House Regulated Industries Committee, March 17, 2026

Transcript

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1. 0:02:30

   Uh, you, sir.

2. 0:02:35

   Well, here we go again today.

3. 0:02:41

   Good after-

4. 0:02:42

   We always got a

5. 0:02:44

   Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

6. 0:02:46

   Must be got something wrong here. All right. Let's give him a little... Give you a little...

7. 0:02:57

   Well, there's a real answer to that, right? Wow. You get me to it, Al. Oh, hell yeah, sure. You get me to it.

8. 0:03:08

   All right. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

9. 0:03:13

   Oh, that's better. I want to welcome everybody to the House Regulated Industries Committee meeting, and this is a full committee meeting today, uh, to move forward with a few bills that we didn't finish up yesterday. Um, I'm gonna change the order 'cause I've got to be called back down to the governmental affairs to vote on an election bill, and I've told them to do it, so I'm gonna change the order of some of these bills, and I'm gonna get one of them out of the way right now. And, uh, I'm gonna turn the ta- uh, turn the chair over to the vice chair.

10. 0:03:47

    Bill.

11. 0:04:00

    Before everything else. Move to pass, Mr. Chairman.

12. 0:04:07

    Second.

13. 0:04:08

    Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee members. I bring to you today a house, excuse me, Senate Bill 254. And before, I want to thank, uh, I want to thank, uh, the good senator, my counterpart, uh, over in the Senate, uh, for letting me use his bill. And he's now decided after all these years that he's been opposed to certain issues, he's decided this is a good idea now to clean up the COAM Division. This is an annual bill that we seem to do every year because of the nature of that industry.

14. 0:04:41

    There's always so many changes that, that are always changing. It's, it's a, it's a work in progress with the COAM industry. So if you will, follow with me, and I'm gonna give you these changes pretty quick. I wish, uh, Senator Cowser was here, 'cause he said he wanted to sit down with me and where he could hear this bill, 'cause he's a-

15. 0:05:00

    He was at the committee and he was testifying, so he would be right over here.

16. 0:05:03

    Well, then I'm sure he'll see it on the videotape. Um, you'll see in front of you today LC28-0754S. Uh, this is Senator Cowser's bill that was a questionable bill, but now it's a good bill. But we seem to do that the way when things come to this, come over to the House. Isn't that right, Senator?

17. 0:05:25

    I couldn't, couldn't hear you, Mr. Chairman.

18. 0:05:27

    All right. Section one. We have a situation that's going on with the manufacturers of the COAMs. As y'all know, we have the A and the B type machines. One is the kitty games, and the other are the ones that do the non-cash redemption. Well, what we're understanding that, uh, s- through, uh, their technology, some of these, uh, these manufacturers are doing hybrid machines. They're blending the A and the B machines together. That's a dangerous subject, 'cause what happens at that point if they start distributing these machines, then all of a sudden you'll start seeing these casino type operations where they're limited to six machines now, unless the, uh, locals allow them to have nine machines.

19. 0:06:10

    That's something that we're prohibiting. So you'll see in section one, uh, that we're prohibiting, uh, any of the creation of any hybrid bona fide amusement ma- machines. And what this does, this, uh, this is to keep them from avoiding any taxation. As y'all know that, uh, those, the COAM division brings in over 200 million a year to the lottery for the Hope Scholarship. Uh, also in section one, uh, another, uh, language, it basically says that they can't divert these A and B machines.

20. 0:06:44

    Uh, sets a limit of $2 on the Class A, the kitty games. If there's a ticket to be given, the ticket can't be worth more than $2 and it can't accumulate. And section two, this is that age-old thing we keep talking about. You would think that the lottery would do it, but they hadn't done it. Uh, they, they say they can't do it. Pool, pool tables, coin-operated pool tables and dart games. It almost sounds silly among the seriousness that we deal with the COAM, but this would allow those, uh, merchants, and we're talking about the veteran organizations and the, and the recreational places, to allow them to give out gift cards the same as other machines if they have permits based on these, uh, dart games and, uh, billiard games.

21. 0:07:33

    Section two allows, uh, does not allow revenue sharing. One of the things that we've been very particular about over the years is that in this type of industry, the only folks that can get any revenue, and that's one is the master that provides the machines. Two is the location owners, not the landlords. We've been very particular over the, over the history of COAM not to open this up so that people are buying locations or buying real estate just so that they can dip their, their beak into the, the financial pot.

22. 0:08:06

    That way, this is easier to control for the regulators than it's whoever holds a license. There's no property owner, and I reiterate, there's no property owner that gets a proceeds from any of the COAM, despite what some political advertising may have been run this late. Um, section three discipline, progressive discipline system. Right now, they don't have a discipline system over at the, uh, at the, uh, Lottery Commission, the COAM Division.

23. 0:08:39

    Uh, usually what we've seen is that they will charge somebody, but they don't tell them they're charged with a, uh, either a criminal act or a, uh, administrative act. This basically gives a life- a progressive system of discipline. So like the alcohol industry, you get caught selling alcohol to a minor, then you're charged on the spot. There's no stacking charges. They don't just catch you and wait until you get two or three more and then file an all-out suspension. They have to do a progressive system of discipline, something that I think is, uh, sorely needed.

24. 0:09:14

    Section 3 also says that the Lottery Commission and the COAM Advisory Board will make recommendations to the legislature. Uh, one is on lottery products, uh, to be given as non-cash redemption, to the gift cards to be given as non-cash redemption, to investigate the tampering of COAMs and any unredeemed winnings, to find a solution on any unredeemed winnings, which will probably be sent back to the Lottery Commission for the benefit of Georgia students. Um, section 4 carries on with the progression of the progressive discipline.

25. 0:09:49

    It says there'll be a notice of violations. So instead of them just sitting in somebody's drawer and come back and hit them later on with that gotcha clause, if they violated the law or an administrative rule, then let them know on the spot they've done that. Uh, section 5 is cr- uh, any hearings that's done at OCSA right now, that if there's a reason for an appeal, then that appeal will automatically go to the business court in Fulton County to expedite any of these appeals.

26. 0:10:21

    Uh, section 7 is more on the progressive disciplinary system. Uh, section 9, I'm gonna try to walk through this, and most of y'all that's been on the committee understand this, but, you know, it's an interesting world between the masters and the retailers. They have contracts that are signed specifically about, uh, how long their tenure will be in that store and things like that. Well, what we've had is a situation of, and we- and it's sort of hard to explain, but it's not in a way.

27. 0:10:54

    If there's a dispute between a master license holder and a COAM location owner, well, in some cases, this goes to a mediation, but at some point, and in some cases, very remote as it may be, sometimes one or the other always says no, and they hold it up, and it's an arbitrary reason to hold it up. And what we're saying in this, that when it goes into an appeal process, and it goes to the court, and what they can do, if you have, if they have...

28. 0:11:24

    Basically, if it's frivolous in nature, then that, uh, judgment can say, if they've determined it's fr- that, that holdout has been frivolous to keep somebody from doing business, that they will be disgorged of their part of that lottery winnings, and that money will then be turned over to the lottery. But that's up to a court of competent jurisdiction to decide that. And that, quite frankly, is, that's what this bill does. And I'll be glad to stand for questions, and I appreciate the chair allowing me to go first in case I'm called down to vote on that other bill.

29. 0:12:01

    Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, are there any questions of the chairman?

30. 0:12:08

    I see no questions. Um-

31. 0:12:11

    Move to do pass.

32. 0:12:12

    Second.

33. 0:12:13

    We have a motion and a second. Is there any other discussion? All in favor of the motion for do pass, uh, say I.

34. 0:12:22

    I.

35. 0:12:22

    All opposed say no. And it passes, Mr. Chairman. And I thank you, Mr. Chairman, and a good senator and myself. Thank you for this. Let's keep this industry clean.

36. 0:12:46

    All right, next up.

37. 0:12:53

    Senator Robertson.

38. 0:12:59

    And I think you've seen the substitute to your bill.

39. 0:13:03

    No, sir, I've not. I'll just, I'll just advise of it.

40. 0:13:06

    All right.

41. 0:13:11

    I believe you ha- I believe we have in front of us, uh, HB 1501, LC 64-0101S.

42. 0:13:28

    Another good bill that's been made better.

43. 0:13:37

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee members, and I'll, uh, I'll speak briefly to the, uh, the bill as I'm familiar with it that passed out of the Senate, and I'm more than happy to answer any questions or have any discussion on the substitute.

44. 0:14:06

    SB 501 is, uh, a bill that, um, I was asked to help with, with our, uh, great safety fire division of the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Fire Safety. And very simply Um, as I run through here, and I know there have been changes made on this side, I'm aware of the fact that this piece of legislation has been discussed by this committee, um, thoroughly, and I do appreciate the attention. But, um, as far as the bill that came across, it creates a deputy commissioner of fire safety, or excuse me, safety fire in the agency, removing administrative and operational burdens that currently exist, uh, with the state fire marshal, while improving the agency's efficiency and responsiveness.

45. 0:14:51

    It establishes a consistent process for hearings across the agency to conform with modern legal processes. Uh, those wishing to appeal a decision by the office must first request a hearing from the commissioner, and if the decision is upheld, they can petition, they can petition for review in a superior court. It's my understanding that this committee has, uh, expanded that, that possibility outside of Fulton County, and, um, if that is true, I can appreciate and agree to that.

46. 0:15:23

    Uh, establishes an appeal mechanism for those aggrieved or adversely affected by a final ruling of a local governing authority on a building permit. Appeals will go before a board made up of local authorities, licensed contractors, and members of the OCISF to determine if the total, or excuse me, if the local authority's final ruling will be upheld, modified, or reversed. It provides oversight over deputized personnel to ensure deputized local fire marshals and state inspectors are in compliance with administrative and operational procedures in order to provide continuity throughout the State of Georgia.

47. 0:16:01

    It authorizes the commissioner to ins- to issue an immediate evacuation order from a building or structure that presents an imminent life safety hazard.

48. 0:16:18

    This bill enhances fire fatality investigations by reporting, excuse me, and reporting by requiring coroners and medical examiners to report all fire fatalities to the agency and prevents them from moving fire-related dis- deceased until authorized by personnel within the state fire marshal's office. Uh, it amends punishments for violating Title 25, provisions by adding imprisonment for up to 12 months and a fine of up to $1,000 per violation.

49. 0:16:50

    And as we all know, a 12-month sentence would be a misdemeanor sentence. It modernizes fees and fines, uh, for not having working smoke detectors in dwellings and increases re-inspection fees for manufactured housing certificates. And with that, Mr. Chair, I'm happy to answer, um, any questions that y'all may have.

50. 0:17:10

    All right. That's the first part of the bill. Uh, the second part of the bill would be on, uh-

51. 0:17:20

    Section 117 ... yeah, it starts at Section 117, page 14. And this is quite simple. The product- the, uh, House Bill 1095 that didn't get across on crossover. Uh, right now, that if you are in the fireworks business in Georgia, you can have two satellite locations for special events, and it's a hard, a hard location. This would allow three, and they can use tents for these special occasions. And that's quite frankly what it does.

52. 0:17:51

    There was one minor change that I wanted to amend on line 382 and 388. We had left out a couple of words on line 382 after the word operate. It, it should read, "A Georgia-based distributor shall operate and own at least two locations to be able to put these up." And then the same language change on 388, "A non-Georgia-based distributor shall own and operate at least 10 locations," before they could have the three.

53. 0:18:24

    And those would be the changes, and this is, you know, no more than just saying we're trying to protect our Georgia-based, uh, business folks a little bit.

54. 0:18:33

    Mr. Chairman, if I might, if I heard you correct, two bricks and mortar would allow three-

55. 0:18:38

    Three satellite-

56. 0:18:39

    ... locations, and 10 bricks and mortar would allow-

57. 0:18:41

    Three

58. 0:18:42

    ... three? Okay.

59. 0:18:43

    Yeah. If they're from out of state.

60. 0:18:45

    Oh, okay.

61. 0:18:46

    State-owned, they got- they only have to own and operate two permanent locations. Out of state, they have to own 10.

62. 0:18:52

    Yes, sir.

63. 0:18:56

    All right. Do we have anyone that wishes to speak on any sections of the, either, either of the two sections?

64. 0:19:06

    Y'all are a disciplined group today. Thank you so very much. You're welcome. All right. Any questions from the committee? Let's see. Number eight, that would be Mr. McDonald.

65. 0:19:20

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I had a, it's kind of a complex question with this bill. Why did they let somebody whose office was a Krispy Kreme handle a fire safety, uh, piece of legislation?

66. 0:19:32

    Um, uh, and I appreciate the question. Coming from a hose dragger, I'll talk slow.

67. 0:19:40

    Um, it's because we go and handle all the deaths and let y'all put the fires out.

68. 0:19:47

    Okay.

69. 0:19:47

    And I appreciate you, bro.

70. 0:19:50

    All right. I see no other questions. What's the will of the committee? Make a motion. We have a motion.

71. 0:19:57

    Second.

72. 0:19:57

    We have a second. Will someone make the motion on the two changes that I had recommended on 382 and 388? So moved. We have a motion. We have a second. All in favor of the amendment say aye. Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Now, back to the, uh, the main question before you. Uh, Senate Bill 503 as amended, and we'll do this as a committee sub with the permission of the committee.

73. 0:20:27

    If not, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed?

74. 0:20:32

    501.

75. 0:20:34

    What did I say?

76. 0:20:35

    503.

77. 0:20:35

    Oh, I'm sorry.

78. 0:20:36

    That's okay.

79. 0:20:37

    That m- that must've been somebody else's bill. Aye. All in favor of, uh, 501 as, as the committee said? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you, Senator.

80. 0:20:48

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate you.

81. 0:20:50

    Yeah, I appreciate y'all. I've been in front of your committee before. If y'all try to be a little bit more expeditious the way the House Regulated Industries is, we'd get more work done.

82. 0:21:00

    Someone talked about wanting to disagree. I appreciate it.

83. 0:21:02

    There you go. All right. Ladies and gentlemen, I've got to run to the, uh,

84. 0:21:09

    I've got to run to the Elections Committee. And, uh, I'm going to turn over this bill. I'm, I'm gonna be handling Senate Bill 89, but I should be back by then, but I'm going to call, uh, Senator Hatchett if you'd good, and I'm gonna turn this over. Mr. Clerk, to the vote.

85. 0:21:38

    Welcome, Senator.

86. 0:21:39

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

87. 0:21:40

    Senator 553. I'm going to leave y'all at this point. But, uh, as a footnote for the committee, what you see in front of it is, uh, has been amended. Originally in the subcommittee, I had added the, uh, Administrative Procedures Act. And as a, and as a olive branch to my good friends in the governor's office, I'm gonna withdraw that at this point in hopes that they're gonna work with me to find some adequate language, because what I, in my interpretation of administrative procedures was that all these boards and, uh, departments when they're passing rules and regs, that they report them.

88. 0:22:18

    And we have a lot of them that do report. I'm not sure whatever happens to that, but there's some that don't necessarily report. But it's not the intent of those amendments to get into forcing departments and otherwise to move their, uh, judicial hearings on discipline to OSHA or anything else. It's only a matter of trying to get, get the legislature back in the mix of knowing what's being done out there under the cover of the law. So I'm gonna withdraw that, and you'll see in this, uh, substitute that I've withdrawn the APA, and I'm gonna let the good senator talk about it because I think he's gonna be talking a few minutes.

89. 0:22:57

    It might give me time to go down and take care of some other business.

90. 0:23:03

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You are a true gentleman. I appreciate you.

91. 0:23:08

    It's nice

92. 0:23:21

    to get time now. Almost to noon. I want to see you run. Stupid going, "Let's go." Let's go. I'm glad you did. It's not after me. Chair recognizes Senator Hatchett-

93. 0:23:34

    Thank you

94. 0:23:34

    ... uh, to present Senate Bill 553.

95. 0:23:37

    Thank you very much. And members of committee, this will be Senate Bill 553. The LC is LC 560670ECS. To understand this bill, you've got to step back, because you can really get in the weeds on these issues. But essentially, if y'all are like me, I'm sure someone at some time has reached out to your office about having trouble getting a license, um, going through the process and being denied for certain licenses.

96. 0:24:12

    Senate Bill 553 is Governor Kemp's attempt to codify objective licensing requirements for the purpose of streamlining licensing process, uh, under five divisions of the state construction industry. That would include electrical contractors, low voltage contractors, the division of master plumbers and journeyman plumbers, the division of utility contractors, and the division of conditioned air contractors. And this bill may be, well, 90...

97. 0:24:43

    It's pretty lengthy. Uh, the process, it, it should be... It could be, could've been longer. This process started when we adjourned last year. Um, I want to thank JC and Amy in the governor's office for what they've been doing, working, w- bringing all of these groups together, and essentially what this bill does is instead of having subjective standards that are interpreted by board members for certain licenses, we are putting objective standards in the code so that when someone is applying to become a master plumber or, uh, air condition contractor, they know exactly what they need to do, and when they complete that, they can ultimately be granted a license.

98. 0:25:32

    Currently, the majority of licensing requirements administered by these divisions rely on subjective experience standards outlined in broad rule, phrases such as, "to the satisfaction of the division" and "significant responsibility," lack objective definition. This creates confusion for applicants seeking licensure, and it, the ambiguity often results in wasted time, money, and effort for both the applicants and the members of the board. That's the bill in a nutshell. If you have any specific questions, um, Mr.

99. 0:26:05

    Chairman, I would respectfully request that I be able to phone a friend to the experts in the room, because this is a, a rather dense, uh, bill.

100. 0:26:17

     Well, we do have a question from Representative Williams.

101. 0:26:20

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, sir, for this bill. I think it was very eloquent for you to take this 90-page monster, and it's not a nutshell, that's a peanut, because it's- You really got to the bottom of it. It's, I think that it's needed. There, there, there's a lot on the landscape, especially with the military. We've passed a lot of bills and to try and make it easier to be licensed if you've got the experience while serving in the military.

102. 0:26:54

     It always puzzled me why a guy who's a diesel mechanic for 20 years in the Army would come out and take forever to get licensed to work on a diesel pickup. But, um, hopefully this will bring some civility to this. There's a lot of language here, and I'm sure some of us will be asking some questions a little later on as we read more of this. I haven't had a chance to read this. This wasn't on my night reading last night.

103. 0:27:25

     No.

104. 0:27:25

     So I missed it. I'm looking forward to it tonight.

105. 0:27:28

     Well, it, it is thrilling when you get the opportunity to read-

106. 0:27:31

     I bet so.

107. 0:27:32

     And, and just to highlight your point, this does, uh, address the military issue and spouses-

108. 0:27:36

     Mm-hmm

109. 0:27:36

     ... which is very important and just another way to show that we do- ... support the troops and understand that they do g- have to move around a lot. And if their spouse is in one of these trade divisions or if they're in one of these trade divisions, that, that we will recognize those licenses.

110. 0:27:50

     A quick follow-up, Mr. Chairman. As far as the military is concerned, I think that we need some cooperation from them, too. Passed a licensure bill eight, 10 years ago, probably eight years ago, for military spouses who clogged up getting licensed. It was a teacher that eventually gave up and went into another profession. And this bill was passed, but nobody told the spouses and the active duty military that the bill was available.

111. 0:28:23

     They literally said nothing about it. So there's got to be some advertising, and we've got to ask the military to pass the information on. 'Cause no matter what you do, if they are not told somewhere in their line of command, they're not going to know. And then we'll run into somebody out here in the civilian community that never heard of the bill. But it would help to PR it some.

112. 0:28:48

     I agree. Thank you.

113. 0:28:53

     Representative McCollum. Chair recognizes Representative McCollum.

114. 0:28:57

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So this, this bill is pretty lengthy, obviously. Um, does it change, uh... I mean, I'm going through it, and what does it do? Electricians, low voltage, plumbers, HVAC, and what, what else?

115. 0:29:19

     Uh, conditioned air contractors.

116. 0:29:22

     S- so HVAC. So does, does this change the criteria of... Does it make it easier? I know I've had constituents reach out to me about getting their general con- Does it have general contractors in it?

117. 0:29:38

     No.

118. 0:29:39

     So it- I've had constituents and veterans reach out to me to try to get their HVAC, and it's almost impossible for them, or electrician or whatever. Does this change the regulations that are standards as far as how long you have to work for another electrician or HVAC to be able to get your license? Does it change all that?

119. 0:30:02

     What it does is it really codifies the current- ... rules that are strictly promulgated by this board, and it puts it in statute. So, um, it just streamlines the process and puts it in code to make it... You asked if it was easier. It's gonna be easier to know exactly what you need to do to get your license.

120. 0:30:24

     Right. But does it... I mean, I think before I've looked it up, to get HVAC, your HVAC license, and it's, um, it, it, it's a lot of hoops to jump through. Does... What does it change it? I mean, I'm just curious. What is it?

121. 0:30:41

     So for electrical contractor, not all of the licensing do I speak to.

122. 0:30:47

     No.

123. 0:30:47

     Please address his question.

124. 0:30:50

     So if the, uh... There are only a few areas where it actually does change the years of experience requirement. We worked on this with all the trade associations and the board. For electrical contractor class one, which is an un- is a restricted license, currently it's four years, which is the same as the unrestricted license. Electrical contractor class two, um, now the electrical contractor class one is three years, as opposed to four years. The unrestricted will remain four years. With a journeyman plumber license, they changed it in board rule several years ago to make it three years, from three years of experience to one year of experience.

125. 0:31:27

     We are codifying that in this. Additionally, with a master plumber class one, which is currently, um, a restricted license, and you have a master plumber class two, which is unrestricted, those by law right now are five years of experience. This law changes the u- the restricted license to four years of experience.

126. 0:31:47

     S- follow-up, Mr. Chairman.

127. 0:31:49

     Uh, yes.

128. 0:31:51

     So I see this codifies that, that a years of experience is 2,000 hours. Is that what we're saying over the whole, all the trades, correct?

129. 0:32:00

     Yes.

130. 0:32:00

     And then, um, so if you go to... Obviously, w- you know, I know the governor's really big on our trade schools. So if you go to a trade school, does that give you credit, or do you still have to have all that experience to become, uh, on your own?

131. 0:32:16

     So each, each division is different, so each licensing division is different. We have in electrical you can do a little apprenticeship, and then under every division or every license type it spells out if there's coursework that can be applied towards the years of experience licensing credit, exactly what that coursework is, how many years or how many hours it would then, um, equate to when it comes to that. So every one is different. That's why it's hard to... I can't say that, like, for all of them, but for each one it does go into quantifying- ...

132. 0:32:48

     exactly, um, what ex- how we'll account for it.

133. 0:32:51

     And then, and then as far as the military, so if you're HVAC, um, i- if you worked in the, in the military and you did HVAC, and you came out, and obviously you was, you know, a sergeant and been in there 10 years, you can go ahead and go straight and apply for your, for your license, uh, with that experience?

134. 0:33:10

     Yes. And that is currently already in code. We just edited it a little bit. The other provision that we added for military right now is towards license portability for active duty service members and their spouses. Um, that is a federal regulation that we are just pointing to in this bill to say, "Make sure that you're abiding by this." We are not allowed to put additional restrictions on individuals who are coming here on active duty military orders to require them to get a license while they're here on active duty military orders. But the current law actually does already provide for an easier pathway for those who are retired military, uh, guardsmen, all of that-

135. 0:33:48

     Of course

136. 0:33:48

     ... to apply for each of these licenses significantly easier than other, um, other professions under Title 43. So that is in there. We've just restructured it all.

137. 0:34:00

     But the spouse piece, if, if, if your spouse moves here, say, for instance, y- and y- you're an electrician in another state, that spouse, does that, do they automatically... I mean-

138. 0:34:13

     If you were in active duty, here on active duty orders, and your spouse was a licensed, uh, electrical contractor in another state, they then can move here and register with the board. It's basically just pointing to the federal, um, I think it's their Servicemember Relief Act, and that's what we're adding in here, pointing to the federal code. Essen- essentially, state boards cannot require your spouse to jump through all these hoops to get a license while you are on active duty military orders.

139. 0:34:47

     Now, this would, they would then have to apply for normal licensure if you decided to retire from the military, and y'all just wanted to stay in Georgia. But it applies while on active duty first.

140. 0:34:56

     Okay. So obviously, this, it sounds like it, this obviously makes it better, 'cause I know now it's, it's, it is a mess, and I appreciate y'all working on this. Um, and, uh, 'cause like I say, I have a lot of constituent, I guess complaints would be the right word, of trying to get your license and, and, you know, uh, as far as that goes. One, one last follow-up, and I apologize. Um, so say for instance, a- and this is obvi- obviously a hypothetical. Y- you know, a son and father, the son, the father has his li- le- electrical license.

141. 0:35:30

     Um, the son's been working with him for pretty much all of his life, and, and the father passes away, you know, suddenly. How, how do we deal with that as far as, say for electrical? Uh, he never went and got his license, but does that put him out of business, or do we have any kinda clause in there for that?

142. 0:35:48

     There is a clause, and that was actually added through a bill last year. But essentially, there is a 90-day grace period within that where the son or whoever's taking over the business could apply, and then the board can then grant an additional 90-day grace period. And from there, um, it would not actually keep the... You would have to have an electrical contractor over the business, but not everyone working for the electrical contractor has to have a license.

143. 0:36:13

     But, b- but the way it is now, you have to have an affidavit saying that you have all these hours. So if the, if the son and father's wor- been working together and he passes away, you don't have a letter any longer. That's, that was my... I, I had that happen, and that's, and that was... And obviously, he, they had electrical company together, and he never got his license 'cause his father had it, which is... But, but then he's just out. I mean, he has to go find... There's no contractor gonna, uh, vouch for him, per se, even though he's been doing it all these years.

144. 0:36:47

     I know it's a hypothetical, but I'm just curious. Obviously, this doesn't-

145. 0:36:52

     Currently, there is not a provision in there to account for that. There is the 90-day and then the additional 90-day grace period where you could then have a different structure even over the company, but we actually don't have the provision.

146. 0:37:04

     So he's out of business, essentially.

147. 0:37:07

     Mm-hmm.

148. 0:37:07

     I mean, if you d-

149. 0:37:08

     If he doesn't-

150. 0:37:10

     Yeah.

151. 0:37:10

     If he doesn't have someone else.

152. 0:37:10

     Yeah. Which you, you'd have to pay somebody or start a company, so. Okay, thank you.

153. 0:37:22

     Let's see.

154. 0:37:23

     Member Holland.

155. 0:37:25

     Uh, I noticed, uh, in the header here you have continuing education, uh, requirements in some of these. Um, how about low voltage? Does that have a re- uh, I'm, I'm skimming and I apologize. I'm not really familiar with these. Are, are, are the CE requirements on low voltage different?

156. 0:37:44

     Do you, do you wanna come?

157. 0:37:47

     No, I, it's right here.

158. 0:37:49

     Let's go-

159. 0:37:50

     Do I know them all?

160. 0:37:50

     Do y'all wanna, do y'all wanna come up here?

161. 0:37:54

     Okay. Uh, I apologize. I have, you know, just seen this bill. I notice that you got, uh, continuing education requirements, uh, in the header of the bill. Does that, are there any requirements f- for low voltage for CE? I don't see any.

162. 0:38:11

     So in board rule right now, I don't, I can't speak to exactly if they would. I'd have to go back and look. It's been a minute since we reviewed the-

163. 0:38:18

     Yeah, it's not in there now. Yeah.

164. 0:38:19

     Since essentially we put it as the code section of the bill, how the code was currently written, it was like the electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, HVAC guys are in one section.

165. 0:38:29

     Okay.

166. 0:38:29

     And then you would have a separate section on utility and then another one on low voltage.

167. 0:38:33

     Right.

168. 0:38:33

     We've streamlined them and put them all together.

169. 0:38:36

     Right.

170. 0:38:36

     This is basically saying that the board can set the CE requirement on this, and it kind of outlines what they can do for continuing education. It's granting them the same ability that they had previously. It's just consolidating it into one section.

171. 0:38:52

     So the answer is w- no, there's not CE requirement for low voltage probably.

172. 0:38:56

     Not that I'm aware of.

173. 0:38:57

     It was not, it was not there earlier.

174. 0:38:59

     Yeah. If they're, if it's not in there right now.

175. 0:39:01

     It's not there earlier. Okay. All right. Thank you

176. 0:39:08

     Are there any other questions from any of the committee members? Do we have anyone out there that wants to, uh, lay their hands on this? No?

177. 0:39:17

     Literally.

178. 0:39:18

     Very good. Y'all are a disciplined group today. Thank you very much.

179. 0:39:22

     You thought the chairman was going to do it.

180. 0:39:25

     I did. All right, what's the will of the committee?

181. 0:39:28

     Move to do pass.

182. 0:39:29

     We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. We have a second. Any further discussion? Any comments? Any amendments? If forever, hold your peace. All in favor say aye.

183. 0:39:42

     Aye.

184. 0:39:42

     Opposed? And the ayes have it. Senator, the bill is done.

185. 0:39:45

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And that was passage by substitute?

186. 0:39:49

     As substitute, and that should be-

187. 0:39:52

     Signature.

188. 0:39:54

     LC56-07-0670-ECS.

189. 0:39:58

     Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.

190. 0:39:58

     That's the one that I took that, the administrative procedures out of for you, Senator. Always try to be a man of my word. Thank y'all. Ladies and gentlemen of the committee, we have a special guest that just came in, Senator Chairman and Senator Cowser.

191. 0:40:16

     What have you done to my bill? I send a hemp bill over there, it comes out a COAM bill.

192. 0:40:22

     We just, we made it a much better bill, Senator.

193. 0:40:26

     I'm happy to carry it for you.

194. 0:40:27

     Oh, you're a good man.

195. 0:40:31

     That's a good bill too, but it just wasn't where I started.

196. 0:40:34

     Well, did-

197. 0:40:35

     It's another avenue

198. 0:40:35

     ... you, you found another avenue.

199. 0:40:38

     You got to pass my bill, even though it ain't my bill anymore.

200. 0:40:41

     Oh, but it is your bill.

201. 0:40:44

     It's your bill.

202. 0:40:45

     It's still good policy, just a little different subject matter. I'll, I'll find another method.

203. 0:40:50

     Good deal. Thank you.

204. 0:40:51

     I believe it was, uh, House Judiciary and they rambled a little longer than you guys.

205. 0:40:55

     Well, we, we tend to business. We're not attorneys here, so.

206. 0:41:00

     Thank you.

207. 0:41:00

     All right, thank you, Bill.

208. 0:41:01

     I'll remember that one.

209. 0:41:02

     Appreciate it. All right, last but not least, and, uh, since I'm back, and I've, I thank Chairman McDonald, he was going to handle this bill for me, but you'll see it in front of you, Substitute Senate Bill 89, 028-0755S. It's a very simple bill. If you'll look on the backside of it, you'll see the language in here, that we've had a lot of discussion, as, uh, Senator Cowser just spoke of. There's been a lot of discussion about the, uh, CBD drinks.

210. 0:41:34

     Uh, the C stores sell them, everybody sells them, but strange enough, one, uh, retail establishment that probably should be the most important one to sell these should be those purveyors of the finest nectar of the Irish gods, liquor. And, uh-

211. 0:41:50

     Who's that?

212. 0:41:51

     ... the Revenue Department, the Revenue Department, for some reason over the last few years, their attorney, who don't know what law school she went to, but said that they couldn't, through rule and reg, allow liquor stores to sell these drinks. And this is what this does, ladies and gentlemen. This would allow those drinks, and if you'll look at how we've crafted this, uh, it says, "Nothing in this title shall prohibit a retail package liquor store from engaging in the retail sale of beverage products authorized under Chapter 23 of Title 2, as long as the retail package liquor store has obtained all applicable re- k- retail licenses and adheres to all applications of age restrictions." This clearly states that if these, these liquor stores are gonna sell these, uh, intoxicating beverages, they have to check them, and there has to be under that code section, and they have to check an ID.

213. 0:42:45

     Very simple bill. It's a good one. I like to hear that, when somebody says it's a good bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. All right, Mr. Mc-

214. 0:42:55

     Yes, Mr. McCollum. I make a motion do pass.

215. 0:42:57

     Ah. All right, we have a motion. Second.

216. 0:43:02

     Second.

217. 0:43:02

     We have a second. Do we have any further discussion? No? If not, all in favor say aye.

218. 0:43:10

     Aye.

219. 0:43:10

     Opposed? And the ayes have it. Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you all for being in attendance today, and it's amazing how quick we can get good legislation done. Thank y'all, and make a certain senator happy.