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  1. Meeting transcript · Georgia State Senate · March 23, 2026

    Senate floor session, March 23, 2026 (legislative day 36)

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The Senate passed HB 1009, extending school-day phone restrictions to high school students, after rejecting an amendment allowing access between classes. Senators also passed measures on advanced math, forestry tax credits, local property-tax relief, bankruptcy protections, school financial oversight, public health employees and medical treatment rules. A substitute to HB 154 replaced its ambulance provisions with a proposal to seek year-round Atlantic Standard Time. A lengthy debate over district attorney pay ended with passage of HB 1020, followed by notice of a request to reconsider it. Senators left SB 350, concerning DeKalb County officials’ pay, available for later action after questions about conflicting pay provisions. They returned HB 79 to the Rules Committee, adopted a family-farm study resolution and agreed to the House changes to SB 427. The Senate adjourned until March 25.

    Soon as you get to the building, your phone is put away." And they can still do that. Thank you, senator. Yes, sir. Got one more question. So recognize senator from the 4th. Senator, yield? To my esteemed chairman, I absolutely do. Thank you, sir. Um, senator, are you aware that, um, Georgia Southern University College of Education did a study back latter...

    Open at this passageSenate floor session, March 23, 2026 (legislative day 36), 2026-03-23 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1009. from 01:55:40.

    I've had a sc- one of my largest school districts took last year's legislation, and they banned the phones throughout the district, and the results, while talking to teachers, was astounding. She said that the students seemed happier. They communicated more with each other. They participated more in class. I think giving them the opportunity to not have...

    Open at this passageSenate floor session, March 23, 2026 (legislative day 36), 2026-03-23 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1009. from 01:58:04.

  2. Meeting transcript · Georgia House of Representatives · February 24, 2026

    House floor session, February 24, 2026 (legislative day 23)

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The House focused on education, passing HB 1193 to expand early reading instruction and support, HB 372 to extend a retired-teacher return program, and HB 1123 to expand access to pre-K after-school care. Members also passed HB 1009 to restrict personal electronic devices in high schools and HB 1023 to require school weapons detection systems, after debate about costs, local control and school safety. Other measures passed would expand career academy access, provide grants to student teachers and allow unused HOPE scholarship eligibility toward graduate or professional study. The House heard bill readings and committee reports, adopted recognition resolutions, postponed two resolutions to the next legislative day and reassigned HB 1377 to Transportation. The House adjourned until February 25 at 10 a.m.

    Mr. Clerk, will you read the caption to House Bill 1009? 1-0-0-9. House Bill 1009 by Representative Hilton of the 48th and others to be entitled an act to amend Chapter 2, Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated rela- relating to elementary and secondary education so as to require local school systems and public schools to enact policies and...

    Open at this passageHouse floor session, February 24, 2026 (legislative day 23), 2026-02-24 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1009. from 03:46:42.

    Nationwide, 40 states now have a statewide cell phone policy, with more than half of those a best practice of bell-to-bell approach. Georgia's the only state out of all 40 that actually stop at K through 8. We do understand high school differs from K through 8, which is why we have exclusions for dual enrollment, work-based learning, and apprenticeships....

    Open at this passageHouse floor session, February 24, 2026 (legislative day 23), 2026-02-24 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1009. from 03:48:57.

    1 more passage in this document

  3. Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Children and Families Committee · March 17, 2026

    Senate Children and Families Committee, March 17, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee advanced three bills: HB 181, allowing certain internationally adoptive families to obtain a Georgia Certificate of Foreign Birth without another court process; HB 1118, adding three weeks of maternal birth leave for eligible state employees and teachers; and HB 1009, extending school-day restrictions on personal electronic devices to high school students. The committee unanimously approved a substitute for HB 181 and approved HB 1118 with no opposition heard. After testimony from a student, education groups, a policy organization and the state school superintendent, the committee unanimously approved HB 1009.

    That's pretty good. Thank you, Madam Chair, for, for letting me address yet another bill. We've had a lot of good bills in here today, so we appreciate it. Um, I wanna just share a little bit more about the survey that Representative Hilton mentioned from Georgia Southern. We worked with Georgia Southern on that survey. Um, they, they were, they surveyed...

    Open at this passageSenate Children and Families Committee, March 17, 2026, 2026-03-17 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1009. from 00:41:01.

    So again, thank you all for considering this bill. Thank you to Representative Hilton for carrying both Hou- House Bill 340 and House Bill 1099, and PAGE is in strong support of this legislation. Thank you. Thank you very much. Tripp Richardson. Good afternoon, Madam Chair, members of the committee. My name is Tripp Richardson with the Frontline Policy...

    Open at this passageSenate Children and Families Committee, March 17, 2026, 2026-03-17 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1009. from 00:43:05.

  4. Meeting transcript · Georgia House Education Committee · February 5, 2026

    House Education Committee, February 5, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved five bills: HB 971 on cross-district access to college and career academies for homeschool and private school students; HB 383 on protections for student athletes' endorsement contracts; HB 1009 on restricting high school students' personal electronic devices during the school day; HB 1023 on weapons detection systems in public schools; and HB 907 on access to completion schools. Members adopted two amendments to HB 383 and approved substitutes for HB 1023 and HB 907. Discussion included school funding, financial protections for young athletes, device-policy enforcement, weapons detection costs and staffing, and instruction at completion schools. Opposition was heard on the voice vote for HB 1023. No numerical vote totals were announced.

    And like I said, many high schools around our state, nearly half of them have already done some form of this. Um, thank you to the chairman and, and many others. You'll note on line 54 through 56, we do realize high school students, uh, have different responsibilities. We offer different opportunities for them. Uh, and so we made sure to exclude dual...

    Open at this passageHouse Education Committee, February 5, 2026, 2026-02-05 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1009. from 00:59:12.

    Uh, they've studied both schools that have it currently in place, and they also surveyed teachers, "Hey, what do, what do y'all wanna see?" Uh, and, and I thought the results were just amazing. Um, 80%... 87% of teachers, and this is a huge survey put on by Georgia Southern, said personal devices are a major source of distraction in their classrooms, 87% of...

    Open at this passageHouse Education Committee, February 5, 2026, 2026-02-05 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1009. from 01:01:26.

  5. Meeting transcript · Georgia House Rules Committee · February 9, 2026

    House Rules Committee, February 9, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee heard bill presentations on education, courts, financial regulation, property, public safety and other topics. The longest discussion concerned HB 934, with questions about the effect of transferring securities regulation on an ongoing investigation, staffing and agency workloads. Members also questioned school weapons-detection costs and possible local court costs from accepting juvenile cases involving military installations. The committee placed six bills on the February 9 floor calendar and four measures on the February 10 calendar, with no opposition voiced. The other measures presented were not placed on either calendar during this meeting.

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. I referred to House Bill 1009, which is at the bottom of page two, House Bill 1009. As many of you in this room know, last year we went cell phone-free in our classrooms K through 8. Back by popular demand, we are now expanding that to include high schools. Thank you, Jim. Whip, have a question. Jim, uh,...

    Open at this passageHouse Rules Committee, February 9, 2026, 2026-02-09 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1009. from 00:41:05.

  6. Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · February 10, 2026

    Senate Education and Youth Committee, February 10, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee heard a teacher recruitment and retention report prepared in response to SR 237, including recommendations on training, financial support, working conditions and school leadership. Members asked about transferring course credits, classroom phone restrictions, reducing teachers’ duties and recognizing prior teaching experience. No action was taken on the report. The committee also held a vote on SB 471, which would make permanent the parental opt-out requirement for school mask mandates, but the chair did not expressly announce the result. The committee unanimously approved a substitute for SB 369 establishing a dropout recovery charter school category and separate performance reporting.

    ... technical schools? ... plus two with nurses. That's already done. But the one that we're pressing for now is education. If, if a person, if they start with a TAP, the Teacher As a Professional, if they start in high school, they're gonna take several courses there. If it transfers up, maybe they go to a technical school, or maybe they go to a USG...

    Open at this passageSenate Education and Youth Committee, February 10, 2026, 2026-02-10 (machine transcript). Discussion of SR 237. from 00:52:33.

    Mm-hmm. And so it's an issue. I can tell you, I have, I have twins. They've just graduated. They're in their first year of college. Their high school had already done it. Uh, now they didn't take it from them, but they had a process in place where they could not touch their phone, uh, during class time, and that helped a lot for them, I can tell you. Okay....

    Open at this passageSenate Education and Youth Committee, February 10, 2026, 2026-02-10 (machine transcript). Discussion of SR 237. from 00:54:33.

  7. Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Rules Committee · March 19, 2026

    Senate Rules Committee, March 19, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee heard brief requests to schedule bills on education, taxes, health care, veterans, licensing and other subjects. Members unanimously approved a 16-measure floor calendar. In separate committee business, members unanimously approved a prison education study committee resolution, a resolution honoring Bangladeshi peacekeepers, and a substitute for HB 445 that added public water and sewer systems to a public utility definition. Members questioned trout-stream buffer changes in HB 485. The chair postponed action on that bill until the next day so legislative counsel and the original sponsor could help explain the changes.

    That's right. Uh, House Bill 1009, which is the bottom of your second page, House Bill 1009 extends the cellphone-free bill that we passed last year through K through eight to include high school. Um, passed both committees unanimously, and, uh, it's just been a big win for our schools, and we'd like to keep it going. A lot of happy parents and teachers....

    Open at this passageSenate Rules Committee, March 19, 2026, 2026-03-19 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1009. from 00:36:54.

  8. Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · March 23, 2026

    House Judiciary Committee, March 23, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved three bills. A substitute for SB 403 would let the Department of Revenue return unclaimed money without requiring a claim and simplify claims by heirs. The committee approved SB 532 after the chair said its original contents had been replaced with a Gwinnett judgeship proposal. After a recess, members debated a substitute for SB 552 concerning equal access for student political activities at public schools. Questions focused on after-hours access, supervision, school discipline and whether a specific Georgia incident justified the bill. The committee approved that substitute by voice vote, with opposition heard.

    That's basically a, a- Okay ... where you allow discussion, but subject to some reasonable restriction. It, they can, you know, prohibit any groups from using school property to meet if they want to. I think that's called a closed forum. Um, uh, so this is not mandating they do that, but it just, you'll notice there are places where it says, "If the school...

    Open at this passageHouse Judiciary Committee, March 23, 2026, 2026-03-23 (machine transcript). Discussion of SB 552. from 00:25:26.

    36. Yeah. Before, during and after. Yeah, I've, I've heard that concern. Um- But you're, um, you're saying that the, they don't have to let that happen. They can restrict that. Is that what I'm hearing? Uh, yeah. Well, I think they can, as long as they do it fairly- Fairly ... um, and, and, and equally. Um, and, uh, I know one, one concern I had is about...

    Open at this passageHouse Judiciary Committee, March 23, 2026, 2026-03-23 (machine transcript). Discussion of SB 552. from 00:27:28.

  9. Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Public Safety Committee · March 23, 2026

    Senate Public Safety Committee, March 23, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved amended versions of HB 1022, addressing vehicle tinting, digital licenses and fleeing police; HB 1023, requiring school weapons detection systems; and HB 957, allowing miniature trucks on certain local roads. Most discussion focused on school safety, with students and parents urging statewide weapons detection requirements and a school district witness raising funding concerns. Members added explicit implementation language and a January 1, 2028 date to the school bill. The committee also heard HB 990, creating a privately funded program to help retired law enforcement dogs. Members voted by voice on that bill, but the chair did not clearly announce the result after questioning an apparent opposing vote.

    Fortunately, our school system was able to implement this for our middle and high schools. Before this, the phrase, "What are the odds of h- it happening again?" came up many times. But here we were, met with another weapon on campus just a few months after tragedy s- struck. This is why HB 1023 is so important. No child should step into school anxious...

    Open at this passageSenate Public Safety Committee, March 23, 2026, 2026-03-23 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1023. from 00:51:32.

    Um, and if it goes off, then one of the administrators or one of the people certified to, like, look through our stuff, um, will either check our bookbags or just make us go through one more time because sometimes we'll stand too close to the, um, little towers- Right ... 'cause we have the AI weapons detection system. And then, um- Yeah, that's just our...

    Open at this passageSenate Public Safety Committee, March 23, 2026, 2026-03-23 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1023. from 00:53:39.

  10. Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Rules Committee · March 20, 2026

    Senate Rules Committee, March 20, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved a substitute for HB 328 by a 7 to 5 vote after discussing removal of the scholarship tax credit program’s expiration date. Members then heard requests to schedule bills on education, taxes, courts, veterans, public safety and other subjects. The committee unanimously approved a 14-measure floor calendar, including HB 154, which a presenter said now seeks year-round Atlantic Standard Time, and HB 1009, concerning cellphone-free high school classrooms. After initially selecting HB 1077, members removed it from the calendar and unanimously returned it to the Rules Standing Committee for an unspecified correction. Members also unanimously returned HB 1129 to that committee.

    Who's the- I was referring to the other Rules Chairman, but yeah. Oh. Yeah. Okay. Gotcha. All right. Okay. Never mind. I'll stick to the North Georgia. There. There we go. Um, thank you. House Bill 1009, midpage, page three, going cellphone-free in our classrooms. That's it. That's it. That's simple. That's straight. Simple. This is- 1009 ... 9 through 12....

    Open at this passageSenate Rules Committee, March 20, 2026, 2026-03-20 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1107. from 00:25:50.

  11. Meeting transcript · Georgia House of Representatives · January 16, 2026

    House floor session, January 16, 2026 (legislative day 5)

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The House read newly introduced bills and referred them to committees, completed second readings, and received a favorable committee report on HR 1008. Members honored a late Georgia Poultry Federation leader through HR 1013 and adopted a group of commemorative resolutions without objection. The House also agreed without objection to move HB 590, concerning trailer manufacturers, from the Regulated Industries Committee to the Motor Vehicles Committee. No vote on the substance of a policy bill appears in the transcript. Members announced upcoming budget hearings, and the House adjourned until January 26, 2026, at 10 a.m.

    Thank you. Chairman Jaspers, recognized for an announcement. Thank you, members. After you go to your Appropriations meeting on Tuesday, Tuesday afternoon, the grocers and everyone involved in the food industry will be in the blue room. They'd love to see you, have refreshments, all that good stuff, but that's Kathy Cassava and Kevin Perry, who are friends...

    Open at this passageHouse floor session, January 16, 2026 (legislative day 5), 2026-01-16 (machine transcript). from 01:45:43.

    Members, I'm going to remind you again, check your cell phones. Make sure you don't have an extra one by accident. If you do, it's, it's Representative Bazemore's, so please check, members. Second readies, reading of bills and resolutions, the clerk will read.

    Open at this passageHouse floor session, January 16, 2026 (legislative day 5), 2026-01-16 (machine transcript). from 00:56:35.

    1 more passage in this document

  12. Meeting transcript · Georgia House Education Committee · March 19, 2026

    House Education Committee, March 19, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved a substitute version of SB 369, a charter-school package that included changes concerning completion schools and extracurricular participation. The chair removed SB 431 from the agenda for further work. The committee also heard SB 513, which would address chronic absenteeism through attendance review teams and restrictions on activities and access to new driver's licenses or permits. Members questioned whether those restrictions could discourage attendance or create administrative problems. A Department of Driver Services witness raised concerns about delays and documentation requirements. The chair made that bill hearing-only, with no vote, and asked members to work with the sponsor on revisions for Monday's meeting.

    Thank you, ma'am. Let me do this, if I can, and thank you very much- Welcome ... for that information, uh, from DDS. Let me offer this, members, in, in light of your concern. Um, well, let's continue this talk. What I'm gonna do for the senator is we'll make this hearing only today in hopes that we can make the changes that we need to make so this bill can...

    Open at this passageHouse Education Committee, March 19, 2026, 2026-03-19 (machine transcript). Discussion of SB 513. from 00:47:51.

    And, uh, you know, we, we had a study committee last year as well. We came up with 14 or 15 different items, uh, on that study committee. These were the top three or four that we kind of pulled out that we felt like that made a lot of sense. And one of the things we wanted to make sure of is that we weren't, um, really kind of overseeing this from the state...

    Open at this passageHouse Education Committee, March 19, 2026, 2026-03-19 (machine transcript). Discussion of SB 513. from 00:25:36.

    1 more passage in this document

  13. Meeting transcript · Georgia State Senate · March 18, 2026

    Senate floor session, March 18, 2026 (legislative day 33)

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The Senate passed HB 998 on rural telephone service, HB 1159 on tax relief for farm assistance payments, HB 1302 on education and workforce coordination, HB 1379 on foreign funding disclosures, HB 999 on magistrate courts, and HB 376 on historic rehabilitation tax credits. Senators also agreed to House changes to SB 220, with further amendments to the medical cannabis proposal. Debate included rural communications, utility consumer protections, minimum wage, foreign influence in schools, access to small claims court, and cannabis benefits and risks. The Senate returned HB 439 to the Finance Committee to fix an error and received numerous committee reports and bill readings. A senator gave notice of plans to consider House changes to HB 1199 on the next legislative day. The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. March 19.

    People in the hallway texting you, your voters asking you to, to turn up the volume and be more partisan, primary season, qualifying season, notwithstanding all of those pressures, genuinely amazing stuff to see that we can keep our heads. And what's that, that phrase about if you can keep your head when everyone else around you is losing theirs, you...

    Open at this passageSenate floor session, March 18, 2026 (legislative day 33), 2026-03-18 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1159. from 02:52:37.

    is that we are siloed when it comes to information, that we are only receiving the information that we want to hear, not the information that might be the best news of the day for us to consume, for us to stay informed about the topics of the day, but the information that already m- that makes us feel what we already feel, that justifies our prior...

    Open at this passageSenate floor session, March 18, 2026 (legislative day 33), 2026-03-18 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1159. from 02:55:03.

    3 more passages in this document

  14. Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Children and Families Committee · February 17, 2026

    Senate Children and Families Committee, February 17, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee held a hearing on SB 467, which the sponsor described as requiring age checks and parental consent for minors downloading smartphone apps or making in-app purchases. Supporters said it would give parents more control and clearer information. Opponents raised concerns about privacy, access to lawful information, costs for small developers and whether the proposal would address harmful content inside apps. Members questioned how parental consent would affect platform responsibility and why technology companies opposed the requirements. The sponsor invited suggestions for addressing concerns. The committee adjourned without voting.

    Welcome to the Children and Families Committee. Sorry we're running a bit late. Our session ran over, and we have a couple of people that are on the way. Uh, but because this bill is a hearing only, we don't need a quorum to get started. So we've got a whole bunch of people that wanna speak to the bill, uh, on Zoom and live. So with that, um, Senator Payne,...

    Open at this passageSenate Children and Families Committee, February 17, 2026, 2026-02-17 (machine transcript). from 00:04:42.

    And then finally, on the recent Texas ruling highlights, um, its constitutional issues as well as Utah, SB 467 follows a policy path that courts already reject. In December 2025, a federal judge blocked Texas's app store age verification law as likely unconstitutional under the First Amendment, finding that the state failed to use the least restrictive...

    Open at this passageSenate Children and Families Committee, February 17, 2026, 2026-02-17 (machine transcript). Discussion of SB 467. from 01:04:43.

    2 more passages in this document

  15. Meeting transcript · Georgia House Rules Committee · March 2, 2026

    House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee heard requests to move forward a wide range of measures covering taxes, housing, health care, education, public safety, workforce development and state symbols. Members questioned proposals on self-defense cases, income tax cuts, Medicaid eligibility checks, development permits and airport funding. The chair announced that HR 114 and HB 1116 were returned to Ways and Means without opposition, although a subsequent exchange created uncertainty about the first measure's number. Most other measures received brief presentations without questions. No floor calendar selections or votes on those requests were recorded. The chair adjourned the meeting and announced another meeting for 5 p.m.

    Good morning, Mr. Chairman and committee. I am here to present House Bill 1045, which is on page four, line six. HB 1045, known as You Are Not Alone Act, requires all Georgia p- public schools that issue student identif- identification badges grades six through 12 to print 988 Suicide Crisis Hotline on the back of student badges. This legislation is...

    Open at this passageHouse Rules Committee, March 2, 2026, 2026-03-02 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1045. from 00:30:15.

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and to the members of the committee. I will be presenting House Bill 334, which is found on the first page, towards the bottom. House Bill 334 would require our Department of Community Health to conduct an annual review of medications and treatments for individuals that are impacted by sickle cell. The purpose of the annual review...

    Open at this passageHouse Rules Committee, March 2, 2026, 2026-03-02 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 334. from 00:59:38.

  16. Meeting transcript · Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee · March 19, 2026

    Senate Education and Youth Committee, March 19, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved four bills: HB 1220 on scholarship eligibility, HB 1114 on digital and financial literacy instruction, HB 451 on religious instruction during school release time, and HB 634 on administration of the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program. The vote on HB 1220 was 5 to 4. Members raised concerns about private-school access, younger students’ instructional time, teacher workloads, and rules for religious classes on school property. The Senate sponsor of HB 451 committed to reviewing the school-property language with legislative counsel before floor consideration. No exact vote totals were stated for the other three bills.

    Thank you, sir. Thank you. I see your point. Uh- My wife was a first grade teacher. Yeah. So I understand. I will not mess this one up. Senator James. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Uh, I like what you're trying to do, and just because it's you, I wanna vote for it. Yeah. But I do have a question. Yes, ma'am. Um, it's, you said that it would protect,...

    Open at this passageSenate Education and Youth Committee, March 19, 2026, 2026-03-19 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 1114. from 00:41:58.

    I'm gonna let- It's not a, it's not a, a charter school or a private school, so. I'm gonna defer to my- My, my husband is a pastor here in Atlanta, and we, we met at Sutton Middle School. And release time classes does not in- interfere with the church being able to rent from a school, if that's what you're asking. Yeah. Yeah. I was just asking if we pass...

    Open at this passageSenate Education and Youth Committee, March 19, 2026, 2026-03-19 (machine transcript). Discussion of HB 451. from 01:07:17.

  17. Meeting transcript · Georgia House Judiciary Committee · March 16, 2026

    House Judiciary Committee, March 16, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee advanced SB 552, concerning students’ political expression and access to school facilities, after rejecting an amendment allowing excused absences for civic or political events. It held a hearing on SB 403, which would simplify unclaimed-property payments and allow the state to permanently take ownership of some unclaimed funds. Members questioned cryptocurrency provisions, protections for creditors and property owners, and the proposed deadlines for claims. The chair held that bill for further consideration and said it would return Thursday. The committee also approved a substitute for SB 570, requiring human-trafficking awareness training for frontline workers in hotels, motels and short-term rentals. Both approved bills were sent to Rules.

    I, I, I think this would be the closest that I would want to get to their organization. They're a 501[c][3], and they're not going to, uh, engage on this. I mean, this is obviously, uh, in respect for him, but, uh, I would, uh, not wish that to be changed, so thank you. Thank you Okay. And Representative Crawford. Thank you, Chairman. And thank you,...

    Open at this passageHouse Judiciary Committee, March 16, 2026, 2026-03-16 (machine transcript). Discussion of SB 552. from 00:26:52.

    Is there a universal dress code in schools? I, I don't know what may be- And I think- ... permitted ... uh, my wife's a public school teacher, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I know about dress codes in schools. But the, uh, I think that each school, uh, decides that. Uh, it's, I'm getting a nod down here, so I, I think that's an affirmative. So...

    Open at this passageHouse Judiciary Committee, March 16, 2026, 2026-03-16 (machine transcript). Discussion of SB 552. from 00:29:06.

  18. Meeting transcript · Georgia House of Representatives · April 2, 2026

    House floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, PM, part 1)

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The House debated school attendance restrictions, public health changes, tax relief, insurance coverage, school safety, care for children stranded in hospitals, and regulatory changes. Members initially rejected SB 513, then voted to reconsider it and returned it to the Rules Committee. The House passed SB 440 after debate focused on access to ivermectin without a prescription. Members approved amended Senate versions of property and income tax measures, prosthetic coverage legislation, an education package, a Medicaid and child placement measure, and regulatory legislation that also addressed disclosure of harassment settlements. Six local measures passed together, while HB 1534 returned to committee. The House recessed until 7:30.

    Um, I also wanna say that in committee when there was testimony to this bill, two things came up that I thought were interesting. One is that several years ago and a whole bunch of you were here when this happened, we, this House took up, uh, justice, criminal justice reform. And you worked to uncouple license, uh, license restriction from other crimes. You...

    Open at this passageHouse floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, PM, part 1), 2026-04-02 (machine transcript). Discussion of SB 513. from 01:03:13.

    This is not primarily a discipline problem. It is a barrier problem, and that matters because when you look at what the committee heard and you look at what this bill does, they do not line up. The testimony pointed towards support, early intervention, family engagement, keeping students connected to school. This bill moves completely in a different...

    Open at this passageHouse floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, PM, part 1), 2026-04-02 (machine transcript). Discussion of SB 513. from 00:50:54.

    2 more passages in this document

  19. Meeting transcript · Georgia State Senate · March 6, 2026

    Senate floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, part 1)

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): On Crossover Day, the Senate read incoming legislation and committee reports, then voted on bills covering utilities, elections, public safety, education, licensing and insurance. The Senate passed SB 410, which the sponsor said would end new data-center tax exemptions and require utility contract protections. Members disputed whether those protections would keep costs off household bills. The Senate also passed measures addressing clergy sexual abuse, AI safety, animal cruelty records, human trafficking and prosecutor oversight. SR 838, a proposed constitutional amendment on citizenship and photo identification for voting, failed to receive the required two-thirds vote. SB 573, concerning nonpartisan elections in certain counties, failed, and the sponsor requested reconsideration. No reconsideration vote appears in this transcript. The session paused for dinner after passing SB 593.

    Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of Senate Bill 540. Uh, it's, it's an important first step in taking action to keep our kids safe online. Um, this has been an important topic for me. Um, I co-chaired a study committee on this during the interim with the senator from the 48th, and I wrote the resolution for the study committee because i- it...

    Open at this passageSenate floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, part 1), 2026-03-06 (machine transcript). Discussion of SB 540. from 06:53:00.

    In fact, members of The Anxious Generation team were very helpful in providing testimony to our study committee. Just this week, the team of The Anxious Generation released something called a Childhood Index. It's a first of its kind ranking of all fifty states on how well tech laws and policies in each state support healthy, flourishing childhoods on and...

    Open at this passageSenate floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, part 1), 2026-03-06 (machine transcript). Discussion of SB 540. from 06:55:35.

  20. Meeting transcript · Georgia House Education Committee · March 23, 2026

    House Education Committee, March 23, 2026

    Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved seven bills covering school finances, enrollment, instruction, teacher recruitment and attendance. Members advanced SB 472 on financial oversight, SB 589 on parents’ enrollment choices, SB 515 on teacher tax credits, SB 425 on cursive instruction and school safety, and SB 431 on foster students’ enrollment. The committee approved SB 475 on local charter school facility funding by an 11 to 5 vote. Members added a requirement to print the 988 crisis number on student identification badges to SB 589. After debate over attendance penalties and students’ transportation needs, members amended SB 513 to exempt students enrolled in completion special schools, then approved it. Other approvals were by voice vote, without numerical totals.

    Um, so I'm, I'm not sure, but I certainly wanna make sure we protect those students that we've just made a way to come back to school given completion schools all around the state, um, and I don't want them to be affected by not being able to drive, go to work, and be online to go to school. Be, be thinking that. If we get a motion and a second, we can...

    Open at this passageHouse Education Committee, March 23, 2026, 2026-03-23 (machine transcript). Discussion of SB 513. from 02:59:57.

    Thank you, Chairman. I'd like to make a motion, do pass, uh, SB 589 LC 395111S. Second. We got a motion and a second. Number 25. Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make an amendment. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Uh, I've spoken with the bill sponsor, uh, and also with you. You should have with you at your desk right now AM 610034. Mr. Walker, if you could keep me...

    Open at this passageHouse Education Committee, March 23, 2026, 2026-03-23 (machine transcript). Discussion of SB 589. from 01:01:46.

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