Georgia House of Representatives Session Day 14 Minutes

Ridley the twenty second, Apollo the thirty third, Bonner the seventy third, and others. They'll be titled an act of monarch two chapter three, title 16 of the official code of charge annotated relating to justification and excuse. Judiciary non civil. House bill twelve twenty seven by representative Gulliver of the nineteenth, Fleming of the hundred and fourteenth, Lompahont of the seventeenth, Saints of the hundred and eightieth, Thomas of the twenty first, and others. Bill to be entitled in act two amend chapter two, title 21 of the official code of Georgia annotator relating to elections and primaries generally.

Governmental affairs.

House bill twelve twenty eight by representative McCollum the thirtieth, Oliver the eighty fourth, a lollier the fifty ninth, Hennessy the fifty first, Gulliver the nineteenth, and others. The bill will be titled an act to amend chapter five of title 48. The official go to Georgia and stated relating to ad valorem taxation of property.

Ways and means.

House bill twelve twenty nine by representative Stevens, the hundred and sixty fourth, Carpenter the fourth, Washburn the hundred and forty fourth, Deloach, the hundred and sixty seventh, McDonald the twenty sixth, and others. A bill will be titled in act to amend title three of the official code of Georgia annotated relating to alcoholic beverages.

Regulated industries.

House resolution twelve forty two by Representative Glaze, the sixty seventh, Carter of the ninety third, Griffin of the hundred and forty ninth, Paris of the hundred and forty second, Jackson a hundred and sixty fifth. Resolution supporting the revision of the quality basic education and full time equivalent funding formulas. Education. House resolution twelve forty three by representative Martin, the forty ninth, Burns, the hundred and fifty ninth, Hughley, the hundred and forty first, Crow, the 100, Campbell, the hundred and thirty fifth and others. Resolution proposing an amendment to constitution so as to authorize creation of the Georgia Next Generation nine one one fund.

Public safety and homeland security.

House resolution twelve forty four by representative McCollum on the thirtieth, Oliver the eighty fourth, Lolly a the fifty ninth, Panitch of the fifty first, Gulliver of the nineteenth, and others, a resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution, the state of Georgia says to provide that any business enterprise included but not limited to private equity having an interest.

Ways and means.

House resolution twelve forty five by representative Ford of the hundred and seventieth, Dickie the hundred and thirty fourth, Campbell a hundred and seventy first, Osteen in the hundred and sixty ninth, Cannon, a hundred and seventy second, and others. A resolution commending the Georgia peanut industry and recognizing March 2026 as Georgia peanut month at state capital. Special rules. House resolution twelve forty six by representative Baker, the sixty fourth, Barnes, the eighty sixth, Douglas, the seventy eighth, McCollum, the thirtieth, and Ali, the hundred and sixth. The resolution recognizing February as National Canned Food Month in the state of Georgia.

Special rules. Senate bill two thirty nine by senator Walker the twentieth, Robertson the twenty ninth, Harvard the sixteenth, Malo the second, Williams the twenty fifth. They'll be titled an act to amend article on a chapter for 18 to title 43 of the official code of Georgia annotated relating funeral directors and establishments. Regulated industries. Senate bill four zero three by senator Kirkpatrick of thirty second, Walker the twentieth, Anna DeVard of the thirty first, parent of the forty fourth, Albers the fifty sixth, and others.

The bill be titled an act to amend article five of chapter 12 of title 44. The official code of Georgia annotated relating to disposition of unclaimed property. Judiciary. That completes first readers.

Second reading of bills and resolutions the clerk will read. Mister Clerk.

House bill eleven eighty one by representative Ballard of the hundred and forty seventh, corporate of the hundred and seventy fourth, Sainz of the hundred and eightieth, new of the fortieth, and Earhart of the thirty sixth, a bill relating to certificates or title for motor vehicles. House bill eleven eighty two by representative Rhodes of the hundred and twenty fourth, Leverett of the hundred and twenty third, Ridley of the sixth, Williams of the hundred and forty eighth, corporate of the hundred and seventy fourth, a bill relating to soil amendments. House bill is eleven eighty three by the representative of the hundred and eightieth, Bonner of the seventy third, Ballard of the hundred and forty seventh, Rice of the hundred and thirty ninth, Bridgette of the hundred and seventy sixth, and others, a bill relating to imposition rate, computation exemptions, and credits for state income tax. House bill eleven eighty four by reps of Bonner the seventy third, Thomas of the twenty first, candidate of the hundred and seventy second, Ballard of the hundred and forty seventh. A bill relating to state militia, house bill eleven eighty five by representative of the hundred and fourth, Campbell of the fifteenth, Wade of the ninth, Seabaugh of the thirty fourth, Gunter of the eighth, and others, a bill relating to corporations, partnerships, and associations in courts.

House bill eleven eighty six by representative Stevens of the hundred and sixty fourth, Gellert of the hundred and sixty second, Hitchens of the hundred and sixty first, Westbrook of the hundred and sixty third, and Jackson of the hundred and sixty fifth. A bill to repeal an act creating the Garden City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority. House bill eleven eighty seven by representative Hong of the hundred and third, Gamble of the fifteenth, Seeball of the thirty fourth, Wade of the ninth, Gunter of the eighth, and others, a bill relating to provisional and final remedies and special proceedings. House bill eleven eighty eight by representative Sanchez with the forty second, Washburn with the hundred and forty fourth, Friar the hundred and twenty second, Lolli Eve the fifty ninth, Oliver eighty fourth, and others. A bill relating to the Fair Business Practices Act of 1975.

House bill eleven eighty nine by representing Moore

of the ninety first, Pennington

of the fifty first, Bell of the seventy fifth, Baker of the sixty fourth, Sanchez of the forty second, the bill relating to sexual offenses. House bill eleven ninety by representative Sanchez of the forty second, Mary of the fifty sixth, McQueen of the sixty first, Westbrook of the hundred and sixty third, Cameron of the first, and others, the bill relating to elementary and secondary education. House bill eleven ninety one by representative Osteen of the hundred and sixty ninth Bonner of the seventy third, Hitchens of the hundred and sixty first, Corbin of the hundred and seventy fourth, Canada of the hundred and seventy second and others, a bill relating to prestige license plates for special plates for certain persons and vehicles. House bill eleven ninety two by representative Taylor of the hundred and seventy third, illustration of the hundred and fourth, Hugh Glee of the hundred and forty first, Hatcher of the hundred and fifty fifth, Stevens of the hundred and sixty fourth and others. A bill relating to public assistance, House bill eleven ninety three by representative Erwin of the thirty second, Burns of the hundred and fifty ninth, Hatchet of the hundred and fifty fifth, Dumpric of the twenty ninth, Jones of the forty seventh, and others.

A bill relating to education. House bill eleven ninety four by representative of the hundred and twenty third, Estrations of the hundred and fourth. Williamson of the hundred and twelfth. Plums of the twelfth. A bill relating to insurance requirements for transportation network companies and their drivers.

House bill eleven ninety five by represent Leverett of the hundred and twenty third, Matheak of the eighty second, Gullah of the nineteenth, Camp of the hundred and thirty fifth, Cooper of the forty fifth. The bill relating to telemedicine by veterinarians and veterinary technicians. House bill eleven ninety six by representative Smith of the eighteenth, Miller of the sixty second, Hong of the hundred and third, the hood of the hundred and seventy fifth, Fleming of the hundred and fourteenth, and others, a bill related to criminal trespass involving a wild animal. House bill twelve fifteen by representative Parrish of the 150, Jackson of the hundred and twenty eighth, Hagen of the hundred and fifty sixth, and Prince of the hundred and thirty second, a bill relating to the number of judges of superior courts. Three second readers.

Thank you, mister clerk. Reports of standing committees, mister clerk will read

Representative Chris Irwin of the 32nd District Chairman of the committee in education submitted the following report. Mister speaker, your committee on education has had under its consideration the following bills of the house has instructed me to report the same back to the house in the following recommendation. House bill nine seventy one due pass. House bill three eighty three due pass by substitute. House bill a thousand nine due passed.

House bill a 23 due passed by substitute. House bill nine zero seven due passed by substitute. Respectfully submitted to representative Chris Irwin of the 32nd District Chairman. Representative Lauren McDonald of the 26th District Chairman of the committee on intergovernmental coordination local submitted the following report. Mister speaker, your committee on intergovernmental coordination locals had under its consideration the following bills of the house and senate, and has instructed me to report the same back to the house with the following recommendations.

House bill eight seventy seven do pass. House bill nine thirty six do pass. House bill nine thirty seven do House bill nine thirty eight, Dupasse. House bill nine thirty nine, Dupasse. House bill nine forty, Dupasse.

House bill nine forty one, Dupasse. House bill nine fifty two, Dupasse. House bill nine fifty three, Dupasse. House bill nine eighty two, Dupasse. House bill ten twenty six, Dupasse.

House bill ten thirty seven, Dupasse. House bill ten fifty seven, Dupasse. House bill ten ninety three, Dupasse. Senate bill three sixteen, Dupasse. Senate bill three seventeen, Dupasse.

Senate bill three forty eight, Dupasse. House bill ten seventy four due passed, respectfully submitted. Representative Lauren McDonald of 26th District Chairman. Representative Gunner of the 8th District chairman of the committee on judiciary submitted the following report. Mister speaker, your committee on judiciary has had under its consideration following bills of the house.

It's instructed me to report the same back to the house with the following recommendations. House bill five forty five, do pass. House bill nine forty eight, do pass by committee substitute. House bill nine seventy nine, do pass. House bill eleven twenty one, due pass.

House bill twelve fifteen, due pass. Respectfully submitted. Representative Gunner of the 8th District Chairman. Representative Smith of the 18th District chairman of the committee on judiciary and non civil submitted the following report. Mister speaker, committee on judiciary and noncivals had under its consideration the following bill of the house instructed me to report the same back to the house and following recommendations.

House bill 57 do pass respectfully submitted, representative Smith of the 18th District Chairman. Representative Gerald Green in the Hundred And 54th District Chairman on committee on state property submitted the following report. Mister speaker your committee on state properties had under its consideration following resolutions of the house. Miss instructed me to report the same back to the house with the following recommendations. House resolution ten fifty do pass.

House resolution ten fifty one do pass. Respectfully submitted represent Gerald Green of the Hundred And 54th District Chairman. That completes the reading of the reports of standing committees.

Thank you, mister Clark. Members, we do have a local calendar this morning. All members will come back to the floor. We will be taking up a local calendar. For what purpose does Chairman McDonald rise?

Mister, I'd like to make a motion. State your motion, sir. I'd like to move s b three forty eight recommitted to intergovernmental coordination. Representative McDonald moves that senate bill three forty six be recommitted to intergovernmental coordination and remove senate bill three forty eight. I'm sorry.

Three forty eight be recommitted to the committee on intergovernmental coordination. Mister Clerk, will you read the caption?

The senate bill three forty eight by senator Lucas 26, Hancock County, senate bill three forty eight changes the districts of the board of county commissioners to Hancock County.

On the gentleman's motion that senate bill three forty eight be removed from the local color calendar and be sent back to the committee on intergovernmental coordination is the objection. Hearing none, it is so ordered. We'll take up the local calendar now. One bill on the local calendar relates to homestead exemption and requires a recorded two thirds roll call vote for passage. The third reading passage on uncontested local bills.

If there is no objection, we will vote on the local calendar as a whole with a recorded recorded vote without senate bill three forty eight. Hearing none, it is so ordered. Mister Clerk, will you read the local calendar without senate bill three forty eight?

House bill eight seventy seven by representative Jackson, the sixty eighth city of Fayetteville. House bill nine thirty six by representative of Canada, the hundred and seventy second city of Berlin. House bill nine thirty seven by representative Ford of the hundred and seventieth Berrien County. House bill nine thirty eight by representative Ford of the hundred and seventieth TIF County. House bill nine thirty nine by representative Ford of the hundred and seventieth TIF County.

House bill nine forty by representative Ford.

Proceed, mister.

House bill nine forty by representative Ford of the Hundred And 70th TIF County. House bill nine forty one by representative Ford of the Hundred And 70th TIF County. House bill nine fifty two by representative Franklin of the Hundred And 60th Bullock County. House bill nine fifty three by representative Franklin of the Hundred And 60th Bullock County. House bill nine eighty two by representative Camp in the hundred and thirty fifth City of Barnesville.

House bill ten twenty six by representative Sharper, the hundred and seventy seventh City of Valdosta. House bill ten thirty seven by representative Cummings of the 39th Cobb County. House bill ten fifty seven by representative Kendrick of the ninety fifth Gwinnett County. House bill ten ninety three by representative Burchetta, the hundred and seventy sixth City of Waycross Ware County. Senate bill three sixteen by senator Goodman in the eighth, Clinch County.

Senate bill three seventeen by senator Goodman in the eighth, Clinch County. House bill ten seventy four by representative Reeves of the 99th, City Of

Suwanee. Thank you, mister clerk. Is there any objection to the previous question being ordered on the local calendar? Hearing none of the previous questions ordered, is there any objection to agreeing to the report of the committee, which was favorable to the passage of the bills? Hearing none, the report of the committee has agreed to.

Shall these bills now pass all the all those in favor of the passage of the bills on the local calendar? We'll vote yes. All those opposed, we'll vote no. And, mister Clerk, will you unlock the machines?

Have all members voted?

All members voted. All members voted. All members voted. So, mister clerk, will you lock the machine On the passage of the local calendar without bill without senate bill three forty eight, the yeas are one sixty five, the nays are zero. These bills haven't received a requisite Constitutional majority are therefore passed.

Members will move on to morning orders now. I'm a recognize representative Glaze for up to a two minute order on Black History Month representing Glaze. Lady, hold just for a moment. If you have to have a conversation right now, you need to take it to the anteroom. This is an important morning order for many reasons.

Representative Glaze, representative Stevens. Ladies recognized.

Thank you.

Representative Gilead.

This morning, we come to recognize someone in our chamber for Black History Month. This is a surprise for representative Edna Jackson who is a lifelong civil rights leader, educator, trailblazer. She has her roots grassroots were activism, legislative leadership, municipal governance. She engaged in the civil rights movement from the age of nine as a volunteer with the NAACP youth council. She participated in historic sit ins, wait ins, kneel ins, and voter registration drives.

And the landmark March 1963 in Washington 1965 in Selma to Montgomery March, she was the protege of w w at law and Eugene Gadsden where she worked with the national NAACP. And as we know her, the queen of the heart of Savannah, she was our mayor and served eight years. Prior to that, she served twelve years on city council. She held national roles in the National League of Cities and was second vice president of GMA. We know her now as the heart of this legislator on the house side.

She is what we call one who will never be forgotten for her service to Georgia and as an alum of Savannah State, devoted thirty years of her life and continues to fight to make sure that they stay sustainable. So, Edna Jackson, you are not just a representative. You are not just a woman who has made a difference and impacted this state, but you are the queen of our heart.

Hi. Let me please,

The lady's recognized.

I am just so excited. You know, I I run around in here and I enjoy what I do. But it is not you know, I I don't look for things, you know. I I just think things happen for a reason. Absolutely.

And I came up under two great leaders. Wesley and Al did too. That's how long we've known each other as well. We came up under Wesley Wallace Law, the member the president of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. And I came up under Jean Gadsden, the first African American judge in the city of Savannah.

They trained me well because, judge Gadsden has always said to us as young people, it is not about the I, it is about the we. Because you cannot do everything for yourself. I am so excited. Oh my god. Take a lot of pictures.

And all of my friends, you're all my friends. You have taught me an awful lot. I am sickening and I know I am. But that is okay I don't care whether you're democrat or republicans. You are my friends and people that I have.

Run by you often say tell me about so and so and so. And that is because it is very important. Jean Gadsden again say it to me. You know, if you're going to make a difference, you have to cross the aisle. And if you're going to make a difference, you have to be sincere.

And that is what I try to do. So thank y'all because I don't want speaker. Tell me. Okay? No.

No.

And she was Did

that room you get it?

No. No. No.

Oh. Oh, thank y'all.

Awesome day. Thank you, representative Glaze.

Thank you. And I've known him a long time. You didn't tell me this. I don't know. And my sister's a Delta.

Thank you too.

I wanna

get out.

I gotta get up.

I gotta

get up. Oh. Yeah.

I do that.

Representative Jackson, I'll always try to say that. But growing up near Savannah, I know her as mayor Jackson. She did great work in that community and still is doing that. A great member of this house. Congratulations.

Come on. Come on, buddy. Hands. Buddy. Buddy.

Can we get the picture with Buddy and and and Al?

Thank you, y'all. Oh my god.

Okay.

Great job.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Y'all y'all gonna escort her back.

Thank you. Y'all escort her back. The lady back out. Representative Carter. Representative Carter is recognized for a morning order.

Give the lady your attention, please.

So if you would join us friends. Down front in your red.

It's great.

Well, good morning. Today is the official go red for women, And this is the American Heart Association's day of advocacy to bring awareness to heart disease in women. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in women more than all the cancers combined. And so they've been working diligently to bring awareness. There's been research and opportunities to extend our lives.

And for me, I'm extremely fortunate to be here with you because my grandmother died of a massive heart attack. And my mother died of a heart attack in her sleep. And a few months before being elected to the state house, I also had an attack on my heart. And what I didn't share with you all since I've been elected, I've also had a stroke. So I say, just give me give me some breathing room sometime when, you know, I'm very passionate, but I'm also trying to balance.

But we have some friends here this morning as well, and I'm sorry I didn't bring Renee. Teresa, your friend standing next to you. Please stand up one of our advocates for, heart disease, and we have, miss Carlene and some students from Latonia Middle School. If you all would join us as well and standing and we wanna take a moment to celebrate every person in this chamber who has been touched and personally affected by heart disease and you are still here. So I challenge you this day that we do everything we can to make sure we have saved a life because for me, God allowed me to live.

So I am gonna do everything I can for my community for you, that we could extend our lives. And some of this is gonna start with how we eat, what we're drinking, whether or not we're exercising, and I'm guilty. But every every year, we do a little bit better. So thank you, mister speaker, for giving us this, privilege and this opportunity to, again, bring awareness to a heart disease in women. Me and we know you got too, but we wanna keep some more women alive.

Thank you. We yield the well.

Thank you for your advocacy and your work, and thank you ladies for being here, all that are here in support. Representative Jasmine Clark is recognized for a morning order. Representative Clark, Give the lady your attention, please. Representative Clark.

Thank you, mister speaker. This morning, it is my honor to, welcome the Georgia State University Public Policy Club to the People's House. They are a, club that provides students with meaningful opportunities to engage with public policy, governance, and the legislative process at the local, state, and national levels. They are joining us here today in the gallery. Could y'all please stand?

Thank you so much for being here. Thank you so much for your engagement. We appreciate you. And, again, welcome to the people's house. Thank you, mister speaker.

Representative Anderson and Friends, has representative Victor Anderson, represent Tim Fleming, representative Martin and friends. There's too many y'all for me to name. Representative Anderson is right now.

Speaker. Sorry for the delay, comrade, colleagues there. Today, we would like to recognize we have in the capital and around the the grounds here, the Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials. These, better known as Gavrio. These are the folks who are boots on the ground that are out there conducting our elections in the counties, counties, in the precincts, and we've got a group of them here.

If we got them waving up here, if y'all will stand. Thank you for what you do for the state of Georgia, the voters in Georgia, and we're glad to welcome you to the people's house. Thank you, mister speaker.

Thank you. Y'all got a hard job. We appreciate what you do, and keep working with us, please. Representative Glaze is recognized for another and this is PTA day. Alright.

So some folks are gonna join you. Education. Mister chairman, chairman Erwin, PTA day. Great organization. Thank Thank you, representative Glaze.

Let the lady is rec wait. Hold hold just a moment. Now the lady is recognized.

Thank you so much. We want to welcome Georgia PTA in the house with us. They're in the gallery, and we're gonna start with their president is with us, Anita Higgins Jones and her executive team. This is Georgia PTA president for 2026. She has her legislative, support with her, Weldon Johnson.

And downstairs, we have first sergeant Charleston with the Duluth High School Naval ROTC. As you guys know, the PTA was founded in 1897 where they give children a voice and improve the lives of children and youth throughout this state. They strengthen the connection between community and home. More than a century later, their purpose still remains the same and the foundational work is the reason why PTA continues to thrive across this nation. Georgia PTA is committed to supporting students, families with key initiatives.

They've also brought with them the first African American president of the National PTA, mister Olathe Thornton. I don't see him, but downstairs, you'll be able to hear and see the naval ROTC. Thank you so much for what you do and we're giving you a rouse of applause.

Yes. Thank you, sir.

And if we have students with us from PTA, please stand. Alright.

Great organize organization. You know it is about parents and teachers. Thank you all for being here. We appreciate you, and thank you for incorporating your young people today to be pages. Thank you for that, and welcome, young people.

Chairman Chokas from down in Sumter County, Americus, Georgia. Chairman Chokas.

Thank you, mister speaker. Members, please join me in welcoming the FFA students of Marion County Middle High School. Stand up, guys. They were brought here by their FFA teacher. Yeah.

Of course. John Hagan. These young men and women represent the best of Georgia's future. So go Eagles. Thank you, mister speaker.

Thank you.

Thank you, representatives. Welcome to the people's house. Love those jackets. We appreciate y'all being involved. It is about you all and about Georgia's future.

That completes our morning orders. We'll move on to the rules calendar. Mister Clerk, will you read the caption to house bill nine four five nine forty five?

House bill nine forty five by representative Williamson of the hundred and twelfth and others to be entitled in act to amend title seven of the official code

of Chairman Williamson is recognized to present house bill nine four five. Mister chairman.

Thank you, mister speaker. As as speaker says, it's always a great day to be a Georgian. It's particularly great day as we are we are able to join together this morning in representing, representative of of honoring representative Jackson for a lifetime of service and achievements. So it's it's a double great day. But I'm here before you, members and colleagues, to present you, house bill nine forty five by committee substitute l c six two zero three one zero s.

This house bill is the department of banking and finance's annual housekeeping bill. As always, it's a comprehensive and very practical update to Georgia's financial laws. This bill contains revisions to all the laws comp, impacting our financial provider landscape, which includes banks, credit unions, merchant acquirer, limited purpose banks. For those of you that don't know, that's the intermediary banks that facilitate our credit card transactions, foreign bank officers offices, installment lenders, and the like. It comes with the support of all the respective associations and interested parties that, regular that, are part of the financial landscape, including the Georgia Bikers Association, Community Bankers, and Georgia Credit Union affiliates.

As I mentioned, always we're doing technical conforming updates, streamlining merger and notification procedures, financial institutions, we're updating credit report requirements, clarifying exemptions for federally insured institutions, and updating mortgage, installment loan, and fair lending provisions. But importantly, this measure this year includes three major new updates. First, the bill gives banks and credit unions the ability to temporarily pause suspicious transactions when they reasonably mister speaker, I just left. I lost my notes. That is just my luck this morning.

It's happened to me quite often.

Thank you, mister speaker. When we when we suspect, an elderly disabled adult is being financially exploited. We know the problem we have in this country right now, financial fraud on the elderly pop population. It almost hit a quarter of $1,000,000,000 in lost funds last year. So this this year, this bill will allow us to have some appropriate guardrails for the first time, allowing our financial institutions to sort of be a front line of defense for our elderly and, disabled population.

Key features would include that the financial institutions when they suspect financial fraud and they've been properly trained to to find this fraud would be able to put a temporary hold only on the suspicious transaction. Importantly, only on the suspicious transaction, not on the customer's other funds, for up to fifteen days while they got to the bottom of it. It would allow, the account holder appoint a trusted contact, someone in the family or a trusted adviser that the financial institution could contact to make sure that the the the transaction was legitimate. It would require the financial institutions to have internal policies, procedures, and employee training. In in in turn for that, it would provide limited liability protections for institutions which are operating in good faith, protecting our seniors and the disabled populations funds.

So the bottom line, this feature provides a practical time limited tool to stop scams before the money is lost while still preserving customer access to the regular transactions. Second, for the first time, this bill would put guardrails around virtual key currency kiosks, which is or which are often called crypto ATMs. This, measures will require clear fraud warnings, full fee and pricing disclosures, transaction receipts, fee caps, and daily limits for transactions. Those key features would include, daily transaction limits of $2,500 for new customers and $10,000 for existing customers. Importantly, we'd offer for the first time refund rights for victims of fraud.

If the fraud is reported within the first five days, they would be able to get the entire transaction back if they were able to approve it from the current from the ATM operator. So it wouldn't go off into into cyberspace and be unrecoverable. After five days, the account holder, if they were able to prove filed, it would, it would be limited to the transaction fee that the kiosk operator, would have otherwise been in, had the rights to. And finally, this house bill modernizes litigation finance financing oversight and our tort reform efforts last year. We did require the licensing of of, litigation financiers.

That bill required a one time one time registration. This bill will require annual registration to make sure if a company's litigation finance firm sole, we would know who the new owners are. It would allow us to do the criminal back down checks on the new owners. It would give authority to the Department of Bank and Finance to issue cease and desist orders on financial, litigation financiers that were not registered. This would improve transparency around foreign ownership and funding sources.

In short, mister speaker and members, this bill protects consumers, especially our seniors and modernizes our laws for today's financial realities. Gives regulators the tools they need without stifling legitimate business. It doesn't cost the state anymore to do this, so it's it's, financially friendly to the taxpayer. That being said, mister speaker, I'd be happy to answer any questions members that may have.

The gentleman has a couple of questions, and then we have a member who will speak in favor. Up the center of our reps are Lynn Smith. Charlie Smith is recognized for a question.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you. Gentleman, Neil?

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you for bringing this bill to us. If this bill had been in place, would it have prevented a Ponzi scheme that occurred by some bad actors in my community?

That's a great question. But, no, ma'am. This would not have had anything to do with that. That would have been, the the securities, division of the secretary of state's office. This bill, is is designed to protect, consumers, banking assets, banks and and savings and loan.

But it's the right sentiment though. Bottom line, there's fraudsters out there everywhere. This bill would protect another set of,

cases.

Thank you. Thank you for all the safeguards in the bill.

Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Gentleman, Gil. Representative Barnes to your left. I have a question, representative Amati Barnes.

Thank you, mister speaker. Does the gentleman Yield?

Yes. Yes, ma'am. I do.

Thank you. Does this bill protect seniors from things like, the text messages that may come to their phones and they press it and

it No. Unfortunately, it doesn't. This is just a good first step where the funds are being, withdrawn from our depository institutions in Georgia.

I still appreciate that.

We need to figure out how to do it. Again, we're just making our baby steps towards protecting the the things we can do right now.

Yes. I still appreciate the first step. Thank you.

Thank you, representative.

Representative Holcomb to your left is recognized for a question.

Thank you, mister speaker. Does the gentleman yield?

I do.

Help me understand something. On page six at the top of it, it says, if a financial institution has reasonable cause to suspect that a transaction may involve, facilitate, institution may, so it's optional, but it's not required to place a hold on the execution of a financial transaction on an account. If they have reasonable cause to suspect that something is problematic, why is it a may?

Well, this bill would have the institutions voluntarily opt in for the training piece of it. In return for that, there would be some limited liability protections for them. Absent that training and absent that opt in, then there there would be, I guess at risk for to our friends in the trial bar. I I can't answer that, as far as may I I know well, let me put it this way, representative Holcomb. I don't know of any, of our state regulated institutions which we'll talk about, state chartered banks and state chartered credit unions that would intentionally let a customer get out the door when they they suspected financial fraud.

I believe that they would do everything they could to get a branch manager over or the one of the officers of the bank to talk through before they let somebody walk out with a sack full of cash to go put one of these cryptocurrency machines.

I I agree with you that on page eight

Okay.

They have, protection for if they implement hold, meaning that they have reasonable, cause to suspect that there's something problematic.

Direct me to the line, please.

Sure. It's section seven Dash1Dash23918. It begins on line 181. So that makes sense to me if they're protected in the event that they have reasonable cause to suspect that there's some type of financial fraud taking place, but we don't have a similar protection for if they don't. So if they have reasonable cause and don't act

No.

And that's the part that I'm not sure I understand.

You know, I'm don't have a law degree as you do, representative. But this line one eighty two is only gonna apply if they have opted in and gone through the established policies, procedures, and train their personnel. That's my understanding of the reading of the bill.

Okay. I I read it as if they act and place a hold, then they wouldn't be subject to liability by doing so. But I'll take another look at that.

Happy to get with you offline if there is any kind of ambiguity in that, happy to work with you moving forward.

Alright. My last question, if I may, is on the crypto side. If you go to page 19, line four fifty one, The fee commission spread or other charges shall not

exceed Sorry.

Nine page 19 by pagination line line four fifty one of the bill. Okay. It allows the fee commission spread or other charges to be 18%. 18% seems really high.

I agree with you. And that was discussed at LinkedIn committee. And by the way, our banking committee, this did did come out unanimously. We had great discussions. It's similar to what we're talking about early in this, that we have so much, fraud going on that there's so many things we need to do.

This is the first step to regulate these unregulated machines right now. But as I understand it, these machine operators are collecting up to 30% fee right now without any kind of customer protections. This 18% does, contemplate the fact that if there is financial fraud and you're able to prove it within the first five days or get them involved, law enforcement involved within the first five days, there is a full custom refund of that transaction, which is not the case now. So that would, obviously, drive up the cost to the, kiosk operator. So that's where I kinda reconcile that well, okay.

Least it's not 30%. Percent. 18% is still pretty high, but they're gonna have a pretty good bit of exposure because there's a lot of scamsters out there and hopefully a lot of customers that get duped into it then that first five days would get their money back. So that would drive up their cost.

Okay. Thank you.

Yes, sir. Mister Speaker, if you happen to answer any other questions.

You have several more.

That is, sir.

Park Cannon is recognized to your left. Right out front is recognized for questions. Yes, sir.

Thank you, mister speaker. Do you yield?

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you so much. I am excited to see legislation around cryptocurrency in our state. There are many other states that are leading in this, but we can lead in the South. My question is, as it permits, do you know how many of the crypto ATMs are in this state at this time?

I do not.

Okay. And then do you yield for another question?

Yes, ma'am.

On line 360, it seems like it gets a little

While you're while you're looking at that, I should say probably too many. I'm not a fan of these, but they're out there and I think they need to be regulated.

Mhmm. Okay. Line three sixty seems to get a little subjective. It says, virtual currency transactions are frequently used by persons seeking to defraud customers.

Give me that line number again, please.

360.

Yes, ma'am.

Ma'am. I was just wondering if there is any factual basis for that and particularly, have you spoken with the Atlanta Blockchain Center or any of the other outstanding crypto agencies in the state?

I know that the crypto, machine owners are very much in favor of this bill. I know that we were approached by them and they had discussions with the crypto currency crypto ATM, universe. I'll say that I was not at the table with any of the blockchain people. I wouldn't even understand that part of representative, but I understand it's complicated. Maybe representative Jones might be able to help us on that next time.

But it's it's again, it's just a good faith effort to protect those at risk seniors that are walking in there. And, I'm I'm not it's not limited to seniors. I take that back in this in this part of the bill. It would protect anybody, within the first five days, for a new customer that transactions will be limited $2,500. And again, that's just an effort to have and the kiosk operators agreed to it because the scamsters gonna come in, use artificial intelligence, whatever, to have their sounds like their granddaughter's calling grandmother.

She's in jail. It's gotta have cash. It's gotta be cash. It's gotta be put through a go to this cryptocurrency machine and this would just, help tamper the the, the fraudsters efforts in that regard.

Gentlemen, you're representing Barrett to your left right out front is recognized for a question. Representative Karl Barrett.

Does gentleman yield?

I do.

Is it not true that there's just an alarming increase in incidence of financial fraud and abuse of senior citizens in the state of Georgia and all over this country today?

Sir, as I referenced, almost a quarter of $1,000,000,000 last year, according to official estimates.

And does the gentleman further yield? Indeed. Is it not true that the many of the members of the banks and banking committee have spent an inordinate amount of time in the last year talking about financial abuse and fraud in the state of Georgia and everything from Ponzi schemes, etcetera, and and ways to to batten down the hatches to protect seniors and all Georgia families from financial abuse and fraud?

That's correct. And to that point, again, as I previously mentioned, all the regulated industries are at the table and I forgot to mention the consumer protection people, from all the all the non profit entities that are helping protect consumers were aware of it as well.

And does the gentleman further yield?

I do.

With considerable banking experience, do you consider this first step as a a very important measure from a community bank perspective?

I do.

To help

This is

the first step. We have zero protections now and this is a great first step towards getting our arms around. And I look forward to the day where we can figure out how to stop the scamsters on the techs that were alluded to earlier. But, mister speaker, with that being said, I'm gonna yield the well and ask for the body's favorable consideration.

We had a couple of more questions, but gentlemen, as you yield the well, representative Sandra Scott is recognized to speak to the bill. Representative Scott.

Thank you, mister speaker. I can say that thank you for the bill, representative Williams, because I was a victim of of a scam, sort of like that where I was on my computer and Microsoft came in and said, oh, your antivirus, need to be redone and they were working in the back of my computer, they could see everything on my computer and they was going in just having me to go around and then when they start talking about you need to pay $50 because your account need to be thinking, and I got to thinking, okay, I don't even have Microsoft, everything buzzed, but, I jumped up and I ran out the house and went straight to the bank. I went straight to the bank. Once I realized that this is a scam, I said, this is a scam. They were like, no, no, no, you need to and then they were trying to tell me how to deposit the money, how I need to go by depositing money, and they was working in the back of my computer, really trying to get into my account.

And so I just kept them on the phone and I wrote down to my bank and I said, I'm trying someone is trying to scam me, someone is trying to scam me, and I'm calling my son to tell him, call and cancel my bank account, call and cancel my bank account, and I still have him on the phone, and I got in the bank, and, thank God no one was in the bank, so I was able to run up to the teller and say, is someone working in the back of my computer? And so she got on the computer and she went to going through it all, and she said, yep. And and she was able to freeze my account, and she said, you are lucky. She said, because last week a couple came in here and they were not that lucky. She said, by the time we flipped over to the screen, all their money was gone.

They saw the money up there and the next one we flipped over, all their money was gone. So I thank you for bringing this bill because we definitely need some protection and we need the protection for people to be able to go into your computer in the back screen and do something about that too. So thank you for bringing this bill, and I ask you all for your favorable favorable consideration for this bill. Thank you, and I yield the well.

Thank you, representative Scott. I'm glad you were smarter than they were. No doubt about that. You protected yourself. That completes our discussion on house bill nine forty five.

Representative Holcomb, I thank Jeremy Williams. We glad to work together. And if there's some concerns, we can correct them, over in the Senate. And if we need to, we'll get it back here. Thanks for your insight.

Thank you, representative Williams. That completes our discussion. Is there any objection to the previous question being ordered? Hearing none, the previous question is ordered. Is there any objection to adopting the committee's substitute?

Hearing none, the committee's substitute is adopted. Is there any objection to agreeing to the report of the committee, which was favorable to the passage of the bill? Hearing none, the report the committee has agreed to. Shall this bill now pass? All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote yes.

All those opposed, we'll vote no. And, mister Clerk, will you unlock will you unlock the machine? Have all members voted? All members voted. If so, mister Clerk, will you lock the machine on the passage of house bill nine four five, the yays are 161, the nays are five.

This bill, having received a requisite constitutional majority, is therefore passed. Mister Clerk, will you read the caption to house bill nine eight zero nine eighty?

House bill nine eighty by representative Bonner of the seventy third and others being titled an act to amend chapter 12 of title 50, the official put of Georgia Annotator relating to commissions and other agencies so to create the Georgia Ireland Trade Commission to provide for members and purpose of the commission and to provide for annual reporting. This bill have been referred to the committee on economic development and tourism. That committee recommends that this bill do pass.

Chairman Bonner is recognized to present the bill.

Thank you, mister speaker. Good morning, colleagues. Bring to you today house bill nine eighty. Thank you. I'll be presenting house bill nine eighty, which creates the Georgia Ireland Trade Commission.

This is a commission composed of 15 appointed members, four from the house, four from the senate, and seven, by the governor. The purpose of this commission is to advance bilateral trade between Georgia and the country of Ireland, to continue to pro promote business and academic exchanges, encourage mutual economic support, and encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of both Georgia and Ireland. There's no cost of this commission to the taxpayer as the commission will raise funds to do its work. Currently, there are 25 other states that have the same commission, and there are another 15 states that have this in process. Georgia and Ireland have a long history with deep economic and cultural ties.

As many of you know, Georgia Southern University maintains a campus in Wexford just south of Dublin. They are one of our largest trading partners, and Irish owned companies employ over 10,000 Georgians. This bill will further enhance that successful relationship and ensure that ensure that Georgia's continued access to profitable markets within The UK and the European Union. And with that, mister speaker, I'll entertain any questions.

Representative Roberts to your left, representative Shay Roberts to your left has a question. Ladies recognized.

Thank you, mister speaker. Isn't it true that I fully support this bill and signed on to it? And isn't it further true that I made a suggestion for one amendment that one of the two members of the house should automatically go to anyone who is actually a citizen of Ireland? Good point. And and is it also true that you said that would be a great argument to make to mister speaker?

Thank you very much.

Well, I appreciate, the cochair of the Georgia Ireland, Caucus, signing onto the bill and providing your support. Thank you.

So learned something today I didn't know. Thank you. Representative Tran is recognized for a question. To your left in the back.

Thank you, mister speaker. Does the gentleman yield?

I do.

Is it not true that Ireland's grown one of the largest medical technology hubs, and by them expanding operations here to work with Georgia Tech, it helps the health of our state?

Absolutely. Well said, and I completely agree.

Does the gentleman yield for one more question?

I do.

Would it be beneficial for us to have this relationship so that we perhaps in a future renovation have a similar drinking hole that they have in their capital?

The gentleman knows of what he speaks.

Not sure we can duplicate what they're doing there in that in that particular part of the capital. We've been there. The back corner could be the Irish advocates. Let's see. Representative Reese.

Thank you, mister speaker. Does it gentlemen yield?

I do.

Isn't it true that right now as a state, we share a great relationship with the country of Ireland and that this commission will help us expand upon that relationship and trade relations certainly benefit in our port.

I wholeheartedly agree. Thank you.

And isn't it further true that a delegation of members went to Ireland this summer? And I also visited Ireland not on that trip, but separately. And they showed me the same level of respect and appreciation and love for our state as they did when the delegation was there.

Absolutely. The Irish people are fantastic. They love Americans and they are they are, excited about this new relationship that we're better entering to. With that, mister speaker

You have one more. I apologize. Representative Bazemore. Right to your left is recognized.

Thank you, mister speaker. Does the gentleman yield?

To my friend, I do.

Thank you. And isn't it true that you headed a delegation to go to Ireland, and I was one of those individuals that went. And it is important for us, as we went over there, to continue to build a relationship and to work with them, especially since they have such a connection with Georgia.

Absolutely. I would I would agree with that. The connections that we made during those trips were fantastic and to learn about the investment that Ireland has made in our state and the opportunities we have in the country of Ireland as well.

Thank you for the bill.

Thank you. With that, mister speaker, I will yield the will.

Gentlemen has yielded the will. Thank you for bringing the bill. Thank you, members, for engaging in that good Irish conversation. Is there any objection to the previous question being ordered? Hearing none, the previous question is ordered.

Is there any objection to agreeing to the report of the committee, which was favorable to the passage of the bill? Hearing none, the report of the committee has agreed to. Shall this bill now pass? All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote yes. All those opposed we'll vote no.

And, mister Clerk, will you unlock the machine?

Have all members voted?

All members voted. If so, mister clerk locked the machine. On the passage of house bill nine eighty, the yeas are 166, the nays are two. This bill having received a requisite constitutional majority is therefore passed. Members, you just made the day of a great friend of ours, senator Mark Daley from Ireland, who's worked been near this building many, many times and hosted many of you who've visited Ireland.

He's a really good man and a great public servant. Congratulations, Senator Daley. We appreciate your involvement and your cooperation. And by the way, the Ryder Cup will be there in 2027 in Ireland. So good for our Irish friends.

Mister Clerk, will you read the caption to house bill six twenty nine?

House bill six twenty nine by representative Hawkins, the twenty seventh and others to be entitled back to amend part three of article 16 to chapter two of title 20. The official code of Georgia relating to health so as to remove the requirement of having a licensed physician in automated external defibrillator programs. This bill I've referred to the committee on health. That committee recommends this bill do pass by committee substitute.

Chairman Hawkins, are you ready, sir? Yes, sir. Chairman Hawkins is recognized to present the bill.

Thank you, mister speaker. Before you, you have house bill six twenty nine. This bill, actually does a couple different things. One, it removes the requirement of the physician in the establishment of AED training in in the grammar schools. Originally, we just did high schools.

They had physicians in there. This was way back in the time when the AEDs were more complicated. Joe came to me and said after we had the bill last year, we need some help. There's too many elementary schools, too too few physicians in the rural areas, and also the AEDs are now, automated to a point where you place the pads on the chest, press a button, and it tells you what to do or what not to do. Also added to this bill this year is stop the bleed kits.

This was brought to me by Northeast Georgia Medical Center who has an affiliate over in Bexar County. Unfortunately, the shooting there at the school of Appalachia, brought this to the attention of the school systems. So this bill adds stop the bleed kits to the schools along with the AEDs to be capped in the same location. The funding for this comes from the trauma commission, so there's no financial impact to the state. This will create more safety and save more lives in the schools and our children in the state.

If there are no questions, mister speaker, I will ask for your You

do have a question. I'm sorry. I was distracted by the Irish. Represent representative doctor Newton to your right has a question. Yeah.

Thank you, mister speaker. Does the gentleman yield?

Yes. Hallelujah.

Isn't this bill, an important bill? Didn't many of us with the American Heart Association yesterday met a young man, a middle schooler, who had gone up for a layup and and passed out and had no pulse and was revived by one of these, defibrillator, automated defibrillators. Right.

And

it isn't your bill going to get more of those by lowering some of the regulatory burden, getting them in more of our elementary and middle schools?

Yes. Yes. They're Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much

for the bill, sir.

Thank you. You have no further questions. Thank you. We do have one minute who would member who would like to speak in favor of the bill, representative Carter. We appreciate your advocacy on hearts, and we appreciate your speaking to the bill.

The lady is recognized.

Good morning. Thank you, mister speaker. I rise to ask your support for this legislation, and it's so appropriate that we're here in this bill today. I'll go red for women, but I also wanna tell you that there's a parent sitting in the gallery who had no idea that we will be talking about this legislation and who has experienced firsthand if a defibrillator had been in that school, that baby girl would still be with us. Teresa, let us acknowledge you.

Stand up. Please join us in voting for this bill. Amen. I know. I yield I yield the well.

Ladies, yield the well. That completes our discussion on house bill six twenty nine. Is there any objection to the previous question being ordered? Hearing none, the previous question is ordered. Is there any objection to adopting the committee's substitute?

Hearing none, the committee's substitute is adopted. Is there any objection to agreeing to the report of the committee, which was favorable to the passage of the bill? Hearing none, the report of the committee is agreed to. Shall this bill now pass. All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote yes.

All those opposed will vote no, and mister clerk will unlock the machines. Have all members voted? All members voted. If so, mister clerk, will you lock the machine? On the passage of house bill six twenty nine, the yays 168.

Nays are zero. This bill hadn't received a requisite. Constitutional majority is therefore passed. That completes the rules calendar. We'll move on to afternoon orders.

Here's how we're gonna do this. Representative Ali, we're gonna recognize you first, then it it then it will be representative Edna Jackson, and representative Stinson will be the last two. The gentleman's recognized.

Yep. Thank you, mister speaker. Members of this house, on the screen is Blake. Blake is a 13 year old boy in the DHS system. His tender heart, outgoing demeanor, and immense smarts all make him a rock in the people around him's lives.

And it will be for those that eventually choose to adopt him as well. But we need to make that possible. And we can do that at it's my turn now dot d h s dot georgia dot gov. It's where we can make a difference more than just legislation. Thank you so much, mister speaker.

Thank you so much, members of this house.

Thank you, representative. Representative Stinson or representative Jackson. Representative Edna Jackson. Representative Edna Jackson is is recognized. The lady will and she has some friends that with us.

Members, if you will join me and give the lady our attention, if you'll all stand with with us and join the lady, she offers condolence. We all stand and give the lady your attention, please.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you, mister chairman. I am going to relinquish this. I've asked my colleague to please Okay.

Present this resolution on behalf of the residents of the city of Savannah and all of Chatham County.

Thank you. Miss Edna.

Good Chatham County. And Chatham County. Okay.

In Chatham County. Commending Otis J Brock Junior, family friend and exemplary resident of Chatham County for a life of love, service and extraordinary accomplishments. Otis Brock was born 10/17/1933 in Montezuma, Macon County Georgia to Otis Brock senior and Ruby Brock. He was united in love and marriage to the lovely, Annette Kennedy Brock and devoted father to Donna and Otis and loving grandfather to Zuri, Zoe and Elijah. He served honorably in the United States Army during the Korean War era and matriculated to the Savannah State College where he was a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.

A star basketball player at Savannah State College coached by the legendary Theodore Ted Wright. Just outstanding athletic ability and humanity. He was the all ciak, athlete from 1953 to 1956 and ciak's most valuable player in 1955. Thirty years he served as a pivotal educator and administrator in Savannah Chatham County Public Schools. He was a teacher and coach at Saul C Johnson High School in Savannah, Georgia served as principal of Alfred Eli Beach high school for six years from 1971 to '76 and retired in '86 as director of secondary education for Savannah Chatham county public school system.

After retirement, he returned to Savannah State College his beloved alma mater as the college's second women's volleyball coach, women's cross country coach and as women's head basketball coach. His dedication aided the college now known as Savannah State University making the transition from n c double a division three athletics to n c double a division two and whereas Otis Brock junior was a lifelong devoted member of alpha phi alpha, the national association of guardsmen and the wolves club. He departed this life 01/28/2026 after a life of exemplary service to mankind. Now therefore let it be resolved. Thank you Otis Brock for an exemplary life and enduring friendship to all who knew and loved him.

And if we may recognize our friend Otis Brock with a moment of silence. Thank you. Thank you mister speaker, I yield the will.

Thank you representatives.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Quite exemplary life. What a great impact he's had on on his neighbors in Savannah. Members, if you remain standing, wanna recognize representative Patty Stinson and some friends. Number of them as she offers condolences for another passing. Emirates will give the lady in the well your attention, please, and your respect, and if you'll rise.

Thank you, mister speaker. Thank you, mister speaker. Colleagues, we rise in honor of the beautiful life and legacy of missus Barbara Palmer of Fort Valley, Georgia. Fort Valley State University mourns the passing of Barbara Palmer, a beloved member of the Fort Valley State University family whose legacy of service, generosity, and devotion to the institution will be felt for generations. Barbara Palmer graduated from Fort Valley State College in 1966 and remained deeply connected to the university throughout her life.

She served as faculty emeritus, gave generously as a donor and together with her husband Thomas Palmer spent many years on the Fort Valley State University's Foundation board. Their long standing support and leadership made a lasting impact on the university which is honored through their ballroom. The ballroom that's named in their honor located in the pedagogy pedagogy center there on the beautiful campus of Fort Valley State University. Missus Palmer was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a proud lifelong member of Delta Sigma Theta, and we are so honored to stand and recognize her life and legacy. And I'm a pause quickly for representative Teddy Reese.

Thank you, representative Stinson, and thank you for this beautiful tribute remembering miss Barbara Palmer. When we think about our HBCUs and we think about the matriculation on those campuses, some people may wonder why there's such love and such character and such energy around those institutions. And miss Palmer represents why that exists. It's not just a place of education, but it's a place of culture. It's a place of nurturing.

It's a place of personal growth, especially for those who felt that life opportunities may have fleeted them on many paths. So miss Palmer represent the generation of leaders who have spent their lives and sacrificed giving back to so many others so that they can be great joy Georgians. So on this day, we recognize her. We say thank you to her family for allowing her to be that beacon of light at Fort Valley State University for so many years. Thank you.

We want her family, the Palmer family, the four Valley State University family and the four Valley City community to know that Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal, and the Georgia House of Representatives will certainly be in prayer for them as they lay her on rep to rest on tomorrow afternoon with a beautiful homegoing celebration that has been planned in the Pettigrew Center at Fort Valley State University. And with that said, may we have a moment of silence. In Jesus name, amen. Thank you, colleagues.

Thank you, members. Great life, great service to our neighbors, but especially huge impact on Fort Valley State. That completes our afternoon orders. Mister Clerk, will you read the caption to a group of privileged resolutions?

Honoring the life and memory of Shly Lewis Perry junior. Honoring the life and memory of doctor Thomas l Coleman. Honoring the life and memory of George and Sally Lauderdale, recognizing and commending doctor Aduk Ahramov, Recognizing, commending the twenty twenty five Technical College System of Georgia award winners, recognizing the fifty second anniversary of the consulate general of Japan in Atlanta, recognizing and congratulating Annabelle Tidmore, miss Cobb County teen 2026. Congratulating the Carterville Middle School competition cheerleading team for winning the twenty twenty five GHSA class four a state championship. Congratulating the Cartersville High School competition cheerleading team for winning the twenty twenty five GHSA class four a state championship, recognizing commending roots and routes, Indo US Chamber of Commerce.

Honoring the Georgia Building Authority team for excellence in the restoration of the Georgia State Capitol, recognizing commending Dominique Verbel, miss Cobb County 2026, honoring and commending Spectrum News Georgia. Recognizing February 2026 is Georgia Donor Week at the State Capitol, commending the University of West Georgia cheerleading team. And for other purposes, that completes the reading of our privilege resolutions.

Is there any objection to adopting the privilege resolutions? Hearing none of the resolutions are adopted. We'll move on to announcements. Representative Barry is recognized for an announcement. We're almost done.

Thank you, mister speaker. City of Atlanta delegation will be meeting right after upon adjournment. We will have lunch in Capital 02:30. So city of Atlanta delegation meeting in Cap 230 after after German.

Thank you, mister speaker. Thank

you. Chairman Tyler Paul Smith. There he is. Gentleman's recognized.

Thank you, mister speaker. Your house judiciary noncival committee will meet thirty minutes upon adjournment. Thirty minutes upon adjournment in Capitol Room 132. Thank you, mister speaker.

01:32. Thanks for ringing our chaplain. Good man. We appreciated him. Representative Jasmine Clark is recognized for an announcement.

Thank you, mister speaker. If any members are interested in coming and greeting the members of the Georgia State Public Policy Club. We will be in 514 CLOB, at 11:00. There will be a light lunch there. But, yes, the students would love to meet with you all and learn a little bit more about you.

So, again, Georgia State University Public Policy Club, 11:00, Room 514, CLOB. Thank you, mister speaker.

Join the ladies at 11:00 and the students. That completes our announcements. Now listen up, members, for the man that never ages. He looks the same today as he did yesterday anyway, but I don't know. Well, we have a birthday on Saturday, February 7.

The clerk of this house, Bill Riley, will be separate celebrating a birthday. Thank you for your service, mister clerk. Many years young, many years, he is still an avid skier. That completes our work for the day. The majority leader of this house is recognized for a motion.

The administration

Thank you, mister speaker. I move that this house stand adjourned until 10AM on Monday, 02/09/2026.

On the motion of the majority leader, that this house stands adjourned until 10AM, Monday, 02/09/2026, all those in favor will say aye. All those opposed will say no. No. I think that it was close, but the eyes have it. We'll adjourn.

We'll see y'all on Monday. If you have pages today, if you'll join me, we have a quite a number of pages. Y'all will join me down front if you have a page today. Thank you, everyone.