Lawmakers Day 27 03/02/23

>>> AND THE COURT WILL UNLOCK THE MACHINE.

I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT SPEAKER DAVID RAWLSTON IS SMILING DOWN ON THIS BODY RIGHT NOW.

>> OVERWHELMING SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE FOR A BILL THAT WOULD CONTINUE THE WORK OF THE LATE SPEAKER WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING GEORGIA'S MENTAL HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM.

AND THE QUESTION OF BUCKHEAD CITY HOOD WENT TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS.

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

THIS IS THE LAST LEGISLATIVE DAY.

TODAY BOTH CHAMBERS WILL HEAR LOTS OF MAJOR BILLS.

WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT AND LEGISLATION AIMED AT MAKING SURE ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO QUALIFY FOR REDUCED PRICE MEALS RECEIVE THEM AT NO COST.

THE AUTHOR OF THAT BILL ALSO WANTS MEDICAID TO COVER THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF LYMHADEMA.

AND MY CONVERSATION WITH SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

BUT FIRST, OUR CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT GIVES US THE LATEST ON A BUSY DAY SO FAR.

ROCHELLE?

>> HI DONNA.

WELL YES, IT HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY BUSY DAY.

I BELIEVE THAT THE SENATE IS STILL?

SESSION AS WE SPEAK.

NOW IN THE HOUSE, HOUSE BILL 520 GOT SOME VERY PASSIONATE WORDS FROM REPRESENTATIVE TODD JONES.

THE BILL ADDRESSES THE HOUSING CHALLENGES FACED BY THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH.

THE SENATE, THE BUCKHEAD CITYHOOD.

AND THE BIRTH OF BEDDING LAW STRUCK OUT.

IN THE SENATE TODAY, 26 BILLS WERE PRESENTED ON THE DAY BEFORE CROSSOVER DAY.

ONE OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS, SB114, WOULD ANNEX AND CREATE THE NEW CITY OF BUCKHEAD CITY.

>> I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE REACHED THE POINT WHERE WE ARE TODAY BECAUSE CITY LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO FELT THAT THEY COULD IGNORE THE CONCERNS OF THEIR TAXPAYERS WITHOUT BEING WATCHED, BECAUSE THAT GROUP OF TAXPAYERS ONLY REPRESENTED A SMALL PORTION OF THEIR POPULATION.

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS THEORY IS IF THESE LEADERS FAIL TO REMEMBER THAT GEORGIA HAS A STRONG HISTORY OF DISGRUNTLED CITIZENS WHO BREAK AWAY FROM COUNTIES AND FORM CITIES IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN IDENTITY, WHEN THEY FEEL THEIR THEIR OPINIONS MATTER.

MY PROBLEM IS, THIS IS AN UGLY CAKE COVERED IN A WHOLE LOT OF ICING.

EVERYBODY HAS A REASON WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO.

THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE THESE PEOPLE A VOICE.

I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM AER HAING.

THEN YOU STAND HERE AND YELL FOR VOTER'S RIGHTS AND HOW YOU SUPPORT THE LITTLE PERSON AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

DO ME A FAVOR.

JUST TELL THE TRUTH.

SAY WHAT IT IS.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS.

I KNOW WHAT IT IS.

IT IS ABOUT COLOR.

IT IS ABOUT GREEN.

I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN.

IT IS ABOUT COLOR, GREEN, MONEY.

LET'S GIVE THE FOLKS IN BUCKHEAD THE CHANCE TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES.

THEY ARE WILLING TO GO THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT PROCESS TO WORK FOR THIS PROCESS OF DEANNEXATION.

SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO DO IT SOME DAY.

THEY CAN BE THEIR OWN AREA WHERE THEY DON'T FACE DECISIONS WHERE THEY ARE VOTED ON BY PEOPLE THEY CAN'T VOTE FOR THEMSELVES.

>> Reporter: CITYHOOD OPPONENTS SAY THE SPLIT WOULD BE A DISASTER.

>> I THINK THE REAL DEBATE, WE ARE TRYING TO BE HUMBLE AND TRANSPARENT AND FACTUAL ABOUT WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IS HOW MUCH OF A DISASTER THIS WOULD ACTUALLY BE FROM A GOVERNING STANDPOINT AND LEGAL STANDPOINT IF THIS THING ACTUALLY GOES.

IT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT IS SO EGREGIOUS THAT IT DOES INVOKE THAT ROLE AS MEMBERS OF A REPUBLIC WHO HAVE TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISION TO NOT ALWAYS GO WITH EVERY BIT OF POPULAR PRESSURE.

>> THIS LEGISLATION FOR ME IS REAL TROUBLESOME.

I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IN HERE HAS A BIG HEART.

YOU WOULDN'T BE IN THE POSITION YOU ARE IN.

BUT IF WE JERK THAT HEART OUT, WE WILL ALL DIE.

IF WE JERK THE HEART OUT OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA WILL DIE.

I DON'T WANT TO E SO OUR CAPITAL CITY DIE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW WE HAVE TO FIX IT.

>> Reporter: THE BILL FAILED 23- 33.

ALSO ON THE FLOOR, A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW ONLINE SPORTS BETTING AND HORSE RACING IN THE STATE.

BILLY HICKMAN PRESENTED HIS VERSION OF THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS.

>> I BELIEVE IT WILL BE CONTROLLED AND MANAGED BY THE GEORGIA LOTTERY.

ALL SPORTS ARE CREATED EQUAL.

AND ONE OF OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS BILL THAT WE WOULD NEVER LET ANYTHING IN THIS BE BET ON HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS BUT I WAS LED TO ASK THE QUESTION.

NO CASINOS.

REMEMBER, WE SAID THAT.

8500 JOBS.

$1.1BILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT.

ALL MONEY IS IN THE LOTTERY.

THE GEORGIA LOTTERY.

OUR EXPERTS ALSO ESTIMATE THAT ANYWHERE FROM 250 TO $300 MILLION A YEAR IS ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT IS GOING TO LOTTERY.

>> Reporter: BUT SENATOR MARTY HARBAN SAYS THE BENEFITS ULTIMATELY ARE NOT WORTH THE DANGERS THAT GAMBLING BRINGS.

>> I BELIEVE THAT GAMBLING IS BAD FOR GEORGIA.

IT IS BAD FOR FAMILIES.

IT IS BAD FOR CHILDREN.

IT IS BAD FOR BUSINESS.

AND IT IS JUST PLAIN BAD.

IT GOES AGAINST WISDOM.

JUSTICE.

MODERATION.

AND COURAGE.

AND THE PRINCIPLES THAT WE PLEDGE TO ON A REGULAR EVERY MORNING BASIS AND I BELIEVE IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE CITIZENS OF GEORGIA AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO.

>> Reporter: SENATOR BLAKE TILLERY SAYS THE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP.

>> IT DOESN'T SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU FULLY FUNDED ALL THE SCHOLARSHIPS THE HOPE RECIPIENTS ARE ASKING FOR.

FULLY FUND SOME NEEDS BASED SCHOLARSHIP.

IT DOESN'T SAY YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING IN THE HOPE GRANT CAREER FIELD.

IT SAYS YOU HAVE TO SPEND 10% OF THE EXCESS RESERVE FUND BALANCE REGARDLESS.

SO DO WE NOW SPEND 150% OF TUITION JUST BECAUSE?

WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW, BY THIS 10% TO DO THAT?

DO WE BUILD ANOTHER BUILDING?

NAME ANOTHER NAME ON THAT BUILDING?

PUT NEW ASTRO TURF DOWN?

WHY WOULD WE DO THAT?

>> Reporter: THE BILL FAILED TO PASS 19-37.

ALSO ON THE FLOOR, SB92 IS A REPUBLICAN SPONSORED BILL THAT WILL CREATE A COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE AND DISCIPLINE ANY DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR GENERAL SOLICITOR CHARGED WITH BREAKING THE LAW.

DEMOCRAT OPPONENTS SAY THIS BILL IS NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE OF EXISTING LAWS.

AND ALL IT REALLY DOES IS CREATE A PARTISAN PANEL TO CONTROL AND PUNISH THOSE DAs WHOSE ACTIONS OR POLITICS REPUBLICANS DISAGREE WITH.

THE BILL WAS PASSED 32-24 ALONG PARTY LINES.

>>> AND IN THE HOUSE, HOUSE BILL 520 WHICH SERVES AS APP EXPANSION OF HOUSE BILL 1030 WHICH OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED LAST SESSION.

>> BASED ON 1013, WE REPORTED ON FOR THE FIRST TIME ALTHOUGH WE STAT TOURLY CALLED FOR IT SEVERAL TIMES A PRESCRIPTION FORMULARY THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND IN OUR PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS HOW FAMILIES CAN BE TREATED.

WE REPRESENT TO YOU A REPORT OF PROGRESS BASED ON 1013.

AND 520 IS THE NEXT STEP.

>> Reporter: 520 WOULD ESTABLISH FUNDING FOR COUNTY JAILS TO IMPLEMENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SCREENING AND PROVIDE COORDINATORS FOR EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION BETWEEN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.

THE BILL WOULD ALSO ADDRESS THE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH EPISODES FROM BEING HOUSED IN A JAIL BECAUSE OF A LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES.

REPRESENTATIVE TODD JONES DELIVERED A PASSIONATE ARGUMENT FOR THE BILL THAT CARRIES ON THE MENTAL HEALTH MISSION OF FORMER SPEAKER DAVID RAWLSTON.

>> IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE UNDERSTAND A VERY SMALL POPULATION WITHIN THIS STATE.

YOU WILL HEAR THE FAMILIAR PHRASES, PARDON ME, FAMILIAR FACES 100 TIMES.

THESE FAMILIAR FACES ARE CRITICAL TO US GETTING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE UNDER CONTROL IN THIS STATE.

>> Reporter: THE BILL PASSED 163-3.

>> I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE SPEAKER IS SMILING DOWN ON THIS BODY RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: AND BACK HERE AT THE CAPITOL AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, REACTION TO SENATE BILL 114 FAILING AND THE SENATE HAS HAD SOME SWIFT REACTION.

I'M NOW JOINED BY STATE SENATOR JASON ESTEVEZ.

I JUST WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO THE FAILURE OF THIS BILL.

>> I'M JUST EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE CAN GET AWAY FROM THIS DISTRACTION WITH RESIDENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC WORKS MAKING SURE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS STRONG.

HEALTH CARE IS STRONG.

ALL THESE ISSUES THAT REALLY MATTER ARE WHAT MY CONSTITUENTS WANT TO GET BACK TO.

>> ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO ESTABLISHING BUCKHEAD AS ITS OWN CITY IS VIOLENCE.

THAT WAS PART OF A MAJOR REASON WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.

WHAT NOW IS GOING TO BE YOUR EFFORT IN COMBATING THAT VIOLENCE THAT CONSTITUENTS IN BUCKHEAD ARE WORRIED ABOUT?

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS CRIME IS DOWN IN BUCKHEAD.

CRIME HAS BEEN GOING DOWN FOR A WHILE NOW.

BUT WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT CONTINUE THAT WORK.

I'M WORKING TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WITH CITY OFFICIALS.

WITH BUCKHEAD RESIDENTS THEMSELVES TO WORK TO TACKLE THE CRIME ISSUE.

FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A GREAT MAYOR.

AND WE HAVE CITY LEADERS WHO ARE LASER FOCUSED ON THAT ISSUE AND WE HAVE A GREAT CHIEF OF POLICE THAT IS ALSO FOCUSED ON IT.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON CRIME AND THE CRIME RATE WILL CONTINUE TO DROP.

>> DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS FAILURE NOW PUTS THIS TO REST?

BECAUSE BUCKHEAD RESIDENTS VOTED AGAINST IT BEFORE.

IS THIS PUTTING THE NAIL ON THE COFFIN?

>> YOU CAN NEVER SAY NEVER.

NOTHING IN THIS BUILDING IS EVER DEAD.

BUT FOR NOW, IT DOES PROVIDE SET SPACE TO DO THAT CONTINUED WORK AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH STATE SENATOR JASON ESTEVEZ.

AND DONNA, THAT IS MY CAPITOL REPORT.

WE WILL SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU ROCHELLE AND THANK YOU FOR THAT INTERVIEW.

>>> WE ARE GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME NOW ON A FEW DIFFERENT ISSUES INCLUDING EDUCATION.

AND JOINING ME IS DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE IMANI BARNES OF TUCKER.

WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

WE WILL START WITH A BILL TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR MORE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN TO RECEIVE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FREE.

HB510.

WHAT LED YOU TO DRAFT THIS LEGISLATION?

>> DURING COVID OUR CHILDREN DURING THE PANDEMIC, OUR CHILDREN HAD FREE BREAKFAST AND FREE LUNCH.

AS A PARENT MYSELF, IT WAS LESS STRESS ON ME TO SEND MY SON TO SCHOOL AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PAYING FOR LUNCH.

>> TELL ME WHAT YOUR BILL DOES.

>> HB510 PROVIDES FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR ALL STUDENTS IN THE STATE.

>> OKAY.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT.

WE KNOW THERE IS FEDERAL MONEY THAT GOES TOWARD THIS.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

>> SO WE WOULD COMPENSATE FOR BY THE FEDERAL FUNDS.

FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVE REDUCE LUNCHED WE WOULD COMPENSATE FOR THAT PORTION THAT THE PARENT HAS TO PAY.

>> YOU HAD SOME STATISTICS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THEM.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO 74% OF OUR TEACHERRERS ARE REPORTING THEY HAVE CHILDREN IN THEIR CLASSES THAT ARE HUNGRY.

DAY THAT HAS PROVEN THAT A HUNGRY CHILD LEADS TO LOWER GPAs .

IT IS PROVEN THAT THEIR CONCENTRATION ISN'T THE SAME WHEN THEY HAVEN'T EATEN BREAKFAST.

CHILDREN SUCCEED MORE WHEN THEY ARE FED HEALTHY MEALS DURING THE DAY.

>> WHAT REACTION ARE YOU GETTING?

>> I'M GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THIS BILL.

PARENTS, TEACHERS, NUTRITIONALLISTS.

NOT ONLY WILL WE PROVIDE HEALTHY FOOD, BUT I INCORPORATED GEORGIA AGRICULTURE INTO THIS BILL.

SO WE WOULD USE GEORGIA GROWN.

GEORGIA'S OWN, GEORGIA'S GROWN.

BREAKFAST FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR THE CHILDREN.

>> I KNOW THAT HAPPENS ALREADY IN SCHOOLS.

I KNOW DURING THE COVID YOU MENTIONED THAT STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO GET IT.

IT MUST HAVE BEEN REALLY TOUGH AFTERWARDS FOR TO GO BACK AND FOR SOME KIDS, TO GO HUNGRY.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

SO AFTER THE PANDEMIC, AFTER COVID, THEY EXTENDED THE SUPPLEMENT FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

SO THIS YEAR, THE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR FREE SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST JUST ENDED SO PARENTS IN THE MIDST OF INFLATION ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH HOW WE WILL PAY FOR OUR KIDS' FOOD WHILE THEY ARE AT SCHOOL.

THINK ABOUT PARENTS WITH MULTIPLE CHILDREN SO IT AFFECTS THEM MORE.

>> RIGHT NOW, A HEARING OR MORE?

>> I AM WAITING FOR A HEARING.

I HAVE ASKED MY CONSTITUENTS TO COMMITTEE TO REQUEST THAT I HAVE A HEARING SO WE CAN GET OUR CHILDREN FED.

>> YEAH.

OKAY.

WELL GOOD LUCK ON THAT ONE.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER BILLS.

ANOTHER ONE DEALS WITH VISUAL DEVICES IN SCHOOLS AND CAN YOU DESCRIBE THESE DEVICES?

THEY ARE FOR SAFETY REASONS.

>> SAFETY REASONS.

SO THIS IS A SCHOOL SAFETY BILL.

THIS WILL BE A NON-AUDITORY SCHOOL SAFETY DEVICE THAT WILL BE PLACED IN MULTIPLE PLACES AROUND THE SCHOOL.

THAT WILL CATER TO OUR DEAF CHILDREN, HARD OF HEARING.

AND BE A NON-AUDITORY ALARM FOR SCHOOL SAFETY.

SO A VISUAL MECHANISM THAT WILL ALERT THE SCHOOL IF THERE IS A LOCKDOWN, A TORNADO, AN ACTIVE INTRUDER AND SHOOTER WITHOUT ALERTING THE INTRUDER WE ARE LOCKING THE SCHOOL DOWN.

SO IT WILL BE A VISUAL DISPLAY FOR THE CHILDREN TO FOLLOW THE PROMPTS ON THE VISUAL SCREEN.

>> AND YOU SAID OVER AT EMERY, THERE IS SOMETHING SIMILAR.

TELL US YOUR BACKGROUND IN UNDERSTANDING THIS.

>> YES.

I WORK IN BIO MEDICAL RESEARCH AT EMERY UNIVERSITY AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SECURITY MEASURES IN OUR DIVISION WHERE WE HAVE LIGHTS THAT WILL SHINE A COLOR IF THE DOORS ARE PROPERLY LATCHED.

AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THESE TO BE IN SCHOOLS AS WELL.

KNOWING THAT THE DOORS ARE LOCKED PROPERLY.

SO THE LIGHT WILL SHINE IF THE DOORS ARE LATCHED AND LOCKED PROPERLY.

IF THE DOORS ARE NOT LATCHED AND LOCKED PROPERLY, THE LIGHT WILL NOT SHINE.

SO IT IS JUST VISUAL SECURITY LIKE YOU SEE THE LIGHT NOT SHINING, OH, THIS DOOR MAY NOT BE LOCKED.

I MAY NEED TO ALERT SECURITY OR THE PRINCIPAL.

>> AND WE ALREADY HAVE THAT IN SOME SCHOOLS.

DEKALB COUNTY.

>> DEKALB COUNTY HAS THE VISUAL DISPLAYS AND ALL OF THE BUILDINGS.

YES.

>> SO IT JUST BLINKS IF SOMETHING IS GOING ON?

>> IT IS LIKE A DIGITAL WORD BOARD AND THE WORDS WILL GO ACROSS THE SCREEN.

AND THAT'S HOW THE KIDS CAN READ IT.

FOR THE DEAF KIDS, IF THEY CAN'T HEAR AN AUDITORY ALARM, IT IS EASY FOR THEM TO READ.

>> YEAH.

YOUR CHILD IN A SCHOOL THAT HAS ONE OF THOSE?

>> MY CHILD IS AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT HAS ONE OF THOSE AND I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE SENDING MY CHILD TO SCHOOL WITH THESE SECURITY DEVICES.

>> WE WILL CHANGE GEARS A LITTLE.

YOU WORK IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

YOU HAVE A BILL TO HAVE MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR LYMPHODEMA.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> THIS BILL IS HB74.

IT IS A DISEASE WHERE YOUR LYMPH FLUID IS NOT GOING THROUGH YOUR BODY PROPERLY.

IT WILL MAKE YOUR TRUNK AND LEGS SWELL.

AND THERE IS NO CURE FOR IT.

IT IS CLOSE TO MY HEART.

MY MOTHER HAS IT.

SHE HAS HAD IT MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAD IT SINCE SHE WAS 11 YEARS OLD.

I WATCHED HER STRUGGLE WITH BEING ABLE TO KEEP THE THERAPY WHICH IS COMPRESSION STOCKINGS.

AND THEY ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE.

YOU WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THESE STOCKINGS EVERY FEW MONTHS AND THEY ARE UPWARD TO $200 APIECE.

SO I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS THERAPY TO BE COVERED UNDER MEDICAID.

>> YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MEDICAID NOT ONLY THE THERAPY, BUT THE STOCKINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO WEAR.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN COME UP FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS CANCER.

YOU SAID YOUR MOTHER HAD IT SINCE SHE WAS YOUNG, BUT IT CAN ALSO COME UP WITH MEDICAL ISSUES.

>> YES.

I LEARNED THROUGH MY RESEARCH THAT A LOT OF CANCER SURVIVORS AFTER CHEMO DEVELOPMENT IT AND HAVE TO PURCHASE AND WEAR COMPRESSION STOCKINGS.

>> WHAT REACTION ARE YOU GETTING TO THAT BILL?

>> I'M GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK AS WELL AS I'M HAVING OUT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR DRAFTING THIS BILL.

>> OKAY.

SO THIS IS YOUR FIRST BILL.

TELL ME HOW THE SESSION HAS BEEN FOR YOU.

>> IT IS GRUELING.

IT TAKES A LOT OUT OF YOU.

WE ARE HERE TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE BUT IT IS FINE.

>> I WILL ASK YOU ABOUT THAT LATER.

THANKSFOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>>> COMING UP, MY INTERVIEW WITH SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE JOHN BURNS AS CROSSOVER DAY APPROACHES.

>>> LAWMAKERS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

AG IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER 74 BILLION IN OUTPUT OF GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORK TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITOL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>> HAD A LOT OF COURAGE.

FOUGHT FOR BLACK CULTURE.

>> EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

>> ONLY YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS AVAILABLE WITH PASSPORT.

SUPPORT YOUR PBS STATION.

>>> WE CARE ABOUT THINGS THAT AFFECT THE LIVES OF EVERY AMERICAN.

>> WE ARE THERE AT THE FRONT LINE.

TO GET TO THE HEART OF WHAT REALLY MATTERS IN EVERY ISSUE.

>> THIS COUNTRY HAS NOT SEEN THIS IN 80 YEARS.

>> THIS IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO.

>>> ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO SUPPORT GPB IS TO BECOME A MONTHLY GPB SUSTAINER.

IT SUPPORTS NOT ONLY THE GREAT PROGRAMMING BUT OUR EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

GPB IS COMMITTED TO CREATING A TRUSTED SPACE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING ON THE AIR.

ALL OF THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH YOUR MONTHLY SUPPORT.

AND CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU SO PLEASE DONATE RIGHT NOW AT GPB.ORG/GIVE.

AND THANKS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO LAWMAKERS.

I'M DONNA LOWRY.

>>> WHEN DAVID RAWLSTON PASSED LOSS HIT HARD FOR THOSE WHO KNEW HIM, BUT HE LEFT BIG SHOES TO FILL IN THE HOUSE.

THEY ELECTED A LAWMAKER WHO SERVED WITH HIM AS MAJORITY LEADER.

I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO JOHN BURNS ABOUT HIS POSITION AND OTHER MAJOR ISSUES THIS SESSION.

>> I HAVE A LOT OF VERY SMART PEOPLE AROUND ME THAT ARE CERTAINLY HELPING ME TREMENDOUSLY.

I IS LEARNED FROM WATCHING AND BEING ASSOCIATED WITH SPEAKER RAWSTON AND THE PROCESS, ALL OF IT IS NOT COMPLETELY KNEW OF COURSE.

BUT MANY THINGS ARE.

AND DECISION MAKING IS ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON.

I LIKE TO DEAL WITH THE FACTS.

THAT IS WHAT MY LEADERSHIP TEAM HAS HELPED ME WITH.

WE ARE DEALING WITH THE FACTS.

YOU MAKE >> TRANSGENDER ISSUES WITH SURGERIES AND TALKING ABOUT GENDER IN SCHOOLS AND CRIMINALIZING LIBRARIANS SOME WOULD SAY.

THOSE ARE CULTURE WARS ISSUES.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THOSE AS THEY ARE HEADED YOUR WAY?

>> WELL I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS OVER IN THE SENATE.

AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE MY FRIENDS AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE HOUSE, DAY 28th.

I'M NOT SURE THAT EVERYTHING THE SENATE IS WORKING ON OVER THERE.

BUT WE WILL CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO TAKE UP WHATEVER THEY SEND TO US.

IN A VERY THOUGHTFUL MATTER AND WE WILL PERFECT WHAT THEY SEND TO US.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR CONTINUING WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH BILL.

TALK ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THAT AND YOUR REASONS BEHIND IT.

>> WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS.

WE KNOW THE SPEAKER AND HIS WIFE WERE AS Y'ALL HEARD ME SAY WERE CHAMPIONS FOR THIS ISSUE.

AS SO MANY OF THE REST OF US ARE.

WE KNOW MENTAL HEALTH IS AN ISSUE IN EVERY FAMILY IN OUR STATE IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.

VERY PLEASED WITH THE WORK THAT CHAIRMAN TODD JONES AND REPRESENTATIVE OLIVER ARE CONTINUING TO DO.

CHAMPION ANOTHER MENTAL HEALTH BILL FOR US.

WE ARE TAKING THAT MANTLE FROM WHERE WE MOVED IT FROM LAST YEAR.

AND THE ISSUES WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING.

WE ARE TAKING AN IN-DEPTH LOOK.

THE CURRENT PROGRESS OF COURSE.

WE ALSO TAKE AN IN-DEPTH LOOK ENSURING THAT EVERY AGENCY IN GEORGIA WHETHER THEY BE PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH, OTHER HEALTH AGENCIES, AND STATE GOVERNMENT.

MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH WITH THE RIGHT DEFINITIONS OF WHAT MENTAL HEALTH HAS ENCOMPASSED TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND THEN TO DEVELOP A PLAN THAT IS NOT A LONG WAYS INTO THE FUTURE.

BUT CERTAINLY THOSE EFFORTS WILL BE FINISHED BY THE END OF THE YEAR AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO FORMULATE MORE PLANS IN THE ISSUES ACROSS THE STATE.

WHETHER THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY, PUBLIC SAFETY AREAS AND WE WORK WITH THE FOLKS TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.

THEY ARE SPECIFIC TO INDIVIDUALS.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO REALIZE.

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR PROGRAMS ARE TAILORED AND THE WORK FORCE IS AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

>> SWITCHING GEARS A LITTLE BIT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SPORTS BETTING OR GAMBLING AS A WHOLE PASSING THIS SESSION.

WE ARE GETTING THROUGH A CROSSOVER DAY.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE PASSED A SPORTS BETTING BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE.

IT WILL GO TO THE RULES COMMITTEE TO BE FURTHER CONSIDERED.

WE VERY THOUGHTFULLY LOOKED AT THE ISSUE FROM MANY PERSPECTIVES.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WHAT AMOUNT WOULD BE RETURNED, WHAT PERCENTAGES WOULD BE RETURNED TO THE GEORGIA LOTTERY.

WHAT THE GEORGIA LOTTERIES RETURN ARE.

WE SETTLE ON A 25% LEVEL.

WE BELIEVE THAT IS APPROPRIATE.

WE CAN DO MANY GOOD THINGS FROM OUR EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE.

WHETHER IT BE HIGHER ED OR PRE- K. IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSITION.

BUT I'M GOING TO LISTEN TO MY MEMBERS.

I WOULD DO WHEN THEY ALLOWED ME THE HONOR TO SERVE.

WE WILL CONSIDER ALL THE AS SECTS OF SPORTS BETTING.

THAT'S WHAT WE WILL BE DOING IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

>> HOW ABOUT ANYTHING BEYOND SPORTS BETTING WHEN IT COMES TO GAMBLING?

>> I WILL SAY THIS.

WE WILL LOOK AT ANYTHING THE SENATE SENDS TO US.

OUR FOCUS WILL BE THE POSSIBILITIES OF UNDERSTANDING ALL THE IMPLICATION THAT'S GO AROUND SPORTS BETTING.

>> AND THE FACT THAT THE MONEY WOULD GO INTO LOTTERY.

THE LOTTERY FOR EDUCATION.

MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR YOU RIGHT?

>> IT DOES.

ABSOLUTELY.

IF THERE IS A PATH FORWARD, THAT'S WHERE IT SHOULD GO AND THAT IS WHAT BENEFITS MOST GEORGIANS.

>> I WANTED TO ASK YOUR OPINION ON THE BUCKHEAD CITY BILL.

THE CARVING OUT OF BUCKHEAD OUT OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA.

WE SAW MOVEMENT WITH THAT.

ANSWER BUT A TRUTHFUL ANSWER BECAUSE I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE LEGISLATION.

WE KNOW THAT PUBLIC SAFETY ANYWHERE IN THE STATE IS IMPORTANT.

FOR THE FOLKS WHO RESIDE IN THE BUCKHEAD AREA IS PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE.

WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR AND KNOW HE IS INTERESTED.

HE HAS MADE SOME EFFORTS.

HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN PUBLIC SAFETY OPPORTUNITY INS THAT AREA.

BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE SENATE HAS PASSED AND STARTED THAT.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL BRING.

WE WILL WORK THROUGH IT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR IT.

WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT IT IN A VERY SERIOUS NATURE.

>> NOW I DID THAT INTERVIEW WITH SPEAKER BURNS BEFORE TONIGHT'S VOTE AGAINST BUCKHEAD CITYHOOD.

AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, THAT BILL WILL NOT BE GOING TO THE HOUSE FOR THE VOTE.

THAT DOES IT FOR LAWMAKERS TODAY.

WE WILL BE BACK ON MONDAY, DAY 28 OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

FOR OUR ONE-HOUR CROSSOVER DAY SPECIAL.

WE WILL HAVE INTERVIEWS, LIVE ACTION FROM BOTH CHAMBERS DURING THAT HOUR.

PLEASE JOIN US.

FOR NOW, GOODNIGHT.