17](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10037s) That concludes the chairman's, chairman's time. We've heard from the, the minority report and chairman's time, and we'll move on. Is there any objection to withdrawing the committee substitute? Hearing none, the committee substitute is withdrawn. Is there any objection to adopting the substitute offered by the Committee on Rules? Hearing none, the Rules Committee substitute is adopted. Is there any objection to agreeing to the report of the committee, which was favorable to the passage of the bill? [2:47:47](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10067s) Hearing none, the report of the committee is agreed to. Shall this bill now pass? All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote yes. All those opposed will vote no, and the clerk will unlock the machine. [2:48:22](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10102s) Have all members voted? [2:48:26](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10106s) Yes. [2:48:27](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10107s) For what purpose does Representative Romman rise? [2:48:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10110s) Parliamentary inquiry. [2:48:32](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10112s) State your inquiry. [2:48:33](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10113s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is it not true that due to the definitions we have, particularly on line 28 to 30, but also in addition, uh, other lines within this bill, this could potentially now flag employees of these companies, um, under this bill? [2:48:53](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10133s) Like Georgians who work for these companies? I'm sure the lady has her interpretation language in the bill. Can I do one more, please? One more. Thank you. Um, is it also not true this can impact organizations like churches and other missionary activities that are also based in these coun- in these countries? I'm not sure I agree with you on that, but the lady has her opinion. For what purpose does Representative Hagan rise? Parliamentary inquiry. State your inquiry. Isn't it true that everyone in this room by April 1st must fill out a financial disclosure form so that we ensure transparency in our personal campaigns and elections? [2:49:32](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10172s) And, and Mr. Speaker, isn't it also true that everyone, it is preposterous that people that are voting against this res- this bill don't think that a company or an entity that is participating or attempting to influence these same elections that we are participating in shouldn't have to disclose financially that they are receiving money from our enemies? I'm sure the lady has an informed opinion after a careful reading of the bill. Have all members now voted? [2:50:02](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10202s) If so, Mr. Clerk will lock the machine. On the passage of Senate Bill 177, 177, the yays are 98, the nays are 65. This bill having received the requisite constitutional majority is therefore passed. Mr. Clerk, will you read the caption to Senate Bill 535, 535. Senate Bill 535 by Senator Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and others, be entitled an Act to amend Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating to mental health so as to provide for the recreation of community service boards. [2:50:40](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10240s) This bill having been referred to the Committee on Public and Community Health, that committee recommends that this bill do pass. Chair Lady Cooper is recognized to present Sen- Senate Bill 535. The lady is recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen of the House, I bring you Senate Bill 535. This is an exact replica of the one we passed out of here, out of the House, over to the Senate, uh, last week. Um, it is about the community service boards that are across our state and bringing about some unanimity and conformity to them where that we'd make sure that people with mental illness are getting at least the same basic services regardless of whether you live in a rural area of the South or in the North Georgia Mountains. [2:51:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10290s) It allows the commissioner to appoint an executive director. That executive director can come from within, the person that's already at one of these community service boards, or it can be from the outside. They will become a state employee, and that will give the commissioner more authority over the boards. Um, I think we went over it really well last week. So Mr. Speaker, if there are no questions, I will yield the well. Lady has a couple of questions. I will take them. [2:52:00](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10320s) Representative Berry, to your left down the center aisle, is recognized towards the back. Gentleman's recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the gentle lady yield? I will. Just a quick clarifying question. Does this maintain that executive directors still have government, uh, the final approving authority on these boards? No. They really, the final authority would raise on the board. You mean members? Correct, yes. No. That would rest with the commissioner if necessary. So he, he would have the final authority. [2:52:33](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10353s) But the executive director that, appointed by him would work with the board, so hopefully they would come to a consensus and when they're choosing a new, or making decisions on the board. Thank you. Representative Barnes, Ahmani Barnes, right in front. Lady's recognized for a question. Mr. Speaker, I waive. Thank you. Lady waives. Lady has no further questions. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, if there are no other questions, I'd ask for the, uh, chamber's positive vote on this bill. It with some amendment, it is a good step forward in ensuring we have better care for our mentally ill across our state. [2:53:06](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10386s) Thank you. I yield the well. Representative Davis is recognized to speak. She's opposed to the bill. Will 10 minutes take care of you? Is that plenty? Ma'am? It's good. Up to 10 minutes, and the lady's recognized. [2:53:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10408s) Colleagues, I need to tell you about my concern, and it's the devil in the details. Now, I want to be truthful with you. When it comes to telling the devil in the details, a lot of times people don't look for the devil in the details. What am I talking about? You have 159 counties, but the devil in the detail is that 43 of the counties add up to nine million, 116 add up to two. [2:54:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10444s) That is a devil in the details. When it comes to these service, community service boards, if your population is over 400,000, about 300,000, then you're talking about diluting your power for local control. And I'm like, "Okay, are we doing this on purpose?" To a certain extent, I need you to understand, like in DeKalb County, they allocated about $15 million to help build a new facility. [2:54:42](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10482s) If you turn the power over to the state, then they decide on a lot of this. I am saying we better be real careful about what we doing with the devil in the details, because we're leaving it out and we're not telling our employers [2:55:03](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10503s) Do you know who our employers are? [2:55:07](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10507s) It's the people who hire and fire us with their vote, that pay us with their tax money. See, in this nonprofit public business called government, they are the employers, the people. And what are they gonna say when they come to you and they ask you about the devil in the details? Are you gonna be able to explain it to them? Right now, I have a lot of questions about Senate Bill 535, and a lot of it deals with the devil in the details. [2:55:46](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10546s) A lot of stuff we're not being told. So I'm standing up here and letting you know, I'm letting the employers know there's some devil in these details. You better look at it. And for those of you who say, "Well, oh, Viola, don't worry about it. We'll just take it to court," I want to tell you something, and remember this: you can't take the devil to court when Satan is the judge. [2:56:22](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10582s) Lady's yield of the will. [2:56:36](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10596s) Lady's yield of the will. That completes our comments on Senate Bill 535. Is there any objection to the previous question being ordered? Hearing none, the previous question is ordered. Is there any objection to agreeing to the report of the committee, which was favorable to the passage of the bill? Chair hears none. The report of the committee is agreed to. Shall this bill now pass? All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote yes. All those opposed will vote no, and Mr. Clerk will unlock the machine. [2:57:28](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10648s) Have all members voted? All members voted? If so, Mr. Clerk will lock the machine. On the passage of Senate Bill 535, the yeas are 130, the nays are 31. This bill, having s- received the requisite constitutional majority, is therefore passed. [2:57:51](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10671s) For what purpose does Representative Allen Powell rise? [2:57:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10676s) Make a motion. [2:57:57](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10677s) State your motion, sir. [2:57:59](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10679s) Uh, I request that SB-89 be moved from Ways and Means to Regulated Industries, and both chairmen are in agreement. [2:58:06](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10686s) Mr. Clerk will read the caption, please. [2:58:09](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10689s) Senate Bill 89 by Senator Strickland of the 42nd and others to be titled an Act to Amend Chapter Seven to Title 4080 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating to income taxes so as to increase the amount of a tax credit based on the federal tax credit for certain child and dependent care. [2:58:26](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10706s) On the gentleman's motion that SB 89 be withdrawn from the Ways and Means Committee and re- recommitted to the Regulated Industries Committee. Is there objection? Hearing none, it's so ordered. [2:58:40](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10720s) Mr. Clerk, will re- will you read the caption to a group of privileged resolutions? [2:58:49](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10729s) Honoring the life and memory of William Anthony Gray. Honoring the life and memory of Reverend Fred C. Bennett Jr. Honoring the life and memory of Nasir Shakur-Lai. Recognizing March 19th, 2026 as Golf Day. Recognizing March 17th, 2026 as Bayard Rustin Day. Congratulating Lambda Epsilon Omega Chapter. [2:59:21](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10761s) Recognizing May 20th as Myositis Awareness Month. Recognizing March 26th, 2026 as Clayton County Day. Congratulating Ryan Dobbs on his recent promotion to Deputy Chief of the Haralson County Fire Department. Commending Monique Wilson. Recognizing and commending Pastor Robert E. Knight on the occasion of his pastoral retirement. Re- commending Corporal Dan- Daniel Baldino and Corporal Dylan Warren. [2:59:54](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10794s) Recognizing, commending Morningside Presbyterian Church on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. Recognizing, commending Pastor Raymond Cochran upon his retirement. Recognizing, commending the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University on the occasion of its 30th anniversary. [3:00:18](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10818s) Recognizing, commending Bethany Shirley. [3:00:24](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10824s) Commending and congratulating Fannie Brown. Congratulating, commending Commander Master Chief Mickey Jones on the occasion of his military retirement. Recognizing, commending Dr. Darlene Williams Roberts. Recognizing Haven House for its critical service to pregnant women and young mothers. Recognizing October 5 through 9, 2026 as Georgia Pre-K Week. Congratulating Terrell Cada- Academy Lady Eagles basketball team for winning the 2026 GIAA AAA Basketball State Championship. [3:01:03](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10863s) Congratulating the Middle Creek High School boys basketball team for winning the GHSA Class 6A Region 7 Basketball Championship. Commending the outstanding achievements of the National Beta Club and National Elementary Honor Society students of Beauty P. Baldwin Elementary School. Recognizing and commending Old Mexican Foods. Commending Cheryl Terrell, J.W. Dobbs Elementary School's 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year. [3:01:34](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10894s) Recognizing March 16th, 2026 as Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Day on the Hill. Recognizing and commending Tonya Armstrong for her outstanding leadership in agriculture. Honoring perinatal responders of the State of Georgia. Commending Atlanta International Fashion Week on its 19th year. Celebrating the birth of Fallon Georgiana Eck. Recognizing and commending Gwinnett County Public Schools. [3:02:04](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10924s) Recognizing April 11th through 17th, 2026 as Black Maternal Health Week. And commending and congratulating Georgia School of Orthodontics upon its 10th anniversary. And for other purposes. That completes the reading of the privileged resolutions. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Is there any objection to adopting the privileged resolutions? Hearing none, and the resolutions are adopted. We'll move on to announcements. [3:02:35](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10955s) Excuse me. I was skipping one. Afternoon orders. Afternoon orders. Representative Olaleye. [3:02:46](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=10966s) G- the gentleman is recognized to give his traditional afternoon order. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As part of the tradition, on the screen is a foster child named Clifton. He is a bright kid doing re- extremely well in school. He loves to interact with others and is looking for a home to be adopted into. We can make that adoption possible at itsmyturnnow.dhs.georgia.gov. Mr. Speaker, I would also want to mention that KSU's men's basketball team is headed to March Madness after winning the Conference USA Tournament Championship. [3:03:20](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11000s) Just wanted to highlight that real quick and say, "Hooty hoo, go Owls." Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you as well. Go KSU. All right, maybe they'll win it all. March Madness, no doubt. Thank you, Representative Olaleye. Representative Moore. Y'all g- please give Represent- Representative Angela Moore your attention in the well, please. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is March 16th. Ooh, it's loud. And it is my legislative anniversary. [3:03:52](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11032s) I thank all the people from Ha- uh, House District 91 for believing in me and interacting and loving me, and I invite all my colleagues and everyone in the chamber to the galley in here. I'm sorry, into the, uh, into the anteroom for a slice of cake. It does have nuts in it, so if you can't do nuts, let's do it again another day. Thank you. Happy birthday, uh, House District 91. Absolutely. [3:04:22](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11062s) Thank you for doing that. We appreciate you always looking out for us when it comes to that, getting something sweet to eat. Chairman Petrea. [3:04:38](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11078s) Big day in Savannah tomorrow. Big day for the Irish all over. [3:04:47](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11087s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A big day indeed. Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day. I thought what I would do today is to tell y'all a little bit about- Gentleman will suspend. [3:04:59](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11099s) A lot of fun on St. Patrick's Day. This is pretty serious, or some, is serious about the history of this day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, um, we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and it's a big festival in Savannah, but I'll tell you, a lot of people aren't familiar with the real story of St. Patrick, and so I thought I'd share that with you today. Uh, one of our most revered saints, uh, all across the world. And what a lot of people don't know is that St. Patrick was not Irish. He was a Roman Britain Christian. [3:05:30](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11130s) And as a chi- actually, at 16, he was kidnapped on the coast of Britain. He was beaten and enslaved by Irish pagans and taken to Ireland, where he was sold to a Druid chief and forced into slavery as a shepherd on a mountain called Mount Slemish in Northern Ireland. And he worked there for six years, and the only thing that comforted him was daily prayer. [3:06:00](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11160s) And he prayed, and he became a more and more fervent Christian during that time. And he, he gradually had a dream, and the dream was that there was a boat awaiting for him to flee back to Britain. It was 200 miles away. He made that trek. He made it home, and after a couple of years, he had a vision from God that he should join the priesthood. He did that. And after joining the priesthood, Mr. Speaker, he had a vision that he must return to the pagan Irish to save them and to bring them to a knowledge of Jesus Christ. [3:06:35](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11195s) He did just that. When he left, he said, "I go not as a slave now, but to serve." He went back, and famously, Ireland was Christianized by St. Patrick. The Anglo-Saxons, the Picts, all Christianized. My friends, the story of St. Patrick is a story of love and forgiveness for a man who was slaved but loved those people and went back to bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. [3:07:05](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11225s) We celebrate his... [3:07:07](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11227s) Date of his death, March 17th. He actually died around AD 461, and we celebrate St. Patrick's Day in his honor. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is the real St. Patrick that we celebrate. Thank you. [3:07:48](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11268s) Now we'll move on to announcements. I'm gonna share something with y'all first. We've been very fortunate and blessed that we haven't had any severe weather across our state with tornadoes so far today. But there is an advisory still in place down in South Georgia. And I looked at the map just a few minutes ago and it, it's kind of in that area from that Helene went through, um, from southwest over southeast up to the Augusta area. So we need to, uh, keep our fingers crossed and say a prayer for our friends and neighbors and families down in that part of the state. [3:08:22](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11302s) That's in effect until 2:00 PM. You know, you need to monitor GEMA if you wanna keep up ex- exactly what's happening, what's going on. Uh, the, you can monitor the GEMA network and we can see what's happening there. But there will be a weather advisory out, so guess what that weather advisory's gonna talk about? The possibility of snow. So everyone be aware, take extra precautions, and, um, pay attention to your surroundings, and certainly be ready to help those folks we represent if it's any way possible to do that. [3:08:55](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11335s) So thank you for your attention to that information. Chairman Green. Chairman Hawkins is on deck, ready for some announcements. Chairman's recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The State Properties Committee will meet tomorrow at 1:20 in front of the new legislative office building. And those individuals not on the committee that missed the last time that they did a tour of the building will be invited to join us, but please let us know, because they need to get as many hard hats as they possibly can for you. [3:09:39](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11379s) And also, the, you've been asking about your chairs. They are making a decision about buying our old chairs, uh, in the next couple of weeks, before we leave, I think. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [3:09:56](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11396s) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman Hawkins, recognized for an announcement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Health Committee will meet inside rather than outside in the rain today at 3:00 in Capitol 403. [3:10:16](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11416s) Chairman Gutther. [3:10:21](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11421s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. House Judiciary will meet at 1:30 in Room 132. I think we have about three bills to deal with. And also, if you are interested in signing on the, uh, creation of the Georgia Legislative Golf Caucus, please come see me. Thank you. [3:10:41](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11441s) Chairman McDonald. [3:10:47](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11447s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The time has come. Friday is the last day that you can drop local legislation, so please make sure you get your forms filled out if you're dropping local legislation. Come by the office in 401 and meet with Michael or Graham. But this Friday is the last day for local legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [3:11:10](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11470s) Leader Efstration, recognized for an announcement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There will be a Committee Chairman's lunch in Room 403 upon adjournment. Room 403, Committee Chairman's lunch. Thank you. [3:11:34](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11494s) Chairman Jaspers. [3:11:39](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11499s) Thank you, members. I hope you saw today what an impact a road naming can be to a, a person. You saw Ms. Penny Houston and the honor that gave her. There is about 40 of y'all who have road naming bills in some stage or another. Some are finished, many are not. Next Friday is the deadline. You gotta have your ads done, everything done by next Friday so we can get that bill written and get it going. But if you need help, my seat's over here, or you can talk with Ms. [3:12:11](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11531s) Danny. Thank you, Speaker. [3:12:17](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11537s) Ms. Goggins. The gentleman's recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Special Rules will meet at 2:00 and 5:15. 5:15. Thank you. [3:12:38](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11558s) Chairman Dickey. [3:12:42](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11562s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee will meet in the morning at 10:30, 606, to take up a little Senate bill. Thank you. [3:12:58](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11578s) Chairman Anderson. The gentleman's recognized for an announcement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. House Governmental Affairs full committee will have a meeting tomorrow in, uh, CLOB 506 at 1:00. Thank you [3:13:18](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11598s) Chairman Cheokas recognized for an announcement. [3:13:23](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11603s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow morning, 8:00 AM, 506 Small Business Development. Be there. It's for our annual update on the real estate industry, both residential and commercial. So see y'all tomorrow morning, 8:00 AM, 506. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [3:13:42](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11622s) Representative Vance Smith is recognized for an announcement. [3:13:46](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11626s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the morning at 9:00 AM, Natural Resources, we have two subcommittees. We're gonna start at 9:00 AM and go from one subcommittee into the other one, and then to the full committee. So all Natural Resources members, please be there at 9:00. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 606 CLOB. Thank you. [3:14:20](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11660s) Members, don't forget, if you have a page today, we wanna take some page photos, so we want you to come down front and join your page. [3:14:32](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11672s) We have an announcement. Uh, Chairman Newton's recognized for an announcement. [3:14:38](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11678s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Ways and Means Committee will meet upon adjournment in 406 for one brief bill we have to go over. 406 CLOB, uh, upon adjournment. Thank you, sir. [3:14:51](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11691s) Let's have one more announcement. That is... Boy, that was pretty special, Chairman Newton. Chairman Newton, it's a special day tomorrow. Did you know that? St. Patrick's Day. You fell for that one, didn't you? It's Chairman Newton's birthday tomorrow. Let's wish the gentleman a happy birthday tomorrow. [3:15:17](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11717s) Well, it is something else tomorrow. It is a committee work day, but we know our friends and families will be celebrating a great day in America and a great day in Georgia, and especially a great day in Savannah, and that's St. Patrick's Day. Mayor, thank you. So, uh, if you travel down that way, we hope you'll s- travel safely. Be safe. Behave yourselves. You know, you have the, the House is counting on you to behave yourselves, so, uh, make sure you do that. So if you travel there, and all of our friends in Savannah, we hope they have a great, great day. [3:15:51](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11751s) Be safe and enjoy a great St. Patrick's Day. [3:15:57](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11757s) Majority Leader of this House is recognized for a motion. [3:16:00](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11760s) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move that this House stand adjourned until Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 at 10:00 AM. [3:16:09](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11769s) On the motion of Majority Leader Efstration that this House stand adjourned until 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM Wednesday, March 18th, 2026, all those in favor will say aye. [3:16:25](https://vimeo.com/1172986678#t=11785s) Aye. All those opposed, no. No. Getting closer, guys. Y'all keep working. The ayes clearly have it. This House stands adjourned.