--- title: Senate floor session, June 18, 2026 (legislative day 2) collection: meetings id: 2026-06-18/senate-floor cite_as: Senate floor session, June 18, 2026 (legislative day 2), video https://vimeo.com/1202255880 (machine transcript by Georgia Commons) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-06-18/senate-floor md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-06-18/senate-floor.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-06-18/senate-floor/text source_url: https://vimeo.com/1202255880 date: 2026-06-18 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/2026-06-18.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-06-18/house-floor.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-06-20/house-rules.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/index.md chamber: Senate body: Senate floor body_url: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/senate-floor.md meeting_kind: floor legislative_day: 2 session: 2026 Special Session start_time: 2026-06-18T10:30:00-04:00 location: Senate Chamber duration_seconds: 4128.0 video_id: 1202255880 video_title: Legislative Day 2 | 2026 Special Session | 06/18/2026 bills_discussed: - SR 3 bills_read_aloud: 1 summaries_model: gpt-6.1-sol transcript_turns: 122 --- # Senate floor session, June 18, 2026 (legislative day 2) Senate floor; June 18, 2026; legislative day 2; 2026 Special Session. Video, on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel: https://vimeo.com/1202255880. > 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 Senate received a committee report recommending passage of [SB 3](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sb3), along with notice of a minority report, and gave the bill its second reading. No debate or floor vote on the bill occurred. The governor’s appointments were referred to the Committee on Assignments. Senators also spoke about Juneteenth, voting rights and congressional redistricting, and the chair reminded members to submit local property-tax relief bills before adjournment. The Senate approved a motion under [SR 3](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sr3) to adjourn until 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2026. ## Bills discussed (1) 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. ### SR 3. Adjournment; relative to [SR 3](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sr3) (2026 Special Session). From [1:06:05](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3965s), turns 115 to 121. The majority leader moved to adjourn under [SR 3](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sr3) until 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2026. The chair declared the motion approved by voice vote, and the Senate adjourned. ## Bills read aloud (1) Read aloud only (a first or second reading, a committee's report), with no discussion. - [SB 3](https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sb3) (2026 Special Session), Election Equipment Specifications and Standards Committee; establish: [0:22:45](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1365s); confirmed by its status history (Senate Committee Favorably Reported) ## Transcript (122 turns) [0:20:26](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1226s) The time for convening having arrived, the Senate will come to order. At this time, I'll ask all unauthorized persons to exit the chamber. [0:20:41](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1241s) I recognize the senator from the 6th. [0:20:44](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1244s) Thank you, Mr. President. How you doing today? [0:20:48](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1248s) I'm doing good. Good morning. [0:20:49](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1249s) Look- [0:20:49](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1249s) Good to see you [0:20:49](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1249s) ... looking, looking good today, looking good. Mr. President, I have no pages to report, and I have no earth-shattering news to report other than we have an MOU over in, on, with the Iran deal and gas prices have dropped below $4. [0:21:03](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1263s) Well, that's good news. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [0:21:09](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1269s) Is there objection to dis- did you read the journal? [0:21:16](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1276s) Mr. President, I would move that we dispense with the reading of the journal as has been found to be correct. [0:21:22](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1282s) Is there objection to dispensing with the reading of the journal? Chair hears none, and the reading of the journal is dispensed with. Is there objection to the confirmation of the journal? The chair hears none, and the journal is confirmed. [0:21:44](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1304s) Go ahead. All senators who have bills or resolutions to introduce, please bring them to the secretary's desk at this time. [0:21:53](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1313s) The secretary will read a communication from the governor. If I could restore order in the chamber, please. [0:22:03](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1323s) Dear Secretary Tripp, attaches a list of appointments to various boards, commissions, authorities, and other entities requiring Senate confirmation. This list is submitted pursuant to Senate Rules 3-3.1. If we can provide you with any additional information to assist your office or in the confirmation process, please let us know. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, Brian P. Kemp. Mr. President, a copy of this has been placed on each senator's desk. [0:22:22](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1342s) Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-3.1, the governor's appointments are referred to the Committee on Assignments. The secretary will read reports of standing committees. [0:22:37](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1357s) Mr. President, Senate Committee on Ethics has had under consideration the following legislation and has instructed me to report the same back to the Senate with the following recommendation. The Senate Bill 3EX do pass. Respectfully submitted, Senator Watson of the 11th District, Chairman. Mr. President, the following minority report was received. Dear Mr. Secretary, pursuant to Senate Rule 2-1.6, I hereby give notice that I will introduce a minority report to be read along with the majority report of Senate Bill 3EX, which passed out of the Senate Committee on Ethics on June 18th, 2026. Sincerely, Harold Jones, Minority Leader. Mr. President, that completes the order. [0:23:06](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1386s) The secretary will read bills and resolutions for the second time. [0:23:11](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1391s) Senate Bill 3EX by Senator Burns of the 23rd and others, Election Equipment Specification and Standards Committee established. Mr. President, that completes the order. [0:23:20](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1400s) It is now time for the morning roll call. Are there any motions to excuse? [0:23:30](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1410s) I recognize the senator from the 33rd. [0:23:36](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1416s) Thank you, Mr. President. Good morning, y'all. I just want to remind the chamber that yesterday was the Pro Tem's birthday. He's another year younger yesterday. So let's all put our hands together and recognize him. [0:23:53](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1433s) Thank you. Thank you, senators. Love spending my birthday up here with you all. [0:24:01](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1441s) Any motions to excuse? Chair recognizes the senator from the 15th. [0:24:05](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1445s) Yeah, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to excuse the senator from the 2nd. [0:24:10](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1450s) Senator from the 2nd, without objection, senator from the 2nd is excused. Any other motions to excuse? [0:24:23](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1463s) The secretary will call the roll of senators. Please signify your presence by, by voting the yea switch. The secretary will unlock the machine. [0:24:32](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1472s) Lawrence. [0:24:33](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1473s) Mike Sims. [0:24:34](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1474s) How are you? [0:24:34](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1474s) How you doing, Michael? [0:24:35](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1475s) Good to see you. Yeah. [0:25:11](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1511s) Senator from the 43rd, what purpose do you rise? [0:25:14](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1514s) I ask for unanimous consent to excuse the senator from the 26th. [0:25:19](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1519s) Oh, it's too late, Senator. We'll get him. [0:25:41](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1541s) It is now time for our morning devotion. All senators, please take your seats and cease all audible conversations. Doorkeepers, please secure the chamber at this time. [0:26:45](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1605s) Senators, we have a real treat for us today. Um, our chaplain today is Dr. George Dillard. Uh, he is a familiar face in the Senate. He has been kind enough to serve as our chaplain a day, of the day, a number of times. Uh, he is one of my favorites. He always brings us a good message, uh, that, that speaks to me. And, uh, beyond that, I love him because he and I talk a lot alike. We talk... I would say we talk like, I think, God talks. [0:27:17](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1637s) Good Southern drawl. So I love that. [0:27:21](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1641s) Yeah. Amen. [0:27:22](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1642s) Dr. Dillard serves as the senior pastor at Peachtree Christian Church. He earned a bachelo- uh, we'll do the pledge next. I've got ahead of myself. Uh, Dr. Dillard serves as the senior pastor at Peachtree City Christian Church. He earned a bachelor of science degree from what is now Point University, and later received both a Master of Ministry and Doctor of Philosophy in Theology from the Evangelical Theological Seminary. Dr. Dillard and his wife, Renee, have been married for more than 25 years and have three children. [0:27:54](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1674s) He enjoys cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs. Go Dogs. [0:27:58](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1678s) Go Dogs. [0:27:59](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1679s) Uh, senator from the 24th, not a good night for the Dogs last night. Uh, and spending time with his grandchildren. We're gonna now, uh, join me in the pledge of the flag before we we- welcome Dr. Dillard. Uh, join me in the pledge to the American flag. I pledge allegiance [0:28:17](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1697s) To the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [0:28:29](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1709s) Now the Georgia flag. [0:28:30](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1710s) I pledge allegiance to the Georgia flag and the principles for which it stands, wisdom, justice, moderation, and courage. [0:28:40](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1720s) Now, would you please join me in welcoming Dr. Dillard as our chaplain of the day? [0:28:46](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1726s) Thank you, Senator. I was just telling the senator that, uh, two ladies in Peachtree City were having a conversation. They said, one of them said, "Where do you go to church?" And she said, "Peachtree City Christian Church." And she said, "Who's the pastor there?" And they said, "George Dillard." She said, "Oh, I know him. He's the big guy who talks slow." [0:29:09](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1749s) So, um, but I always remind people that, uh, the Dillard side of the family came to Virginia in 1647, and the Crawford side of the family came to c- Charleston in 1680, and that's as far north as any of my family has ever lived. So this is 400 years of Southern breeding right here. [0:29:39](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1779s) And, uh, so that's part of the reason. Now, my first church was in Rincon, Georgia, in Effingham County. And, um, I was young, started there at 25 years of age. And, um, we built a new worship facility because the church expanded very, very rapidly as Effingham County was at that time. And, uh, we went from 150 seats to 450 seats. [0:30:12](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1812s) And so I was trying to manage finances as best I could. And even back then, hymnals were, like, $20 a piece, and I needed 300 new hymnals, and that just seemed economically unfeasible. And so I began to search, and I found a projector with a long throw lens and five carousels of church songs for $800, total package. [0:30:46](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1846s) And so for me, it was simple economics. [0:30:51](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1851s) $6,000 or $800. So I said, "Let's do it." We put it up. [0:31:03](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1863s) All the songs that were in the hymnal were in the carousel. The problem was there's some new songs. A friend of mine, mentor in the ministry, said, "The only person that likes change is a infant with a dirty diaper." [0:31:19](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1879s) And then they scream during the whole process of the change. [0:31:25](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1885s) Man, I got one Sunday morning, I was standing, greeting people as they left the church, and this fellow stopped, and he just wore me out. [0:31:35](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1895s) Yelling, screaming, veins popping out of his neck. He told me if the hymnal was good enough for Paul and Silas, it was good enough for him. I rationally tried to explain to him that, uh, Paul and Silas didn't have a hymnal. But you can't be rational with the irrational people, can you? I learned a very valuable lesson that day. As I stood there, and I kept my calm, and I tried to talk to him peacefully, I learned that [0:32:18](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1938s) people who are agitated, people who are, have a cause, people who are convinced that they are right, they don't wanna hear anything else other than affirmation of their cause. [0:32:40](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1960s) And it's very difficult for the people of this chamber to be reasonable and rational and calm. [0:32:57](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=1977s) But I just want to remind you of something, and this is what I remembered that day, 'cause I love Romans 12. In fact, I've told the church many times, Romans 12, if you want to know what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, then go read Romans 12. It's kind of like the, the CliffsNotes version of discipleship. And this is what it says: "Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. [0:33:30](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2010s) Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate people, with people who do day labor jobs around you. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but be careful to do what is right in the eyes of all people. [0:34:04](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2044s) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with the people around you." I just want to say this. We have a misunderstanding in this country. We think peace is the absence of conflict. We think peace is the absence of challenge and struggle. That's not the definition of peace. Peace is the ability to keep your head when everybody else is losing theirs. [0:34:44](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2084s) Now, the Word of God tells us we need to do our best to keep our heads regardless of what's going on around us. And we need to do the right thing because it's the right thing, not because it's popular, not because everybody thinks it's a good idea. And I am so thankful for the man who God gave me as a father on Earth, and he told me this: "Son, do the right thing all the time, regardless of what people around you are doing." You were elected by people in your districts to come here and do the right thing, regardless of the cost, regardless of the conflict, regardless of the difficulty. [0:35:43](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2143s) As far as it depends on you, live at peace. And you know, we are in a time in this state, in this nation, when we need peace. We need leaders who are willing to keep their heads when everybody else is losing theirs, and to work for the good of the people that you represent. And do your best to make sure that it's good for everybody. [0:36:21](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2181s) But most of all, that it has integrity, that it has honesty, and that it is right. And I want to encourage you, I wanted you to know that I'm praying for you. And I'm gonna tell you, I never did convince that man that Paul and Silas didn't have a hymnal- ... and that it was purely an economic decision for the good of the church, and that it didn't hurt anything. [0:36:58](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2218s) And he went to his grave angry with me. But every time I saw him, I greeted him, hugged his neck, and told him I loved him, because love is a choice and peace is a choice. And I pray for this Senate every single day, that the members of this Senate and its leadership will make the choice to love the people of the state of Georgia and to be at peace with one another. [0:37:36](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2256s) And I hope that we get the people's work done in the right way. Would you join me in a word of prayer? Almighty God, we praise you because you are the great and mighty God, the everlasting Father, the great I Am, the one who with a word spoke all things into existence, and the one who by the very power of your might holds all things together. And Father, we know that your Word tells us that if we lack wisdom, all we need to do is ask, and we will receive it from you. [0:38:12](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2292s) And so we ask for wisdom for the members of this Senate, for the leadership of this great state. And we ask, Father, that you would bless them, strengthen them, and prepare them for every good work. And we offer up all of these prayers to you on behalf of the people of Georgia and this nation. In the name of Jesus our King, and it's in his name that we pray, amen. [0:38:39](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2319s) Amen. [0:48:56](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2936s) Ladies and gentlemen, it warms my heart to see everybody, uh, visiting. It really does. I mean, we are, uh, we are friends and colleagues and a family, but, uh, we do have a little bit of business, so if I could get you to come back to order, we'll m- move on with our business. [0:49:18](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2958s) Are there any unanimous consents? [0:49:22](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2962s) Does any senator wish to rise on a point of personal privilege? [0:49:34](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2974s) Chair recognizes the senator from the 28th. [0:49:40](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2980s) Do you manifest it instead? [0:49:42](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2982s) That'd be, that'd be fine, Senator. [0:49:44](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2984s) Okay. [0:49:44](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2984s) Y'all give the senator your attention, please. [0:49:48](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=2988s) Well, firstly, Mr. Chairman, I offer deepest condolences to you for your loss. And at the same time, I've had a l- a loss and horrific crash has hurt my baby sister, but she's improving. So I just wanted to thank everyone for all of your prayers, your love, your acts of, of kindness, of plants and things like that. [0:50:24](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3024s) So, uh, it's very difficult to go through this. I got a wake today for my mother, and a funeral tomorrow. So these are difficult days and, but I'm trying to be here to, to, uh, fulfill my responsibility as a sen- as a state senator. So all of you are making that easier for me to do, and I just wanted to make that announcement that I thank everyone. But I'd like a, a moment of silence for, uh, your father, as well as Mrs. [0:50:59](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3059s) Marceline Thomas, who, uh, even though she was 97, she was in good health and good mind and everything, except a drunk, a drunk driver crashed head-on into her and took her life. So please, if you could call for a moment of silence. Oh, shoot. I can't stand up. Sorry. [0:51:25](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3085s) Senator has requested a moment of silence. [0:51:37](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3097s) Thank you, God. Amen. [0:51:38](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3098s) Amen. Senator, we'll keep you and your family in our prayers. Um, I know that's been tough. Chair recognizes the senator from the 4th for a point of personal privilege. [0:52:01](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3121s) Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanna let everybody know that, uh, we've got a education youth meeting, uh, Monday morning. It's coming Monday morning at 8:00. And the purpose of the meeting is gonna be, we're gonna bring in the agencies that, that are gonna be implementing, um, the Georgia Early Literacy Act, House Bill 1193. Uh, it's gonna be Governor's Office of Student Achievement, Professional Standards Commission, Rural, Rural Education Service Agency, Agency, which is RESA, and the Department of Education. [0:52:33](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3153s) So we've asked them to come in. It's gonna be a joint meeting with the House Education Committee and the Senate Education Committee, so please try to come. You know, we always seem to, the House kind of has more than us, but let's, let's kind of outdo them this year. The location is to be determined, and hopefully by Saturday we'll, we'll be able to announce the location. But this is for everybody to understand the real implications of House Bill 1193, and that's really, if you recall, to put the literacy coaches in the school and to hope our, get our children to reading on grade level. [0:53:06](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3186s) Thank you, Mr. President. [0:53:11](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3191s) Chair recognizes the senator from the 53rd for a point of personal privilege. [0:53:18](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3198s) Senator from the 53rd, would you like to come down and speak to the body? [0:53:25](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3205s) The freshman senator waves. Seems a little bit confused and, uh, un- you know, undecided about whether he wants to address the Senate or not, but we'll hear from him soon enough, I'm sure. Chair recognizes the senator from the 43rd. [0:54:00](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3240s) Thank you, Mr. President. Good morning, colleagues. Today I rise, as tomorrow we will not be here, but I am adorned in my beautiful black, red, gold, and green, um, House members, you are excused, black, red, gold, and green, um, s- uh, recognizing and honoring Juneteenth, which is a blend of June and the 19th, an annual holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It marks the day in 1865 when the Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce that the Civil War had ended and all enslaved people were free. [0:54:40](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3280s) Through President Lincoln, uh, I'm sorry, though President Lincoln signed the Emancipation on January 1st, 1863, it was not enforced in Texas until two years later due to the low presence of Union troops On June 19th, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and read General Order Number 3, which finally freed the roughly 250,000 enslaved people in the state of Texas. First celebrated in Texas in 1866, the date evolved into a national holiday observance and was signed into federal, as a federal holiday on June 17th, 2021. [0:55:16](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3316s) Also known as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, or Jubilee Day, Juneteenth is treated as a second independence in the day in the United States. It is a time to celebrate Black resilience, Black culture, Black achievements, while also reflecting on the ongoing journey toward full civil rights and racial equity. Again, I stand in recognition and honor and celebration of June 19th, which we will be out tomorrow. So I'll see you again on Saturday. [0:55:46](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3346s) We'll talk about it some more. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor. [0:55:55](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3355s) Senators, as a reminder, uh, part of the governor's call for the special session allows us to introduce local legislation related to property tax relief, uh, for your constituents. A LHOST is what it's called. Uh, if you have any local bills, you need to bring them and drop them in the hopper before we adjourn today, which won't be much longer. So get them up here in the hopper if you have any local bills. [0:56:25](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3385s) Chair recognizes senator from the 55th. [0:56:52](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3412s) Mr. President, members of this august body, and even distinguished guests, I rise today not merely to mark a date on a calendar, but to reckon with the truth this nation has long tried to bury. June 19th, 1865, Galveston, Texas, two years and six months after the Emancipation Proclamation, two years and six months after Lincoln pinned, moved, and Black people in Texas still did not know they were free. [0:57:36](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3456s) Freedom had been declared. Freedom had not been delivered. That gap between declaration of freedom and the delivery of freedom is not ancient history. It is the living tension of American democracy, and it is why we are here. Let the record show that democracy has cost us. In 1870, the 15th Amendment guaranteed Black men the right to vote. [0:58:07](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3487s) By 1901, thirty-one years later, every Black congressman had been driven from the United States Congress, not by the ballot, by terror, by poll taxes, by literacy tests designated to fail the very people who had built this country with their bare hands. It took ninety-five years until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 before the promise of the 15th Amendment found anything resembling enforcement, and even then we worked-- the work was not done. [0:58:44](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3524s) In Shelby County versus Holder in 2013, the Supreme Court gutted Section 5 of that very act, the formula that determined which jurisdictions need federal oversight. Within twenty-four hours, states began changing their voting laws. Georgia was among them. Since 2020, over one hundred restrictive voting bills have been introduced in state legislatures across this country. Here in Georgia, Senate Bill 202 eliminated mobile voting units, restricted voting booths, and made it a crime to offer water to voters standing, waiting in line. [0:59:21](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3561s) And who waits longest in the line? Study after study, including the MIT Election Lab, showed Black voters wait an average of forty-five percent longer than white voters in casting their ballots. Forty-five percent, that's not an accident. This is architecture. But I did not come here to eulogize de-democracy. I came here to demand it. Juneteenth teaches us that freedom requires announcement. It requires action. It requires accountability. The news of liberation must be carried by foot, by voice, by law, by legislation to every corner where people are still waiting. [0:59:59](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3599s) There, there are people in this state still waiting, so I say to this body, we are the riders. We are the ones who must carry the news. Emancipation has been declared. Democracy must be delivered. We, and we will not wait until two and a half years. God bless you. God bless Georgia. And God bless freedom. And we have not yet fully won it. We must have freedom, for that is the, the demand of this great country, freedom. [1:00:33](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3633s) It was born of freedom, and we all must work toward freedom. Happy Juneteenth Day. Thank you. [1:00:44](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3644s) Is there any, uh, chair recognizes the senator from the 36th for a point of personal privilege. [1:01:02](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3662s) Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, colleagues, good morning. Uh, we are gathered here on the eve of Juneteenth. We've just heard two eloquent speakers from our midst, uh, lift up the significance of this day. And I, I move to come to the well because we're in a time that truly hearkens back as we see southern governors racing to convene sessions [1:01:47](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3707s) to reduce the numbers of Black members of Congress from our southern states. [1:02:00](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3720s) Yesterday, [1:02:03](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3723s) the GOP leadership at 1:00 PM announced that we will not be taking up redistricting in this session. A very, a very wise decision on all sides. [1:02:25](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3745s) I want to point out that the comments that were offered at that press conference referenced taking it up in a more, uh, measured way at a later date as a possibility. [1:02:44](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3764s) Let's stand as a state that united and said no to bleaching out congressional, uh, delegations. We have, is it 14 seats now? Four are occupied by, uh, Democrats, four are occupied by African Americans. Let's don't go down this road. Let's, let's stand, put ourselves in a different posture, uh, than other southern states. [1:03:21](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3801s) You know, you may or may not have r- know, uh, it's been referenced from this well before, that we have the largest Black university complex in the world here in our state, and that has provided, uh, a very rich resource of leadership for the Black community to be able to stand and negotiate with the power structure and stave off some of the worst that we saw in the police state situations in places like Mississippi where I went to jail. [1:03:59](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3839s) Uh, [1:04:01](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3841s) I was a part of the civil rights movement. There were few white southerners in it, but we, uh, [1:04:10](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3850s) w- we know that we had the, the opportunity of a lifetime to stand on the right side of history when I joined the March on Washington in 1963. That's the day that the scales fell from my eyes to understand the depths of, uh, oppression that African Americans had been subjected to in this country throughout our history. We, we were, we were a nation of, uh, uh, w- w- who held people in slavery. So I say to you today as, uh, we, uh, the, on the eve of Juneteenth, which is a state holiday, uh, let us look for ways to come together around this issue and lift Georgia above this morass of back to the old Confederacy. [1:04:57](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3897s) My time has expired, but I was moved to come to the well and share these thoughts and hope you'll, will give them your full attention. Thank you so much. I yield the well. [1:05:12](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3912s) Does any other senator wish to rise on a point of personal privilege? Chair recognizes the majority leader. Mr. Pres- Stand by. Sorry. [1:05:42](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3942s) I apologize for getting ahead of myself again. I'm rusty for sure. Are there any motions to withdraw or commit? [1:05:55](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3955s) Hearing none, chair recognizes the senator from the 31st. Mr. President, I move the Senate stand adjourned pursuant to SR3EX till 9:00 AM on Saturday, June 20th. Secretary will read the announcements. [1:06:13](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3973s) Mr. President, the Rules Committee will meet upon adjournment in 125 of the Capitol. That completes the order. [1:06:19](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3979s) The m- majority leader has moved that we adjourn until 9:00 AM on Saturday, June 20th, 2026. All those in favor of the motion will say aye. [1:06:33](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3993s) Aye. [1:06:34](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3994s) Those opposed, no. [1:06:37](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3997s) No. [1:06:37](https://vimeo.com/1202255880#t=3997s) The ayes clearly have it, and the Senate is adjourned.