Rules 2.9.26

Morning, everybody. Morning, everybody. I ask everybody to take their seats, and we'll call the meeting to order, please. Good morning, everybody. We're gonna, call the meeting to order, and we'll ask for Williamson Williams to open us with a word of prayer, please.

Let us pray. Merciful and everlasting, though our God, we thank you once again for the opportunity. We thank you for those that have gathered to help the state of Georgia and its citizens. Lord, we ask that you guide our minds. Help us to realize that you are the ultimate authority and to follow your word.

What is in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Thanks, sir. Okay. Let's go ahead, and we'll begin. Jimmy Camp, go come on up.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm looking at HB nine forty eight, which is on the second page, sixth down. And we are looking at LC six two zero three zero six s. This bill is one that creates more disclosure when someone is foreclosed in the foreclosure documents to let individuals know that if there are excess funds available after all the foreclosure proceedings, how to get those funds back.

Okay. Don't see any questions. Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Chileady Hagen. Members, when you come up, if you would, please, before you begin, give us the house number and where it's located on the blue sheet. Make it easier for the everyone to find it, if you would. Please help us move along. Thank you.

Thank you, mister chairman and committee. I have House Bill nine eighty three. It is on page two, a little over halfway down the page. This bill was requested by the Georgia Forestry Commission, and it its purpose is to reduce confusion for our counties and our cities and our property owners regarding what a prescribed burn is. It clarifies the definition in the code.

Okay. I don't see any questions. Thank you, ma'am. Representative

Jones.

Thank you, mister chairman and members of the committee. I have house bill five four five on the blue sheet. It's five the fifth from the bottom, LC number four eight one five zero six. I want to thank the committee for passing this bill out of rules in 2024. It went to the senate, but because of time, it did not go any further.

HB five four five is known as the Terry Act. This bill is designed to create uniformity across all courts in Georgia in how appeal transcripts are to be handled. This bill creates a clear statewide rule that all transcripts shall be prepared by filing the notice of appeal with the clerk of court, and all transcripts are to be requested from the court reporter listed on the notice of appeal eliminating inconsistent local practices and confusion.

Okay. Don't see any questions. Thank you.

Thank you.

Jim Corbett. Excuse me. There is a question. I'm sorry. Miss Jones, just a minute.

Thank you, mister chairman. It's not for the author. The previous bill, will you enlighten this country more and what in the world is silver culture? Did

we

-Did did we answer your question for you?

-About 16 different ways, but I'm going with

-They're gonna meet y'all flying and talk to you about that. Okay. Thank you. If y'all have a question, be I'm trying to watch the board, but let me know. Make sure I recognize you.

Jim Corwin.

Thank you, mister chairman, members of the committee. I'll bring before you house bill nine fifty six, seventh from the top on the second page. What House Bill nine fifty six does, it gives the director of the EPD the authorization to take any actions as may be necessary to implement provisions of the solid waste trust fund. That's what we're doing with this this bill. And I appreciate your favorable consideration

or

answer any questions.

Okay. Don't see any questions. Thank you, sir.

Thank

you, Mr. Chairman.

Yes, sir. Good morning, Mr. Chairman and the Committee.

I bring HB 57, which is the fourth bill on page one. This bill does one thing. It adds step grandparent's step grandchild relationship to the incest law of Georgia. That's it.

Okay. No quit. No questions. Thank you.

Thank you,

mister chairman. Chairman Anderson.

Thank you, mister chairman.

This morning, I have house bill ten twenty seven. It's page three, third from the top. This bill simply allows MEAG participating cities and can and the one county to enter into contracts with end users for electric service for up to twenty years. Years.

Okay. Don't no questions. Thank you. Thank you. Jim Jones.

Good morning,

chairman, members of the committee. House bill nine eight six, second page, six from the bottom. Four years ago, we enacted the personal delivery device bill, which is effectively the robots that are delivering food. You may see them here in Atlanta. They look like coolers with four wheels.

We were one of the first states to do that. Now several states have done it, and we've kinda learned from what some of our brethren have done across the union. We've made changes from a safety perspective and also a traffic efficiency perspective, and you'll see the three changes between line 16 and line 26.

Alright. Don't see any questions. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Chairman Williams.

Thank you, mister chairman. My house bill nine thirty four is on the second page, number four. This basically transfers the powers of the securities and commodities, from the Secretary of State's office over to banking and finance. This is done in 21 other states right now, and this will help, reduce some of the fraud and abuse.

-Okay. We've got a question for you. -Okay. -Whip Parks.

-Uh, thank you, mister chairman. To the author of the bill, is it not true that this would hinder an ongoing investigation into First Liberty, a $140,000,000 Ponzi scheme?

That is correct. It is a 140 and counting. And the folks who have been working on this, once this goes into statute or goes into law, they will automatically be transferred under Department of Banking and Finance. So it'll be a seamless process. But thank you for your question.

So just to clarify, there's an ongoing investigation in which would it not be that this bill would hinder

No. Did you investigation? I just I I I think I just said clearly, these people that are working right now, they will come up under the Department of Banking and Finance, and it'll be a seamless transition, upon 07/01/2026. And they can all work in concert, work as a team. Thank but thank you.

Secretary Kelly.

Thank you, mister chairman. Chairman Williams, isn't it true, that there's been a ongoing investigation through the SEC that is spearheading this?

Yes, sir. You are correct.

And they're driving the majority of the investigation?

They are.

And isn't what's hindered this investigation is the secretary of state's lack of prosecuting this case at the end, and that's why we need to put in the hands of a regulator who actually is familiar with this territory.

And also a smaller, web, of working with because right now, the secretary of state has a myriad of different departments they have to be in charge of. And banking and finance, they know banking and finance. And 21 other states are doing this, and they seem to be doing it very well.

Thank you.

Representative Evans has a question.

Thank you, mister chairman. Understanding your point about 23 other states doing this, but 21. 21. At any time in history until there was this ongoing investigation, did anybody ever attempt to make this move here in the state of Georgia?

You know, I'm not aware of that because I was not the chair of banks and finance at that time.

And isn't it true that the banks and financing department has expressed concerns about their budgetary needs if this change is made?

I don't

I don't I don't I I don't believe so. I think they're more concerned of a 140 to $150,000,000 that has left Georgian's pockets.

There wasn't a letter that was addressed to you or to the committee expressing concerns?

There was, and that letter was answered, full committee meeting last Thursday, and we spent about forty five minutes discussing that in-depth. And I think we had, it passed out. I think we had three votes that were against it in committee.

Isn't it possible, based on language that's in line 56, that once this transfer is made, that the staff that's working on this right now could be completely changed?

I don't think so, but you could ask the Department of Banking and Finance chairman or Beau Fears who he plans to hire and fire.

I don't

Well, you're the chairman. I don't No. No. The the let me ask let me ask it this way. The commissioner of the banks and banking department will be able to make personnel decisions after this change just like they are today.

True?

That is correct. But in the law, the law states that they will bring them all up under the Department of Banking and Finance at that time.

Is there anything to require that that not change during the course of the investigation? Anything in this law that would tie the hands of the commissioner of the banks and banking department not to make any personnel changes after the switch?

I can't speak for him, but the law says that he will hire them and they will have all the benefits that they have had previously. Now if they don't perform, you know, that's that's something between the the chairman of the banking and finance or the department of banking and finance and those said individuals.

Just like everybody else, they have to perform

to keep their job. And and that whether they're

banks and banking commissioner and his sole discretion. True?

That is correct.

And and file question, these folks that are leaving over from the Secretary of State's office, don't they have other duties? Are we not concerned about who's gonna take up that work when they switch over to the banks and banking department?

All we're working on is securities and commodities, and that's what my purview is. They're gonna come over to the department of banking and finance, and that's what they're gonna be solely concentrating on. I assume the Secretary of State still has a number of employees that work on other projects.

Has anybody talked about that workload switch? I mean, obviously, if somebody's leaving one department to go to another one, I would assume this is not the only thing those individuals are doing. And I just wanna make sure that the committee at least considered the fact that workload within the secretary of state's office is going to be left without additional personnel coming. We're only sending personnel away, it sounds like.

Well, a lot of this was thought into, and we worked on it. And this seems to be a great, compromise for everybody, and it should work assuming this goes into effect 07/01/2026.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Okay.

Chair lady Smith.

Thank you, mister chairman. Thank you for bringing this bill before us. I know it's complicated. Is it not true that I actually am in the district in which these individuals created this Ponzi scheme?

Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. The lady knows of what she speaks.

Is it also not true that they got away with this egregious action for several years because we were peppered with authority all over the code sections.

Yes, ma'am. It has been going for quite a while. I think they started I think they said it could have been going over for over ten years.

Is it further not true that I believe this General Assembly is intent upon wronging righting this wrong for the benefit of the citizens who have been damaged by this, but also to prevent it from happening in the future?

-Yes, ma'am. I believe that's everyone's intent in this body.

And is it further not true that I still pray every day for the ones who are the victims.

Yes, ma'am. We all do. Thank you.

Okay. Chairman Martin.

Chairman Williams, just a quick question. The lady, asked earlier, you know, is it not true that the, commissioner over in the banks could could replace the investigators? She asked that question, and you answered yes. Is it not true today the secretary of state could change those this afternoon?

Sure.

Is is it not true she also asked about the people that were moving and the the task they were forming. Is it not true that the task they perform are the specific task that will be moved? In other words, you're moving the jobs and the people. Is that not true?

Correct.

Is it not further true that if they were doing something other than that, perhaps that's the reason we got the check we got in?

In. -One could infer

that. -Is it not true we have one more question? Chairman Powell? -Yeah.

-Right. Yeah, I've heard all the questions on this, but I've only got one question. The security, division over there, they're also in charge of investigating and enforcing, the cemetery and the funeral directors.

Yes.

And will they will this not change, or will this all stay the same under them?

This is only gonna deal with securities and exchange and commodities. This has nothing to do with graveyards or or any of that nature.

So those investigations that are underway, they'll stay at the secretary of state's office, but we don't know in what capacity.

-Correct. That will be for him to determine.

-God help us.

-Thank you, sir. You have exhausted all the questions. Thank you, famous chairman. Chairman Bonner.

Thank you, mister chairman. Good morning, committee. Bringing House Bill nine seventy nine. It's on page two about midway down on your sheet. This came as a request from the Department of Defense military community and family policy, division.

This creates a process in Georgia for concurrent jurisdiction on our middle system. There's no juvenile process, and so what this would do if the state accepts it is to allow the juvenile cases to proceed through the state and not have to go through a federal system, which does not accommodate that.

Okay. I have a question. Representative Williams.

Thank you, mister chairman. I like the bill, mister chairman. My big question is, if this moves, especially in an area like my county where we have a huge amount of military folk, will there be any help as far as the expenses that will definitely rise in juvenile court?

Well, we could certainly address that in future appropriations. Again, the bill does not require the state to accept these cases. It simply provides a formal process by which a request can be made to accept. And so, essentially, if the juvenile system cannot handle certain cases based on their budget, then they would simply not accept those, in this in this process. But, to your point, I would certainly work with you in making sure that our communities have the resources they need because the, having this available to the juveniles also provides them with the potential for rehabilitation that does not exist in the federal system.

Okay. Thanks, sir. No more questions.

Thank you.

Representative Cox.

Thank you, mister chairman. Page one, h r nine nine nine at the very top is a urging resolution for Georgia citizen, cities, and counties to remember and honor the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of America and the declaration of independence.

Okay. No questions. Thank you, sir.

I I also have, House Bill three eighty three, which is three quarters of the way down on page one. And this is the Georgia High School NIL Protection Act, and it's putting guardrails around, NIL contracts in the state of Georgia, which currently exist. And it's making sure that those contracts, once the student athletes have graduated, that they no longer are bound by that contract that they can renegotiate and have to renegotiate at the next level.

Okay. No questions. Thank you, sir. Representative Townsend.

Thank you, mister chair. This is, HB nine seventy one, second page, about halfway down. This is the career academy bill. This is actually, follows the original career academy bill. This will allow homeschool students and private school students to attend a college career academy, take a CTE course at no cost, and then the school system collects the FTE, and it's an opt in for school systems.

Currently, the Golden Isles College and Career Academy in Brunswick, Georgia is utilizing this as other career academies across the state for their in county, homeschool and private students, and the school system. Okay.

I don't see any questions.

Thank you.

Mister Hilton Holden, excuse me.

Thank you, mister chairman, members of the committee. I'll refer to house bill 10 o nine, which is the bottom of page two. House Bill 10 o nine. As many of you in this room know, last year, we went cell phone free in our classrooms k through eight, backed by popular demand. We are now expanding that to include high schools.

Thanks, chair. Whoop. I have a question. Jim, Whit Parks, you have a question?

Thank you, mister chairman. How many other states prohibit high schools cell phones in high schools?

So now we're up to 33 states, nationwide, that are cell phone free.

Thank you. And for high schools?

Yes. Thank you.

K. I don't see any other questions. Thank you.

Thank you,

mister chairman.

Any members of the committee have request? Chairman Green.

Thank you, mister chairman. I bring before the rules committee house resolution ten fifty, which is the, our conveyance annual conveyances, and also house resolution ten fifty one, which is, our easements for the, for the year. And there are 22 easements and 11 conveyances that and the senate will add some more when we get it over

there. K. Any questions for chairman Green? Don't see any. Leah Higley?

Thank you, mister chairman. I have, house resolution ten forty nine, and it's just designating Fentanyl Awareness Day, a permanent observance each year, the October.

Okay. Any other? Yeah. Leader restoration has one.

Go ahead. Thank you, mister chairman. On page three, the second bill, house bill ten twenty three, continuing with the efforts to maintain a priority of, school safety, I've brought house bill ten twenty three, which would require weapons detection systems in all Georgia public schools. This substitute would make an effective date of 07/01/2027, would allow for local discretion as to which weapons detection systems to provide, and would allow for state grants to help fund this.

Okay. What part?

Do you

have a question?

Thank you, mister chairman. Thank you for the bill of the administration. Is there a fiscal note or an estimate of how much this would cost? No. No.

There's no fiscal note. The,

state through our, budget have appropriated funds for local school safety grants, and that would make the funding available for these systems.

So is there an understanding whether or not the 50,000 per school is sufficient to to cover these if they haven't already been utilized?

As discussed in committee, there are available weapons detection systems that can be paid for with that with under that, grant.

That that's less than 50,000 a year?

That's correct.

Thank you.

Representative Evans, do you have a question? Few lawyers. Okay. Jim Rohn. Thanks, mister chairman.

Leader, is it not true that, quite a few systems in the state are already proven that this system is effective and and it's deterring unsafe situations and weapons at schools?

Yes, sir. The improvements in technology and software have allowed for greater capabilities of these weapons detection systems and they have been successful, in my opinion, in their implementation where local school systems have decided to roll them out.

Thank you. Thank you. Okay. That's got that. I'm gonna ask, vice chairman, Leverett to come and take over the meeting

here.

Alright. I see a new, visitor to our committee today. So, young man, I'll recognize you and let you introduce yourself and tell us about your

-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to ask the members to consider House Bill twelve fifteen. This is a simple bill. This is judge to the middle of Judicial Circuit.

This was requested by the Judicial Council and the governor has placed the funding for this in the budget as he has with two other districts, I think, in the Gainesville area and in the Gwinnett area up there. And, I would ask for favorable consideration on, House Bill twelve fifteen. Be happy to answer any questions, if you are. Any

Mr. Chairman, the board is just lit up with questions here.

Now -I'll be happy to speak offline if we want to talk about anything.

-No. You did

such a fine job, Mr. Chairman. I'm there are no questions, I must say. That's just one of the absolute finest bills and finest presentations we've ever heard in this committee. Thank you, sir.

Great job, Mr. Bashir. Thank you. Okay. Here we are.

Have a move and a second. LAUREN: Have a move and a second. Is there any opposition? It's on. House Bill six fifty seven.

Moved. Second.

Moved and seconded. Any opposition? It's on. House Bill six seven six. -Moved.

-Second. -Moved and seconded. Any opposition? It's on. House Bill nine five seven.

Moved and seconded. Any opposition? It's awn. House Bill twelve fifteen. Moved and seconded.

In the opposition, it's awn. Senate Bill 162. Senate Bill 162. Moved. Seconded.

Moved and seconded. Is there any opposition? It's on. Okay. That will be our calendar for today.

House Bill six thirty two, six fifty seven, six seventy six, nine fifty seven, twelve fifteen, and Senate Bill 162. Now, for us to sort of get back on schedule, let's go ahead and set a calendar for tomorrow, Tuesday, under modified structure, House Bill nine forty four. Moved. We have a move and second. Any opposition?

It's on. House Bill ten fifteen.

Moved. Second.

Moved and seconded. Any opposition? It's on. House resolution House resolution ten fifty. -Moved.

-Seconded. -Moved and seconded. Any opposition? It's on. House resolution ten fifty one.

-Moved. -It's moved and seconded. Any opposition? It's a So we've set a calendar for, Tuesday and for today. Thank you all.

We're adjourned.