--- title: Senate Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committee, March 17, 2026 collection: meetings id: 2026-03-17/senate-veterans-military-and-homeland-security cite_as: Senate Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committee, March 17, 2026, video https://vimeo.com/1174450639 (machine transcript by Georgia Commons) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/senate-veterans-military-and-homeland-security md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/senate-veterans-military-and-homeland-security.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/senate-veterans-military-and-homeland-security/text source_url: https://vimeo.com/1174450639 date: 2026-03-17 status: machine transcript corpus_version: meetings-2026-10-23-8c15ead0f18d license: Machine transcript and summaries by Georgia Commons from the General Assembly's public video; the video stays on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/senate-banking-and-financial-institutions.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-17/senate-retirement.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/index.md chamber: Senate body: Senate Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committee body_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/senate-veterans-military-and-homeland-security.md meeting_kind: committee session: 2025-2026 Regular Session start_time: 2026-03-17T12:00:00-04:00 location: 450 CAP duration_seconds: 2088.0 video_id: 1174450639 video_title: 03/17/2026 Senate Committee on Veterans, Military, & Homeland Security agenda_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/agendas/senate/VMHSAgenda3.17.26.pdf bills_discussed: - HB 979 - HB 1087 - HB 985 summaries_model: gpt-6.1-sol transcript_turns: 316 --- # Senate Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committee, March 17, 2026 Senate Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committee; March 17, 2026; 2025-2026 Regular Session. Video, on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/1174450639. Agenda: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/agendas/senate/VMHSAgenda3.17.26.pdf. > This is a machine transcript of the General Assembly's video, made by a speech-recognition model. It is not an official record and can mishear words, names, and numbers. Speakers are not identified. The video is the record: every timestamp links to the moment it plays. ## Summary written by Georgia Commons Written by gpt-6.1-sol from the transcript below. It is not part of the record. Quote the transcript or the video, not the summary. The committee approved three bills: [HB 979](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb979), allowing the state to accept jurisdiction over cases arising on federal installations, with an amendment limiting the measure to people under 18; [HB 1087](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1087), waiving permit fees for qualifying disabled veterans’ home modifications; and [HB 985](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb985), clarifying military cemetery eligibility and extending eligibility to certain Hmong veterans. Members debated the scope and need for [HB 979](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb979), including how military, federal and state courts handle cases. Opposition was voiced in the vote on that bill, but no vote counts were announced. The other two bills passed by voice vote without audible opposition. ## Bills discussed (3) Each account was written by gpt-6.1-sol from the stretch of the transcript it names. The bill's number is said in that stretch, unless it was the only bill on a committee's agenda. ### HB 979. State government; procedures for retrocession of jurisdiction in certain circumstances; provide [HB 979](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb979) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [0:04:19](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=259s), turns 4 to 237. The sponsor said [HB 979](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb979) would let Georgia accept jurisdiction over juvenile cases on federal installations without separate local agreements. The sponsor said the Department of Defense requested the measure because the federal system lacks a juvenile system and state courts offer rehabilitation options. Asked about installations crossing county lines, the sponsor said the framework would cover county boundaries while leaving acceptance voluntary. A member and legislative counsel noted that the text did not expressly limit the measure to juveniles. The sponsor confirmed that intent, and the committee adopted an amendment limiting it to people under 18. One member questioned excluding adults and asked whether Georgia-specific case data established a need. The sponsor said no such data had been provided, but 26 states had similar language and the bill would streamline an existing process. Asked about military branches, the sponsor said it covered all federal installations in Georgia. Members also discussed adult jurisdiction and a Fort Stewart shooting; the sponsor said the circumstances of that case were unclear. The committee approved the amended bill by voice vote, with opposition heard and no count announced. ### HB 1087. Disabled Veteran Home Modification Act; enact [HB 1087](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1087) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [0:27:17](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1637s), turns 237 to 274. The sponsor said [HB 1087](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1087) would waive construction permit fees for home improvements accommodating a disability when the veteran meets the eligibility definition in state law and is certified by the Department of Veterans Services. In response to a member’s question, the sponsor confirmed that the exemption concerned the veteran’s personal home. Asked whether other states had similar provisions and whether the Department of Defense requested the bill, the sponsor said they were unaware of other states’ policies and that this was not a department request. Several members expressed support. The committee approved the bill by voice vote without audible opposition. ### HB 985. Veterans affairs; revise terms of eligibility for persons to be buried in Georgia veteran cemeteries [HB 985](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb985) (2025-2026 Regular Session). From [0:29:26](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1766s), turns 276 to 311. The sponsor said [HB 985](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb985) would clarify cemetery eligibility language adopted the previous year for National Guard and Reserve members and extend state veterans cemetery burial eligibility to certain Hmong veterans. The sponsor described their service assisting U.S. forces in Laos during the Vietnam War and said federal cemetery eligibility already recognized that service. The sponsor estimated the Hmong population at roughly 30,000 nationally and 3,000 in Georgia, with only a handful in Georgia likely qualifying through wartime service. Asked about general burial requirements, a Department of Veterans Services representative identified honorable discharge and Georgia residency, tentatively recalling a two-and-a-half-year residency requirement but saying another criterion did not immediately come to mind. The representative also agreed when a member asked about any service branch, Reserve service and a two-year service requirement. Another member supported acting promptly because the affected veterans were aging. The committee approved the bill by voice vote without audible opposition. ## Transcript (316 turns) [0:03:28](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=208s) Veterans Committee, and, uh, we got three bills on the agenda today, HB 979, HB 1087, and HB 985. And they all belong to the Chairman of Veterans in the House, uh, Josh Bonner. And so, uh, before we start, uh, my friend, would you lead us in a word of prayer? [0:03:50](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=230s) Oh, yes. I'm sorry. [0:03:52](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=232s) Got a lot of friends here, you guys. That's fine. [0:03:54](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=234s) Uh, if you bow with me, Father God, we thank you for the blessings of this day. Uh, let us all be just in our judific- adjudications and thoughts about helping our veterans and civilians in the state of Georgia in a godly manner. These things we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. [0:04:10](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=250s) Amen. Thank you, sir. All right, Chairman Bonner, we'll start out with, uh, HB s- 979. [0:04:20](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=260s) 979. Great. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, uh, members of the committee. Uh, I'm working off of LC48-1653. [0:04:28](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=268s) Correct. [0:04:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=269s) All right. So, um, and first of all, thank y'all so much for the, the hearing today on these bills. Uh, these are all good bills to help our veterans. The first one, 979, uh, comes as a request and recommendation from the Pentagon's Office of Family Policy, which, uh, routinely provides, uh, input on legislation that would impact our, uh, primarily our active duty community and those installations that, that host those folks, and this is one of those. And this, um, this bill is related to concurrent jurisdiction for juvenile cases. [0:05:02](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=302s) Uh, essentially, um, there is no juvenile system in, in the federal system. And so if a juvenile commits a- an offense on a military installation, their, their options are to, uh, go into the federal system for, to be ad- uh, adjudicated or through, um, uh, possibly a memorandum of agreement with that local community to have access to, uh, that system. And so what 979 does is simply provides the framework if the state chooses to accept these cases that there would be concurrent jurisdiction. [0:05:36](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=336s) So essentially the federal, uh, installations that are in Georgia would be ceding jurisdiction to the state of Georgia- [0:05:45](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=345s) Mm-hmm [0:05:45](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=345s) ... uh, and only if the state wants to accept those cases. Uh, this would provide those juveniles access to the state juvenile justice system, um, and would be more beneficial than if they were to go through the federal system. We have, there's a portion of, uh, Fort Benning that, that falls in, in this category now. This would simply make all of our military installations subject to this, uh, retrocession. [0:06:11](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=371s) So, uh, I have, I, I do have one question. Um, what about military bases that are subject to multiple counties? [0:06:19](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=379s) Well, so this, uh, this is, uh, at the state level, so this would provide the state to, to accept that, uh, jurisdiction from the installation. So it would, it would cross all county boundaries. [0:06:34](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=394s) But juvenile courts are county, so if they get charged as a j- at, on base as, as a juvenile, they'll have to go to court in a county court. [0:06:44](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=404s) Right. This would al- but this would allow those counties to accept that, uh, jurisdiction without a separate memorandum of agreement. [0:06:53](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=413s) Okay. Okay. [0:06:54](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=414s) Question coming on. [0:06:55](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=415s) Yeah. [0:06:55](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=415s) I got it. [0:06:57](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=417s) Kay? [0:06:58](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=418s) Yes. Um, I'm trying to find where it says juvenile in the bill anywhere, 'cause the way I'm, I'm reading the summary, it applies to not just juvenile. [0:07:13](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=433s) The, I, I believe it's referenced in, it, it goes back to the code section and references what is already, uh, in place in that area around, uh, Fort Benning [0:07:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=449s) for that. The, the retrocession references that code section 50-2-27. [0:07:37](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=457s) 50-2-27. Let's counsel in here. [0:07:44](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=464s) Vince, can you clarify that? [0:07:46](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=466s) Vince. [0:07:47](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=467s) Well, I, I don't see the specific reference to juvenile here either. Um, and, uh- [0:07:53](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=473s) Does it have to be reference to a juvenile on agreement? [0:08:00](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=480s) I mean, if the chairman- [0:08:03](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=483s) Mr. Chairman [0:08:04](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=484s) ... is saying this applies more broadly, that may be the case. [0:08:07](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=487s) Well, I, I thought that the code section 50-2-27 was- [0:08:12](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=492s) W- where in the code section? [0:08:13](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=493s) ... referencing that back to the juvenile. [0:08:20](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=500s) If- [0:08:20](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=500s) The code section references it [0:08:21](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=501s) ... the, that was my understanding. If, if not, then we can certainly d- make that clarification. But- [0:08:27](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=507s) Does the code section reference it? [0:08:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=509s) Well, I mean, to this, we're, we're looking at the code section, you know, right here. I don't see a specific reference to- [0:08:36](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=516s) 50-2-27 [0:08:37](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=517s) ... to the reference. I don't see the specific reference. [0:08:42](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=522s) Yeah, but it doesn't, doesn't appear to have a code section. [0:08:45](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=525s) -27. [0:08:53](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=533s) We can make a revision to, to do that if that's our goal. [0:08:57](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=537s) Yeah, absolutely. [0:08:58](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=538s) Um- [0:08:58](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=538s) Yeah. [0:09:05](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=545s) Okay. While we're waiting on that, any other questions from the committee? [0:09:10](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=550s) No, I, I just, uh, if it was intended to just be juvenile, it may be referring to the wrong code section, because w- we just need to clear that up. [0:09:23](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=563s) Well, the, the intent was it, to, to, to apply specifically to juvenile cases. [0:09:28](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=568s) Sure. [0:09:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=569s) So yeah, if that's a, if that's a clarification we wanna make, we can certainly do that. [0:09:34](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=574s) Be- be easier to make it here than it would- [0:09:36](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=576s) Yeah, absolutely [0:09:37](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=577s) ... anywhere else. [0:09:38](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=578s) Right. Senator Harbison? [0:09:39](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=579s) I'm, um, I'm curious- [0:09:41](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=581s) We can, we can come back to it too. [0:09:42](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=582s) Right. We'll, we'll come back to that. [0:09:44](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=584s) I, and I- I'm, I'm, I'm of the opinion, and I'm thinking in a general sense more or less, less, a- as opposed to speci- specificity, whatever that word is, uh, that if it's a civilian adult and it does something like that, they wouldn't be handled by the f- the federal side or the military side. It would be handled in state court some kind of way. Is that right? What is the current status if someone is an adult civilian? [0:10:16](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=616s) Do you know? You see what I'm saying? And so you, you can add the specificity, I would suppose, under current law even, is ... Or under, I'm sorry, under this law. [0:10:26](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=626s) Yeah. So I, I, I could not speak intelligently about the, what happens with, with, uh, adult ca- uh, adult cases. I mean, a- again, like I know for instance the, uh, the shooting down at Fort Stewart. [0:10:38](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=638s) Right. [0:10:38](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=638s) That, that was actually handled by the s- by the state, I believe, not by the- [0:10:42](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=642s) Yeah, yeah [0:10:42](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=642s) ... not by the, um ... It wasn't a UCMJ action. [0:10:46](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=646s) That's right. [0:10:47](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=647s) It was, it was, uh, civilian. [0:10:48](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=648s) Because they're not subject to that, right. [0:10:49](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=649s) Right. Even though this was a, I mean, this was a, um, a service member that- [0:10:54](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=654s) Right [0:10:54](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=654s) ... anyway. So I, I can't speak to that. Th- this is specifically geared towards juveniles, uh, simply because the federal system does not, uh, have a juvenile- [0:11:05](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=665s) Understand [0:11:06](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=666s) ... uh, component to it, and so all those things related to, uh, sentencing and rehabilitation would be available to these individuals at the state level. [0:11:16](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=676s) But, but, but we would, if I may, Mr. Chairman. [0:11:19](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=679s) Yes. [0:11:20](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=680s) But, but we would, we, the federal government would be able to handle a civilian in federal court if he infracted on Fort Benning as an example. You see what I'm saying? [0:11:32](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=692s) I, well, again, I, I, I couldn't speak to how that would work. I would imagine that, you know, that there would be some, uh, level of communication between that local DA and the federal prosecutor- [0:11:44](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=704s) Mm-hmm [0:11:44](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=704s) ... to see maybe who had the stronger case. And I'm sure there are some circumstances where, uh, the federal government could preempt the state for a particular offense. I, I, again, I, I, I can't really speak to, to that. Um, the scope of this bill was simply to provide access- [0:12:01](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=721s) Understand [0:12:01](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=721s) ... for juveniles, um, to the state level system. [0:12:06](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=726s) Mr. Chairman? [0:12:06](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=726s) Mr.- [0:12:06](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=726s) Give me about two minutes, I can just finish it off. [0:12:08](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=728s) Yes. Okay. [0:12:11](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=731s) Let's see. [0:12:12](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=732s) Yeah, that'd be fine. We'll pause for a couple seconds. They just need to- [0:12:15](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=735s) We don't need another one on the bill or something? [0:12:17](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=737s) Out of my hands. No, he never told me. [0:12:19](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=739s) I'm just gonna say do, would it is that language like, I didn't think about it, it's actually saying th- this code section is only applicable to individuals- [0:12:25](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=745s) Uh-huh [0:12:26](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=746s) ... under 18 years of age or- [0:12:27](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=747s) Yeah, I think that'd be- [0:12:28](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=748s) Would that sound good? [0:12:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=749s) Yeah, yeah. [0:12:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=749s) So if I'll... [0:12:47](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=767s) An amendment that would work or some language that would work just to clarify that this would, this would only, um, apply to individuals, uh, 18 years and younger. [0:12:59](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=779s) Or 17. [0:13:00](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=780s) Yeah, that's the same as what we already- [0:13:00](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=780s) 17 and under? [0:13:02](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=782s) Or 17. [0:13:02](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=782s) But if we already do it- [0:13:05](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=785s) We do [0:13:05](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=785s) ... i- if, you would have to add the language that also, uh, juveniles as well. Because if you say it was handled in the shooting, uh, on, on military post, and if that was handled by a state court, then we would have to say it also juveniles also to make them, you know, applicable, that applies to juveniles who otherwise could be handled by the federal people as well. I, I don't, I don't know that either. I'm just speculating in my mind about what has happened before in Columbus. [0:13:38](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=818s) Uh, you have somewhat because you got a lot of military people interacting- [0:13:41](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=821s) Right [0:13:42](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=822s) ... in Chattahoochee County. It really is the, is the county of occupants for, for Fort Benning. [0:13:47](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=827s) Right. Well, keep it in mind that this, the, again, this legislation does not compel, it simply allows. [0:13:54](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=834s) Understood. [0:13:54](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=834s) Right. So, so this, so this would only, uh, go into effect on a case by case basis if that, that local jurisdiction wanted to accept that case. Right? [0:14:06](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=846s) Yeah. [0:14:09](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=849s) Oh, okay. Yeah. [0:14:12](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=852s) Did, did you have- [0:14:13](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=853s) Do you want me to go? [0:14:13](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=853s) Yes, sir. [0:14:14](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=854s) Okay. Do you want me to try to read it? [0:14:15](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=855s) If you don't mind. If you wanna just come right there to that number six- [0:14:21](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=861s) Four [0:14:21](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=861s) ... four. [0:14:22](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=862s) All right. All right, um, so just going to line three first. Uh, be- between circumstances and that semicolon and to provide, we would add, uh, to provide for applicability. [0:14:41](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=881s) For what again? Excuse me. [0:14:42](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=882s) Applicability. [0:14:43](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=883s) Applicability. [0:14:43](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=883s) To, to provide for applicability. And then after line 43, we'd have a new line on 44, which would be a subsection F. [0:14:54](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=894s) And we would say, uh, this code section shall be applicable only to persons under 18 years of age. [0:15:04](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=904s) Under 18, yeah. [0:15:06](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=906s) And that's it. [0:15:11](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=911s) And then somebody would wanna offer that as an amendment. [0:15:14](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=914s) Okay. Thank you. [0:15:15](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=915s) You're welcome. [0:15:20](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=920s) Yeah. Um, I'm happy to make that amendment. The only thing I'll say about it is if it doesn't cause any problems for it to apply to every age group. Rather than just juveniles, because if there was a situation that popped up, I think that's what Senator Harbison was referring to. [0:15:42](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=942s) W- yeah, well, I will say a couple things. So the, the request from, uh, Department of Defense specifically was for juveniles. [0:15:49](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=949s) Okay. [0:15:49](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=949s) So they did not... Their, their... They did not see an issue with adults, uh, with whatever the current situation is with adults. And, and I do think that we, we open a, a much larger kind of Pandora's box if we, if we open this up to everybody versus the specific, because there's, there's plenty of other, um, options available to adults in the federal system for rehabilitation and adjudication versus what's available for juveniles. So I, I think limiting that scope is well within what would be a original intent of the request and the, and the bill was. [0:16:27](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=987s) Well, and, and the big thing, is juveniles are not considered, uh, public. I mean, that, that they are more confidential matters in juvenile court than there are in the adult courts that are public record, so that's, that, that has a lot to do with them certainly. [0:16:42](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1002s) Mr. Chair, I think we need to do- [0:16:44](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1004s) Yes [0:16:44](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1004s) ... a do pass motion before we can do the amendment. [0:16:46](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1006s) Right, right, right. [0:16:47](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1007s) I got a question though first be- before we do that. [0:16:49](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1009s) Go ahead. [0:16:50](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1010s) Okay. So, um, thank you for presenting this bill. Um, but my question is, [0:16:58](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1018s) if the Department of Defense, um, suggested this bill and the, the iss- the situation that you're referring to is the Fort Benning, let's take hypothetically, the Fort Benning shooting, and it was already, uh, delegated to the state level, correct? [0:17:19](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1039s) W- so this was the, the shooting at Fort Stewart. [0:17:22](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1042s) I mean Fort Stewart. [0:17:22](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1042s) And, and I, I, I do not know the circumstances as to why it was tried in the jurisdiction it was. I, I mean, it was a, it was a, a, a shooting that occurred on the military installation- [0:17:35](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1055s) Mm-hmm [0:17:35](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1055s) ... and it, and it was a, a soldier, as I, as I recall. [0:17:38](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1058s) Mm-hmm. [0:17:39](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1059s) Um, so I d- I don't know why it did not go through UCMJ versus the state. Uh, so I, I don't know those circumstances. But, and it, and it very well could be the case that around our installations today there may be memorandums of agreement that exist for certain, for certain things in relate to the legal system. Uh, this legislation would certainly, would, would simply kind of, uh, codify that across the state without the need for a separate memorandum of agreement with every jurisdiction. [0:18:12](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1092s) Yeah. That's what I said. [0:18:13](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1093s) I'll say, s- so to caveat to that- ... um, because you have different branches of the military, so did we- [0:18:24](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1104s) Mm-hmm [0:18:24](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1104s) ... mirror that, um, this legislation to, um, to mirror all branches of, of the military? [0:18:31](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1111s) Y- yes. Uh, it, it is all federal installations, so it would cover all of our a- Air Force bases, uh, the Navy bases, um, MCLB Albany. Every, every federal installation that resides in the State of Georgia. [0:18:48](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1128s) I guess the problem that I have with this legislation is that, um... And I, and I do see for the juveniles it would be, it would be, um, beneficial because they would have, um, at the state level, uh, rehabilitation efforts. But I feel like if we do it for one, we should do it for all. And if, take for instance the shooting at... Well, for UCMJ, that's always at one level. [0:19:20](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1160s) Um, so my issue is that if, is this actually even necessary? Because, um, [0:19:33](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1173s) additional research, so like hypothetically speaking, if somebody steals out of the PX, um, a juvenile steals out a PX- [0:19:40](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1180s) Mm-hmm [0:19:40](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1180s) ... was data and research actually done? Because if a soldier or their dependent stole out of the PX, are they actually held accountable at the federal level or are they actually held at the state level? I'm pretty sure, and, and I'm not saying, you know, for certain, but do we actually have, or has the Department of Defense or whomever asked you to create this bill, did the data analysis to say, "In the State of Georgia, everybody that stole out the PX, or did the shooting at Fort Stewart, or at Dobbins Air Force Base, we have held everybody accountable at the federal level"? [0:20:28](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1228s) That's my question. [0:20:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1229s) So, um, I, I'm not aware of that particular data. I do know that, um, that the, this Office of Family Policy that, that we routinely work with, um, looks across the, looks across every state. Uh, currently there's 26 states that have this same language. [0:20:47](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1247s) Mm-hmm. [0:20:47](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1247s) And, um, every year as, as y- as you know, they look at what policies could be implemented to not only, uh, help that state to be a more military-friendly state- [0:20:57](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1257s) Mm-hmm [0:20:57](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1257s) ... but also protect those service members and their families that are stationed in, in, in those areas. And so, um, I, I was not provided any specific data to Georgia as to how many cases this may apply to. Um, and, and this, and all we're doing is, uh, codifying and streamlining an existing process that is already a- available through memorandums. So, uh, we're simply making it easier for both the state and that installation to adjudicate any, any number of those juvenile cases. [0:21:30](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1290s) So let me go back to state for the committee. I'm not saying that I don't agree with this. I'm just asking to make sure that we have fairness across the board for not only juveniles, but for everybody on and off military installations to make sure that if we're gonna do it for 18 and younger, that we have a, a straight standard. So I... You're saying that other state have this in place, but just making sure that it, it mirrors in an effectiveness for everybody. That's the only thing that I'm saying. [0:21:59](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1319s) Well, and I would just say that, um, the UCMJ, they don't have a juvenile division, and that's the biggest thing because they are, uh, dealing only with adults. And the reason we have juvenile courts and juvenile law in our state is because until you're 17 in the state of Georgia, you're not held to that high bar standard of, of having to know every law in our state. That's why you're not prosecuted, you're not found guilty in a court of law in juvenile court. It's just you're admitting or denying. You're not at, you're not, you're not pleading guilty or innocent. [0:22:31](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1351s) You're literally just, you just admit to the charge or you deny the charge, because they can't meet that high bar standard of being guilty in juvenile court. So that's why we have, we handle juveniles separately because they're not of age to know the laws yet to be held to that high bar standard that once you turn 17, then the state of Georgia says, "Now you're old enough to know all the laws and be held to that high bar standard." And so I know that the federal system doesn't have that juvenile, the, those, the, the gloves to handle kids as kids. [0:23:03](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1383s) And I think that that's one, the main reason for legislation needed to make sure that we're handling these kids in the way that's n- they need to be handled. [0:23:10](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1390s) Right. But UCMJ is handled w- it's its own law within itself, and that's the reason why I was asking in reference to the shooting, because it was handled by UCMJ. It wasn't handled on the civilian side. Is that correct? The shooting from Fort Stewart. [0:23:24](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1404s) No. [0:23:27](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1407s) If, if I may, if I may answer, Mr. Chairman. [0:23:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1409s) Yes. [0:23:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1409s) It was handled... If you... It- it- it- it, it's universal. If you're an adult, you commit a crime as a civilian on a military post, you'd be arrested, normally by federal agents, MPs likely, turned over to the FBI, and you would go to the civilian federal court. [0:23:50](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1430s) Mm-hmm. [0:23:50](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1430s) The federal court. And tha- that's the way it's handled throughout. If I, if I can read the jurisdiction, because military bases are federal property- [0:23:58](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1438s) Mm-hmm [0:23:58](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1438s) ... exclusive federal jurisdiction crimes committed, they are federal offenses. So military police will detain the civilian, investigate the crime, and usually turn the individual over to the federal law enforcement, like the FBI, and they will go and be tried in Columbus by federal court, uh, judge, Justice Judge Land. If you do a crime, now you get a ticket, you got to go down to the post office. It's a federal offense because you offended. I think they're trying to create a situation so they won't be handled that way. [0:24:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1469s) They'll be handled in a different category so they would be treated not as harshly as they would if they were- [0:24:35](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1475s) I understand [0:24:36](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1476s) ... if I'm saying that correctly. [0:24:37](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1477s) No, you are saying it correctly. [0:24:38](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1478s) Right. [0:24:38](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1478s) I understand that. [0:24:38](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1478s) Right. [0:24:40](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1480s) I understand exactly what you're saying. [0:24:41](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1481s) And I don't think there's any conflict because- [0:24:44](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1484s) No, it's not. [0:24:44](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1484s) Okay. [0:24:44](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1484s) No, no. [0:24:44](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1484s) All right. [0:24:44](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1484s) There's no conflict. [0:24:45](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1485s) Okay. Okay. Let's go ahead and move on. Um- [0:24:51](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1491s) Mr. Chairman? [0:24:51](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1491s) Yes, sir. [0:24:51](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1491s) I'd like to be recognized and make a motion. [0:24:54](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1494s) At, at the appropriate time. Okay. [0:24:59](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1499s) Uh, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to do pass, um, House Bill 979, um, LC481653, and, uh, certainly have an intention to offer a subsequent amendment. [0:25:13](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1513s) And I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? [0:25:18](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1518s) Mr. Chairman. [0:25:18](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1518s) I was- [0:25:19](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1519s) Let, let me make a motion for an amendment. [0:25:20](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1520s) Okay. [0:25:24](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1524s) Uh, Mr. Chair, like, like, like to move, um, as council contemplated on line three between circumstance semicolon two, add to provide applicability, and then after line 43, add a subsection F, which, uh, s- the substance of which would say this applies to people, um, before their 18th birthday, uh, or under the age of 18. It's cal- This... And I... If council would, would indulge me to read the language, I'll, I'll, I'll move that language. [0:25:54](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1554s) All right. On, uh, on line three, um, after circumstances and that semicolon, uh, the amendment would be to add to provide for applicability, and then after line 43, there would be a new subsection F, which would read, "This code section shall be applicable only to persons under 18 years of age." [0:26:18](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1578s) So moved. [0:26:20](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1580s) Do I have a second? Any further discussion? All those in favor, signify by saying aye. [0:26:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1589s) Aye. [0:26:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1589s) Aye. [0:26:30](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1590s) Favor the amendment. [0:26:31](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1591s) No. [0:26:32](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1592s) It's okay. [0:26:32](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1592s) Okay. Th- that would be on the bill, you know, under the, on the amendment. [0:26:37](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1597s) Okay. So, so, so the bill is addressed to committee. Um, so move, move, move to do pass for the amendment. [0:26:43](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1603s) Moved. [0:26:44](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1604s) Is that what we... Uh, did we just vote on the amendment, Mr. Chairman? [0:26:46](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1606s) Right. [0:26:46](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1606s) Okay. So the amendment's adopted. [0:26:48](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1608s) Okay. All right. [0:26:50](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1610s) Vote on the bill. [0:26:52](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1612s) No, on the- [0:26:53](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1613s) Amy, vote on the whole bill. [0:26:53](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1613s) Okay, right. [0:26:54](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1614s) Do what? [0:26:55](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1615s) Yeah, on the bill. [0:26:56](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1616s) Sure. [0:26:56](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1616s) On amendments. [0:26:56](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1616s) Okay. Now on the bill as amended. [0:27:01](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1621s) We've already got the motion. [0:27:03](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1623s) Right. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. [0:27:06](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1626s) Aye. [0:27:06](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1626s) Aye. [0:27:07](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1627s) All those opposed? [0:27:08](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1628s) Opposed. [0:27:11](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1631s) And it passes. All right. Now moving on to House Bill 1087. [0:27:22](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1642s) Who is carrying that bill? [0:27:26](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1646s) I'll let you know. [0:27:27](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1647s) What? [0:27:28](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1648s) I'll let you know. I- [0:27:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1649s) Okay. [0:27:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1649s) Yeah. You, we, you and I just need to talk first. [0:27:33](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1653s) Okay. Just let me know as qui- as soon as we can. House Bill 1087. [0:27:39](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1659s) All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, House Bill 1087, working off of LC461363. [0:27:46](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1666s) That's what we have. [0:27:47](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1667s) This, this is a, um, a pretty straightforward bill. Uh, this bill would simply establish that if you are a, a disabled veteran, as, as defined in our code and certified by the Department of Veteran Services, and you made any improvements to your home to accommodate that disability, you would not pay the permitting fees for that, uh, construction. [0:28:09](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1689s) Question. [0:28:10](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1690s) That's good. [0:28:10](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1690s) Personal home, or? [0:28:12](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1692s) Correct. [0:28:12](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1692s) Okay. [0:28:15](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1695s) That's good. All right. Any other questions from the committee? [0:28:20](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1700s) Good bill. [0:28:23](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1703s) The dean said it was a good bill. [0:28:25](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1705s) I'll agree. [0:28:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1709s) What a great- [0:28:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1709s) What other states have, what other states have, what other states have this? [0:28:32](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1712s) I'm, I'm not aware of other states, um, that have this. Um, the- [0:28:38](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1718s) This is DOD, this DOD too? [0:28:39](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1719s) No, this is- [0:28:40](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1720s) Okay. [0:28:41](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1721s) This is JNB. [0:28:42](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1722s) Okay. I like this bill. [0:28:48](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1728s) All right. [0:28:49](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1729s) All right. [0:28:51](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1731s) Um, any further discussion on this bill? [0:28:56](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1736s) No. [0:28:56](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1736s) Anybody like- [0:28:58](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1738s) I'll make a motion. [0:28:59](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1739s) Okay. I have a motion to pass, and I have a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor, signify by saying aye. [0:29:07](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1747s) Aye. [0:29:07](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1747s) And opposition likewise. And your... LC461363, House Bill 1087 passes. [0:29:19](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1759s) Thank you. [0:29:22](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1762s) Now we'll move on [0:29:25](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1765s) to House Bill 985. [0:29:28](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1768s) 985. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So 985, working off of LC461342. [0:29:35](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1775s) That is correct. [0:29:36](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1776s) And, um, if, if y'all recall, last year we, um, w- we also addressed the, uh, veteran military cemeteries. Uh, this bill does two things. It, it clarifies some of that language. Uh, last year we increased eligibility for certain members of the National Guard and the Reserves. Uh, this bill clarifies some of that language, and then also adds an additional group that is eligible, uh, at the federal level. This provides them with the state level benefit. But, um, and I, I know, um, Vice Chair Harbison, you may be, uh, familiar with this group, but there is a, a group that assisted, uh, our troops in Vietnam. [0:30:17](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1817s) They were the, uh, a Laotian minority, uh, called the Hmong people. And the, the Hmong people were hired by the CIA to help fight on our behalf, uh, predominantly within Laos, uh, against the communists there. Um, they were never, um... Uh, essentially, they took the place of our soldiers in Laos in fighting that fight. They fought a very, very much of an unconventional war, um, on our behalf, and they eventually were recognized by, um, the federal government for that purpose, and then received that benefit, that very specific limited benefit of being eligible to be buried in a federal, uh, military cemetery. [0:31:01](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1861s) And this simply allows that benefit here at the state level for one of our two, and soon to be three, uh, state veteran cemeteries. Uh, that's the only benefit, um, that this group receives. Um, nationally there's about, um, roughly 30,000, uh, of this, uh, community in the States. Uh, we estimate somewhere in the neighborhood of about 3,000 in Georgia. And out of that population, it's only a handful that would fall into this category that actually, uh, fought in Vietnam. [0:31:32](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1892s) So it's a very small minority of, of people. But, um, since we had the opportunity to clarify some language from last year, and had the opportunity to add this very deserving group, uh, we, we took that opportunity to extend that benefit to them. [0:31:49](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1909s) Any questions from the committee? [0:31:55](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1915s) You had a question first. [0:31:57](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1917s) Thank you, Chair. [0:32:01](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1921s) Thank you. Um, just for my edification so I understand, um, what's the criteria for, um, burial in our cemeteries, uh, our Georgia cemeteries? Is it, um, honorable discharge, no general discharge? No- [0:32:14](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1934s) Yeah, it's... Yeah. Let me... We've got, uh, Kerry from the, uh, Department of Veteran Services. He can give you, give us the exact criteria and answer any of those specifics. [0:32:28](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1948s) Yes, sir. Thank you. [0:32:31](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1951s) Uh, uh, nondis, honorable discharge, uh, honorable discharge, uh, live in the State of Georgia, sir, for, uh, I want to say two and a half y- two and a half years. And, uh, the final criteria, it's, it'll come back to me, because there's another criteria that falls under the category. [0:32:50](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1970s) So honorable discharge, no general discharge. No- [0:32:53](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1973s) Yes, sir. [0:32:53](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1973s) Okay. [0:32:54](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1974s) Yes, sir. [0:32:54](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1974s) And, and then any, any branch of service- [0:32:56](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1976s) Sure [0:32:56](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1976s) ... Reserve, two years in is the only requirement? [0:32:59](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1979s) Yes, sir. [0:33:01](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1981s) And it was in the military. [0:33:02](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1982s) Oh, yeah. [0:33:02](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1982s) I see. I was just... Thank you. [0:33:04](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1984s) Yes, sir. [0:33:06](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1986s) Any other questions? Number- [0:33:10](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1990s) Just, uh- [0:33:11](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1991s) 10? None? [0:33:13](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=1993s) I was just gonna say that because of the period during which they served, this is extremely timely because all those people are aging out every single day. So with that, Mr. Chairman, if you're ready for a motion, I move to pass. [0:33:27](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=2007s) I'm so ready. [0:33:29](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=2009s) I'll second. [0:33:30](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=2010s) We got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor, s- favor signify by saying aye. [0:33:37](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=2017s) Aye. [0:33:38](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=2018s) All those in opposition set like sign. And your bill passes. [0:33:43](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=2023s) Thank you. That's all the bills I have for now, Mr. Chairman. [0:33:47](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=2027s) Well, I'm sure we'll s- I think we'll see you next week. [0:33:49](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=2029s) I appreciate, I appreciate y'all's consideration today. [0:33:52](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=2032s) Well, having no other business before the committee, we will call this meeting adjourned. Thank you. [0:33:57](https://vimeo.com/1174450639#t=2037s) Thank you.