Session Day 9: 1.29.26
Video Transcript
Duration: 56 minutes
Speakers: 28
Inclement weather. Beth and the family,
are going to have visitation tonight.
It will be at the Jones Wynn Funeral Home in Douglasville,
and that will be from five until eight.
Five until eight tonight, Thursday, January 29 in Douglasville.
Bill will be laid to rest tomorrow
from eleven till twelve.
He will be lying in state at Douglasville United Methodist Church.
So prayers for,
for the family.
Y'all stand with me. We'll, we'll have a moment of silence for the family and
offer our consolation to the, family and all of those who,
in that community bill meant so much to and to this entire state and to this house. So if you will join me for a moment of silence.
Amen. Thank you.
We have some morning orders. We'll do about
a maximum of two minutes per morning order.
Our representative
Will Wade
is recognized for morning order.
On deck will be representing Park Cannon.
Oh, they're not here.
He's gonna wave. Maybe they'll his folks will be back.
Okay. They'll be back in a later date.
Representative Cannon,
give the lady in the will your attention, please.
We have some And representative Jackson.
And representative Jackson.
Alright.
Here comes representative Derrick Jackson.
Give the members and the will your attention.
Ladies recognized.
Thank you, mister speaker. Today, 01/29/2026,
is doula day at the Georgia State Capitol.
Thank you.
Doulas are nonclinical
support people who provide care to improve perinatal health outcomes
for laboring, birthing, and postpartum families
as well as loss support.
The hallmarks of doula support
emphasize community based interpersonal relationships,
health promotion through preventive care,
childbirth and health education,
emotional support, and the improvement of health outcomes.
The state of Georgia has a rich history
of mothers, grandmothers,
aunts, sisters,
and other close individuals
who attend births
as supportive figures.
And research shows that even without formal training,
this support can significantly
decrease
the likelihood of cesarean sections,
shorten labor times, and improve the birthing experience.
We thank Georgia doulas today from a number of different agencies present. Please stand when you hear it. YS doula services, the Susie King Taylor Foundation,
Balance Life Pilates, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies,
Booming All Over, Divine Hands Doula, The Sacred Willow Doula, Dama Doula, Sun Solistic
LLC, Birth in Black,
Wellstar Hospital's wealth women's health education support services,
Redefine
Wellness Holistic Coaching, the Yin Experience Sister Song, Balance Wellness,
Integrative Services,
and Doula of the Divine among many, many others. Congratulations and happy Doula Day.
Thank you. Thank you, representative Cannon. Thank you for what you doulas do for
the Georgians that you serve so well. We appreciate your work, and we look forward to working with you in the future.
Chairlady Dempsey is recognized
for
a morning order. Please give the member in the well your attention, please.
Thank you, mister speaker. Good morning. We have another the gallery is pretty full if you look up there. We have another very special group. As you came into the chamber today, or if you were coming
from outside
particularly,
you might have bumped into a lot of strollers.
Today is strolling thunder at the Gold Dome
and that's when our friends at gears
have their annual event
for young children
birth to five. Those most important years when the brain is forming
and habits are forming, and there is so much time for development.
Their families join us today with many, many little ones.
Early childhood is an incredible window of opportunity
for all of us. Our youngest children are our future.
Please say hello to any of your tiny constituents that you might bump into or that might stop by your offices,
and also feel free to join gears across the street at the freight depot for lunch today
to celebrate
early childhood development. Thank you, mister speaker. I yield the well.
That was a great timing, chair lady. The doulas get them here and then you put them in those rolling thunder.
Oh, that's awesome. Good stuff. Good stuff. Thanks, members.
You can feel welcome when you see them.
Chairman Chokos and representative Teddy Reese
recognized for a morning order. Gentlemen.
Come on. Thank you, mister speaker. It is, a privilege for me to recognize,
the executive director of the Chattahoochee
Flint
RESA. His name is Richard McCorkle. Richard,
stand up. And then we also have
have the student advisory
board with him.
And one of the students is Emily Snyder,
and her daddy told me to make sure that I called out her name. So if y'all would please stand up and, please join me in welcoming these young leaders to their capital. Thank you very much, mister speaker.
Thank you, representatives,
and welcome to your capital. We appreciate them being here today. Thanks for what those reasons do as well.
Alright. We have a special
group in
the gallery here.
I think they probably have on some lovely blue jackets, coats like you do.
Representing McQueen is recognized
to recognize an important group of folks representing McQueen and friends. And friends.
Come on. Thank you, mister speaker.
It is a true honor to celebrate
the recently ranked
number one college for women,
full stop.
Not the number one HBCU, we've held that distinction for nearly two decades.
Not the number one liberal arts college for women, we broke that list almost a decade ago.
Whether it's recognition for educational
value,
innovation across campus, or the impact
our graduates make in the world, if it is rooted in excellence,
service,
leadership,
and a choice to change the world,
we are it.
This morning, I rise not only as representative for House District 61, but as a proud alumnae
of Spelman
College.
My time at Spelman was a season of growth. It stretched me, challenged me, and sharpened the way I think about leadership, service, and community.
Spelman did not make me who I am, but it expanded who I could become. And for that, I remain deeply grateful.
Today we proudly recognize Spelman College, an institution that continues to push boundaries, open doors for women of African descent, and set the standard for academic excellence and community impact under the leadership
of interim president Doctor Rosalind Ross Brewer who is here with us this morning.
Along with miss Spellman
Taylor Mills, Doctor Versan S. Tinsley National
Spelling College Atlanta chapter president,
and Demetrius Clemens, also with the National Atlanta Alumni of Spelling College,
in Atlanta. Colleagues, please help me welcome the women of Spelling College to the people's house.
Thank you, missus you.
Thank you, representative McQueen. Welcome, Spellman. We appreciate y'all. Thanks for being here and telling your story.
We appreciate the contribution Spellman graduates are making in our state. Thank you very much.
Members, we have a resolution on the rules calendar,
so you may wanna get close to your seat.
Mister Clerk, will you read the caption to house resolution
one thousand and eight? One zero zero eight.
House resolution 1,008
by representative Smith, the seventieth, and others, a resolution to ratify amendments
to a certain comprehensive
statewide water management plan to provide for force and effect and to provide for construction, provide for an effective date, and to repeal conflicting laws.
This resolution had been signed to the committee on natural resources and environment. That committee recommends that this resolution
be adopted.
Thank you, mister clerk. Chair lady Lynn Smith
is recognized to present the resolution.
Lady will pause just for a moment.
Ladies recognized.
Thank you, mister speaker. Good morning, members of the house.
It's my honor today
to present to you house resolution one zero zero eight.
This is a long journey of the state of Georgia taking a very important role, its citizens,
in the health of the state of Georgia in the areas of natural resource.
In particular, this is your issue concerning water management.
Several years ago, when I was first elected, I came to the capitol
and
was very
clear about expressing my concerns about water issues
in and around my area. We were South Of Atlanta. Atlanta was
cavalierly polluting its rivers.
Where I lived, you could not go to the river. You the smell was awful.
And so, I've been former chair of, the Chamber of Commerce and we could not
promote that part of our of our county.
So my tagline was,
I don't need to take you to the Chattahoochee and show it to you just take a deep breath you can smell it.
So
it was good to help get me elected but when I got up here and tried it, a 179
of you looked at me and thought, well, we got our problems too.
So,
my journey was to learn
that if I was to be effective, I had to know and learn
the areas and the concerns of of the rest of you and the rest of the state of Georgia.
Georgia was also
under this heavy anvil. We were involved in tri straight water wars.
We were being sued by Florida and Alabama.
And then all of a sudden, nature started taking over, and we were struggling with droughts and different things.
But we did not work nor act as a state
dealing with our issues, so began the long journey. And what I'm gonna present to you today is the result of part of the process.
If you look up at the boards, you'll see
a a map of the water planning districts for the state of Georgia.
There is a carve out, and this bill does not pertain to the metropolitan
Georgia
metropolitan Atlanta area.
They they had
as a body,
we we determined that they needed to be their own group because they can work under the arc of the ARC, Atlanta Regional Commissioner.
And so they in the beginning, we passed the statute that said,
you need to get organized and deal with your problems.
But we knew the rest of the state need to do that as well. And so
began the study on how to create regional The late if the lady will suspend just for a moment.
Y'all know about water. It's pretty important.
This is an important bill, a resolution, so let's give the lady your attention. If you have a conversation that needs to take place,
take it to the either and any room, please.
Thank you, mister speaker. Members of the house, I knew I might put you to sleep, but I didn't mean to do it that early. So
so
back to the story of why we're doing this today because I think it's important.
Most of y'all in this room, some of you were not born in 1997.
Hate to say that, but it's true.
So you don't know our water history.
State of Georgia was underwater
with all of our problems. We were not stepping up, we were not taking action.
The city of Atlanta, the greater metro area had
to
be
encouraged by legislation
to start dealing with your problems. But then the rest of state had its problems as well. And along this process,
we as a state
are now the example for The United States, all the other states, but it's been a long journey.
And one of the things we have to do now with house resolution one zero zero eight
is review
the actions of all these regions outside of the metropolitan Atlanta area.
Some are performing very well,
some not so well. And,
that is the charge
we gave to the state water management planning group.
And they met in, December and looked at the different and varied issues.
And one of the areas that was identified
is that the water council meets every five years to review
these regional water plans.
The appointments were made every three years.
And so in some areas of the state, people are actively engaged, other areas they weren't. We required them to have x number of people on the boards but they couldn't get a quorum. In other words, we created something was not efficient and not effective.
And so the state water planning group met that met in December
and,
they came up with,
some suggestions and there's there's of course the legal language which is in house resolution one zero zero eight
and,
they in the resolution, it simply says they're amending a particular code section of this area.
So what I'd like to do
right now is explain to you what that code section is actually saying. But you keep in mind and what I told you earlier, some of the areas of our state are not functioning because they can't get a quorum because it takes too many people. The other thing that's going on right now is we've been asleep for a few years because we've not had tragic events
until hurricane hailing.
And then, we woke up and realized, woah. We we need to be a little bit more efficient and and proactive as supposed to,
reactive. And so, the we were
given this well, it was put in the form of a resolution. The amendment
includes
reduce reduce the number of government appointments
from 13 to seven, reduce the number of lieutenant governor appointments from six to three,
Reduce the number of speaker of the house appointments from six to three.
Remove the alternate council members.
Increase the length of appointments from three years to six years. I'll say that again. Increase the length of appointments for three years to six years.
Now we're doing it every three years.
And so
require each council to have at least one representative from each of the water and wastewater demand forecast sectors,
municipal,
industrial,
agricultural,
energy.
Why are they specifically named? Because they are the consumers
of our natural resources.
And so, yes, they need to have our presence there.
The update
it updates requirements from the memorandum of understanding between EPD and Department of Community Affairs, essentially what we're doing here.
This these amendments do not include change to the ex officio membership.
And I'm an ex officio member, one of the members on this side. Under the state border plan, the lieutenant governor, speaker of the house each appoint a non voting ex official member from the membership
of the state and house senate
state and house.
If you're,
and then to go further if and I'm anticipating
what some of the questions might be, But I need to point out,
this is not an exclusive group. This is your group wherever you live. And and, yes, you have a role to play. If you want to be one of the appointments to the board, then you need to let the chair know, and I'm gonna give you a website that you can go to to say I'm I'm interested in this. As with most people,
it's not an issue in front of us right now.
But forecasting
and moving forward,
things are gonna change a little bit. You can't predict the climate. We can pass all the laws we want. We can't tell the climate what to do. But our pattern is excessive rain. It's also gonna have a reverse pattern of more drought.
And we need every region of the state of Georgia to be effective and responsive.
If you're not on the council but you wanna be involved, let them know. A lot of the councils have working groups where they get together and make things work. And in the
end, you need to know this was a difficult difficult thing
for your colleagues to do
through the years of the late nineteen
2000,
2010
and on.
It was a lot of criticism. Your farmers in particular
were were singled out to,
be better stewards of of the use of the water. So so we as a state
are leading
the state, The United States.
But to stay in that role and to look after our citizens, we
I ask your favorable consideration of house resolution one zero zero eight.
Mister speaker, open to questions.
Yes. You have a question to your right. Chairman Dickey
is recognized for a question. Okay. I mean, Dickey
this is, Lady Yield. Yes. Thank you, madam chair for bringing this very important legislation and your work, in
ensuring Georgia has adequate water resources.
And I just wanna reiterate to this chamber
how important these water councils have been and continue to be in in allocating and planning for future growth for our state.
With our water, with us agriculture,
industrial,
municipal, whatever,
how we're using our water. These councils are,
such an,
important part
of the, going forward. So thank you for this legislation.
Thank you. Lady yield for a couple more. Yes, mister speaker. Representative
Thomas to your right
is recognized for a question. Do you yield? Yes.
Is it not true that we work together in this off season
and traveled all across the state studying water issues and impacts from,
economic development? And one of the things the committee found is the work that you've done
even twenty years ago was incredibly,
had a incredible amount of foresight.
And, that
the findings were that really we're in a great place in the state of Georgia, thanks to you and the the foresight of the general assembly twenty plus years ago.
Thank you. Yeah. And thank you for bringing this bill. This is a great piece of legislation.
Thank you. If I may interject, thank
you, representative for chairing our resource management committee and and gathering information as well. Y'all that committee and you're you've done a great job of bringing information.
Representative Sanchez is recognized for a question to your right.
Thank you, speaker. Does the general lady yield? Yes. I just had a quick question.
The terms are changing from three to six years. So
does that mean that they're all when the current terms expire, they become six years, or are they resetting this year? So that's a good question. The next time the council meets for this is 02/2028.
So what we're doing is laying the groundwork for from that point forward to have it work smoothly.
Thank you.
Representative Ellen Powell to your right.
About the doors is recognized for a question. Chairman Powell, thank you. Will the lady yield? Yes.
Is it not true? I don't have a problem with, your resolution, but I wanna I have a point of inquiry to make.
I'm looking down this list, and it's got, under my house district in
the Metropolitan North Georgia Water District. But, yeah, we're solidly in the Savannah River District, and I wanna be sure that
that this is just a error on here and not what was in the plan because
while I certainly respect my friends in North Metro Water District, don't throw me in the bar patch with them.
Thank you. And I'm sure that it's already being looked at and you will get the answer you need. Feel you would feel certain it's not true, that we would be in the Savannah River District not the metro I can't speak specifically
to that. I can
if you know your I know I'm in the Middle Chattahoochee District and they showed me a little bit in the Atlanta area. So,
that would have to be verified
by EPD director and they're not present here.
I will do this though to help all of you who might have a question similar to that.
Here is
the EPD's
website
on water, it's waterplanning.georgia.gov.
Waterplanning.georgia.gov.
I know I'm in the Middle Chattahoochee
District, a budding Atlanta.
So you might be looking at,
actual areas that are reflecting
a base and as opposed to a region. I think that's what's going on there.
Lady has one more question. Representative Holly
to your left is recognized for a question. Thank you, mister speaker. Does the general lady yield? Yes.
Is it not true that, for certainly,
not only for the conservation of water are these districts are important, but also just for supporting the local,
land and water usage plans for the local counties because many times,
these waters and lakes actually
have a lot of biodiversity,
that is going back to even the Paleozoic periods. And so it's good for just to be able to maintain,
good documentation
for those microorganisms
that,
are are helping to actually help,
make sure that the water in the area
remains as it is.
Thank you. And I suggest you
contact EPD and say you'd be interested in helping with on one of the councils.
This is a living document is what I'm asking you to do. It is a responsive document. If we run into a problem or a concern,
years, but
Georgia, the state of Georgia
is the national leader
because we have stepped forward.
And even with today, I'd had no way of anticipating
the questions or the debates, but,
we're doing it, y'all, and we're leading the nation. So thank you, mister speaker. I'll yield
We have no further questions.
The lady has yielded well. Thank you for your work
in so many areas of natural resources and
conservation,
and especially with water.
Is any objection to the previous question being ordered? Hearing none of the previous questions ordered,
is there any objection to agreeing to the report of the committee which was favorable
to the adoption of the resolution?
Hearing none, the report of the committee is agreed to.
Shall this resolution
now be adopted? All in favor of the adoption of the resolution will vote yes.
All those opposed will vote no. And, mister Clerk, will you unlock
the machine?
Have all members now voted?
All members voted. If so, mister Clerk, will you lock the machine?
On the adoption of the resolution, the yays are 168,
the nays are zero.
The resolution, having received the requisite constitutional majority, is therefore
adopted.
Thank you, members.
That completes our rules calendar.
We'll move on. We have a number of afternoon orders.
In fact, we have a whole slew
of afternoon orders.
I'm going to ask the members to do your best
to hold it down to about a minute
to a minute and a half. There's a couple of you have requested
a little bit more time,
and you will have a maximum of two minutes. There's a couple of you there, so we'll,
we'll get through our afternoon orders.
We'll
recognize for the first afternoon order, representative Beckles and representative Ford.
Few ladies
are recognized
for
an afternoon order.
Then we'll have representative Stacy Evans and rep Haynes
will be on deck.
Representative Beckles and representative Ford,
y'all Thank you, speaker.
Members, today, we pause to honor the life and legacy of Alapaha mayor, Waymond Smith.
I'm proud to call mayor Alright. Excuse me. Ladies, suspend.
Ladies and gentlemen, if you will stand with me, please.
I'm proud to call mayor Smith my friend and my supporter. Since he was the mayor of my hometown, he was the one first endorsements I sought to just when I decided to run for this seat.
He and I have worked together on various projects in the past for our little town, but I will mostly remember our work together post hurricane Helene
along with others in commit in our community during those ten days where when we were without power,
feeding people, supplying ice, water, tarps, and other resources just to get them through this difficult time. He was always present, committed to serving his community, never seeking notoriety.
Mayor Smith was a true servant leader constantly dedicated to serving the people, all people.
I'm forever forever grateful for his leadership and for his service to the town of Alapaha. My heart goes out to our citizens and his family
as his absence will be felt for years to come.
On behalf of this body, we extend our deepest con condolences to the Smith family, the entire South Georgia community who loved and supported mayor Smith. We thank you for sharing him with us. May God's favor, comfort, and peace rest upon his family and all who
mourn. Though his earthly work is complete, his impact remains. May he rest in eternal peace. Can we please have a moment of silence?
Thank you, mister speaker.
We appreciate the mayor's service,
and I think that's one of the coolest names of any town in Georgia, Alapaha.
It's pretty cool.
Great work. Thank you, ladies, and our condolences to the family.
Representative Evans and representative Gaines
recognized for an afternoon order.
Thank you, mister speaker. And if members of the Athens delegation are here and wanna join us, I invite them up. Ladies and gentlemen, I just wanted to give you an update. Sometimes we don't hear about the the good things that are happening be because of legislation that we passed. In 02/2023,
this body passed the Coleman Baker Act, which representative Gaines,
spearheaded and several others in here helped. And that bill created a cold case unit within the GBI where families who had,
lingering murder cases that were still open after three years could ask for those to be reopened and for law enforcement to take a second look. And a law school classmate of mine in the year twenty o one, Tara Baker, was murdered during our first year of law school, and because of the Coleman Baker Act,
a suspect was arrested,
about two summers ago, and he is standing trial this week. Jury selection is going on right now. That trial will probably last three to six weeks,
but that trial could not happen, and this family could not be looking at,
potential closure without this body's work. And I just wanted to let y'all know about that update and say thank you.
Thank you, mister speaker.
Thank you.
Representative Ali.
Representative Ali.
Put the gentleman through right there, please.
Thank you, representative. Gentleman's recognized.
Thank you, mister speaker.
I wanted to introduce
a child as available for adoption as has become tradition.
On the screen is a 16 year old named Orinthian.
Orinthian
is extremely polite, kind hearted,
and a Braves fan.
And so if you or anyone in your community is looking for a new family member or to show somebody what family looks like,
as always,
the website is it's myturnnow.ddhs.georgia.gov.
Thank you so much.
Thank
you. Thank you. Good work. Chairman Jaspers,
chairman of transportation.
Chair now ladies and gentlemen, members, you need to pay attention to this. Probably an issue that will impact you either this year or in the near futures. Mister chairman. Yeah. Thank you, mister speaker. And it this will
if you look on your desk, we put the rules
to name a road, intersection, roundabout,
part of a highway,
all sorts of things
that are state highway.
Now if you look over here, over by the door, you'll see our new policy analyst, Danny Nichols, way way bigger.
She wrote it. She helps you with it. You need to get to know her if you do this. But I've got a couple of things. You know, Whip Park brought it up the other day that there were new members and might need to review a few of these things. And thank you for encouraging us to do that.
A couple of things, read the rules.
I mean, you know, we'll have to come back and tell you that, no. You can't do that.
And I'm not afraid to tell you no.
But also,
check the background of the person that you might be,
interested
in naming a road intersection or something after.
Because we do. We kinda look and, you know, it's nothing more embarrassing than having that happen to you and we'd have to say no.
You know, you can also ask myself,
vice chairman McDonald,
you know, secretary McCollum,
mister Prince over here to,
can help you with those. We look forward to helping you and serving you. It's a it's a real If you haven't done it, you need to name a road after somebody important in your community.
And, I look forward to helping our new member, mister Fincher,
name a road intersection after Mandy Ballinger soon. Thank you, Bill. Thank you, mister speaker.
Thank you, mister chairman.
Okay. Members,
check the rules because that's an important
important opportunity to honor someone in your district that's made a difference. Representative Draper,
recognized for an afternoon order.
And
friends,
give the lady in the will your attention, please. Representative Draper is recognized.
Thank you, mister speaker.
So by now, you all know that yesterday, the Trump DOJ and FBI conducted a raid on the Fulton County Elections Hub. They took hundreds of boxes of documents that contain sensitive information about Georgia voters
and the original ballots from the twenty twenty elections.
Those documents right now are on trucks.
They are being taken out of the state of Georgia. They are going to Virginia.
Do not talk to me about chain of custody or ballot security if you are not up in arms about this.
I don't have very much time up here, so I'm gonna get right to the point.
This is a full on attack on democracy.
This kind of federal interference
with the state election function is completely
unprecedented.
The Trump administration
has been trying to get this information on Fulton voters through civil lawsuits. They have been trying to get this information
through their put bulls on the SEB, and they have been trying to get this information through their lackeys on the Fulton County Board of Elections.
They kept losing,
so they are bypassing the civil justice system,
with this highly questionable and likely statute of limitation barred criminal investigation.
Y'all, it is 2026.
It has been more than five years since Trump lost Georgia,
A fact that has been verified time and time again. And let me speak directly to the voters of Georgia who need to understand the significance of this moment.
Yesterday's raid on Fulton County is not about the twenty twenty election.
It was never about the twenty twenty election.
This is all about the twenty twenty six election
and beyond.
Let me tell you how this is gonna work.
Once they start investigating Fulton County, they will say they found something suspicious.
It doesn't have to be real. It just needs to offer a pretextual
justification for what will happen next.
And what happens next is going to depend on the backbone and integrity of the people in this room
and rooms like this one.
Will this body Late pass a slate of bills. You know? Time. She will need to finish up. You've got about ten seconds.
Will this bad body pass a slate of bills that makes voting harder? Will we take over the Fulton County Board of Elections? Because I think that's what the Trump administration wants. They wanna take over Fulton County, which is not just the largest county in Georgia, it is the home to Atlanta.
Because if they can take over bright blue Fulton County, they don't have to put forward good candidates. They don't have to compete in the realm and she has needed her time. Be respectful to the other members that need to have an afternoon order.
Thank you very much.
We encourage you to do the right thing.
Chairman
Anderson is recognized
for an afternoon order.
Thank you, mister speaker.
Colleagues,
I'm not an attorney.
I'm not an officer of the court.
I'm not accustomed to nor do
I pretend to practice the theatrics that may be involved with that.
We talk about the events yesterday that happened in Fulton County.
And let me say this first,
I have faith in our justice system.
I have faith in the process that we put together and put in place in this nation and in this state
to make sure that judicial matters are handled in the proper way.
What did we see yesterday as being characterized as a raid? It's being sensationalized in the media.
It's being sensationalized here in this room.
What we saw yesterday was the lawful
execution
of a lawfully obtained
federal search warrant
that was signed by a US magistrate court judge.
That's part of the process.
I think back to the last week or two and look at some of the court cases that have have been resolved or at least
to some extent resolved in the state of Georgia.
There was one resolved last week where the Department of Justice
had sued Georgia
related to some of the provisions of senate bill two zero two, our election integrity bill. One of those was the state's authority and ability to take over our county election board.
The eleventh circuit
court of appeals
dismissed that case on constitutional grounds.
The case was brought on constitutional grounds. Their dismissal
was for other reasons.
But they said that that
that provision of our law that this body ill voted on that was signed into law in Georgia
was upheld.
Now I would be remiss if I didn't talk about another case that just earlier this week was dismissed.
And that was another Department of Justice case suing
the secretary of state
asking for, excuse me, asking for unredacted
voter files in Georgia. That case was dismissed.
Not on the grounds, but it was dismissed on the venue. Gentleman have will suspend. You have about ten seconds to complete your remarks. I don't really need it. Thank you, mister speaker.
Good decision.
Representative
Gisler,
There you are. I was looking for you. You were down front. It's recognized for an afternoon order. Representative?
Yes. Thank you, mister speaker. This is my first time speaking from the well, so I wanna say very quickly, thank you to the body for the warm First time, you take as long as you want. Right? Is that right? I'm kidding. No. I'm kidding.
I was wrecking. Alright. I'll make this very quick.
I I'm rising today. I'm asking for support for what I think should be a nonpartisan resolution,
although it may not come out that way.
It's simply asking this body to reaffirm that,
that current Georgia law prohibits the secretary of state from sending private voter data to the Department of Justice.
That's it. That's what I'm asking for.
I would appreciate any support from both sides of the aisle.
Come find me if you'd like to learn more about it. Thank you.
Thank you, representative. Good job.
Representative Glaze,
recognized
for an afternoon. Representative Glaze.
Ladies recognized.
Thank you, mister speaker,
Pro Tem Jones,
members of this August body.
I rarely come to stand before you to talk about something
that is so burdensome on my heart,
that relates to the district I live in,
and the district I serve.
But last night, I watched something
that none of us
should ignore.
Three eighteen wheelers
rolled out of the Fulton County
Elections
headquarters
filled with voter ballots and related election
materials,
seized as a part of the FBI
criminal investigation
into the twenty twenty
elections.
That image should
give every Georgian
pause
regardless of party ideology
or who you voted for.
Let us be clear about the facts.
The twenty twenty election in Georgia was subjected to multiple recounts.
County officials,
the secretary of state,
Brad Raffensperger,
as well as ultimately our governor Brian Kemp certifying these results.
This process was completed.
The election was settled. And yet today, questions
have been asserted,
serious ones.
Who is safe
is my question for retribution
in a democracy?
Who, if anyone, could face criminal charges?
And most importantly,
who does accountability
truly
look at and who in this system
will hold and build out and keep the rule of law? In America,
investigations
are not convictions.
Due process matters.
Presumption
of innocence
matters.
No one should be judged in the court of public opinion,
and no one in office
or agency or an individual
is above the law.
Georgians deserve
transparency,
not theater.
Facts, not fear.
Justice,
not vengeance.
I yield the well.
Chairman Prince is recognized for an afternoon order.
Chairman Prince.
Thank you, mister speaker, and good afternoon, colleagues. Listen on your desk. I put a book out there, The Sacred Waters of the Okefenokee.
If you have a good coffee table if you don't have a coffee table, maybe a bar. Just some good reading and some good pictures for you to look at and just
reflect,
just how good God is. Thank you, mister speaker.
Thank you, representative.
Here's our posture to the,
minority leader
and and your and your whip your and to the majority leader and your whip. We all we all would like love to meet with you all you all on Monday
before session begins.
This is a privilege that we all
enjoy here, speaking our minds,
but there are rules
of our speech that are in our rules rule books for this house,
and we intend to comply with those rules
as long as members keep their speech in the proper context.
And I think we all need to be aware of the rules, so I'll encourage you two and you two to meet with us. We'll give you a few minutes on before Monday, we come in session, and then, yeah, that can be communicated to the members of of each caucus and the members of this house. We appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you, members, for your
discussion today.
Thank you for your attention. We have a guest
who's been
a a good host for me when I've been in
Washington, DC, which,
I don't enjoy often enjoy that opportunity, but when I do, it's always good to go to our nation's capital. And that's our own congressman,
doctor Rich McCormick
of Georgia's 7th Congressional dish. Just let's make Rich welcome.
Now for some of us South Georgia boys and ladies,
Rich,
cities and areas that he represents, Alpharetta,
Cumming, Dahlonega, Dawson Dawsonville,
Johns Creek, Milton, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Cherokee, Fulton, and Hall Counties,
Dawson County, Forsyth, and Lumpkin Counties. That's a pretty big area.
A lot of folks up there. Rich service in in in the in congress. He's on the house armed service committee, house foreign affairs and science, space and technology committee. Let me tell you why he's on a couple of those committees.
Over twenty years in the US Marine Corps and Navy,
Rich served in combat zones in Africa, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan.
He flew helicopters.
He's taught at Georgia Tech and at Morehouse.
Thank you for your service there. And, as a marine officer instructor,
he has earned the rank of commander.
Congratulations, commander.
And served as department head for the emergency medical department in in Afghanistan. Thank you for your service in those zones.
I think it goes without the saying his resume certainly speaks to that point. Congress congressman Rich McCormick is a proven leader. No doubt about that. He's working tirelessly with to do what he can do for the people of Georgia, his district, and the people people of America.
We appreciate your partnership and the work you're doing on issues that are important to us here in Georgia.
If you will, again, let's welcome Rich and give him applause for thank him for for his service to the people of this state and to our country. Congressman, thank you for being here.
Mister Clerk, will
you read the cap caption to a group of privileged
resolutions?
Honoring the life and memory
of Roberta Revold Barr.
Congratulating the Worth County High School football team for winning the twenty twenty five GHSA
class a division one state football championship
commemorating
I'm Abdul
Hamed
ten years of leadership and acknowledging.
Recognizing 02/05/2026
is Bay at the state capital,
recognizing his excellency
Victor Emmanuel Smith, ambassador of The Republic Of Ghana
to The United States Of America.
Recognizing 02/03/2026
as Girl Scout Day at the state capitol.
Recognizing 03/02/2026
is Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated
Day at the state capitol.
Recognizing
Friday, 02/06/2026
is national wear red day.
Recognizing and commending Yolanda Vanessa Kendrick McCollum upon her retirement. Recognizing and commending Evelyn's sermons about her retirement.
Recognizing the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce, the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority,
and their partners in conjunction with Effingham
Day at the capital for exceptional leadership, collaboration,
and economic impact
in Effingham County.
Recognizing 02/10/2026
is Omega Day at this Georgia State Capitol, recognizing January
as national birth defects prevention month,
commending the Georgia Aquarium on its twentieth anniversary.
Recognizing 02/10/2026
is doctor Indran b Indrakrishnan
Day at the state cap.
Recognizing 02/18/2026
as early childhood education day at the state capitol, recognizing and commending
Audrey
Katila,
miss Georgia 2025.
Recognizing February
2026
as congenital
heart defect awareness week at the state capitol,
commending the Georgia FFA Association to recognizing 02/24/2026
is FFA day at the State Capitol and recognizing and commending
Ebony Hall. And for other purposes, that completes the reading of the privilege resolution.
Thank you, mister clerk. Is there any objection to adopting the privileged
resolutions?
Hearing none of the resolutions are adopted.
We're ready for announcements
now. Chairman Noel Williams
is recognized for an announcement.
Representative Barry, you're on deck.
Thank you, mister speaker. We have a banks and banking meeting Monday morning at 08:00 and 04:10 CLOB. Looking forward to seeing you there. Thank you.
Banks and banking, Monday morning.
Representative Barry, representative McClain,
you're on deck. Thank you, mister speaker. City of Atlanta delegation has a meeting today at 04:00PM
in the Capital 02:30. Thank you, mister speaker.
Thank you, representative. Rep representative McClain.
Representative Dewey McClain.
Do you know what his now announcement is?
Representative Barry, you make stand in for rep representative McClain. You're a much better looking man than he is. Anyway, go ahead. Thank Thank you again. I try to be.
My name is Dewey McLean, and the work of him's party is having the luncheon today.
Oh, here's Dewey.
Today at club five zero nine.
Five zero nine. Work of him's party work of him's luncheon. Thank you.
Oh, representative McClain, you do a much better job of of making that announcement than representative Berry did. So let's do it again.
Representative Dewey McClain is recognized for an announcement.
Thank you, mister speaker. I am so sorry. I was outstretching.
I just want you all to know the working family of Cox will meet in Room,
310
in CLOB.
We will be having lunch.
The IBEW will be there, local 06:13.
And And you know anything about IBEW, they're the ones who
if your electric pipe when firm came in,
90% of those workers are IBEW workers. So thank them.
And if you believe in Plant Vogel,
thank them too because
Plant Vogel was built by IBEW.
Thank you, mister speaker.
Absolutely. Thank you, representative McClain.
Will Burchett, then chairman Stevens, Parrish, and Erwin will be on deck.
Will Burchett.
Thank you, mister speaker.
A very short announcement
and that please save the date, February 10,
as Okefenokee Day at the State Capitol. February 10, Okefenokee Day at the State Capitol, Room 216,
one to 3PM.
Thank you, mister speaker.
Chairman Stevens recognized for an announcement.
Thank you, speaker. Today at, December excuse me, 12:30, the economic development tourism committee,
we'll meet in 04:03.
We have a couple of bills. We will get you out in time to get to the studio up in Doraville.
Awesome. Thank you.
Chairman Parrish,
you chair the rules committee. Is that correct? Yes, sir.
Okay.
Thank you, mister speaker. Ladies and gentlemen, just wanna remind you, we'll be having a rules committee meeting Monday
at 9AM.
Monday, 9AM, rules committee. Thank you.
Monday, 9AM, rules committee. Chairman Erwin.
Education.
Thank you, mister speaker. I want to remind the education members that we have a meeting at 01:00 in Room 506,
CLOB.
See you at 01:00.
Thank you, sir.
Before I announce the, birthdays,
I'm sure all of you realize you have a page today, so we'll take page photos up if you'll join us up here as soon as we adjourn.
Well, we have some birthdays today.
Dear lady Darlene Taylor
is 39 for the second or third time. I'm not sure, but
lady Taylor.
So
representative Ali, where are you?
Looking for him.
He may no longer be the youngest member of the house. He's got a birthday today. Let's see.
Something like that. Well, we wish him happy birthday and certainly on
on Saturday,
the one and only Leman Franklin, representative Leman Franklin, has a birthday on Saturday. So happy birthday, representative Franklin.
Remember, page photos.
We're ready.
The majority leader of this house is recognized for a motion. Thank you, mister speaker. I move that this house stand adjourned
until Monday, 02/02/2026
at 10:00AM.
On the motion of the majority leader, does this house stand adjourned?
I'm a pause if you that motion.
Representative Ali, we wanna welcome you,
congratulate you on your birthday. So we wanna make sure you heard us do that.
Are you no longer the youngest member of the house after you had a birthday? You still have that distinction.
It's all good. All good.
On the motion of the majority leader that the sal stand adjourned
until 10AM, Monday,
February 2, another month. All those in favor will say aye.
Aye.
Thank you. All those opposed, no.
Ayes clearly have it. We're adjourned now.