Skip to content
Georgia Commons
Menu

Senate Rules Committee

Senate Rules Committee, March 16, 2026

2025-2026 Regular Session · 450 CAP · 46 min

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.

Copy for LLM, View as markdown, and Send to AI use the Markdown version: the summaries Georgia Commons wrote, under headings that name them, then the whole transcript with its times. View raw is the transcript alone.

The video is the General Assembly's, played from its Vimeo channel. Select any time below to play that moment. Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

Summary

Written by an AI model (gpt-6.1-sol) from the transcript. It is not part of the record, and the video is what was said.

The committee heard requests to move bills to the Senate floor on education, taxes, public safety, transportation, health care and other subjects. Members unanimously approved a six-bill calendar for the next day: HB 376, HB 998, HB 999, HB 1159, HB 1302 and HB 1379. The committee then switched to a standing committee meeting to consider a substitute for HB 1020 combining district attorney retirement changes with salary changes. Members questioned the proposed limit on local salary supplements and whether some district attorneys could lose pay by opting in. The committee approved the substitute, with the chair announcing a final tally of 11 yes votes and three no votes, and sent it to Rules.

Bills discussed (25)

Each account covers the stretch of the meeting it names. The bill's number is said in that stretch, unless it was the only bill on a committee's agenda.

HB 1379. Foreign Funding Transparency and Accountability Act; enact

From 0:06:46 · turns 10 to 407

The sponsor said HB 1379 would require public disclosure of money from certain foreign countries given to K-12 schools, technical colleges and University System of Georgia schools, building on legislation passed the previous year. There were no questions. The committee later unanimously included the bill on the next day's floor calendar.

HB 1181. Motor vehicles; application for certificate of title; provisions

From 0:07:21 · turns 14 to 28

The sponsor said HB 1181 would allow a vehicle title to transfer directly to Georgia from the deceased owner's state of residence, where the estate is administered, regardless of where the executor lives. The sponsor described this as reducing paperwork. No substantive questions or vote followed.

HB 1086. Preston Fant and Brant Chesney Firefighter Safety Act; enact

From 0:08:46 · turns 34 to 38

The sponsor said HB 1086 would require a visible eight-inch Maltese cross on buildings constructed with lightweight trusses, to warn firefighters before entering. The sponsor described the measure as a firefighter safety bill. There were no questions or vote.

HB 1408. Veterinarians; authorize licensed veterinary technicians to administer antirabies vaccinations to animals

From 0:09:16 · turns 40 to 51

The sponsor said HB 1408 would allow licensed veterinary technicians to administer rabies vaccines under a veterinarian's direction. A committee member described a clinic facing a tax issue over giving vaccinations away and asked whether that practice was common. The sponsor did not know about that issue but said current Georgia law allows only veterinarians to administer the vaccine. No vote followed.

HB 1123. Quality Basic Education Act; require certain schools that offer after-school programs to make such programs available to pre-kindergarten students

From 0:10:59 · turns 68 to 84

The sponsor said HB 1123 would require public school systems offering both pre-K and parent-paid after-school services to make those services available to pre-K students on the same basis. The sponsor said the purpose was to help working families, especially those with multiple children at a school. There were no substantive questions or vote.

HR 1243. Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund; authorize creation - CA

From 0:12:17 · turns 88 to 105

The sponsor said HR 1243 would ask voters to approve a constitutionally dedicated fund for expanding, maintaining and operating 911 systems and transitioning to next-generation 911. The sponsor proposed returning the following year with legislation governing distribution after discussions with counties, cities and emergency call center operators. The sponsor argued that a statewide funding pool makes sense because cellphones travel, unlike landlines. Asked about local emergency services' support, the sponsor said they knew of no opposition and said the House had approved the resolution without a dissenting vote. No committee vote followed.

HB 519. Revenue and taxation; amount of federal work opportunity credit claimed by a taxpayer shall also be allowed as a tax credit; provide

From 0:14:08 · turns 109 to 117

The sponsor said HB 519 would give employers a tax credit for hiring people who face barriers to employment, including disabled veterans. The sponsor described a credit of up to $500 per employee after 400 hours of work, a $10 million cap and an expiration date of December 31, 2030. No substantive debate or vote followed.

HR 251. Local government; probate judges shall be elected in nonpartisan elections; provide - CA

From 0:15:05 · turns 119 to 122

The sponsor said HR 251 would ask Georgia voters to approve a constitutional amendment requiring nonpartisan elections for all probate judges. The sponsor cited support from the Council of Probate Court Judges, Council of Magistrate Court Judges, Judicial Council of Georgia and two former governors. There were no questions or vote.

HB 1202. Georgia Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Advisory Board; correct a scrivener's error in a cross-reference

From 0:16:02 · turns 124 to 126

The sponsor described HB 1202 as correcting a drafting error by removing material from the wrong code section and moving it to section 35-68-16. There were no questions or vote.

HB 376. Income tax; rehabilitation of certified structures; increase amount of tax credits

From 0:17:09 · turns 138 to 407

The sponsor said HB 376 would add historic rehabilitation tax credits so the program could continue until its 2029 expiration. The sponsor said available credits had already run out and credited the program with helping revitalize downtowns. Asked about different treatment of rural and urban projects, the sponsor confirmed that projects in counties with fewer than 50,000 residents would receive greater incentives. Another member asked whether the proposal related to credits moved forward the previous year, but the brief exchange did not clearly establish that connection. The president pro tempore supported dividing credits so a large project would not consume the amount available to the rest of the state, and the sponsor agreed. The committee later unanimously included the bill on the next day's floor calendar.

HB 165. Income tax credit; business enterprises for leased motor vehicles; repeal and reserve

From 0:19:47 · turns 178 to 179

The sponsor presented HB 165 as an affordable-housing measure concerning manufactured homes. The sponsor said it would extend an existing 50% state tax exemption to local taxes. There were no questions or vote.

HB 77. Motor vehicles; encountering funeral procession on two-lane highway; revise responsibilities

From 0:20:14 · turns 180 to 195

The sponsor said HB 77 would require traffic approaching a funeral procession from the opposite direction to pull over. The sponsor said local sheriffs sought clarification because oncoming traffic was interfering with their escorts, and described the proposal as a safety measure. A member asked who would carry the bill in the Senate. No vote followed.

HB 1159. Income tax; all income received by individuals, corporations, and partnerships under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program; exempt from taxation

From 0:21:45 · turns 203 to 407

The sponsor said HB 1159 would exempt Farmer Bridge Assistance payments from state income tax, similar to the treatment of Hurricane Helene assistance the previous year. The sponsor said federal funding was intended to help farmers facing uncertainty and described the exemption as part of the governor's legislative package. There were no substantive questions. The committee later unanimously included the bill on the next day's floor calendar.

HB 1302. Education and Workforce Strategy Act; enact

From 0:22:49 · turns 214 to 407

The sponsor said HB 1302 would create a more collaborative process for developing the state's Carl Perkins and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act plans through the Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Strategy. The sponsor said it would also remove language concerning an older education alliance that had not met in recent years. The sponsor described it as the third and final part of a workforce education package arising from study committee recommendations. There were no substantive questions. The committee later unanimously included the bill on the next day's floor calendar.

HB 1295. Physician Assistant Licensure Compact; enter into an interstate compact

From 0:24:22 · turns 231 to 266

The sponsor said HB 1295 would establish participation in an interstate licensing compact for physician assistants, similar to compacts for physicians and nurses. The sponsor described a proposed floor amendment making implementation dependent on appropriated funding and adding GBI-requested background-check language. Members asked how many compacts Georgia participates in and what joining and maintaining them costs. The sponsor did not know. One member recalled budget estimates of $500,000 to $1 million for some compacts. Another member explained that estimates covered entry and maintenance costs but could not confirm whether those estimates applied to this bill. Members also discussed a one-time cost without clearly establishing this bill's cost. No amendment or bill vote occurred.

HB 998. Public utilities; authorize certain Tier 2 local exchange companies to elect to become subject to rate of return regulation

From 0:26:56 · turns 272 to 407

The sponsor said HB 998 would extend the Universal Access Program for about 10 years and add safeguards. The sponsor said the program supports basic telephone service, particularly in rural areas where providing service may not otherwise be economical. There were no substantive questions. The committee later unanimously included the bill on the next day's floor calendar.

HB 999. Magistrate courts; collecting sums and fees authorized by law; revise provisions

From 0:28:02 · turns 277 to 407

The sponsor requested favorable consideration of HB 999, identifying it as a magistrate court bill already presented previously. No details of its provisions were explained in this meeting. A committee member later selected it for the next day's floor calendar, which the committee approved unanimously.

HB 986. Motor vehicles; personal delivery devices; revise operation procedures and restrictions

From 0:28:35 · turns 287 to 339

The sponsor said HB 986 would update speed and sound requirements for personal delivery devices, including increasing the speed limit from four to seven miles per hour. The sponsor said faster crosswalk travel would help reduce downtown Atlanta congestion and that the proposal drew on other states' experience and feedback from transportation officials and local governments. Asked why the limit was not higher, the sponsor said participants preferred a gradual increase followed by more data collection. Members questioned how speeding would be measured and who would receive citations. The sponsor said violations would be civil matters, speed could be measured by radar or other electronic means, and notices would go to the company operating the device. Asked about state revenue, the sponsor said the state charges no specific fee and suggested the technology could support sales tax revenue and businesses with staffing shortages. The sponsor left delivery guarantees and tire repairs to operators. No vote followed.

HB 1234. State Employees' Assurance Department; assignment of certain group term life insurance benefits to pay for funeral services of a deceased individual who was a member of certain retirement systems; provisions

From 0:33:13 · turns 348 to 352

The sponsor said HB 1234 would allow beneficiaries of the state retiree life insurance program to assign benefits to funeral homes for funeral expenses and related costs. The sponsor said the current plan does not allow this common insurance practice and described unpaid funeral bills, particularly after COVID, as a concern for funeral homes and retirees. The sponsor said the bill's restrictions addressed earlier department concerns about other creditors seeking benefits. There were no questions or vote.

HB 163. Food service establishments; certain food products be disclosed as containing cell cultured meat and plant based meat alternatives; require

From 0:34:56 · turns 357 to 369

A senator presenting HB 163 on behalf of its sponsor said restaurants and other food service establishments would have to identify lab-created meat on their menus. Asked whether any Georgia facilities were producing it, the presenter said they knew of none. Asked whether establishments were selling it, the presenter said they understood some were doing so without menu disclosure but did not identify any businesses. No vote followed.

HB 61. Motor vehicles; issuance of separate license plates for hearses and ambulances; provide

From 0:36:23 · turn 374

The chair briefly identified HB 61 as providing separate license plates for hearses. No further explanation, questions or vote followed.

HB 485. Official Code of Georgia Annotated; various provisions enacted prior to 2013 which are contingent upon funding and which remain unfunded; repeal

From 0:36:35 · turns 375 to 380

The chair called up HB 485 and asked what it concerned. A member identified it as an annual code revision bill. No specific changes were explained, and no vote followed.

HB 549. Peace officers; extend time frame for which reimbursement of total training expenses by a subsequent employer may be sought

From 0:37:06 · turn 381

The chair briefly identified HB 549 as a peace officer reimbursement bill. No provisions were explained, and no questions or vote followed.

HB 1391. Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish

From 0:37:12 · turns 381 to 382

The chair briefly identified HB 1391 as providing license plates for public safety officers. No further explanation, questions or vote followed.

HB 1020. Judicial Retirement System; payment of monthly retirement benefits for creditable service as a district attorney at the age of 65 years; provide

From 0:39:47 · turns 407 to 447

The chair said HB 1020 originally moved the district attorney retirement age from 60 to 65 and had returned for a substitute adding salary changes. The Senate presenter said state pay would be 88% of a federal judge's salary, with local supplements capped at 10% of district attorney pay, to reduce pay differences statewide. A member argued that the flat cap could cut pay for some district attorneys and favored gradually reducing local supplements as state pay rises, as the member said had been done for judges. The presenter was not fully familiar with that comparison. After checking the text, the presenter corrected the opt-in deadline to January 1, 2030. The chair noted that district attorneys could remain under existing arrangements. The questioning member replied that opting in for other benefits could still mean a pay cut. The presenter emphasized retirement benefits tied to state salary. The chair noted an accompanying actuarial letter. The committee approved substitute LC560664S. After confusion during counting, the chair announced 11 yes votes and three no votes and sent the bill to Rules.

Transcript

448 turns. Select a time to play that moment of the video.

  1. 0:05:59

    Order.

  2. 0:06:03

    Test, one, two. Yep.

  3. 0:06:04

    I appreciate... Is that working now?

  4. 0:06:07

    It is, yep.

  5. 0:06:07

    Thank you, Jackson. All right. We are going to do our rules consideration calendar to start. Let's get rolling. I appreciate my members that got here on time.

  6. 0:06:22

    Yes.

  7. 0:06:23

    Making a little note of that. My vice chairman absence is noted. Senator Cowsert, you've been promoted once again.

  8. 0:06:34

    Honored to serve.

  9. 0:06:36

    Honored to have you. All right.

  10. 0:06:40

    Representative Gaines, you may begin.

  11. 0:06:43

    Thank, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, House Bill 1379, which is the first bill on the last page of the yellow, uh, sheet. It requires, uh, public disclosure of any, uh, monies given, uh, from, uh, countries, certain countries, uh, to any K through 12 or technical college system schools or USG schools, building on what we already passed last year.

  12. 0:07:06

    Okay. Any questions? Hearing none. Thank you.

  13. 0:07:08

    Thanks so much. Appreciate it.

  14. 0:07:10

    Representative Ballard.

  15. 0:07:19

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I've got House Bill 1181. It's middle of the second page. And what this does, it is a good old red tape rollback bill, and I know y'all love those. Um, it will allow a car title to come directly from, um, the decedent's state of residence where the estate is domiciled to Georgia-

  16. 0:07:39

    And where-

  17. 0:07:40

    ... um, no matter where the executor of the estate lives.

  18. 0:07:47

    Any questions?

  19. 0:07:50

    Yes.

  20. 0:07:51

    Oh, Senator Rhett.

  21. 0:07:52

    Uh, not for her, but I need-

  22. 0:07:53

    Make it snappy 'cause we, uh, we spent 45 minutes on two amendments today that both got withdrawn.

  23. 0:08:00

    Okay.

  24. 0:08:01

    Just FYI, for those of you that weren't watching.

  25. 0:08:04

    I got it.

  26. 0:08:05

    You good? Okay. All right. No other questions. Thank you.

  27. 0:08:09

    Thank you.

  28. 0:08:10

    Oh, what was that number?

  29. 0:08:11

    1181.

  30. 0:08:15

    All right. Representative Wade.

  31. 0:08:18

    Thank you, Chairman, committee members. I'm requesting on page two, middle of the page, I think ahead of the bill you just heard, 1164. This is the, um, audit bill for boards of education enhancing our audit and defining their risk levels based on those audits, and I'm happy to answer any questions.

  32. 0:08:38

    You have none.

  33. 0:08:39

    Thank you, sir. Appreciate the opportunity.

  34. 0:08:41

    Thank you. Representative Chastain, come on.

  35. 0:08:44

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. I have HB1086 on the second page. I think it's three down or four down. This is a firefighter safety bill that will require an eight-inch Maltese cross in a, in a very viewable spot to let a fireman know that they're about to enter a building that's built, constructed out of the lightweight trusses. It's a pure, pure fire safety bill.

  36. 0:09:04

    All right. Thank you.

  37. 0:09:07

    Thank you.

  38. 0:09:07

    No questions.

  39. 0:09:07

    Thank you.

  40. 0:09:08

    Representative Kemp.

  41. 0:09:12

    Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. Uh, I have for you today House Bill 1408. This bill is an anti-rabies vaccine bill, which would allow licensed veterinarian techs to be able to administer anti-rabies vaccines under the direction of a veterinarian.

  42. 0:09:30

    Senator Ginn has a question.

  43. 0:09:32

    Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, I had a vet clinic in my office that they actually give the rabies vaccines away to the people that bring their animals in. They sell other, uh, equipment. Uh, uh, do most vet clinics do that, or is it unusual? Because the Georgia Department of Revenue was actually trying to penalize them for giving it away.

  44. 0:09:53

    I'm not 100% sure on the issue that you're speaking of, but right now, the only one in the state of Georgia who is allowed by law to administer an anti-rabies vaccine is a veterinarian.

  45. 0:10:06

    There you go.

  46. 0:10:07

    So are you doing that in your Senate office?

  47. 0:10:09

    The, uh... No, but we do have some exotic animals. But in actuality, they, they buy it and pay sales tax when they buy the, the, the vaccine, but then they give it to their, their, the, uh, uh, you know, patients that bring in animals that need vaccinating. Thought it was an unusual problem.

  48. 0:10:27

    Interesting. Not really. All right. Any other questions?

  49. 0:10:32

    Can I give you-

  50. 0:10:32

    They give them the shot for free.

  51. 0:10:33

    No questions. Thank you.

  52. 0:10:35

    Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman.

  53. 0:10:37

    Speaker Pro Tem Jones.

  54. 0:10:39

    They're getting dinged from the corner.

  55. 0:10:39

    Yes, sir, Mr.

  56. 0:10:40

    Is this your last bill?

  57. 0:10:42

    It is not.

  58. 0:10:43

    Okay.

  59. 0:10:43

    There are a couple more really good bills, but they haven't made it through yet.

  60. 0:10:45

    Good. Well, I mean, you're just leaving us, so I just didn't know-

  61. 0:10:48

    Yeah, I'm just-

  62. 0:10:48

    ... if we need to do a special-

  63. 0:10:49

    It's a good little bill

  64. 0:10:49

    ... I wanna do a special presentation on your last bill.

  65. 0:10:52

    Okay. All right. I'll let you know.

  66. 0:10:54

    I don't know what that's gonna be yet, but-

  67. 0:10:56

    I'll, I'll-

  68. 0:10:56

    ... I'll make it up as I go

  69. 0:10:57

    ... hopefully soon. Um, I've got, uh, House Bill 1123 for the members of the committee to consider. It's on the second page, the fourth or fifth one down. It would require all public school systems that offer both pre-K and make afterschool services that are paid for by the parents available to make those services available on the same basis to pre-K students. The intent is to help working families, particularly those with multiple children in a school.

  70. 0:11:31

    All right. Any questions? No questions.

  71. 0:11:34

    Is this the last bill?

  72. 0:11:35

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

  73. 0:11:35

    Not her last bill.

  74. 0:11:37

    Oh.

  75. 0:11:37

    Yes, sir.

  76. 0:11:38

    You have two more?

  77. 0:11:40

    I have two more. That's right, two more.

  78. 0:11:43

    How did you know that?

  79. 0:11:43

    Not today. They're not in rules yet, though. They're not in rules, so we'll see-

  80. 0:11:47

    Oh

  81. 0:11:47

    ... if they make it to rules.

  82. 0:11:48

    He listened for once.

  83. 0:11:49

    They're education related.

  84. 0:11:50

    You actually listened for once, Dr. Rhett. That's impressive. It's a great day in America.

  85. 0:11:57

    Thank you, members of the committee.

  86. 0:11:58

    Thank you. Representative Martin, how are you, sir?

  87. 0:12:03

    Well, sir, thank you for asking. I, I, I know you did that from your heart, uh, senator.

  88. 0:12:09

    I did.

  89. 0:12:10

    Um, on the bottom of... Well, it's actually the last bill on page three. It's kind of toward the top, but page three short. Um, House Resolution 1243. This is a constitutional amendment where we're asking the, uh, voters of the State of Georgia to create a dedicated fund for next generation 911, um, for the purposes of the expansion maintenance operations of 911 systems throughout the state, and the transition to next generation 911. There's a lock box fund that we're creating with the idea that we would come back next year and, and have the enabling legislation, uh, after having a full-throated discussion with county, cities, and the PSAP operators so that we could distribute the f- funds from, uh, the state resource pool rather than have the money stay locally.

  90. 0:12:53

    The reason for that is cell phones travel. When this was put in place, landline stayed in one place. Cell phones travel, so we're gonna create this state fund if the voters approve this, and then we bring back next year, uh, the proper d- distribution mechanism after listening to, to everyone to get next generation 911 to all of Georgians.

  91. 0:13:12

    Supported by all our local EMSs, correct?

  92. 0:13:15

    I, I know of no one that does not wanna be part of this solution. Yes, sir. I would, uh, mention that we did get out of the House with, uh, without a dissenting vote on this constitutional amendment.

  93. 0:13:28

    You know how much that means over here.

  94. 0:13:30

    Well-

  95. 0:13:32

    A lot

  96. 0:13:32

    ... I'm su- a lot. Okay.

  97. 0:13:34

    A lot.

  98. 0:13:35

    A lot.

  99. 0:13:35

    We'll help you out and give you something then.

  100. 0:13:37

    Maybe. Thank, thank, Senator. We, we, we, uh, as, as the, the chairs-

  101. 0:13:42

    Hey, don't encourage him. He's-

  102. 0:13:43

    Yes, sir.

  103. 0:13:44

    He's on fire today.

  104. 0:13:45

    S- sir, yes, sir.

  105. 0:13:46

    All right. No que- you no questions? All right, no questions. Thank you.

  106. 0:13:50

    Thank, thank you very much.

  107. 0:13:53

    Uh, you got one, uh... Wait, what? Nick wants to excuse himself. No, that's Franklin. Oh. You're good.

  108. 0:13:58

    Thank you.

  109. 0:14:01

    Okay. Representative Stevens.

  110. 0:14:03

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of committee. On your first page, five, House Bill 519 is a bill that essentially is a welfare to work for these hard to employ, hard to employ employees. It's a tax credit for the employer to hire folks like our disabled veterans. Uh, if they work 400 hours, um, they can get, the employer can get up to $500 per employee with a cap of 10 million, sun setting in December 31st of 2030.

  111. 0:14:34

    That's the bill.

  112. 0:14:37

    Any questions? No questions.

  113. 0:14:40

    Thank you.

  114. 0:14:40

    Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Present pro tem. It's important.

  115. 0:14:44

    Uh, Mr. Chairman, do these businesses that are gonna be eligible for this credit, do they have to be in Chatham County or?

  116. 0:14:52

    It helps.

  117. 0:14:52

    Okay. Thank you.

  118. 0:14:56

    Thank you, Chairman.

  119. 0:14:56

    Fair question. All right, Representative.

  120. 0:15:02

    Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, members. Um, this is House Resolution 251. It's on the yellow sheet, third page next to the last. This resolution is a constitutional amendment to ensure all probate judges are elected in nonpartisan elections. It also includes a plan for this change to be approved or rejected by the citizens of Georgia by putting it on the ballot for them to decide. This resolution's brought to us and supported by the Council of Probate Court Judges, the Council of Magistrate Court Judges, the Judicial Council of Georgia, and we also have the support of two amazing Georgia leaders, former Georgia governors, Nathan Deal and Roy Barnes.

  121. 0:15:38

    That's the bill.

  122. 0:15:43

    Oh, is there any questions? Okay, no questions.

  123. 0:15:47

    Thank you.

  124. 0:15:54

    Okay. Representative Corley.

  125. 0:15:56

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Uh, f- second page, fourth from the bottom, House Bill 1202. Simplest bill you're gonna see all day. It's just cleaning up a, uh, scrivener's error. Uh, it's in the wrong code section, and we're, uh, striking that and moving it to 35-68-16.

  126. 0:16:16

    Target-rich environment. All right, any questions? No questions.

  127. 0:16:22

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

  128. 0:16:24

    Representative Hilton, what's on your button here?

  129. 0:16:26

    There he is. The, uh, my button is Georgia Music Education. I have a freshman, uh, who is studying right now to be a music teacher. So, uh, they're here at the Capitol today, and we are supporting, uh, music. Uh, especially there was a great bill that came out of the Senate in regards to AP music theory-

  130. 0:16:43

    Yeah.

  131. 0:16:43

    ... uh, which I'll be carrying on the House side. Support our music educators.

  132. 0:16:50

    How in the world? How was the bill? Oh, goodness, why did I ask? Uh-

  133. 0:16:59

    But you look like a-

  134. 0:16:59

    But your passion-

  135. 0:16:59

    ... Pilates waitress. Yes

  136. 0:17:00

    ... your passion, you know that

  137. 0:17:01

    I do, sir.

  138. 0:17:02

    So let's hear some passion for your bills. What do you got?

  139. 0:17:05

    All right. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Page one, best page, House Bill 376, middle of the page. This is an economic development bill. Uh, we have seen downtowns flourish across the state from Macon to Columbus to Augusta, uh, by revitalizing our historic structures. This, uh, historic rehabilitation tax credit expires in 2029. The program has effectively expired today because we are out of credits. Uh, this provides additional credits so that the program can continue until it expires.

  140. 0:17:35

    Okay.

  141. 0:17:35

    That's 376. 376.

  142. 0:17:39

    Historical-

  143. 0:17:40

    Rehabilitation tax credit.

  144. 0:17:43

    Oh, we got a question from Senator Jackson.

  145. 0:17:46

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can't talk to you and the microphone, so -

  146. 0:17:50

    That's all right

  147. 0:17:50

    ... um, just wanted to be clear, is it true that this bill changes the credits for urban versus rural, um, locations? Is that true that that's what has happened now?

  148. 0:18:00

    So it does provide additional incentives for projects in, uh, counties with fewer than 50,000, uh, residents

  149. 0:18:07

    So it's worth more money for people who are in rural areas than it is for people in urban areas. Is that correct?

  150. 0:18:12

    That is correct.

  151. 0:18:17

    Is there a follow-up?

  152. 0:18:18

    I've got a follow-up.

  153. 0:18:19

    Oh, we got a follow-up. Senator Dolezal.

  154. 0:18:22

    Thank you, Representative Hilton. I don't know if this is related, but last year we pulled a bunch of credits forward, um, into, I believe, last fiscal year. Is this a response to that?

  155. 0:18:30

    Mm-hmm.

  156. 0:18:30

    Okay. Is, is... A- am I... Are these two things interconnected in any way? We... Okay, so, am, is it a different credit?

  157. 0:18:36

    Mm-hmm.

  158. 0:18:36

    Okay.

  159. 0:18:37

    Yeah.

  160. 0:18:41

    Any other questions? Clark Kent over there, you got a question? Okay.

  161. 0:18:48

    I didn't recognize him.

  162. 0:18:49

    I didn't either. I mean, with the glasses. He looks like Clark Kent.

  163. 0:18:54

    Chairman.

  164. 0:18:54

    Oh, President Pro Tem has a question.

  165. 0:18:57

    Uh, the question, uh, Representative, is, isn't it true that I like the stratification of the credits so that a project such as the redevelopment of the Gulch doesn't usurp all the tax credits and leave the rest of the state with nothing?

  166. 0:19:16

    That is correct.

  167. 0:19:17

    Thank you.

  168. 0:19:17

    Yes, sir.

  169. 0:19:19

    Stratification. That's a mighty big word for a man out of Perry. I'm impressed.

  170. 0:19:24

    You're getting big in the head.

  171. 0:19:26

    I'm impressed. All right. Uh, any other questions?

  172. 0:19:32

    All right.

  173. 0:19:33

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

  174. 0:19:33

    Good job. Representative Franklin, how are you, sir?

  175. 0:19:37

    Thank you, Mr. I'm fine. I'm great. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

  176. 0:19:39

    I'm great.

  177. 0:19:39

    Appreciate, uh-

  178. 0:19:40

    Yes, sir

  179. 0:19:40

    ... the opportunity. I've got two, uh, bills in your committee. The first one is, uh, number five on your yellow sheet, House Bill 165, and this is in regards to manufactured homes, um, affordable housing, basically. Currently, the law is that we get a 50% tax exemption from the state with these particular types of homes, and this bill would extend that to be able to allow, uh, that exemption to go to, um, the local taxes. That's, that's the bill.

  180. 0:20:09

    Okay. No questions? No questions. What's your other one?

  181. 0:20:13

    My other bill is House Bill 77. It's the third one down on your yellow sheet. This is a funeral procession bill, and it has been in your, uh, committee, uh, I think twice before. It's been, uh, three years on this. Um, but basically what it does is oncoming traffic on funeral processions-

  182. 0:20:29

    Sounds like you're begging

  183. 0:20:30

    ... would have to to pull over... I kind of am, but to pull over on the side of the road, um, for, uh... It's a, it's a, uh, it's a safety bill really. It came to me with my sheriffs. They were getting concerned that oncoming traffic was, uh, impeding their, um, their, um, escorts. And, um, so they wanted to be able to have, uh, a definition one way or the other, either to allow it or not allow it, and this is the result of it.

  184. 0:20:52

    Well, maybe- It's good ... maybe you get a pity pick out of this. I don't know. Senator Dolezal.

  185. 0:20:58

    Just out of curiosity, who's the-

  186. 0:20:59

    ... sponsor on this bill?

  187. 0:21:01

    Sim sponsor is Russ Goodman.

  188. 0:21:03

    Oh, okay. Oh.

  189. 0:21:04

    Wow.

  190. 0:21:05

    That's... There, there's your problem.

  191. 0:21:10

    You, you never have a non- Undertaker ... undertaker carry- Undertaker ... an undertaker bill.

  192. 0:21:16

    Well, I didn't wanna, you know, give too much, uh, responsibility to everybody and so...

  193. 0:21:23

    Yeah. He's playing his fiddle for you.

  194. 0:21:26

    Yeah, that's right.

  195. 0:21:27

    All right.

  196. 0:21:28

    Thank you, sir.

  197. 0:21:29

    Thank you. Representative Gamble. Taiwan Son.

  198. 0:21:32

    Taiwan Son. Good morning. Afternoon, Chairman.

  199. 0:21:35

    To me, it's hello in Taiwanese. Cantonese-

  200. 0:21:38

    Right. No

  201. 0:21:38

    ... uh, Mandarin.

  202. 0:21:39

    Yeah. That's right. That's right. We love Taiwan.

  203. 0:21:42

    Yes.

  204. 0:21:43

    Um, so on page two, I have House Bill 1159, the Farmer's Bridge Assistance Tax Deduction, and basically what this is, in the president's big, beautiful bill that passed back, uh, earlier this year, uh, funding was provided for farmers to deal with, um, all types of issues that they're facing and unstable, uh, certainties with farming. With farming being the number one industry in our state, this would exempt any payments that they received from state income tax, just like we did on the Hurricane Helene funds, uh, last year, and that's what, um, House Bill 1159 does as part of the governor's, uh, legislative package.

  205. 0:22:26

    So that's 1159.

  206. 0:22:32

    Any questions?

  207. 0:22:36

    I have one more.

  208. 0:22:39

    Are you still governor's floor leader?

  209. 0:22:40

    I am. I sure am, yes.

  210. 0:22:43

    Are you leading the floor?

  211. 0:22:45

    I'm trying to.

  212. 0:22:46

    All right.

  213. 0:22:46

    Over there. Um-

  214. 0:22:48

    Go ahead. What's your other one?

  215. 0:22:49

    All right. 1302, also on page two, uh, Workforce Development Bill. Um, this will basically help... It's the third iteration of legislation as a part of the effort to streamline our workforce development approach here in the state, and this will create a more collaborative process on the development of the state's Carl Perkins, uh, Act plan and the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act plan, uh, a- as a part of the Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Strategy.

  216. 0:23:20

    So, uh, it, it... that in essence is what it does. It deletes some old language from the old governor's, uh, education alliance that never really has met in recent years, and so that's what 1302 does. It came as a recommendation from the study committee on, um, uh, high demand careers and all the different things that we've done as a part of this. The Georgia Match program. Y'all have all supported this over the past several years. So this is the third and final piece of the, the workforce education, uh, package.

  217. 0:23:55

    Some great recommendations came out of that.

  218. 0:23:56

    Sure did.

  219. 0:23:56

    I'm glad to see y'all-

  220. 0:23:57

    Appreciate them

  221. 0:23:57

    ... taking them up over in the-

  222. 0:23:58

    That's right

  223. 0:23:59

    ... second floor.

  224. 0:23:59

    We do appreciate that.

  225. 0:24:01

    All right. Any questions? Hearing none. All right.

  226. 0:24:04

    Thank you.

  227. 0:24:04

    Thank you. Representative Cooper, how are you? Welcome.

  228. 0:24:10

    And you?

  229. 0:24:11

    Great.

  230. 0:24:11

    I've never s- uh, Mr. Chairman, thank you.

  231. 0:24:13

    Don't let that hit you in the face. It'll hurt.

  232. 0:24:15

    Okay. It's about my luck today. Cuts. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. I bring to you House Bill 1295. It's on the second page, uh, next to the bottom. Uh, this is another compact bill, just like the compact bills for physicians and nurses-

  233. 0:24:31

    Wow

  234. 0:24:31

    ... and this one's for physicians' assistants. Uh, we did have a last-minute call. I just got handed a proposed floor amendment. Um, the governor wanted it to be on appropriations. It would be started if the medicine money is appropriated. And the GBI has put in on, on that amendment also a little extra language-

  235. 0:24:52

    Yes

  236. 0:24:52

    ... about how they wanna do background checks, and they're doing it on all. And that's what it is.

  237. 0:25:00

    Okay. How many compacts do, are we in? Do you know?

  238. 0:25:04

    I don't know, but it seems like it's a bunch.

  239. 0:25:06

    We're on a lot.

  240. 0:25:07

    But we do have a lot of-

  241. 0:25:09

    That's it

  242. 0:25:10

    ... we, we do border on a lot of states. And we did use them during COVID, the nurses and basically houses parents.

  243. 0:25:17

    I feel like we did five compact bills last week in regulated industries .

  244. 0:25:21

    Three ways of doing this one.

  245. 0:25:22

    Yeah. A question from Senator Dolezal.

  246. 0:25:25

    Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, we were actually doing the budget yesterday in Green Door, and some of the new compacts we passed last year appeared in the budget, I believe at a cost of half a million to a million dollars a piece. Do you know the cost for us to join compacts and kinda what that ongoing cost is? I frankly never really realized that they had an expense to do, to, um, these compacts, but was, and was surprised to see it in the budget yesterday.

  247. 0:25:49

    I do not.

  248. 0:25:49

    Okay.

  249. 0:25:53

    My former vice chairman, you have a question?

  250. 0:25:57

    Yeah. That was a... I mean, that... What-

  251. 0:25:59

    He got fired earlier.

  252. 0:26:01

    In anticipation of bills passing, that was an estimate relating to that. And ha- some of that has to do with getting into the compact. Some of it has to do with maintenance. So that's what would be required of the composite medical board relating to that.

  253. 0:26:13

    What was the bill?

  254. 0:26:14

    It was... You know, there were about three or four trying to anticipate what was on the lead, and I, I won't swear it was this bill, but it was, uh-

  255. 0:26:23

    If my recollection's correct, they were $500,000.

  256. 0:26:25

    One of them was. But again, that was a swag.

  257. 0:26:28

    Okay.

  258. 0:26:28

    So...

  259. 0:26:29

    Swag.

  260. 0:26:29

    That one's a one-time.

  261. 0:26:31

    That wa- one-time cost on that.

  262. 0:26:35

    3,000.

  263. 0:26:36

    Yeah.

  264. 0:26:38

    One-time cost. Okay.

  265. 0:26:39

    One-time cost. Okay.

  266. 0:26:41

    Thank you.

  267. 0:26:42

    Thank you very much.

  268. 0:26:43

    Representative Leverett.

  269. 0:26:45

    Mr. Chairman.

  270. 0:26:46

    Welcome back.

  271. 0:26:47

    It's always great to be here.

  272. 0:26:48

    We missed you.

  273. 0:26:50

    And I you, Mr. Chairman. I have three bills on the calendar. Uh, they're on the page two. At the very top of page two, House Bill 998, vital legislation that will continue the Universal Access Program, which is essential to provision of basic telephone service throughout the state, and especially in rural areas where the economics don't often justify the provision of service. So this will make sure we have universal access throughout the state. It's a program that's been around for many, many years. We're just extending the sunset out about 10 years, and we're putting some guardrails in place that have not been, uh, uh, applicable to the program until, un- unless this bill passes.

  274. 0:27:28

    And that is the bill, Mr. Chairman.

  275. 0:27:29

    Any questions? All right. 1195.

  276. 0:27:32

    1195, basically last year when we, uh, passed a, a law to allow veterinary tele-triage and tele-advice, there were some geographic restrictions which makes it i- im- almost impossible for poison control centers to operate. So this is essential to allow those kind of services by vets and by other poison control centers to operate, and not only help us save the animals we love, but also save the ones that we depend upon for our livelihood.

  277. 0:28:01

    All right. You said you had one more.

  278. 0:28:02

    I have 999, which I've already presented. That was the magistrate court bill.

  279. 0:28:06

    Oh.

  280. 0:28:06

    As I recall, Chairman Watson about, his pulse about zeroed out. It was such an exciting presentation. But it is, it is vital legislation. I hope the committee will favorably consider it.

  281. 0:28:16

    We favorably consider every bill.

  282. 0:28:19

    As I greatly appreciate, Chair.

  283. 0:28:20

    Just don't always make it.

  284. 0:28:22

    That's right.

  285. 0:28:23

    All right.

  286. 0:28:24

    Thank you, sir.

  287. 0:28:25

    Thank you. Representative Jones.

  288. 0:28:31

    Good afternoon, Chairman, members of the committee. I come to you with House Bill 986 at the bottom of page one. Four years ago, uh, the General Assembly, uh, we led the country in putting PDDs out. You guys might think of them as igloos with four wheels that you see in Atlanta. About 20 states have since passed bills on that, and we've learned a little bit about what they have done, and we've also learned a little bit from our own GDOT, and also the counties and the cities. This is an update on speed and an update on sound emittance for the PDDs.

  289. 0:29:02

    And we're taking it from ... I can't believe we're increasing the miles per hour on a mobile cooler. We're taking it from what, three to seven?

  290. 0:29:12

    No, sir. We're taking it from four to seven.

  291. 0:29:14

    Four to seven.

  292. 0:29:14

    And one of the primary reasons is so that we are finding that these things are creating a little bit of congestion in downtown Atlanta, so we want to get them across the crosswalks almost 2X the time to get them across the crosswalks. Yes, sir.

  293. 0:29:26

    Okay.

  294. 0:29:29

    Please.

  295. 0:29:29

    Hey, Georgia-

  296. 0:29:30

    Senator Roberts has a-

  297. 0:29:30

    ... Uber eats appreciates it.

  298. 0:29:32

    Thank you. Uh, Representative, I'm sure you've done some research on this. Do you see any advantage of moving that number up to 15?

  299. 0:29:39

    So M- Mr. Whip, um, as a matter of fact, it's... I- I- I don't know if that's all tongue in cheek, but the other 20 states moved from 10 to 12. We decided not to go to 10 to 12. We decided to split it, and we went to seven. Uh, I would anticipate that the General Assembly should consider maybe in a few more years going to 10 or maybe 12, or maybe 15 to your point.

  300. 0:29:57

    Thank you.

  301. 0:29:58

    Yes, sir.

  302. 0:29:58

    Why not, why not do it now if we're already the lowest? Just curious.

  303. 0:30:02

    I don't want to speak for all the departments that were involved as we were putting this together, but everyone felt as if let's take a more tempered approach. Let's get to seven. If we feel as if we're not seeing any issues, then at that point then we think we have a solid bit of data, that then we'll move to 10 to 12.

  304. 0:30:17

    What happens if they go faster? Do they get pulled over?

  305. 0:30:20

    Uh, they wouldn't get ... They wouldn't get pulled over, but technically it is a, it, it, it, it is a civil citation.

  306. 0:30:27

    Who do they give it to?

  307. 0:30:29

    Well, they-

  308. 0:30:29

    The company, I guess?

  309. 0:30:30

    They actually... Yeah. Every one of them has to come with contact infor- information, including phone numbers, and they all go to Senator Albers.

  310. 0:30:37

    This bill. All right, Senator Albers, our Public Safety Chairman has a question. I got a lot of questions, Mr. Chairman.

  311. 0:30:43

    So if this exceeds seven miles an hour, who's gonna be, uh, writing those citations?

  312. 0:30:47

    So-

  313. 0:30:47

    Will they, will they be writing a radar, or is it-

  314. 0:30:49

    Yeah, so it isn't a written citation. Uh, it is something that it would be observed, and then depending on who owns that particular, uh, PDD, then that PDD would then receive, the company, basically almost like a registered agent, would receive the notice of citation. No different than if you happen to have one of the speed cameras inside of your, um, jurisdiction.

  315. 0:31:09

    H- how would you know that it was going faster unless you were running a radar gun?

  316. 0:31:12

    Well, again, it would have to be by radar or some other means of electronic, um- ... I guess, interpretation.

  317. 0:31:18

    What, what, what other means would you-

  318. 0:31:19

    I think, I think-

  319. 0:31:19

    ... suggest it would be?

  320. 0:31:19

    I think the fact is, is, um, I know that we could probably get a young man or a young woman out of Georgia Tech, uh, who runs cro- cross country, to go at an eight mile pace, and then we'll basically be able to put them next to them and see if it goes faster or slower.

  321. 0:31:32

    Maybe we'll see if the Freeze is available, Mr. Chairman.

  322. 0:31:34

    There we go.

  323. 0:31:37

    Senator Anderson has a question.

  324. 0:31:39

    Representative Jones, h- how much money have we made off of these things so far?

  325. 0:31:44

    Uh, Mr. Anderson-

  326. 0:31:45

    The state

  327. 0:31:45

    ... or Senator Anderson, um, we don't charge a fee per se from the state. I don't want to speak for the-

  328. 0:31:50

    Sales tax

  329. 0:31:51

    ... for the private en- I was gonna say, I don't want to speak for the private entities. Uh, but the private entities, we are seeing an increase in literally thousands of a percentile in terms of increasing it. Uh, we're seeing more and more and more, and not just in Atlanta and Savannah, Augusta, et cetera. So in my mind, what we have here is massive leverage for a place that might have a workforce constraint, and then also to the Chairman's point, additional sales tax. Not on the backs of Georgians, but necessarily on the backs of technology.

  330. 0:32:18

    Yeah, I've seen them in Atlanta.

  331. 0:32:19

    Do you, do they have a certain period of time that they have to deliver the food by?

  332. 0:32:24

    I've only seen one.

  333. 0:32:25

    Well, sir, I'm gonna leave that just to Domino's-

  334. 0:32:27

    Okay

  335. 0:32:27

    ... and others in terms of any guarantee that they want to make.

  336. 0:32:30

    And who, who would repair the flat tire if it had a flat tire?

  337. 0:32:34

    Again, I'll go to Uber Eats and DoorDash and others, and we'll let them make the determination on how that tire gets fixed.

  338. 0:32:42

    All right, moving on.

  339. 0:32:45

    We good? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

  340. 0:32:48

    Thank you.

  341. 0:32:49

    Speaker.

  342. 0:32:50

    Mr. Speaker? Hey.

  343. 0:32:54

    Hey. Come on up, Representative Taylor. How are you?

  344. 0:32:56

    I want to make him knock.

  345. 0:32:58

    Very good. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

  346. 0:32:59

    Do I have your vote for speaker?

  347. 0:33:01

    Of course.

  348. 0:33:02

    All right.

  349. 0:33:05

    Good afternoon, and thank you for allowing me to be here today. Um, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I bring you House Bill 1234, LC 52-0970. This is a bill that relates to the state retiree life insurance program. We've seen this before. It's been around a couple of years. Currently, the plan does not allow for beneficiaries of this life insurance plan to assign the benefits to the funeral home. Uh, this is a standard practice with most, um, insurance policies.

  350. 0:33:36

    This bill will allow the plan to accept this assignment, and it is specifically states in this bill that it can only be used for funeral expenses and funeral related costs. We had many problems, especially after COVID, where many funeral homes were not paid for their services. It put a danger for our retirees, for state employees, um, to have the dignity and the funeral services that they need and desire. Previously, there was a concern with the department, um, that others, debtors would try to, um, collect these benefits.

  351. 0:34:08

    But again, this bill is specifically written that only the actual death benefits and those related charges, uh, can be used. I'd be happy to answer any questions.

  352. 0:34:20

    No questions. Thank you.

  353. 0:34:21

    Thank you very much. I appreciate your favorable consideration.

  354. 0:34:24

    All righty. Representative Thomas, did you have a bill?

  355. 0:34:31

    Just wanted to come and say hi. Just want to come say hi. Okay. Well, hi. I missed you all so much. Yep. We missed you, too. Senator Dickerson, did you have anything?

  356. 0:34:39

    Uh, I've got one I speak on behalf of for Representative Jordan Rick.

  357. 0:34:42

    Let's go to the microphone, please.

  358. 0:34:49

    Uh, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Uh, today I'm bringing you, uh, should be House Bill 163 that's on the first page. A fairly simple bill. It just requires restaurants and food service establishments to notate on their menus if they're s- uh, serving lab-created meat, uh, that it's notated as such. I'd be happy to answer any questions.

  359. 0:35:13

    I'm sure this is gonna have some questions. Clair Robertson.

  360. 0:35:17

    Thank you. Uh, Representative, uh, Dixon, um-

  361. 0:35:21

    Thank you, sir.

  362. 0:35:22

    Do you know of any places right now that are creating meat in a lab here in Georgia?

  363. 0:35:26

    Uh, not that I'm aware of. Mm-mm.

  364. 0:35:28

    Okay, thank you.

  365. 0:35:30

    Do we know any places selling it?

  366. 0:35:33

    From my understanding, I cannot name specific names. Of course, if I did know, I would not notate that here publicly. But from my understanding- ... there are certain establishments that are, uh, selling it, but they're not notating it on the menu as such.

  367. 0:35:47

    Hmm.

  368. 0:35:51

    He's more well-versed than I said, Representative Thomas.

  369. 0:35:52

    All right, any, any other questions? We better get along here. We got stuff to do. Thank you.

  370. 0:35:58

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

  371. 0:36:00

    Rep- Senator Hatchett, you got anything? I know you're standing in a little bit.

  372. 0:36:04

    I have been cycling, but I'm talking about it.

  373. 0:36:07

    He has his cycling, recycling.

  374. 0:36:11

    16-0.

  375. 0:36:14

    Resolution. Study committee on recycling, in case y'all forgot. All right, moving on. HB 61, that's, uh, the separate license plates for hearses.

  376. 0:36:33

    And then we got HB 485. That's, uh, Representative Yerda's... What is that? I forgot what that is. Who knows what that is? Do y'all know what that is?

  377. 0:36:50

    He's carrying it.

  378. 0:36:52

    Hmm?

  379. 0:36:54

    Hatchett is carrying that.

  380. 0:36:57

    You're carrying that, Senator Hatchett.

  381. 0:36:58

    It's the, uh, we pass it every year. It's the Code Revision bill.

  382. 0:37:02

    Code Revision bill. All right. HB 549, that's his peace officer bill reimbursement, and HB 1391, that's our license plates for our public safety officers.

  383. 0:37:23

    1391. And I believe that covers them all. All right.

  384. 0:37:36

    We can do this one of two ways. Actually, we can do it one of a million ways. I'm gonna put... I wanna put six bills on tomorrow. I got four ding dings.

  385. 0:37:48

    Ooh, okay.

  386. 0:37:49

    So you want me to just put them all?

  387. 0:37:51

    Go ahead.

  388. 0:37:52

    For sake of time?

  389. 0:37:53

    Yeah.

  390. 0:37:54

    All right. We're putting on 998,

  391. 0:38:03

    1159,

  392. 0:38:06

    1302,

  393. 0:38:11

    and 1379,

  394. 0:38:16

    and then let's pick a couple. So we left off with Senator Robertson.

  395. 0:38:22

    Uh, Mr. Chair, let's do House Bill 999.

  396. 0:38:27

    999.

  397. 0:38:32

    Okay. And Senator Jackson.

  398. 0:38:40

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let's do HB, um... Oh, wait a second. Where's the one with the

  399. 0:38:49

    tax credits for his- historical buildings?

  400. 0:38:52

    Um-

  401. 0:38:55

    376

  402. 0:38:56

    ... 376.

  403. 0:38:56

    Thank you. HB 376.

  404. 0:38:59

    It's on the first page of your little sheet.

  405. 0:39:01

    I- I got it. I got it. Appreciate you. Thanks, Coach.

  406. 0:39:05

    All right. I think that's enough, 'cause we got a special action on Wednesday as well. So HB 376, HB 998, HB 999, HB 1159, HB 1302, and HB 1379. I got a motion from Senator Ginn. I got a second from Senator Anderson. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

  407. 0:39:34

    Aye.

  408. 0:39:34

    All opposed say nay. Motion carries unanimous. All right. We're gonna gavel out of that, and we're gonna gavel right back into standing. We got one bill. We're gonna make it quick. It's HB 1020. Senator Hatchett, you'll be carrying this bill.

  409. 0:39:51

    Yes, sir.

  410. 0:39:51

    Would you like to cover it? The underlying bill was the moving the, uh, DA retirement age from 60 to 65. It was sent back here. You can come on up to the podium. Uh, it was sent back here and to add the DA pay raise, which matched up with the judges' pay raise, um, similar in structure, and we fi- we thought it'd be good for the age change to pair with the, uh, with the pay raise.

  411. 0:40:27

    Yeah. That's- that's right, Mr. Chairman. So-

  412. 0:40:29

    All right. So if you'll quickly just talk about the pay raise portion. I covered the other.

  413. 0:40:33

    All right. Uh, it'll be 88% of the federal judge, judge's salary, um, and it'll also limit the local supplements to 10% of whatever the district attorney salary is. The idea is to get parity across the state. One of the reasons we have, uh, such just- just differences in how much DAs are getting paid is because of the local supplements. Just like the judges, this brings up what the state pays and lowers the local supplements. That's allowable to 10%.

  414. 0:41:05

    And as in all retirement bills, there is a actuarial letter that accompanies it from DOAA. So you'll see that attached to your committee sub, which is LC560664S. Are there questions? Senator Jackson.

  415. 0:41:27

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, so two questions. One, when is the opt-in date, uh, for the DAs in terms of opting into this process?

  416. 0:41:34

    June 1st, 2030, I believe.

  417. 0:41:36

    Do you know where that is in the bill?

  418. 0:41:44

    Yeah. Give me just a second.

  419. 0:41:46

    That's okay. If we could just verify that, that would be great. And then my other question is, um, so you talk about this being done in, um, similar parity as the way we did the judges. When it comes to the locality pay for the judges, it was a moving process. So as the state gave more money to, um, the judges, then the locality pay had to decrease by that same amount. This bill instead just does 10% outright, which would result in some DAs receiving actually a, a, a cut in salary if they were to opt in. And so I'm just concerned about why we did not do it in the same exact way that we did the judges.

  420. 0:42:23

    I'm not familiar 100% with what you're talking about with the judges. I thought it was a flat rate as well.

  421. 0:42:29

    No, so with the judges, as the state gives more increases, it closes the amount. So like, let's say if, um, if my county, DeKalb County, is providing a locality pay of $30,000 to a judge, a Superior Court judge is what we're talking about, um, if the state increases by 10,000, then the locality has to decrease by, um, that 10,000 until we end up at parity. But this just does a flat out 10%, which, uh, for localities like mine that are already doing greater than 10%, it would cause a reduction. So I'm just...

  422. 0:43:00

    I, I'd say if we wanna do parity like we did with the judges, then I, I would suggest that we do the same process.

  423. 0:43:06

    Thank you for your input on that.

  424. 0:43:14

    What line was that?

  425. 0:43:15

    56 is the 2030.

  426. 0:43:17

    56. Thank you for that, sir. Okay.

  427. 0:43:20

    Yeah, January 1st, 2030, not June. I apologize.

  428. 0:43:25

    Yep, line 56, must exercise no later than January 1 of 2030.

  429. 0:43:36

    So essentially they could be grandfathered, they could stay where they're at, right?

  430. 0:43:41

    That's right.

  431. 0:43:41

    So that would cover your ones that if you felt like... If they felt like it was a deduction, they would just stay where they're at.

  432. 0:43:55

    Y- yes, Mr. Chairman, that, that's true. However, if come Jan- you know, come January 1st of 2030 they wanted to opt in for the other reasons that this is beneficial, um, they would be facing a salary deduction.

  433. 0:44:09

    It's extremely beneficial for retirement, extremely.

  434. 0:44:12

    Right.

  435. 0:44:12

    And if a DA doesn't opt in and they, when they retire, they don't get the full benefit of the entire salary that they get from the state. So what's probably gonna happen is a lot of these DAs that are making money now will wait until the last minute before they retire so they can maximize what they get.

  436. 0:44:29

    All right. Any other questions?

  437. 0:44:35

    No questions. What's the will of the committee? I got a motion do pass by substitute LC560664S of HB 1020.

  438. 0:44:51

    Second.

  439. 0:44:52

    I've got a second from Senator Williams. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor raise your hand, a hand. I've got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10. 10 yeses. All oppose?

  440. 0:45:16

    I need Senator Cowsert.

  441. 0:45:18

    He ra- he, he was a yes. I got three. Senator Cowsert, what were-

  442. 0:45:22

    I'm opposing, yes.

  443. 0:45:23

    Okay. I'm sorry. Then we had 11 yeses and three noes, so 14.

  444. 0:45:31

    Yeah.

  445. 0:45:31

    Yeah, that's right.

  446. 0:45:32

    Okay. Motion carries. Thank you.

  447. 0:45:35

    Mr. Chairman.

  448. 0:45:36

    That will go to rules. All right, that concludes our business for today. Thank y'all all for attending, and good luck on Wednesday, which is when we'll be back in. Thank you, everybody. Have a great day.

Machine-readable https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/senate-rules.md · https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/index.md · MCP https://mcp.georgiacommons.org/mcp