>> I'M ONLY ASKING YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

APPROVE THIS BILL AND VOTE FOR KIDS.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT GAMBLING AND YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT ADDICTION, I'VE NOT SEND ANYONE TO REPEAL THE LOTTERY.

I HAVEN'T SEEN A BILL SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY GO TO THE FOUR TO REPEAL THE SCHOLARSHIP.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A BILL.

>> THE SENATOR OFFERING A FIERY TAKE ON THE SPORTS BETTING BILL.

QUESTION SEEING THE BALANCING OVER THIS.

WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS ON DAY 14 OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I AM DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE ONLINE SPORTS BETTING BILL COMING UP INCLUDING ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION AND MORE FROM TWO JOURNALISTS WHO'VE COVERED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THEY BELIEVE THIS IS THE YEAR THEY MAY ACTUALLY GET THE LEGISLATION TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AND TALK ABOUT THE OTHER BILLS MOVING ALONG THE SESSION.

ALSO, THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER GIVES US A TAKE ON SEVERAL PRIORITIES IN THE CHAMBER AND HIS PERSPECTIVE ON THE DEBATED BILL IN THE SENATE WHICH WOULD CREATE A NEW CITY WITHIN THE COUNTY.

LET'S GET TO THE OVERVIEW OF THE DAY FROM OUR CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT SARA CALAS.

>> LAWMAKERS CONTINUE THE DEBATE ON A FAMILIAR ISSUE .

A BILL LEGALIZING SPORTS BETTING MADE ITS ANNUAL APPEARANCE IN THE SENATE TODAY.

IT WOULD LEGALIZE ONLINE SPORTS BETTING AND INCORPORATED INTO THE GEORGIA LOTTERY INCORPORATION.

>> IT'S PURELY A SPORTS BETTING BILL.

THERE IS NO OTHER WAGERING QUITE FRANKLY, THE STATE OF GEORGIA, THIS IS HAPPENING ILLEGALLY WITH NO GUIDELINES OR FRAMEWORK SURROUNDING THE SPORTS BETTING HERE.

THIS WOULD CREATE THE REGULATIONS AND PARAMETERS TO PROTECT BETTORS AND GENERATE OVER $100 MILLION BASED ON THE ESTIMATES THAT WOULD GO TO GEORGIA PRE-K INTO THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP .

>> THE BIPARTISAN SPONSOR BILL WOULD PROVIDE 16 LICENSES FOR VARIOUS SPORTS BETTING OPERATORS WHICH WOULD INCLUDE SPORTS TEAMS AND EVENTS WITHIN THE STATE AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM PLACING BETS USING CREDIT CARDS AND CERTAIN PEOPLE FROM WAGERING ON A BET.

>> THE PROHIBITED BETTORS, IT'S ABOUT THE PROHIBITED BETTORS AND THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT WOULD BE EMPLOYEES OF THE LOTTERY CORPORATION, VENDORS, OR LICENSEES COULD NOT BET ON SPORTS BETTING AND ANYONE INVOLVED IN THE PROFESSIONAL OR AMATEUR TEAMS ALONG WITH PLAYERS, EMPLOYEES, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS, THE UMPIRES, THE ELITE PERSONNEL, THE COACHES WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM BETTING ON SPORTS BETTING.

>> THE SUPPORT CAME FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WITH SEVERAL CITING THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL EDUCATION FUNDING THAT THE BETTING WOULD CREATE.

>> EDUCATION AS WE KNOW IS THE KEY.

WE PRETTY MUCH ALL AGREED ON THAT.

EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO MAKING SURE CITIZENS ARE SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAVE SOME DISAGREEMENTS AND WE TALK ABOUT WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND HOW WE FUND EDUCATION.

THE FUNDAMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ON EDUCATION.

THE SECOND THING THAT WE AGREE WITH IN GEORGIA IS THAT THIS WILL HELP MOVE US FORWARD.

THE LOTTERY WILL MOVE US FORWARD.

IN FACT WE WERE THE LEADERS IN THE NATION AS FAR AS TAPPING INTO THIS PARTICULAR FUNDING FORCE AND THAT'S HOW WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS.

TAPPING INTO THIS FUNDING SOURCE.

SOMEWHERE, WE ARE BEHIND ALLOWING OTHER PERSONS TO BEAT US AS FAR AS TAPPING INTO OTHER SOURCES AND THIS BILL WILL ALLOW US TO DO THAT.

>> THE BILL WAS OPPOSED AS IT WAS WRITTEN.

TWO AMENDMENTS WERE OPPOSED.

AMENDMENT ONE WOULD REQUIRE THE VOTERS TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW SPORTS BETTING.

>> TO PASS THIS BILL WITHOUT MAKING IT BE CONTINGENT UPON THE VOTERS OF THIS STATE BEING ALLOWED TO WEIGH IN AND APPROVE THIS , THIS IS DISINGENUOUS AT BEST AND SNEAKY TO TRY TO CIRCUMVENT THE VOTERS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

>> THIS WOULD PROHIBIT THE TEAM TO BE ABLE TO PROFIT FROM THE BETTING.

>> YOU ARE SAYING IS THE BILL IS DRAFTED THAT ALL OF THE SPORTS FRANCHISES THAT COULD BE PARTNERED WITH A THAT MAKER ESSENTIALLY COULD SHARE IN THE PROFITS FROM THE WINNINGS OF THE BETS?

>> THEY COULD AFFECT THE OUTCOME BY EITHER RUNNING UP WITH THE SCORE OR SHADING POINTS AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT CERTAIN BETS WIN OR LOSE SINCE THEY'VE GOT THE FINANCIAL STAKE IN THE OUTCOME OF THE BETS.

>> THAT'S THE EXACT POINT OF THIS AMENDMENT, SENATOR.

>> THERE WAS STRONG OPPOSITION TO ALLOW GAMBLING ON OTHER GROUNDS .

>> I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS.

DO NOT LET THOSE WHO RUN THE ENTERPRISE BE IN THE HOUSE.

I THINK THIS HAS A GREATER CORRUPTING VALUE THAN BETTING AND LASTLY, LET'S NOT CREATE THE TWO-TIER SYSTEM OF JUSTICE BUT REGULAR PEOPLE WHO ARE SUBJECT TO SERIOUS MISDEMEANOR TREATMENT AS IS DEFINED BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY SPECIFICALLY CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE WHO RUN THE SPRAWLING ENTERPRISES.

>> REQUIRING THE AMENDMENT IS PASSED.

AMENDMENT TWO FAILED.

DESPITE THE IMPASSIONED DEBATE , THE PAST 35-15.

RELIGIOUS GROUPS LIKE THE GEORGIA BAPTIST MISSION BOARD CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AGAINST SPORTS BETTING AND SAFE LEGALIZING SPORTS BETTING WOULDN'T HELP CHILDREN EVEN IF IT CREATES MORE SCHOLARSHIP MONEY.

>> REALLY LEGALIZING AND EXTENDING MORAL VICES HAD THE GREATEST NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR CHILDREN.

>> THE BILL WOULD CALL FOR A VOTE TO CREATE THE CITY OF MULBERRY AND NORTHEAST GWINNETT COUNTY.

LOCAL CONTROL OVER RAPID GROWTH IN THE AREA WAS THE MAIN REASON GIVEN FOR ITS INCORPORATION.

>> THERE'S A COMMISSIONER IN THE AREA WITH AN INITIATIVE AND POLICY TO VOTE AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT ZONING'S AND HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONING IN THE AREA AS THERE IS 14,000 APARTMENTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT IN GWINNETT COUNTY.

THERE'S INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES REASON THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN THE HIGHER DENSITY ZONING'S >> OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CAUCUS CLAIMED THAT POLITICS WERE AT PLAY THAT THE BILL WAS CREATED HASTILY TO BYPASS DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF THE COUNTY BOARD OVER ZONING ISSUES.

>> EVIDENTLY THE SAME COMMISSIONER WHO NOW HAS THE RESOLUTION WHEN THE ZONING HEARING CAME ABOUT FOR THIS CITY'S LOCATION THAT WE WERE REFERRING TO , HE WAS UPSET.

HE WENT RUNNING TO HIS LEGISLATORS, HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES.

THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THE CITY OF MULBERRY STILL.

>> THE BILL PASSED 30-18.

IT WAS A QUIET DAY IN THE HOUSE.

LAWMAKERS APPROVING AND AMENDED RULES CALENDARS THAT SWAPPED MONDAY'S FOR SESSION FOR A NEW DATE ON FEBRUARY 16 WHICH ALLOWED MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE LATE RULE CHAIRMAN'S MEMORIAL SERVICE.

THEY WORE RED TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN'S HEART HEALTH.

2024 MARKS THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S 20th YEAR OF ADVOCACY.

LAWMAKERS WILL CONVENE ON TUESDAY FOR DAY 15 AFTER A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR CHAIRMAN RICHARD SMITH ON MONDAY.

THAT'S ALL FOR MY CAPITAL REPORT.

BACK TO YOU, DONNA LOWRY.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.

WE HAD A LEADER , LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE.

JOINING ME IS THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER OF AUBURN WHICH IS LOCATED NORTH OF GWINNETT COUNTY.

WE ALWAYS LOVE HAVING YOU HERE.

LET'S START WITH SOMETHING THAT SARAH TALKED ABOUT.

THIS HAPPENED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE MULBERRY CITY BILL WHICH WOULD ALLOW VOTERS IN THE AREA TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO BE A CITY.

THE AREA THAT YOU REPRESENT AND NORTHERN GWINNETT COUNTY.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS.

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

THE IDEA CAME ABOUT BECAUSE THE CONSTITUENTS WERE SAYING THAT WE WOULD LIKE LOCAL CONTROL FOR WE HAVE FOUR DISTRICT OMISSIONS THAT HAVE A QUARTER OF 1 MILLION RESIDENTS EACH IN THE AREAS .

CERTAINLY HAS THE ISSUES OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND SCHOOL OVERCROWDING ARE MADE THE CONSTITUENTS HAVE CRIED OUT IN A NONPARTISAN WAY TO SAY WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE GREATER LOCAL CONTROL AND TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE OUR CONCERNS TO SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN THE AREA AND COULD REPRESENT OUR VALUES AT A GOVERNMENT LEVEL.

SO THAT'S WHERE THIS IDEA CAME FROM ORIGINALLY.

IT'S WELL-RECEIVED WITHIN THE AREA THAT WOULD BE THE NEW CITY WITH NO CITY PROPERTY TAXES AS PART OF THE PROPOSAL AND THIS WOULD REALLY FOCUS ON REFLECTING CONCERNS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE RAISED.

THEY AREN'T ANTIGROWTH THEY JUST WANT RESPONSIBLE GROWTH AS THIS PART OF NORTHERN GWINNETT COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW.

>> SO THEY WOULDN'T CONTROL EVERYTHING LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY OR PARKS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> THERE BE LIMITED SERVICES LIKE PLANNING AND ZONING INSPECTIONS AND ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT WITH OTHER SERVICES DELIVERED THROUGH THE COUNTY THROUGH THE SERVICE DELIVERY AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN THE CITIES IN GWINNETT COUNTY AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT GOING FORWARD TO A RESIDENT IN THE AREA WITH LITTLE CHANGE TO YOUR DAILY LIFE.

WHAT YOU SEE AS FAR AS THE SERVICES PROVIDED.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WOULD BE BEING ABLE TO SPEAK OUT AND FEEL YOU'VE BEEN HEARD >> YOU TOLD ME THAT THIS WOULD BE THE LARGEST IN LAND MASS BUT NOT THE LARGEST IN POPULATION IN GWINNETT COUNTY?

>> THE LARGEST CITY BEHIND PETRI CORNERS.

THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE.

THIS PASSED IN 2012 WITH NO CITY PROPERTY TAXES AS WELL.

THE BILL THAT WAS PASSED IN A REFERENDUM CONSIDERED BY VOTERS AT THE TIME WAS VIEWED AS SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL AS THEY TOOK THE POSITION OF CAUTION AND NEUTRALITY TOWARD THIS AT THE TIME.

I THINK SINCE THEN WE'VE SEEN HOW SUCCESSFUL THE FUTURE CORNERS HAS BEEN.

RESIDENTS THERE LOVE THIS AND FEEL THE CITY HAS BEEN GREAT.

WE THINK MULBERRY WILL BE THE SAME THING.

>> SOME DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE GWINNETT COUNTY DELEGATION OBJECTED TO THE BILL.

HERE'S WHAT THE SENATOR SAID.

>> THIS IS AN OVERSTATEMENT.

WHAT WE'VE GOT BEFORE US IS NOT JUST A POORLY CONCEIVED PLAN FOR A NEW CITY BUT A GLARING EXAMPLE OF HASTY AND IRRESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE.

TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT THE PRODUCT OF COMMUNITY DESIRE OR DEMONSTRATED NEED BUT HASTILY THROWN TOGETHER WITHOUT DUE DILIGENCE, SUPPORTED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHO REPRESENTS THE AREA WHOSE EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS.

THE PROPOSAL MASQUERADING AS CITY LIFE ISN'T CONSTITUTIONALLY QUESTIONABLE SIPHON CRUCIAL FUNDING FROM GWINNETT COUNTY CITIZENS AND COULD HURT THE FINANCIAL HELP FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

>> WILL TO SIPHON MONEY FROM THE RESIDENCE OF GWINNETT COUNTY?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT IN THE SENSE THE CITY WILL PROVIDE NEW SERVICES , OFFLOADING SOME OF THE SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES FROM GWINNETT COUNTY SO I COULDN'T DISAGREE MORE WITH WHAT WAS JUST PLAYED.

THIS PROPOSAL HAS BEEN MET WITH FEASIBILITY STUDIES BEING COMPLETED AND THERE IS THE ANTICIPATION OF 9 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE WHICH WOULD BE RECEIVED BY THE CITY.

CONSIDERING THEIR $2.5 BILLION BUDGET, THIS IS A MINIMAL IMPACT AND SERVICES THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING WHICH WOULD NOW BE TAKEN OVER BY THE CITY TO PROVIDE THOSE .

I THINK ULTIMATELY THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR VOTERS TO DECIDE.

FOR ME, IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT WHEN THEY COME TO ME AND SAY HEY, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH GROWTH AND OVERCROWDING, PLEASE DO SOMETHING.

FOR ME TO SAY CALL YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, THIS IS ONLY A IT ON THE BALLOT.

SO I THINK THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THIS GIVES LOCAL CONTROL TO THE ISSUE FOR PLANNING AND ZONING AND GROWTH WHICH CONTINUES TO BE VERY TALKED ABOUT IS A HOT TOPIC.

>> WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE HOUSE.

>>> A FORMER PROSECUTOR.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS A BIG CONCERN.

WHAT KIND OF BILLS WITH PRIORITIES IN PUBLIC SAFETY WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THIS SESSION?

>> THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONTINUES TO ADVANCE THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC SAFETY WITH THE STATES AND IT'S BEEN A PRIORITY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THEY DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE PARTICULARLY IN THEIR OWN HOMES .

WE PRIORITIZE LEGISLATION TO NOT ONLY ADDRESS THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OR GANG ACTIVITY BUT TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR THERE'S A PROPOSAL FOR A $3000 PAY INCREASE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

A $9000 PAY RAISE FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE PAST TWO YEARS ALONE.

SIZE OF STATE CONTROL WHICH HELPS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH'S PUBLIC SAFETY NEED AND CONTINUING TO GO AFTER GANGS AS A PRIORITY THE MAJORITY OF ALL VIOLENT CRIME IN GEORGIA IS SOMEWHAT GANG-RELATED WITH OVER 14,000 BELIEVED GANG MEMBERS WITHIN OUR POLICE STATE PRISON SYSTEM.

ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE A PROFOUND BENEFIT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS STATE SO I EXPECT WE WILL WORK ON THE ISSUES THROUGHOUT THIS SESSION.

>> EDUCATION IS SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT TWO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> GEORGIA HAS DONE INCREDIBLE WORK AND RAISING TEACHER SALARIES WITH A PROPOSED $2500 PAY INCREASE FOR TEACHERS THIS YEAR WITH THE $1000 PAY BONUS ALSO IN DECEMBER AND THERE'S BEEN $10,000 AND PAY RAISES FOR THE GEORGIA TEACHERS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

GEORGIA IS DOING PAY INCREASES THERE.

THERE IS ALSO IN THE BUDGET MONEY TO ALLOW FOR A $45,000 SCHOOL SAFETY GRANT FOR EACH SCHOOL IN GEORGIA.

THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE IN THE BUDGET SO SCHOOLS THE APPROPRIATE, HIRING THE ADDITIONAL SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PUT IN, THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROTECT THE SCHOOLS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THERE.

SCHOOL LITERACY CONTINUES TO BE CHILDHOOD LITERACY WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT.

THIRD-GRADE READING LEVELS AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BENCHMARK FOR THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS WITH $11 MILLION IN THE BUDGET TO ADDRESS LITERACY THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND WE HAVE TERRIFIC LEGISLATION THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON.

WE ARE WORKING THIS YEAR TO ADDRESS THIS.

>> BEFORE YOU LEAVE, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOMETHING SOMBER, WE LOST CHAIRMAN RICHARD SMITH WHO DIED EARLIER THIS WEEK.

HE WAS YOUR SEATMATE.

TALK ABOUT HIM.

>> CHAIRMAN RICHARD SMITH WAS AN INCREDIBLE FRIEND, MENTOR, AND LEADER FOR THIS ESTATE.

WE SAT NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN THE CHAMBER OVER EIGHT YEARS.

HE REALLY GET TO KNOW SOMEONE WHEN YOU SIT CLOSELY TO THEM.

I SAW HIS LEADERSHIP FOR THE STATE.

HE WAS WILLING TO BE A MENTOR TO ME.

I JUST REALIZE WHAT A GREAT MAN HE WAS.

HE LOVED HIS FAMILY, HIS WIFE CLARA AND HIS GRANDCHILDREN.

WE TALKED ABOUT THEM ALL THE TIME.

HE WAS RESPECTED BY REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS WITHIN THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED.

THE STATE CAPITAL WILL NOT BE THE SAME PLACE WITHOUT HIM.

>> HIS FUNERAL IS ON MONDAY .

I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AS ALWAYS, YOUR GREAT GUEST AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE THANK YOU.

>>> ACTION OF THE GOLD DOME.

THIS WEEK FROM TWO JOURNALISTS TO COVER THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION OVER YEARS.

THE CONVERSATION THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS.

STAY WITH US.

>> LAWMAKERS MADE POSSIBLE BY FARM BUREAU WITH 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE STATE.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER $74 BILLION IN OUT PORT IN GEORGE'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THE LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITAL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR- ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

CHAMBERS ARE BEGINNING TO VOTE ON MORE BILLS.

JOINING US IS THE JOURNALIST WHO COVERS AT ALL.

THE GOVERNMENT OF POLITICS FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL- CONSTITUTION.

A POLITICS REPORTER AT THE RADIO SPENDING TIME HERE ON LAWMAKERS FOR YEARS AND THE CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT AND WE LOVE TO HAVE HIM HERE AND WE LOVE TO HAVE YOU ON.

THE BIG THING IN THE SENATE, SEVERAL HOURS OVER THE SPORTS BETTING BILL, THERE'S A BIT OF DÉJÀ VU TO ALL OF THIS.

STARTING OFF WITH YOUR CONSERVATION WITH ALL OF THIS.

>> THAT WAS ONE OF MY HEADLINES, DÉJÀ VU.

I'VE BEEN WRITING ON THE TOPIC FOR THESE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS .

IT SEEMS TO BE NEVER-ENDING.

PEOPLE CAN'T ALL GET ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT HOW THEY WANT TO GO ABOUT THIS.

TODAY THE SENATOR CLINT DIXON PASSED A BILL TO ALLOW ONLINE SPORTS BETTING IN GEORGIA.

THEN THERE'S BEEN THESE TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT WHETHER OR NOT THE RESIDENTS NEED TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION TO EXPAND THE GAMBLING PACK FOR THE LOTTERY THE SENATOR SAID WE DIDN'T NEED TO AND INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WAY THEN ANOTHER SET AS YOU DISAGREED AND INTRODUCED THE AMENDMENT.

THEY ADDED THE AMENDMENT TO THE BILL.

>> LACKS YEAR LAST YEAR ONE JUSTICE SAID IT DID NEED TO BE AN AMENDMENT.

IN THE END THAT'S WHAT THEY DECIDED TO GO FOR.

>> IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS THE DISCUSSIONS ARE THIS FIRST, WHAT KIND OF GAMBLING, THE MONEY THAT'S COMING IN IS THIS ONLINE SPORTS OR MOBILE SPORTS BETTING, ON THE OTHER SIDE IS WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE MONEY?

IF YOU TALK TO FIVE LAWMAKERS WALKING OUT THEY WILL GIVE YOU FIVE DIFFERENT ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT THE MONEY SHOULD BE USED FOR AND IN THIS CASE WHAT CLINT DIXON WAS PROPOSING IS TO KEEP THIS UNDER THE GEORGIA LOTTERY AND THEN THE MONEY GOES TO PRE- K AND ONLY GOES TO THE SCHOLARSHIP AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THE BILL NOW BUT I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR, FIRST OF ALL, IS WHAT DO THESE CHANGES MEAN TO THE BILL?

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IS ONE OF THE NEXT SET OF LEGISLATIONS THAT WILL COME BEHIND WHAT WAS DONE TODAY?

WAS GOING TO PROPOSE CASINO GAMBLING, OR IS SOMEONE GOING TO SAY KEEP IT ONLINE SPORTS BETTING?

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS IN THE AIR NOW ABOUT WHAT WAS DONE TODAY AND WHAT WAS FIXED.

>> SO NOW YOU END UP HAVING AN AMENDMENT.

WHY NOT THROW MORE IN THEIR BECAUSE UNDER THE GAMBLING UMBRELLA THERE COULD BE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

>> THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS SAY, I'M NOT A POLITICIAN BUT IF I WERE, IF YOU ARE EXPENDING POLITICAL CAPITAL TO PASS EXPAND GAMBLING IN THIS STATE AND THEY'VE BEEN RESISTANT TO DO THAT, IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE POLITICAL Y ONLY DO SPORTS BETTING WHEN IT WOULD BRING IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF REVENUE FOR THE STATE.

WHY NOT ADD CASINOS?

THAT WAS ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT WAS MADE DURING THE DEBATE TODAY.

THEY SAID WE OPPOSE THE AMENDMENT BECAUSE THIS IS A WAY TO ADD CASINOS .

THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M DOING BUT WE DON'T HAVE A REFERENDUM JUST YET SO WE WILL SEE WHAT THIS SAYS.

>> I THINK THAT THE KEY THING TO KNOW THERE IS THIS PROBABLY ENOUGH VOTES THAT THEY WILL ADD CASINOS AND ADD HORSERACING.

THERE'S A GROUP OF REPUBLICANS WHO ARE OKAY WITH DOING ONLINE SPORTS BETTING.

THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

THERE IS A GROUP THAT WOULD BE CONCERNED IF THE MONEY WENT ANYWHERE OTHER THAN THE SCHOLARSHIPS.

IT FEELS LIKE IT WILL BE VERY NARROW FROM WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM AND WHERE IT'S GOING.

>> IF YOU ADD SOMETHING ELSE TO SPORTS BETTING AND WHAT THEY MADE, THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE IN THE END.

SO THERE'S A LOT TO THIS.

IS IT THE FEELING WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE OTHER ISSUES IN GAMBLING COME UP AT SOME POINT?

DO YOU SEE THAT OR WILL WE SEE SPORTS BETTING FOR NOW?

>> SO I AM A CYNIC AND EVERY YEAR, THIS IS THE YEAR THIS WILL PASS AND I SAY I WILL BELIEVE THIS WHEN I SEE IT BUT THERE WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CASINOS IN TOWN TODAY TALKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT WHAT A CASINO IS IN ATLANTA AND IN GEORGIA AND WHAT THEY COULD BRING TO THE STATE.

THIS HAS BEEN SIX YEARS FOR SPORTS BETTING BUT 10 YEARS FOR THE CASINOS.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE APPETITE IS OR IF THAT COMES THROUGH WITH AN AMENDMENT OR A POISON PILL BUT WE WILL JUST HAVE TO SEE BUT IF I WAS BETTING, I'M GOING TO SAY, NO.

>> ARE YOU BETTING ONLINE?

>> THAT'S THE THING.

>> I THINK WHEN SENATE BILL 386 WAS PROPOSED THIS WOULD BE THE NARROW PATH.

NOW THAT THE AMENDMENT IS THERE THE DOOR HAS OPENED IN THERE'S PROBABLY ALREADY SOME LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN FILED.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN LOOKED AT IT AND IS PROBABLY MORE LEGISLATION COMING IN I THINK BECAUSE THE DOORS OPEN FOR DEBATE NOW.

>> THERE'S AN EASIER PATH IN THE HOUSE NOW THAT THE SENATE IS DONE.

>> I FEEL LIKE THE OTHER WAY THE SENATE SENDS A SPORTS BETTING BILL OUT OF THE HOUSE AND TO THE COMMITTEE BUT IT NEVER MAKES IT TO THE FLOOR SO THE ISSUE I THINK IS IN THE HOUSE AND THAT THEY ARE FIGHTING OVER WHERE THE MONIES SUPPOSED TO GO.

>> ONE LAST THING ON THE SCUM OF THE LICENSES.

THERE'S TALK ABOUT LICENSES FOR SPORTS BETTING AND WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO WILL TAKE OVER WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS BETTING.

>> THERE'S TALKING ABOUT ISSUING 16 LICENSES WITHIN THE STATE.

SEVEN WOULD BE FOR ANY CORPORATION THAT WANTED TO COME IN AND APPLY FOR THIS.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A THAT GO TO SPORTS TEAMS.

THE ATLANTA SPORTS TEAM, THE NATIONAL.

>> THE MOTOR SPEEDWAY.

>> ONE FOR THE GEORGIA LOTTERY.

>> ONE FOR THE GEORGIA LOTTERY ITSELF.

>> THERE'S A LOT LEFT ON ALL OF THEM.

>> YES.

>> WE WILL WAIT AND SEE.

THERE WHICH WAS JOHN ALBERTS DISCUSSION OF THE AMENDMENT IS SHOULD THEY MAKE MONEY DIRECTLY OFF THE BED.

THAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

>> TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WAS BIG.

A CASH BOND BILL .

FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND, EXPLAIN WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

>> TYPICALLY WHEN SOMEONE'S ARRESTED THEY GO BEFORE THE JUDGE.

THE JUDGE WILL SET THE BOND.

FOR SOME OF THE LOW-LEVEL OR NON-VIOLENT OFFENSES OR MISDEMEANORS YOU COULD OFTEN LEAVE WITHOUT.

IT'S A SIGNATURE BOND.

YOU COULD SAY I'M GOING TO COME BACK FOR MY FIRST APPEARANCE.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS RANDY ROBERTSON SAID CREATING THIS REVOLVING DOOR WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T SHOWING UP AND HAVE NO INCENTIVE TO SHOW UP WITHOUT ANY SKIN IN THE GAME OR THEY HAVEN'T PUT MONEY DOWN, HE ADDED 30 NEW OFFENSES, FELONIES, AND MISDEMEANORS THAT A JUDGE WOULD REQUIRE THEM PAY SOME TYPE OF MONEY IN ORDER TO BE RELEASED.

>> THE DEBATE WAS OVER CHARITIES.

YOU COULD ONLY GIVE THE MONEY THREE TIMES ACCORDING TO THE BILL.

SO THERE'S EVEN CHURCHES WERE DIFFERENT PLACES WHO COULD BAIL SOMEBODY OUT BUT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS MORE THAN THREE TIMES.

>> OR INDIVIDUALS IF YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM CHILD AND THEY ARE ARRESTED A FEW TIMES AFTER THREE TIMES YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO BAIL HIM OUT SO THIS IS INTERESTING TO SEE.

IT'S A COMPROMISE THE HOUSE HAS REACHED.

THE BILL WAS IN PLAY LAST YEAR.

THEY FOUGHT OVER IT, OVER THE INTERIM AND THIS IS WHERE WE LANDED.

SO IT'S AN INTERESTING BILL TO ME.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT JUST OVERALL THE SESSION SO FAR.

HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THIS ONE TO SOME IN THE PAST?

REASONS FOR INTERRUPTION.

PLAYING A NATIONAL TITLE GAME WITH AN INAUGURATION LAST YEAR.

THIS YEAR IT FELT LIKE IT'S BEEN KIND OF NONSTOP.

I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK, LIKE IN THREE DAYS, NORMALLY, YOU KNOW, LATE DAYS OR LATER IN THE SESSION, WE ARE ALREADY HAVING LATE DAYS AND WERE HAVING LONG DEBATE.

SO YES, IT'S BEEN A LOT.

THERE IS A LOT.

>> SO IT'S DIFFERENT IN THAT SENSE, DEFINITELY.

>> WE'VE HAD CONSEQUENTIAL BILLS EARLY ON IN THE SESSION.

WE HAD ANTI-SEMITISM AND THE BAIL BILL TODAY SO THERE'S MORE COMING.

I'M LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK WHERE THERE IS SOME EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL SEE WHAT THE HOUSE BUDGET WRITERS DID WITH THE 2024 BUDGET THAT COVERS THE CURRENT FUNDING OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME CHANGES THAT THEY'VE MADE BECAUSE NORMALLY THE AMENDMENT BUDGET ISN'T SOMETHING MASSIVE BUT THERE'S BILLIONS OF EXTRA DOLLARS WITHIN AND I WANT TO SEE THE CHANGES THAT THEY MAKE.

>> WELL YOU WILL BE WATCHING AND PEOPLE WILL BE TUNING IN AND READING ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THAT DOES IT FOR LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK.

WE WILL RETURN ON TUESDAY.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL PLANS TO HAVE A DAY OFF TOMORROW AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS TAKING MONDAY OFF SO MEMBERS COULD ATTEND THE FUNERAL OF REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD SMITH IN COLUMBUS.

THE HOUSE RULES.

--EARLIER THIS WEEK.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.