Session Day 12: 2.04.26

Well, good morning, all members. Good morning. All members will please come to the floor of the house. We need to hear from the third branch of government today. So we'll get this started.

We can stay on time. Mister Clerk, will you ring the bell? All members if you're close by, you need to come to the floor. We're going to have the morning roll call. All members, please come to the floor so you can register your attendance.

We're going to have the morning roll call. All members present will please vote green to signify their presence in the chamber. And mister Clerk, will you unlock the machines? All members all members voted. All members voted.

All members voted. Yes. So so, mister clerk, will you lock hold Got in just under the wire. All members voted their presence. Thank all members now.

I voted all members. Under the seats, mister clerk, will you lock the machine? Lord, keep us. Will you close the doors? Keep them closed.

As is our custom here in the house, we will begin our day with scripture reading and prayer by our chaplain, after which we will pledge allegiance to the flag of our country. Our chaplain this morning will be introduced by the gentleman from the 172nd House District, representative Chaz Cannon. Representative Cannon.

Thank you, mister speaker. Good morning.

Good morning.

I have the honor and pleasure this morning of introducing the reverend George Wilcox Brown the third, also happens to be my first cousin. His father and my mother were brother and sister and grew up in, with their other two siblings in Griffin, Georgia. And as the only boy in my family, Will, was a brother I've never had. And I think we got a picture of him somewhere here. So I'm the one on the left, cool and collected, and he's the one on the right.

You know, I'm acting a fool. And he still does that today a good bit. So, born only seven days apart. March 31, March 23, We spent our youth terrorizing my sister, hunting, fishing on the farm. Every weekend we could spend together, we tried to, over holidays, great childhood, and, I was his best man in his wedding a few years back.

But he was born and raised in Griffin, spent his high school years in Virginia, attended the University of the South at Sewanee and Yale Divinity School. He was a Thomas j Watson Fellow and spent a year living with Christian monks in Europe, Africa, and the South Pacific. He was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia in 2006. He served for twelve years in Dallas, Texas and has been a priest at All Saints Episcopal Church in Thomasville, Georgia since 2018. He's published a book on theology and conservation, worked for several years as a consultant in the area of marine fisheries policy about the state and federal levels.

He's an avid hunter and outdoorsman and fisherman. He's married to Kate. They have two children, George Tucker and Stella May, and an English cocker named General Borgard. His great great great great grandfather, James Effinger, was a member of this body, the George House, from 1837 to 1841. Friends, I give you the reverend Will Brown.

Good morning. This is, the biggest church I've ever been in, I think. It's an honor to be here, and thank you, mister speaker, and thank you, cousin representative. Some of you know, representative Cannon got his start in field artillery, And it's fair to say, I think, that he really got his start when we were kids and we used to shoot each other with BB guns and bottle rockets. And that went on until he shot me in the eye one day, and then our parents put a quick halt to that.

But I think that's how he got his start in artillery. That's probably how I got my start as a man of peace. And, firm believer in peace now. It's one of the few things I have in common with Saddam Hussein's army as I've been shot at by colonel cannon. A serious note, I want to, acknowledge everybody here who served in our military and our law enforcement and, emergency services, all the people here who willingly have put themselves between us and the things, the powers in the world that would do us harm.

I never served myself, but I've told my wife I'm a veteran of a thousand psychic wars. And that's a good place to start with what I wanna say to you today in brief. We are at war. If you look at the news, I think you'll intuitively know what I'm talking about. We are at war.

It's a spiritual war, and we, I think, reflexively think that spiritual means nebulous and sort of unreal, but in fact, the opposite is the case. And lately, it's kind of starting to break out into the material order and not least into the domain of our politics. My dear legislators, in a certain sense, you are on the front lines of this war and I wanna distill a little bit of wisdom from God's word for you this morning. First, Saint Paul said we're fighting for an immortal crown, which means the stakes in this world in this war, the stakes are eternal stakes. Secondly, our enemies are not who we think they are.

We fight not against flesh and blood, not against people, but against principalities, against powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against spiritual wickedness in high places. We're fighting against three things, a corrupt and death bound world system, against Satan and against the lusts of our own flesh. In his great work, which some of you probably read, the Gulag Archipelago, Alexander Solzhenitsyn contemplated how Russia in his day became such a totalitarian hellscape, and he came to this conclusion. He said, gradually, it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not where we think, not between nations and states, not between classes of people or races or even between political parties, but the line separating good and evil runs through the middle of every human heart. We all have the potential to do good or to do evil.

Three, that puts your work as legislators into a pretty important light. Our Georgia constitution says that our government exists to perpetuate the principles of free government, to ensure justice to all, to preserve peace, to promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and of the family, and to transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty. That's a pretty good distillation of the principles of liberal government everywhere. But here's the thing, in 1798, John Adams wrote to the Massachusetts militia. His words are as apt or more apt perhaps today than they were in 1798.

Said this, we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions, unbridled by morality and religion. Our constitution, and this applies to our Georgia constitution as well as to our federal constitution, our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. And it is entirely inadequate for the government of any other. That means that your work as a legislature is hard, and I think it's gonna get harder as time goes on. But it's also crucially important, And it means your work has to begin in your own heart and in your own home, with your own family and your own relationships with other people.

And only with such a beginning, only with such a grounding, will your work in this place be a radiant blessing to your constituents and to the rest of our state and to our nation as God intends it for it to be. If you'll bow your heads, I wanna pray for you. Stand if you're able. Almighty God, fountain of all wisdom, your statutes are good and gracious and your law is truth. We thank you for the state of Georgia, our home.

You've given this good land to us for our heritage. We humbly ask you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our state with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion. From pride and arrogance and from every evil way.

Defend our liberties and fashion into one united people, the multitudes whom sin, Satan and self interest would seek to divide. Guide and bless this house, and do its members with the spirit of wisdom together with the senate and with our governor. And especially today, we pray for the judiciary, all of whom we, the citizens, have entrusted with the authority of government. Grant that this body may obtain may ordain for our governance only such things as please you to the glory of your name and the welfare of our people. Grant that there may be justice and peace throughout Georgia And that through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the states of our nation and among the nations of the earth.

In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with gratitude. And in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to falter.

All of

which we ask through Jesus Christ, your son, our lord. Amen. If you'll remain standing and join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America,

Doorkeepers, you may unlock the doors. Now that was that you didn't you didn't even score with him when he talked about that photo of you as babies. But I can look at these two, and I know who won the battles when they were growing up, though. Don't y'all know? No doubt.

Brother Will, thank you for those words. They are inspiration to us. We appreciate you being here. You may join brother Will in the South any room and give him your thanks for being here. Charlie Taylor Charlie Darlene Taylor, would you join us up on Charlie Taylor?

Would you join us? Members, our doctor of the day is doctor Shami Das, and doctor Das is brought to us by one of our own representative Mary Margaret Oliver. Thank you for bringing our doctor of the day today. Chairman Hilton, the chair of the committee on information and audits is recognized. Chairman Hilton.

Good morning, mister speaker. Your committee on information audits has read the journal the previous legislative day, and we found it to be correct.

Thank you, mister chairman. Chairman Hilton, the chair of the committee on information audits, reports that the journal of the previous legislative day has been read and found to be correct. Is there any objection to dispense with the reading of the journal? Hearing none, the reading of the journal is dispensed with. Is there any objection to the confirmation of the journal?

Hearing none, the journalist confirmed. Mister Clerk, will you read the resolution establishing the order of business for the day? Mister Clerk.

Representative of the station of the Hundred 4th Moose, following the established order of business during the first part of the period, unanimous consents, introduction bills and resolutions, first reading and reference of house bills and resolutions, second reading of bills and resolutions, reports of standing committees, first reading in reference of senate bills and resolutions, warning orders.

Is there any objection to the adoption of the resolution establishing the order of business for the day? Hearing none, the resolution is adopted. Thank you, members. First reading of bills and resolutions, the clerk will read.

House bill eleven sixty three by representative Reeves. Ninety ninth Hawkins twenty seventh, Newton to the hundred and twenty seventh, Hatchett to the hundred and fifty fifth, Iowa the fiftieth and others. It'll be titled an act to amend chapter 13 at title 51. The official go to Georgia Annotator relating to recovery and medical malpractice actions. Judiciary.

House bill eleven sixty four by reps way to the ninth, hatchet of the hundred and fifty fifth. Jones at the forty seventh, Irwin of the thirty second, Campbell of the fifteenth, and others. They'll be titled an act to amend title 20 in the official code of Georgia Annotator relating to education. Education. House Bill eleven sixty five by reps of Scott of the seventy six, Cameron of the first, Davis of the eighty seventh, Scofield with sixty third, and Taylor the ninety second.

It'll be titled an act of men chapter eight to title 50 of the official code of Georgia annotator relating to Department of Community Affairs.

State planning and community Affairs.

House bill eleven sixty six by representative Herring in the hundred and forty fifth, Oliver the eighty fourth Fry, the hundred and twenty second, Washburn in the hundred and forty fourth, Roberts the fifty second, and others. They'll be titled back to amend chapter 66, the title 36, the official code of Georgia annotated relating the zoning procedures, obtaining the counties and municipal corporations. Governmental affairs. 67 by representative Dawson of the 60, Hawkins of the twenty seventh, Greene in a hundred and fifty fourth, Kelly the sixteenth, Glaze the sixty seventh, and others. They'll be titled an act to amend chapter four, title one, and article one of chapter two a, and title 31 of the annotated relating holidays and observances.

Special rules.

House bill 68 by representative Huddleston the seventy second will be titled an act to provide a homestead exemption from the Kern County School District out of alarm taxes. Intergovernmental

coordination.

House bill 11 nine by representative of Campbell the Hun thirty fifth and May the act of the eighty second. Bill will be titled an act to authorize the assessment collection of a technology fee by the probate court of Spalding County.

Intergovernmental coordination.

House bill eleven seventy by representative Camp of the hundred thirty fifth and May the Act of the eighty second. Bill be titled and act to authorize the assessment collection of a technology fee by the state court of Spalding County.

And governmental coordination.

Hospital 11 '71 by reps Frey, the hundred and twenty second, Oliver the eighty fourth, Williams of the of the thirty seventh, Gilead the hundred and sixty second, Blaze the sixty seventh, and others. Bill be titled act amendment article one of chapter seven of title 44 of the official code of Georgia annotated relating to general provisions regarding landlord and tenant. Judiciary. House bill eleven seventy two by representative Camp of the hundred and thirty fifth and May the act of the eighty second. Bill be titled and act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the magistrate court of Spalding County.

Intergovernmental coordination.

House bill 73 by representative Scott of the 76, plaintiff the 100, Davis the eighty seventh, and Schofield the sixty third. They'll be taught an act to amend titles twenty, thirty four, and 45. Now the official code of Georgia annotated relating to education, labor, and industrial relations.

Industry and labor.

House eleven seventy four by representative Draper, the ninetieth, Parker the hundred and seventh, Roberts fifty second, Crawford of the eighty ninth, and Oliver the eighty fourth. They'll be titled an act to amend chapter one of title 34 of the official code of Georgia and the data relating to general provision regarding labor and industrial relations. Industry and labor. House bill 75 by representative Neal, the seventy ninth, the bill will be titled an act to amend article one of chapter eight of title 16 in the official code of Georgia annotated relating to theft.

Judiciary, non civil.

House eleven seventy six by representative Cannon, the hundred and seventy second, Huddl's seventy second, Rose, hundred and twenty fourth, Dickie, the hundred and thirty fourth, and Stevens, the hundred and sixty fourth. They'll be titled an active men, title 48 of the official code of Georgia, annotated relating of revenue and taxation. Ways and means. Eleven seventy seven by representative Williams, a hundred and sixty eighth, Oliver, the eighty fourth, Friday, the hundred and twenty second, Stevens, a 100 and Delosha, the hundred and sixty seventh, and others. It will be titled in Actum in chapter 62 and title 36 for the official code of Georgia and its editor relating to develop development authorities.

Governmental affairs.

House eleven seventy eight by representative Horner, the third, Tarvin of the second, first hundred and nineteenth, Scoggins the fourteenth, Ridley the sixth, and others. It'll be titled an act to amend article one of chapter five of title 28 of the official code of Georgia annotator relating to general provision regarding financial affairs.

Budget and fiscal affairs oversight.

House bill eleven seventy nine by representative Stevens, the hundred and sixty fourth Green and the hundred and fifty fourth. Townsend in a 170, Bonner the seventy third, Gamble the fifteenth, and others. The bill be titled in act to amend article three chapter 13 at title 48. The official code of Georgia Annotator relating excise tax on rooms, lodging, and accommodations.

Ways and means.

Eleven eighty by Grove, the 100 Campbell, a hundred and thirty fifth Reeves, and the ninety ninth Washburn, and the hundred and forty fourth. Paris, the hundred and forty second, it'll be titled active in chapter 26 of title 50 of the official code of Georgia annotator relating to Georgia Housing and Finance Authority.

Governmental affairs.

House resolution 12 o one by representative Scott of the seventy sixth, Davis of the eighty seventh, Scofield sixty third. A resolution recognizing ambassador Davisha l Johnson. Special rules. House resolution 12 o two by representative Scott of the seventy sixth, Davis of the eighty seventh, Scofield sixty third. A resolution recognizing National Immunization Week.

Special rules.

House resolution 12 o three by representative Scott of the 76, Davis the 87, Scofield the sixty third. A resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution goes to provide that the general assembly made by general law provide a

trust fund. You just judiciary.

House resolution 12 o four by representative Hawkins, the twenty seventh, Newton, the hundred and twenty seventh, Cooper, the forty fifth, Jasper's, the eleventh, and Hughley, the hundred and forty first. A resolution recognizing the burden of lung cancer in The United States and state of Georgia.

Special rules.

House resolution 12 o five by reps Barry, the fifty sixth, Hannah, the fifty eighth, Bella, the seventy fifth, Huegley, the hundred and forty first, Williams, a hundred and sixty eighth, and others. The resolution recognizing the honorable Abel Mabel Thomas in dedicating an intersection, her honor.

Transportation. Senate

bill three eighty two by senator Hufstedler, the fifty second, Albers, the fifty sixth, Walker, the twentieth, Anna DeVarda, the thirty first, Hatcher of the fiftieth, and others. They'll be titled an active event chapter five with title 48 of the official code of Georgia and Taylor relating to ad valorem taxation of property. Ways and means. Senate bill, four twenty by senator Echols, the forty ninth, Anderson, twenty fourth, Gooch, fifty first, Anna Duarte, the thirty first, Still, the forty eighth and others will be titled an act of amend code section twenty seven two twenty three for the official code of Georgia an update relating license permit tag and stamp fees.

Game, fish, and parks.

That completes first readers.

Second reading reading of bills and resolutions. Mister Clerk, will you read?

House house bill eleven seventeen by representative Franklin with a hundred and sixtieth, Smith with the eighteenth, Stevens with a hundred and sixty fourth, Chuckers with a hundred and fifty first, Gamble with the fifteenth, and others. A bill relating to unfair trade practices and motor vehicle accident reparations. House bill eleven eighteen by representative Donatucci of the 100, Jones of the forty seventh, Cooper of the forty fifth, Chokas with a hundred and fifty first, Green of the hundred and fifty fourth, and others. Bill relating to general provisions relative to personnel administration. House bill eleven nineteen by representative Carpenter of the fourth, Bonner of the seventy third, Stevens of the one hundred and sixty fourth, Gallaud of the nineteenth, Yarto of the hundred and fifty second, a bill relating to workers' compensation.

House bill eleven twenty by representative of the eighth, the bill to provide for an referendum for the purpose of ascertaining whether the electors of Union County desire the governing authority of that county to be changed. House bill eleven twenty one by representative Williams with a hundred and forty eighth, Hagan of a hundred and fifty sixth. Since end of the hundred and fiftieth, the bill relating to the term of superior court, house bill eleven twenty two by Webster Douglas of '78, Newton of the '20 hundred and twenty seventh. Euclid the hundred and twenty first, Hawkins of the twenty seventh, Howard of the hundred and twenty ninth, the bill relating to general provisions regarding insurance. House bill eleven twenty three by Webster Jones of the forty seventh, Irwin of the thirty second, Hilton of the forty eighth, Ballard of the hundred forty seventh, Don Tutu, the hundred and fifth, and others.

A bill relating to other educational programs under the Equality Basic Education Act. House bill eleven twenty four by represent Panitch of the fifty first, Evans of the fifty seventh. Barrett of the twenty fourth, Tran of the eightieth, the bill relating to general provisions relative to state government. House bill eleven twenty five by representative Neal of the seventy ninth, Carpenter of the fourth, the bill to amend the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act. House bill eleven twenty six by representative Neil the seventy ninth, Carpenter of the fourth, the bill relating to imposition rate, computation exemptions, and credits regarding income tax.

House bill eleven twenty seven by representative Crawford of the 89th, Westbrook of the hundred and sixty third, Oliver the eighty fourth, with the hundred and first, Willis of the fifty fifth, and others. A bill relating to possession of dangerous weapons. House bill eleven twenty eight by representative Seba of the thirty fourth, Gamble of the fifteenth, Wade of the ninth, Roy Kaiser of the hundred and fifty seventh, Bonner of the seventy third, and others. A bill relating to required notice regarding injured peace officers. House House bill eleven twenty nine by Rev Seeball of the thirty fourth, gamble of the fifteenth, weight of the ninth, obstruction of the hundred and fourth, hung of the 130 and others.

A bill relating to criteria for enterprise zone. House bill eleven thirty by Rev Seeball of the thirty fourth, gamble of the fifteenth, Rice of the one hundred and thirty ninth, the legislature of the hundred and sixty seventh, percent of the 176 and others, a bill relating to government transparency and campaign finance. House bill eleven thirty one by representative Hong of the hundred and third, Smith of the eighteenth, Saenz of the hundred and eightieth, Reeves of the ninety ninth, Scoggins of the fourteenth, a bill relating to warrants for arrest. House bill eleven thirty two by representative Franklin with a hundred and sixtieth, Stevens with a hundred and sixty fourth, Evans with the fifty seventh, Jones with the twenty fifth, Crow of the hundred and eighteenth, and others, a bill relating to general provisions relative to state sales and use tax. House bill eleven thirty three by representative of the hundred and thirty fourth corporate of the hundred and seventy fourth Campbell, the hundred and thirty fifth and Smith of the seventieth.

A bill relating to Georgia Environmental Finance Authority. House bill eleven thirty four by representative of the hundred and thirty fourth, Mathis of the hundred and thirty third, Powell thirty third and Smith hundred and thirty eighth. A bill relating to pawnbrokers, factors, bailies, acceptors, and depositories. House bill eleven thirty five by representative Hilton of the forty eighth, Jones of the forty seventh, Estration of the hundred and fourth, Canada the hundred and seventy second, Townsville the hundred and seventy ninth, and others, a bill relating to student scholarship organization. House bill eleven thirty six by Representative Glaze with the sixty seventh, Bryce with the hundred and thirty ninth, Franklin with the 100, Mitchell the eighty eighth, Williams with the hundred and sixty eighth and others, a bill to amend the Georgia Smoke Free Air Act of 2005.

House bill eleven thirty seven by Representative Silcox of the fifty third, Jasper's of the eleventh, Evans of the fifty seventh, Will's at the fifty fifth, Tran at the eightieth, and others. A bill to amend the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Act of 1965. House bill eleven thirty eight by representative Campbell with the hundred and thirty fifth, Jones with the forty seventh, Ballard with the 140, Price of the hundred and thirty ninth, Reeves with the ninety ninth, and others, a bill relating to a practice of pharmacy. House bill eleven thirty nine by representative Kemp of the hundred and thirty fifth and Matthew Heck of the eighty second, a bill to amend an act creating the Spalding County Water and Sewage Facilities Authority. House bill eleven forty by representative Hagan of the 156 and Williams with the 148.

The bill to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the magistrate court of Bin Hill County. House bill eleven forty one by representative Camp with the hundred and thirty fifth, Jenkins with the hundred and thirty sixth, Rice with a hundred and thirty ninth, Panitch with the fifty first, a bill relating to the right to obtain an independent medical evaluation or for pediatric specialty consult consultation. House bill eleven forty two by representative Hagen of the hundred and fifty sixth, Hong of the hundred and third, Jones of the forty seventh, Don Chiucci of the hundred and fifth, Reed of the ninety ninth, and others, a bill relating to courts and domestic relations. House bill eleven forty three by representative Scofield with sixty third, Buckner with the hundred and thirty seventh. Hughley with the hundred and forty first, Davis of the eighty seventh, Scott with the seventy sixth, a bill relating to general provisions regarding health.

House bill eleven forty four by representative Scofield, the sixty third. Cubley of the hundred and forty first, Buckner of the hundred and thirty seventh, Matthew Hick of the eighty second, Davis of the eighty seventh, and others, a bill relating to sales and use taxes. House bill eleven forty five by representative Paris of the hundred and forty second, Oliver of the eighty fourth, Holcomb of the hundred and first, five of the hundred and twenty second, Leverett of the hundred and twenty third, and others. A bill relating to tax exemptions. House bill eleven forty six by representative of the fifty ninth, Hughley of the hundred and forty first, Townsend of the hundred and seventy ninth, Westbrook of the hundred and sixty third, Herring of the hundred and forty fifth, and others.

A bill relating to general provisions relative to early care and learning. House bill eleven forty seven by representative of the 50, Blaze of the sixty seventh, Townsend of the hundred and seventy ninth, Wilkerson of the thirty eighth, Howard of the hundred and twenty ninth and others. A bill relating to general provisions relative to early care and learning. House bill eleven forty eight, by reference of Canada, the 170, Dickie, the hundred and thirty fourth, corporate, the hundred and seventy fourth, roads of the hundred and twenty fourth, Meeks of the hundred and seventy eighth and others, a bill relating to income tax, imposition rate, computation, exemptions, and credits. House bill eleven forty nine, by reference to Cooper, Cooper of the forty fifth, Jones of the forty seventh, Hawkins of the twenty seventh, Gitzler of the hundred and twenty first, Hagen of the hundred and fifty sixth, and others.

A bill relating to insurance generally. House bill eleven fifty by Rep. Powell of thirty third. Jones of the forty seventh, Christina of the hundred and sixty ninth, Don Chiu, the hundred and fifth. A bill relating to physicians assist and others.

House bill eleven fifty one by Representative Park of the hundred and seventh, Hughley of the hundred and forty first, Miller of the sixty second, Gitzler of the hundred and twenty first, Herring of the hundred and forty fifth, and others, a bill relating to medical assistance generally. House bill eleven fifty two by Representative Park of the hundred and seventh, Hughley with the hundred and forty first. Miller of the sixty second. Gisler of the one hundred and twenty first. Herring of the hundred and forty fifth and others.

A bill relating to computation of taxable net income. House bill eleven fifty three by representative Oliver the eighty fourth. Holcomb of the hundred first. Fry of the hundred and twenty second. Ali of the hundred and sixth.

Williams with the thirty seventh and others, a bill relating to imposition rate, computation, exemptions, and credits. House bill eleven fifty four by Ramsey Clark with the hundredth, Smith with the eighteenth, Gallatin with the nineteenth, Powell with the thirtieth and others, a bill relating to procedure for imposition of death penalty. House resolution house bill 55 by representative four of the hundred and seventieth, 13 of the hundred and sixty ninth, the bill to amend the night creating a board of commissioners of Tift County. House bill eleven fifty six by representative Richardson of the hundred and twenty fifth, Newton of the hundred and twenty seventh, Robert of the hundred and twenty third, Clifton of the hundred and thirty first Smith of the hundred and thirty eighth and others, a bill relating to local government. House bill eleven fifty seven by representative Evans of the fifty seventh, proclaimed one hundred and ninth, trainer of the eightieth, Blaze of the sixty seventh, Kendrick of the ninety fifth and others, a bill relating to minimum wage law.

House bill eleven fifty eight by representative corner of the third, Cox of the twenty eighth, illustration of the hundred and fourth, Fleming of the hundred and fourteenth, camp Campbell of the hundred and seventy first and others. A bill relating to general provisions regarding state government. House bill eleven fifty nine by representative Campbell of the fifteenth, St. Paul of the thirty fourth, Wade of the ninth, Blackman of the hundred and forty sixth, Williamson of the hundred and twelfth, and others. A bill relating to imposition rate, competition, exemptions, and credits relative to income taxes.

House bill eleven sixty by representative Crawford of the eighty ninth, Smith of the eighteenth, Evans of the fifty seventh, Hong of the hundred and third Kelly of the sixteenth, and others, a bill relating to tolling limitations. House bill eleven sixty one by representative of the ninety eighth, Clark of the one hundred and eighth, Santos of the hundred and seventeenth, Hong of the hundred and third, Reeves of the ninety ninth, and others, a bill relating to motor vehicles and traffic. House bill eleven sixty two by representative Holly of the hundred and sixteen, Sanchez of the hundred and seventeenth, Sanchez of the forty second, Lepton of the eighty third, Neil of the seventy ninth, the bill relating to records and reports relative to business corporations, miscellaneous provisions relative to limited liability companies. House resolution eleven seventy seven by representative Glaze of the sixty seventh, Rice of the hundred and thirty ninth, Mitchell of the eighty eighth, Williams of the hundred and sixty eighth, Buckner of the hundred and thirty seventh and others, a resolution urging pedestrians in Georgia to wear bright or reflective clothing at night. House resolution eleven seventy eight by Repzen Richardson of the hundred and twenty fifth, Newton of the hundred and twenty seventh, of the hundred and twenty third, Clifton of the hundred and thirty first, Smith of the hundred and thirty eighth and others, resolution proposing amendment to the constitution so as to remove the cap on benefits granted pursuant to the homeowners incentive adjustment clause.

House resolution 1,200 by Brebs and Gessler of the hundred and twenty first Draper of the ninetieth, Roberts of the fifty second, Tran of the eightieth, Olalie of the fifty ninth, and others a resolution urging the Georgia Secretary of State to continue to protect private and protected information contained in Georgia's photo registration list through second readers.

Reports

of standing committees. Mister Clerk, will you read?

Representative Matt Hatcher, the Hundred And 55th District Chairman on committee on appropriation submitted the following report. Mister speaker, your committee on appropriations has had under its consideration following bill of the house. We're expecting me to report the same back to the house with the following recommendation. House bill nine seventy three do pass by committee substitute respectfully submitted. Representative Matt Hatcher of the Hundred And 55th District, chairman.

Representative Sharon Cooper, the 45th District, chairman of committee and public and community health submitted the following report. Mister speaker, your committee on public and community health has had under its consideration following bills to the house and the senate. This is Doctor. Media reports the same back to the house following recommendation. House bill 57 do pass.

House bill seven seventeen do pass by committee substitute. Senate bill one sixty two, due passed by committee substitute, respectfully submitted. Representative Sharon Cooper of the 45th District. Sharon

Here we go. One, two, three.

That completes the reading of the reports of standing committees.

Alright, members. We have some business we need to attend to here, and it's called morning orders. We have some folks in the gallery members want to recognize. We we also have a deadline. It's called the state of the judiciary.

They will be here shortly. So you will have and we have a whole slew. Morning orders. Y'all have one minute. One minute to get your message out, and I'm gonna call on represent Derek Jackson, representative Jackson, and representative Gullet, you're on deck, then representative Ford, you're after representative Gullet.

Y'all clear the aisle, so representative Jackson alright. The house will come to order. Members in the center aisle take your conversation someplace else. Members give the attention who's to the members about to be in the well. Representative Derek Jackson is recognized for a morning order.

Representative Jackson.

Thank you, mister speaker. And I'll try to do this as quick as possible. We know we have some families from the coast that are visiting us today, and some of their loved ones were part of a a tragedy that took place fifty five years ago. Since the ground beneath Woodbine, Georgia shook with a force that could be felt for 50 miles, but for those in Camden County, the tremors didn't just shake the earth. They shattered families, silenced a generation of mothers, and left a scar on our state's history.

On 02/03/1971, the Theocco chemical corporation Building 1 M132 wasn't just a factory. It was a place where dreams were being built at a time when opportunities were scarce. Hundreds of local residents, primarily black women, went to work each and every day. But at 10:53AM, a spark in a curing room turned the building into a furnace. The fire was swift, and the explosion took 29 lives.

And mister speaker, if I can have everyone to stand as we remember these heroes and sheroes, Georgians that died on 02/03/1971, if I may just call their name, Emily Emma Lou Ashby, Lila Belle Baker, Doris Mae Brown, Maddie Lou Brown, Addie Mae Brown, Idelle Brown, Evelyn Beatrice Cason, Leola Cook, Bernice Corley, Mildred Bernice Dasher, Baylou, Beulah Mae Das Dawson, Dorothy Ann Dunham, Geneva Florence, Gladys Gasson, Mary Alice Gasson, Ethel Mae Henderson, Gladys Jackson, Mary Elizabeth Jackson, Lila Belle McGrew, Mildred McKnight, Julia May Moore, Katherine Patterson, Eleanor Porter, Inez Roberts, Ida Mae Salins, Beatrice Way, Saddie Lee Welch, and Mary Lee White. May we remember them always, and some of their family members will be are visiting the state today. Thank you, mister speaker.

Thank you, representative. I remember that tragedy, and it was just thank you for your remembrance. Thank you, members. Representative Gullett, chairman Gullett and friends, recognized for a morning order. Give the gentleman your attention, please.

Thank you, mister speaker. I rise today to recognize the host of chapter of Pauline County High School for its outstanding leadership and service. In just three years, this chapter has grown from 14 members to over 250 members, becoming one of the largest in the region and opening doors for students pursuing careers in health care through education, internships, and volunteer service.

Their work has already made a

real difference here at home, contributing to more than one thousand hours of community service and partnering with organizations like the American Red Cross and National Marrow Donor Program to support life saving efforts. This chapter has also earned recognition at the state and international levels, showcasing both Paulding County and Georgia with pride. We're honored to have, their student officers and advisor with us today, and I ask that you join in recognizing their exceptional work. Thank you so much.

Welcome to the capital. Representative Ford has a special group she wants to recognize on a special day. Representative Jacqueline Ford.

Thank you, speaker and members. Today, I'd like to recognize the Georgia Agribusiness Council. Hopefully, you enjoyed our breakfast this morning. Judd Howard and I are honored to represent our industry on the Georgia Agribusiness Council board, and we would like to welcome the leaders here from Georgia's number one industry. And I would especially like to recognize my friend Donna Stewart for being the first ever lady chair of the Georgia Agribusiness Council.

And I would also like to recognize the president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council, our fearless leader, Will Bentley, who we all know around the capital for receiving the 100 most influential Georgians this year by Georgia Trend Magazine. Congratulations, Will. Thank you.

We're gonna recognize two doctors now who happen also to be representatives. Doctor Al and doctor Newton, recognized from morning order. Chairman Carson, you're on deck, and representative Martinez.

Alright. Good morning, colleagues. We're here to acknowledge all our physicians and physician trainees who are here today for physician's day at the Capitol. If you could please stand.

Thank thank you all. You'll you'll see over 240, physicians and physicians in training that are visiting today. I know this body cares a lot about health care, about expanding residency so we can go from being the fortieth in the nation and physicians per capita. So we're excited that a lot of them have taken time out of their pretty busy schedules, to be on their own and come from all across Georgia from southern border to northern border. So I hope when you see some of them in white coats around there, you'll, you'll greet them, maybe get their cell phone number in case you ever need them back home, but, and share that yours with them.

So I think it'll be a a great day. Thank you, mister speaker.

Representative Martinez. Say Ray Martinez recognized for a morning order. Oh, wow. That's a fan club too. Oh, crap.

It must be paid.

I am.

They're classed

for you.

Yes, baby. Yes.

It

is. Thank you, mister speaker. I rise here today to celebrate Hispanic Day at the Capitol, mister speaker. Georgia is home to more than 1,000,000 Hispanics representing 11% of our population, residing all over our great state, including Hall, Whitfield, Gwinnett, and Fulton Counties, and cities of Norcross, Gainesville, Dalton, Middersville, and Columbus, contributing contributing over 52,200,000,000.0 in Georgia. 91,000 Latino businesses call Georgia home.

Latinos have the highest workforce of any group. I'd like to recognize Bob Unene, CEO of the great beans, Goya Foods. If you ever had those beans, he's the CEO. And and America First Politician Institute. Alright.

Victor.

I have to quiet down. I'm gonna have to do something. I don't wanna do.

Alright. You need to finish up, representative. Alphonso Aguilar supporting Hispanic family around the state. Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you for your participation. Okay. Members, we're we've run against a timeline here.

If you had signed up for a morning order and you have some people in the gallery, you need to come right down front. We're gonna do it very quickly. Very quickly. If you have people in the gallery, folks in the gallery, otherwise, we'll do your morning orders as an afternoon order if you're just recognizing a day. Yes.

Lady Cooper, you have folks in the gallery? Ladies recognized for morning order. Give the lady your attention, please.

Okay. Thank you, mister speaker. Today is public health day at the Capitol, and we have public health students and faculty from Augusta University, Emory University, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State, Mercer University, Morehouse School of Medicine and the University of Georgia. These are students committed to taking on and solving public health issues facing our state. They'll be in the South Wing from one to 02:30 this afternoon.

I hope you'll stop and see them and they're wearing salmon colored ribbons. If they're in the they're supposed to be in the gallery, please stand and let us say, welcome to the capital.

Thank you, representative. Representative Scofield, recognized for morning order.

Alright. Thank you, mister speaker. Ladies and gentlemen, this morning, many of us have shared very deeply personal stories, stories of family members, friends, colleagues who lived or have been touched by cancer, stories of loss, stories of survival, stories of courage, and stories that remind us that cancer does not discriminate, but it demands. Today, I'm honored to recognize the advocates, survivors, caregivers, volunteers of the American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network. Today being World Cancer Day, we recognize February 4 as Cancer Action Day, and we lift up those who are fighting cancer.

But not only those, but the survivors who walk in strength and resilience and the families that stand behind them. Thank you for your advocacy, courage, dedication. Will all you will you please stand, those in the gallery? Thank you for being here. Thank you for your voices.

Thank you for your stories. Thank you for reminding us why this work matters. Mister speaker, I'll yield you as well.

You for that recognition. Thank you for what y'all do.

Thank you. Thank you.

Working with a

Thank you.

Herbal disease, looking for solutions. Is there anyone else who has people?

They all do.

Representative Glaze and friends.

Thank you. We wanna stand and recognize the National School Counseling Week at the state capitol. Counselors throughout Georgia are visiting with us today. School counselors are employed in public, private, and parochial schools, and they make sure that the potential of our children reaches into the workforce of Georgia. And so we wanna say thank you for your work, and we have a president Gabby Brundwich with us today.

Thank you, counselors. We appreciate you.

Thank you, counselors. You do great work. We appreciate you being here. We have Burchett, leader of illustration and friends recognized from Warner.

Thank you, mister speaker.

It's a proud day for me. I've never had the opportunity to rep, to recognize, another majority whip here, but, we have some friends from the Tar Heel State up in the balcony if you stand. We got majority whip, Carl Gillespie, and representative Mark Pless, from North Carolina. Carl and Mark represent the mountains of Western North Carolina. And as you are aware, they were hit, very hard, by hurricane Helene.

And the hurricane, didn't, you know, have any respect for state lines. And our folks down at Waycross in South Georgia also were hit significantly hard. But, because we are sister states and we have, you know, sort of a brother ship with these folks, we had friends from our house here, Derek McCollum, Rick Jaspers, Lauren McDonald, Brent Cox, to name a few, and many more that went up, and, rendered aid to our friends in North Carolina. We just wanna let you know that if you ever there's a time of need, that we're gonna be there for you because we know you'll be there for us. So we appreciate you gentlemen joining us here in the house today.

Thank

you. This this photo here is us actually delivering supplies to the National Guard of North Carolina. And also, we, majority leader of Strayhorn, myself, and Esther had the opportunity to go to Israel as well with you, Carl, and we appreciate the friendship. And, we're always here for you guys. God bless you.

Gentlemen, thank you for your partnership with Georgia, North Carolina. We share a lot. And thank you for serving your people, taking care of your neighbors. And thanks for being here and and embracing us as we embrace you when we can work together for to take care of people when they're in need. Thank you so much.

Yep. Chair lady Camp is recognized for a morning order.

Thank you so much, mister speaker. Mister speaker and members of the house, today, we welcome students and teachers from Lamar County High School, joined by missus Shelby Pullen, adviser for FCCLA of America, and missus Precious Pennyman, adviser for HOSA, along with their outstanding students. These students are visiting as part of the Georgia CTSO Legislative Expo and are here to thank Georgia legislators for continued support for the technical career and technical student organizations. Please welcome me please join me in welcoming them to the house recognizing their commitment to leadership, career readiness, and their communities. Thank you.

Thank you, and welcome to the house. Thanks for recognizing them. Representative Noah Williams. Chairman Williams is recognized for and friends for a morning order.

Thank you, mister speaker. I wanted to recognize the credit unions that are here at the house visiting today. They do a lot of work here in this great state of Georgia and thankful that they're here at the People's House. Thank you.

Okay. Chairman Petrie and the Adam County delegation representative Edna Jackson, representative Hitching, representative Stevens. Yes, ma'am. Present Ann Allen.

There she is.

I think that's all of y'all. I've got you, mayor.

Come on, miss Edna.

Thank you.

Well, thank you, members of the house. Today is Savannah day. We hope y'all will join us. I know miss Edna's gonna tell you a little bit about our big party tonight. I know y'all like Georgia wild shrimp.

I wanna tell you about a book. You've got a nice coffee table quality book, and I wanna call your attention to page 79, which is all about Georgia wild shrimp as an aside. Listen, folks. So Georgia's first city, Savannah, 1733, founded by a great man, James Edward Oglethorpe. There were three things he banned in the new colony, lawyers, rum, and slavery.

He was a man before his time and Savannah is indeed our most beautiful city. Miss Edna, do you wanna add anything to that?

Yes. Thank you very much. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.

Good morning. We are so excited that this is Savannah day. We hope well, we're trying to make sure you're going to be there because you have a Praline at your desk. Please come and you better come early because we will open the doors at 05:00. We want you to come and eat all of the oysters, all of oh, yes.

All of the, the other, goodies, the shrimp, the whatever we have. This is our day to say thank you for all that you do to help us to move our legislation. So we're going to say thank you. Are you going to enjoy it? Yeah.

For those of you that may not eat, there is plenty to drink. So we're hoping that you're going to be there. That did it.

We got it. It's Savannah Day.

We got it. So we will see you at 05:00. Come on out. And we want you to enjoy the hostess city of the South, Savannah.

Thank you. Thank you, representative. Obviously, you were mayor. They couldn't tell you to be quiet, but I can.

You did

a great job, mayor. You know I appreciate you. Representative Eric Bell is recognized for a our last morning order.

Thank you, mister speaker, for being in office today. Today in the gallery, we have our CTSOs, our career and technical student organizations, your DECAs, your FBLAs, your CTIA's. And all the way from Clayton County, Georgia, we have the Morrow Mustang skill USA club here. So the CTSOs from Georgia, can you please stand while we welcome you? Thank you, mister speaker.

You at the well.

Thank you for that recognition. Welcome to the People's House. Members, that concludes our morning orders. We have a former member on the floor with us. We wanna recognize former representative Misha Maynor.

Good to see you. Make the quick mission welcome. Alright. We're getting ready to go into our next segment. This joint session, so all guests now will ask you if you'll leave the floor.

All guests, if you don't mind, if you'll leave the floor. Alright. Members of the house will come to order. Members, take your seats. We're about to invite our guest into the room.

Mister doorkeeper.

Mister speaker, the president, the president pro tem, and the members of the senate await interest to the house chambers.

Mister Doorkeeper, allow the president, the president pro tem, and the members of the senate to enter the house chamber, and will the messenger please escort them to their designated seats?

Members of the general assembly, joint session will come to order. All members, please take your seats. Recognize the doorkeeper, miss sergeant at arms.

Mister president, the honorable Nels s d Peterson, chief justice of the Supreme Court, the honorable Sarah Hawkins Warren, presiding justice of the Supreme Court, the honorable Trenton Brown, chief judge of the Court of Appeal, and the justices and the judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals respectfully await entrance into the chamber.

Miss sergeant at Arms, please allow the honorable Nels s c Peterson, chief justice of the Supreme Court, the honorable Sarah Hawkins Warren, presiding justice of the Supreme Court, and the honorable Trenton Brown, chief judge of the Court of Appeals. Justice of the judge of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals access allow them access into this chamber. House doorkeeper will escort them to their seats. All members will take their seats. All members will take their seats.

Mister speaker, it's great to be in the people's house today. How about that? It's good to be here. Secretary, read the caption.

Senate resolution six forty five by senator Walker the third of the twentieth and others. A resolution calling a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate for the purpose of hearing a message from the chief justice of the Supreme Court, inviting each justice of the Supreme Court and each judge of the court of appeals to be present for the joint session and for other purposes. Mister president, that completes the order.

Thank you, mister secretary. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize some very special guests here today. Obviously, the speaker of this fine house, Mr. John Burns. Also like to recognize speaker pro tem Jan Jones here.

And our present pro tem, Mr. Larry Walker III. Also, I'd like to welcome all our constitutional officers and their guests here. And now to introduce our chief justice here. And it gives me great pleasure to introduce Honorable Nell S.

D. Peterson, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Justice Peterson was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Nathan Deal in 2016 and assumed office as the chief justice of the Supreme Court on 04/01/2025. Prior to his time on the court, he served in a variety of other roles in Georgia state government, including as a judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals, general counsel to the University System of Georgia, Georgia's first solicitor general in the attorney general's office, the executive counsel to the governor. Before entering the state government, he practiced law in Atlanta and clerked for Chief Judge William H.

Pryor, Jr, of United States Court of Appeals of the Eleventh Circuit. He is a proud graduate of Kennesaw State University and Harvard Law School. He serves on numerous government nonprofit boards and committees and has received a variety of honors and awards. He lives with his wife and two children in Cobb County, and it is my honor to present you today the Justice of the Supreme Court, the Honorable Nels Peterson.

Lieutenant governor Jones, speaker Burns, president pro tem Walker, speaker pro tem Jones, members of the general assembly, presiding justice Warren and my fellow justices, chief judge Brown and my friends on the court of appeals, other judges and fellow Georgians. Every year, the governor reports on the state of the state, and that report always includes the announcement of significant policy proposals and budget priorities. The subjects of that speech are critical to your work as legislators. This speech is different. Unlike the governor, the courts have no formal role in the legislative process.

Sometimes, chief justices use this as a time to brag on the good work of Georgia courts or talk about promising judicial branch policy initiatives. And I'll do some of that because there's a lot of great work to tell you about. But today, I principally want to talk to you about what the judicial system is for and to remind us all of the role we must each play to support and defend the rule of law. Central to the rule of law is the idea that no person is above the law's requirements or beneath its protections. It's the idea that law applies equally to everyone, and the courts apply it impartially and independently.

And today, I can proudly report that the state of Georgia's judiciary is strong because Georgia's commitment to the rule of law is strong. The state of our judiciary will remain strong only so long as we remain committed to the rule of law. The rule of law has always required defending, and today is no exception. The judicial oath calls Georgia judges to do equal rights for the poor and the rich. In other words, for the weak and the powerful.

Of course, the rule of law is rarely tested when the powerful or the popular win in court. Results that go the other way can sometimes be a different matter. The rule of law has always been fragile because by its very nature, it requires the strong and the rich to accept results in favor of the weak and the poor. It requires popular majorities of all kinds to accept outcomes in favor of small, unpopular minority groups. It requires the most powerful of all, the government, to accept and obey limits on government power.

This rule of law that we enjoy as Americans has rarely happened throughout human history. What we have had in this country for two hundred and fifty years, as imperfect as it has been, especially here in the South, is so rare, and yet we often take it for granted. If we are to continue to enjoy the many blessings that flow from the rule of law, we cannot continue taking it for granted. Each of us, all of us must do our part, whatever that may be, to defend the rule of law. A critical part is this, when you hear about judicial decisions whose outcomes you don't like, don't reflexively question the court's legitimacy.

It's okay to disagree, even to protest. But the rule of law will not survive when the legitimacy of judicial decisions and those who make them is routinely questioned every time there's an unpopular outcome. And here, I should add a word on what the rule of law is not. The rule of law is not rule by judges. The law's constraints fall most strongly on judges.

If we push against those constraints, we ourselves undermine the rule of law. We must not stray out of our limited scope of deciding the cases before us according to the text of the law that other people make. Judges talk about the rule of law all the time, but it's also critical for the legislature. Neither of our branches has the authority or the ability to exercise force. That function is reserved for the executive.

Instead, the work product of both of our branches is just our words. Judicial branch words come in a jury's verdict or in a written judicial opinion. We expect that these mere words will control the outcome of criminal prosecutions, decide which parent gets custody of their child, resolve matters with millions of dollars at stake, and everything in between, one case at a time. Legislative words work a little differently. One of you puts words on a page, And after a lot of work, the rest of you press red or green buttons.

And with enough green buttons, those words reshape Georgia law for everyone. The words on the pages of both branches, although they operate differently, share this in common. The rule of law is the only thing that give any of our words power. Without the rule of law, you are all wasting your time, and we judges in robes are just playing a strange game of dress up. This state capital is a building for policy making and sometimes even politics.

Policy making and politics are team sports, but judges don't play for a team. We wear robes, not jerseys, except, I suppose, for the occasional Saturday in the fall. But the rule of law depends on judges following the law impartially and independently. One key opportunity you have this session to strengthen healthy judicial independence and impartiality is by passing house resolution two fifty one sponsored by representative Kimberly New. This constitutional amendment would end the partisan election of probate judges.

Last year, you passed house bill four twenty six also sponsored by representative Neu and by Senator Rick Williams, which ended the partisan election of magistrate judges, and we thank you for that. Taking this final step with HR two fifty one will ensure that all elected Georgia judges are elected solely on a nonpartisan basis. Judges must be impartial, and we must also conduct ourselves in such a way as to be perceived as impartial. Requiring any of us to publicly and formally align ourselves with a political party can only undermine the public's perception of the judiciary as impartial. I am grateful to former governors Roy Barnes and Nathan Deal for recognizing this truth and for jointly endorsing this constitutional amendment.

Another important step that we are grateful you took last year was reforming Georgia's judicial compensation system. Representative Rob Leverett and senator Beau Hatchett carried house bills eighty five and eighty six, which modernized an archaic and splintered system of compensating Georgia's statewide and superior court judges. And chairman Matt Hatchett and chairman Blake Tillery oversaw the funding of this system consistent with the new model. We are grateful to you all and we look forward to this new model strengthening the judiciary over time. And what better way to transition from judicial compensation than to talk about how hard your courts are working?

And we are. Annually collected statewide trial court data is not without limitations, but I'd like to highlight case filing increases in a few specific circuits around the state. For example, in the South Georgia circuit between Albany and the Florida border, case filings increased nearly 44% between 2023 and 2024. Net just next door in DeKalb, cases have increased 17% during the same time period. And in the Chattahoochee judicial circuit, which includes Columbus, they've gone up 14%.

And we know that trial courts are working hard across the state because appellate court caseloads have gone up. Year over year, the Supreme Court's direct appeal caseload has gone up 25%. The Court of Appeals' direct appeal caseload in the same time period has gone up 24%. Because trial courts have to decide a case before an appellate court ever sees it, our appellate trends suggest that the trial court's workload and output has been trending upward over time. Now, while deciding cases is the core function of the judiciary, there's only so much we can say about that.

Judicial ethics rules prohibit us from talking about specific cases. So our public focus is often instead on judicial policy initiatives. And I'm about to shift my focus to some of those, but I wanna preface that shift with the acknowledgement that our work deciding cases is the critical work that courts do. And all the policy stuff is significant only to the extent that it enables and improves our work of deciding cases. In recent years, we have worked to improve the quality and reliability of data related to juvenile courts and foster care, an area of great importance and interest to our branches.

And I hope you are seeing in the data that you receive, those results. Our court improvement program in partnership with the Department of Family and Children Services is piloting a new model intended to reduce the time from removal to reunification for Georgia children in foster care. This joint project is operating in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett, and we hope will provide lessons and opportunities for expansion. Additionally, the juvenile courts in Athens Clarke, Gwinnett, and Troop Counties are serving as pilot sites for Georgia Thrive, Georgia's new infant toddler court program. The product of the work of many partners across the health care, child welfare, legal and public policy communities, this multi year initiative seeks to address the unique needs and opportunities related to children from birth to age three who find themselves in our juvenile courts through obviously no fault of their own.

We are grateful that legislators regularly lend their time to our branch on on initiatives like this in the interest of helping improve the administration of justice. And with that service in mind, I want to take this opportunity to publicly extend the condolences of the judicial branch on the passing of a remarkable woman who committed her time to serving on our court's committee on justice for children and was a tireless voice for young Georgians, representative Mandy Ballinger. Her life of service has left a legacy that will echo for generations. We have recently concluded two important study committees in the judicial branch. The first is the judicial council ad hoc committee on artificial intelligence in the courts led by Justice Andrew Pinson, Vice Chief Judge Elizabeth Gobeil and Superior Court Judge Steve Kelly.

As AI's power and reach continues to advance rapidly, we all have to keep up. And AI poses both risk and opportunity for the judicial system. On the risk side, the most publicized problems are likely the least significant. You may have heard stories about lawyers filing briefs that are AI generated that cite nonexistent cases because the AI tool invented them. That has happened here in Georgia.

It shouldn't and the lawyers that who've have done it expose themselves to serious discipline under existing rules. But the risk that kind of misconduct poses the system is relatively minimal as long as judges read the cases that are cited in their briefs. The more significant risks that we know about anyway, are things like fabricated evidence. AI's capacity to generate false recordings or images presents a serious challenge to the court systems historic approach to authenticating evidence. We don't yet have answers to these problems, but we continue to work on them.

AI may also offer opportunities. As a reminder, a core part of the rule of law is that no one is beneath the law's protections. But in 2023, over 420,000 Georgia civil cases involved at least one party without a lawyer. That's over one third of the civil cases in Georgia's superior state probate and magistrate courts. And while Georgia's constitution guarantees the right to represent yourself in court, it's a safe bet that most of those 420,000 unrepresented parties lacked a lawyer because they couldn't afford one.

And in some counties, even if you can afford a lawyer, there may not be one to hire. 54 Georgia counties have 10 or fewer attorneys, and eight counties, up from seven last year, have no lawyers at all. The rule of law cannot be available only to those with access to lawyers. And as AI tools I agree. And as AI tools improve, it may be that AI has a role to play in closing that gap.

But we're not waiting for AI to solve this problem for us. The second study committee that recently completed its work is the Supreme Court study committee on legal regulatory reform led by justice Carla Wong McMillan and presiding judge Steve Dillard. It's easy to look at the problem of unrepresented litigants and decide that the government should just throw money at it. That is not what this committee did. The Georgia Constitution vest the exclusive authority for regulating the practice of law in the Supreme Court, and we do that through the state bar, an arm of the court.

This committee studied our regulation of the practice of law to determine whether restrictions and limitations on that we have imposed on nonlawyers assisting with legal issues might be making this problem worse. The committee recommended that the court consider a pilot project in which we permit trained nonlawyers to perform certain limited legal tasks. Other states have been experimenting with similar models, and we have the opportunity to use what worked for them and to avoid what didn't. As we evaluate this recommendation, I am hopeful that our creativity in lifting regulatory limitations may be a useful tool in closing the justice gap and ensuring that no Georgian is beneath the law's protections. And just as the rule of law requires that all people enjoy the law's protections, it also requires that we protect judges from those who would do them harm because of their rulings.

Threats against judges have received national attention the last several years. Just a couple weeks ago, an Indiana judge and his wife were shot through their front door by a criminal defendant with a pending case in front of him. And the US Marshals Service reports more than 560 threats against federal judges during f y twenty twenty five alone. Georgia, on the other hand, has never had a process for tracking threats against Georgia judges comprehensively. Thanks to the great work of the Judicial Council Standing Committee on Security, led by justice Sean Ellen Legrua and presiding judge Brian Rickman, and supported by strategic investments that you have made, we are working towards such a process.

And even with the existing limitations, we have already tracked 35 threats against 30 justices and judges since late twenty twenty four, resulting in nine arrests. This year, we will look to build on the progress that we have already made. As I mentioned in greater detail several weeks ago to the joint appropriations committees, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals budget requests seek a modest increase for funding for a joint effort to enhance judicial security that, if funded, will pay dividends across the state. I thank each of you for the support that you have given us in improving judicial security, and I ask that you continue to make it a priority. Given all of these challenges, why do Georgia judges persist in the hard work of making the rule of law real for Georgians?

I think the answer is the same answer for you members of the general assembly. You too face threats to your security. You too face all sorts of challenges in your community through your service. Both judges and legislators face a lot of the same challenges. We are all in this together, and we all face those challenges head on because we care about our communities.

We care about the people we serve. We care about doing the right thing. And above all, we are committed to fulfilling our oaths. Your oath is a bit different from our oath because our roles are different. The judicial oath promises independence and impartiality.

In contrast, the legislative oath promises the exercise of judgment in the service of the interests and prosperity of the state. But despite these differences, both the legislative and judicial oaths are rooted in the promise to uphold the constitution of the state of Georgia and the constitution of The United States. When we take these oaths, we make a promise to our communities. We make a promise to those who elected us. We make a promise to our families.

And for many of us, we also make a promise to God. This aspect of the oath as a promise to God has shaped the history of our legal system. In fact, in colonial England and for most of our history as a state, criminal defendants were prohibited from testifying under oath, lest in their desire for acquittal, they brought upon themselves divine judgment. Georgia was the last state in the union to change that rule. We didn't change it until 1962.

In the Catholic tradition, Saint Thomas More is the patron saint of lawyers. But he wasn't just a lawyer. He also served as speaker of the House of Commons and then Lord Chancellor of England under Henry the eighth. He's a great example of both judges and legislators to emulate. He ultimately gave his life to avoid breaking his oath.

His commitment to keep that promise to God is reflected, no matter the cost, is reflected in his last words, which characterized himself as the king's good servant and God's first. That's pretty good. But, of course, as we like to remind our British friends every July 4 and especially during this two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of American independence, here in The United States, we don't have a king. As the constitution makes clear, here the people are sovereign. And so, as and so as you return to your legislative business and we return to our judicial business, let us all commit to keep our oaths to the constitution and the rule of law it embodies.

If we do, we will truly be the people's good servants as we seek to be God's first. Thank you. May God bless each of you, our great state of Georgia, and The United States Of America.

Thank you, Jess Peekson. Thoroughly enjoyed that. We greatly appreciate that, and we greatly appreciate all the judiciary members here, and thank you all for your service and dedication to the state of Georgia. Mister Doorkeeper, please escort the chief justice of the justice supreme court and the judges of the court of appeals for the chamber at this time. Recognize the pro tem for a motion.

Thank you, mister president. I know we've got a lot of work to do for Georgians, so I move that this joint session of the Georgia General Assembly be dissolved.

The president pro tem has moved that the joint session be dissolved. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, no. No.

Ayes clearly have it. Have a wonderful day, everybody.

House will come back to order. Men members will start getting close to your seat, and we'll recognize the clerk, and you can read the caption to a group of privileged resolutions. Mister clerk.

Honoring the life and memory of Sandra a Collins. Recognizing and commending doctor Casper Lazaria. Recognizing and commending Christopher m Lazaria. Recognizing the Georgia School of Orthodontics on the occasion of his tenth anniversary. Recognizing and commending the Georgia School of Orthodontics.

Recognizing the Trenches Global Impact Center, recognizing and commending the historic Booker t Washington High School, class of 1976 on the occasion of their fiftieth reunion celebration, Congratulating and commending Deborah Lea Leverett Garing on the occasion of her 70 birthday. Recognizing 03/17/2026 is profound autism day. Commending Georgia community service boards and recognizing 02/05/2026 is community service board day at the State Capitol recognizing commending the Georgia ecommerce auto dealers association recognizing 02/11/2026 as National Guard Day at the State Capitol, recognizing the public policy club at Georgia State University for its commitment to civic invade engagement, recognizing and congratulating SkillsUSA Georgia, recognizing and commending the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and recognizing and commending Alpharetta Public Safety Director John Robeson as Georgia's twenty twenty five outstanding police chief of the year. And for other purposes, that completes the reading of the privilege resolutions.

Thank you, mister clerk. Is there any objection to adopting the privilege resolutions? Hearing none, the resolutions are adopted. We have a couple of afternoon orders. Representative Derek Jackson is recognized for an afternoon order.

Representative Jackson, if you can be somewhere around two, that'd be good. Gentlemen will hold just for a sec. Okay, members. We, we'll move on afternoon orders. So be respectful of the member in the will, representative Jackson, to recognize for an afternoon order.

Thank you, mister speaker. My moment of black history is one of our own, Julian Bond. He used to sit right over there where representative Edna Jackson sits today. I am a product of the civil rights movement. I was born into a story that was written in in the fires of resilience.

On 01/10/1966, one day before I would enter this world, the Georgia General Assembly, did not allow for junior bond to be seated. They refused to seat him because he had the audacity to follow his conscience. They call his descent unpatriotic, but junior bond knew the truth. There's a famous picture that's on the 4th Floor, that recognized this very thing. But Junior Bond said, true patriotism is demanding that your country live up to its own promise.

And while he fought for his seat, he didn't just give the opportunity for him to not be seated. He picked up his pen. He organized. He understood that the struggle for civil rights in Georgia was tied to the struggle for human dignity across the globe. But nearly one hundred years prior to that, September 1868, Henry McNeal Turner, another moment of black history, stood before the same Georgia general, Georgia legislature, and protest his expulsion of black representatives.

In closing, here we are in 2026, sixty years later, since Bond was denied a hundred fifty eight years since Turner was expelled, and yet, we continue this fight to be heard, to be seen, and to be, recognized. My birth date, mister speaker, was not a coincidence. It was a commission. And I don't just admire junior bond's legacy, but I embrace it. Every time I refuse to be silenced, I am honoring the man who was told no so one day I can continue to say yes.

And with that, I yield the well.

Thank you, representative. Representative Ali, most important morning order afternoon order. Excuse me. Give the gentleman your attention, please.

Mister speaker, members of this house, thank you once again for allowing me to continue, this streak and this tradition. Please direct your attention to the screen to see Keziah. She is 15 years old. She is a musician at heart, enjoying rapping and dancing and singing and other musical talents. However, the most important part is that she is looking to be adopted.

And where you can make that difference is at it's my turn now .dhs. Georgia.gov. And once again, thank you so much for the opportunity, and thank you so much, mister speaker.

Thank you, representative. Before we move on to announcements, representative Amati Barnes, happy birthday. We wish you a happy birthday. Hope you've had a good day so far. Every day is a good day.

Right? No doubt. Happy birthday to you. We appreciate you. That completes our afternoon orders.

We'll move on to announce representative Carter represent representative Doreen Carter recognized for an announcement.

Oh, thank you, mister speaker. Good good morning. So tomorrow's Thursday, February 5, and the American Heart Association's advocacy day, and they've asked us to wear red and to join them on the South Steps at 09:45 to take a group picture. And then on Friday, it's the official Go Red for Women where the American Heart Association was, celebrate their day of advocacy to educate women around heart disease. So we actually wear red again.

And if you're still here, if you would like to join us for the lunch, please let my office know. And my third announcement, members of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus as your vice chair, I get to make your announcement today. We will be meeting today at 03:00 in CLOB 310. It may not be lunch, but we'll definitely have some stacks. Thank you.

I yield well.

Thank you. Leader Hughley, recognized for an announcement.

Thank you, mister speaker. To the House Democratic Caucus, we will be meeting in Room 133133 upon adjournment. Thank you. At the capital. Thank you, mister speaker.

At the cap at the Capital, 133. Not downtown, at the capital. Thank you, Lee Higley. Chairman Corbett is recognized for an announcement.

Thank you, mister speaker. The rural caucus will be meeting in the Ag Building upon adjournment down off of Trinity Street. Y'all come join us. Thank you, mister speaker.

Rule caucus. Chair lady Lynn Smith recognized for an announcement.

Thank you, mister speaker and members of the house. Tomorrow morning, 08:00 in Room 606 CLOB, there will be a meeting of the House Natural Resource and Environment Committee, taking up two bills, house bill nine five six, house bill nine eight three, and a presentation from commissioner Walter Raven of the Department of Natural Resources.

Hope to

see you then. Thank you, mister speaker.

Thank you, reverend representative Smith. Representative Victor Anderson, chairman Anderson's recognized for now.

Thank you, mister speaker. Governmental Affairs Committee will meet this afternoon at 03:00 in 606 CLOB. Thank you.

Let me make an addendum to that, mister chairman. I think this works for you. All committee meetings this afternoon need to be pushed back thirty minutes just this afternoon. Not those in the morning, just this afternoon. Be a thirty minute pushback on all committee meetings this afternoon.

We're running a little bit over, so I'd give, everyone's having lunch like real caucus, like leaders meeting. That will not impact them. Just committee meetings this afternoon. Thirty minutes later, chairman Scoggins recognized for an announcement. Thank you, mister speaker.

Special rules will meet at 9AM and 05:15 in the morning. Thank you. Chairman Williams recognized for an announcement. Chairman Doyle Williams.

Thank you, mister speaker. Banks and banking in the morning. 506 CLOB at 08:00. 506 CLOB at 08:00. Thank you.

Thank you. We have pages today. If you have a page with you'll join your page down upfront along with me, and we'll, get to know each other and take a nice photo. That concludes our business for this day. The elite majority leader of this house is recognized for a motion.

Thank you, mister speaker. I move that this house stand adjourned until Thursday, 02/05/2026 at 10:00AM.

On the motion of lead illustration that this house stand adjourned until 10AM, Thursday, 02/05/2026. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed no. No.

Ayes have it clearly. This house stands adjourned. Thank you all for your attention today. It's a good day.