♪♪ >>> I WOULD NOT GO BACK AND TELL THOSE WHO VOTED THAT I TOOK AWAY THE RIGHT FOR YOU TO VOTE, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT.

EVERY LAST ONE OF THESE ELECTION BILLS ARE ABOUT THE ELECTION DIDN'T TURN OUT THE WAY YOU ALL P WANT AND YOU WANT TO PERPETUATE THE LIE TRUMP TOLD.

>> EMOTIONS RUN HIGH OVER THE ELECTION BILLS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

WE SAW HEATED DEBATES OVER FOUR ELECTION BILLS IN THE SENATE.

WE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THEM COMING UP.

THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS HONORED AHMAUD ARBERY WHO WAS KILLED IN GLYNN COUNTY ONE YEAR AGO TODAY.

YOU'LL HEAR WHAT SOME LAWMAKERS SAID ABOUT HIM.

>>> WE'LL ALSO TALK EXTENSIVELY ABOUT AGRICULTURE.

I SPENT TIME WITH AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER GARY BLACK TO DISCUSS A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES INCLUDING HOW FARMERS HAD TO PIVOT AFTER THE PANDEMIC HIT.

>>> AND WE HAVE WITH US TWO LAWMAKERS WHO HEAD AGRICULTURE COMMITTEES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

FIRST, WE HEAD TO THE GOLD DOME AND OUR WRAP UP OF THE DAY'S NEWS THERE FROM CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS.

YOU HEARD SOME TENSE DEBATE TODAY, DIDN'T YOU?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, DONNA, COUNT THEM.

WE HAD FOUR ELECTION BILLS PASS ON THE SENATE FLOOR, PART OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GEOFF DUNCAN'S ELECTION PACKAGE.

YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT SENATE BILL 67 WAS IN COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.

WELL, IT PASSED TODAY, BUT NOT BEFORE SOME STRONG OPPOSITION AND SOME OF IT EMOTIONAL.

SB 76 IS THE BILL THAT REQUIRES AN I.D.

WHEN FILING A PRINTED APPLICATION BALLOT.

TALKS ABOUT I.D.s THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.

>> YOU CAN SEND IN A COPY OF YOUR MILITARY I.D., YOUR PASSPORT, VARIOUS OTHER THINGS.

IT'S 97% OF GEORGIA'S REGISTERED VOTERS HAVE EITHER A GEORGIA DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER OR A STATE ISSUED I.D.

NUMBER.

97%.

>> SENATOR JEN JORDAN IS CONCERNED THERE IS NOTHING IN THE BILL THAT PROTECTS VOTERS FROM IDENTITY THEFT.

>> I HAVE A REAL ISSUE IN TERMS OF US REQUESTING OR ASKING THAT PEOPLE TAKE A COPY, A PHOTOCOPY OF THEIR IDENTIFICATION THAT HAS ALL OF THEIR INFORMATION ON IT, RIGHT?

AND THEN SENDING IT THROUGH THE MAIL TO THE LOCAL ELECTIONS OFFICE.

>> SENATOR DAVID LUCAS SAID FROM THE FLOOR THAT THE STATE IS GETTING READY TO SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON A FIGHT THAT HE INTENDS TO TAKE PART IN, AND AT ONE POINT, HE BROKE DOWN IN TEARS.

>> LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT.

THE ELECTION DID NOT TURN OUT THE WAY YOU WANTED IT TO TURN OUT.

>> AFTER 45 YEARS BEING IN THIS BODY, I PROBABLY HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS BEFORE TODAY.

BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT DISENFRANCHISING VOTERS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT OVERLY BURDENING THE ELECTORATE.

IT IS ABOUT EFFICIENCY AND SECURITY.

>> Reporter: AND THAT'S JUST THE FIRST ONE.

SENATOR BILL COWSERT PRESENTED TWO MORE BILLS.

HERE IS SENATE BILL 184 WHICH AFFECTS A VOTER HISTORY DEADLINE FOR COUNTY ELECTION BOARDS.

>> CURRENT LAW REQUIRES THE BOARD OF REGISTRARS OR THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, DEPENDING ON WHICH TYPE OF ELECTION SUPERVISION YOUR COUNTY HAS TO CREATE YOUR VOTER HISTORY.

CURRENTLY THEY HAVE 60 DAYS TO PROVIDE THAT DATA.

THIS BILL JUST CHANGES THE DATE TO 30 DAYS SO WE GET MORE TIMELY REPORTING OF VOTING HISTORIES.

>> SENATOR COWSERT WAS BACK AT THE WELL TO PRESENT SENATE BILL 188 STATING IT WOULD ENSURE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM BY ALLOWING CITIZENS TO WATCH VOTER TOTALS ONLINE.

>>> SENATE BILL 188 CALLS UPON REQUIRES THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN AN ELECTION RESULTS REPORTING SYSTEM, AND FOR THAT TO BE READILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR STATE.

>> LET'S HAVE A REPORTING SYSTEM SO WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY SO OUR CITIZENS CAN GO ONLINE AND SEE HOW THE VOTES COME IN.

>> Reporter: AND FINALLY SENATE BILL 40 WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

IT'S SPONSORED BY SENATOR JIM JORDAN.

THIS BILL PROPOSES A CHANGE TO THE TIME FRAME FOR OPENING AND PROCESSING BALLOTS MOVING IT TO EIGHT DAYS AHEAD OF THE ELECTION.

>>> REPRESENTATIVE RICK WILLIAMS CALLS HIS BILL, WHICH IS 354 A CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL, AND FROM THE FLOOR HE RECALLED HOW THE OWNER OF A FUNERAL HOME HAD OPERATED THAT FACILITY FOR 15 YEARS WITHOUT A LICENSE CAUSING MORE THAN HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGES TO FAMILIES.

THAT OWNER IS NOW IN A STATE PRISON.

>> THIS BILL IS BROUGHT TO STOP FRAUD, FORGERY AND OTHER ILLEGAL CRIMES THAT ARE DAMAGING PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WHEN THEY HAVE PREPAID FOR FUNERALS OR CEMETERY SPACES, AND THE MONEY HAS NOT BEEN APPROPRIATELY PUT IN TRUST LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO.

>> HOUSE BILL 354 PASSED IN THE HOUSE UNOPPOSED, 167-0.

>>> TODAY MARKS THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE MURDER OF AHMAUD ARBERY.

THE UNARMED 25-YEAR-OLD BLACK MAN WAS PURSUED BY THREE WHITE MEN AS HE JOGGED NEAR BRUNSWICK AND WAS FATALLY SHOT.

>> THIS AFTERNOON THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS RECOGNIZED THIS ANNIVERSARY DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE AS THEY HELD LIT CANDLES.

>> WE SAY NO MORE, NO MORE.

NO MORE.

>> WE STAND HERE AT THIS DEFINING MOMENT A YEAR LATER TO LIGHT UP THE INJUSTICE IN GEORGIA.

>> AND LATE THIS AFTERNOON SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MIKE DUGAN FILED ANOTHER EXPENSE TOR ELECTION PACKAGE ON BEHALF OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

IT IS SENATE BILL 241.

I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE.

IT JUST CAME OUT A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

IT IS 25 PAGES, SO IT LOOKS LIKE I HAVE SOME HOMEWORK TONIGHT, DONNA.

THAT'S MY CAPITOL REPORT, BACK TO YOU.

>> LOTS OF READING, BRENDA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS NOW ON THE STATE'S $13.8 BILLION AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY.

BY THE NUMBERS, THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU SAYS AGRICULTURE CONTRIBUTES $73.3 BILLION TO THE ECONOMY, AND EMPLOYS ONE IN SEVEN GEORGIANS.

GEORGIA AGRICULTURE IS THE NATION'S NUMBER ONE PRODUCER OF PEANUTS, CHICKENS, PECANS, BLUEBERRIES AND SPRING ONIONS.

NO ONE KNOWS THE INDUSTRY MORE THAN THE MAN WHO HAS SERVED AS GEORGIA'S AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER SINCE 2010.

GARY BLACK.

I TALKED TO HIM RECENTLY ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM VACCINE DISTRIBUTION FOR AG WORKERS TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT LOOKING AT THE GEORGIA FLORIDA WATER WARS.

THAT'S WHERE FLORIDA CLAIMS GEORGIA IS USING TOO MUCH WATER AND DESTROYING THE OYSTER INDUSTRY.

WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE RECENT TRAGIC DEATHS OF POULTRY WORKERS IN HALL COUNTY BECAUSE OF A NITROGEN LEAK.

BUT I BEGAN BY ASKING HIM ABOUT THE EARLY WEEKS OF THE PANDEMIC AND THOSE EMPTY GROCERY STORE SHELVES.

>> MANY OF YOUR VIEWERS, MANY GEORGIANS, MANY AMERICANS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIFE THEY WENT TO A GROCERY STORE DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF COVID-19, AND THEY WERE ALARMED BECAUSE SHELVES ARE NORMALLY FULL, BUT THEY WERE EMPTY.

THERE WAS A RUN ON A LOT OF THINGS ALL THE WAY FROM TOILET PAPER TO MEAT TO DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE JUST NOT ACCUSTOMED TO SEEING.

WE THINK IT'S A BIRTHRIGHT AS A GEORGIANS, AS AN AMERICAN.

WE SAW SOME REAL CHALLENGES IN THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT EQUIPPED, IT'S A REALTIME INVENTORY TYPE BUSINESS.

SO WHEN THERE'S A MAD RUSH, WE HAD TO RESPOND QUICKLY.

FARMERS, ON THE OTHER HAND, THAT WAS THE CONSUMER SIDE OF IT, PEOPLE, THEY'RE STAYING AT HOME, WE'VE GOT TO LEARN TO FEED OURSELVES A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

WE LOST HALF OF OUR MARKET, SCHOOL NUTRITION WENT AWAY, OUR RESTAURANTS, MUCH OF FOOD SERVICE WAS COMPROMISED IN THE EARLY DAYS AND STILL IS TRYING TO WORK ITS WAY BACK.

THAT MARKET FOR PRODUCTS OFF THE FARM WAS, YOU KNOW, IMMEDIATELY IT VANISHED.

SO WE WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY WITH OUR GEORGIA GROWN TO GO PROGRAM, WORKING WITH COUNTIES, WORKING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ON SOME -- MAKING SOME FOOD AND FARM PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO GEORGIANS, BUT THEN ALSO WE CAME ALONGSIDE THE USDA WITH THEIR FARMERS AND FAMILY FOOD BOXES TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT -- WE HAD SOME GOOD LOGISTICS BEHIND THAT SO WE'D HAVE A REALLY GOOD PROGRAM THAT WOULD SERVE PEOPLE.

SO WHEN ALL OF THAT HAPPENED, WE WOUND UP HAVING A PRETTY GOOD YEAR IN FRUIT AND VEGETABLE, ACTUALLY MAYBE A RECORD YEAR BECAUSE THERE WAS SUCH HIGH DEMAND, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO PIVOT QUICKLY SO THAT THAT PRODUCT WOULD GET IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

MANY OF THOSE PRODUCERS ACTUALLY HAD A GOOD YEAR.

THAT WAS SOME OF THE SILVER LINING.

>> SO YOU HAD THIS HUGE SUPPLY, AND THEN YOU WERE ABLE TO SUPPLY PEOPLE WHO WERE IN NEED.

>> PATTERNS CHANGED A BIT BECAUSE WE WERE AT HOME.

I THINK WHAT WE'LL SEE GOING FORWARD IN 2021 IS A GREATER CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR ABILITY TO FEED OURSELVES.

WHAT ARE THOSE EXTRA STEPS I COULD TAKE AT HOME TO FEED MY FAMILY.

LAST YEAR THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF BUSINESS WE'VE EVER HAD.

THEY'RE ALREADY BUSY WORKING FOR YOU AND I RIGHT NOW.

HOPEFULLY THOSE ARE SOME OF THE GOOD LESSONS WE'RE LEARN FROM '20 AND MAYBE '21 WILL BE BETTER FOR ALL OF US.

>> ANYTHING NEGATIVE THAT CAME OUT OF IT?

>> THE EARLY SHOCKS WERE VERY DIFFICULT ON THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

WE ACTUALLY LOST SOME DAIRIES LAST YEAR SIMPLY BECAUSE WE LOST THAT MARKET.

PEANUT WOUND UP WITH A PRETTY DECENT YEAR.

COTTON REALLY HAD SOME CHALLENGES LAST YEAR, BUT THAT TRAILS BACK TO EVEN SOME OF OUR TRADE ISSUES ABROAD.

PECAN THIS YEAR WAS NOT A STELLAR YEAR, HAD A GOOD CROP, BUT ALL THAT CROP IN STORAGE.

HOPEFULLY SOME OF THESE WORLD MARKETS ARE GOING TO OPEN BACK UP.

WE SAW SOME POULTRY PLANTS CLOSE, YOU KNOW, AROUND THE COUNTRY.

NEVER HERE BECAUSE WE'RE STILL THE NUMBER ONE POULTRY PRODUCING STATE.

THEY MADE SURE THEIR EMPLOYEES HAD A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

THEY'RE WORKING RIGHT NOW.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'M GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE POULTRY INDUSTRY LATER THIS WEEK AND VISITING SOME VACCINE SITES, VACCINE CLINICS TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN REPLICATE -- THEY HAVE CLINICS WITHIN EACH POULTRY COMPANY, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW COULD WE ADMINISTER THOSE ON SITE.

>> IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF MOVING THE POULTRY WORKERS UP IN TERMS OF VACCINE DISTRIBUTION?

>> WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY IN HOMELAND SECURITY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS FOR THE -- IN THE TERMS OF WORKING WITH CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE.

IT'S A FORMAL HOMELAND SECURITY TERM, BUT THOSE ARE CAPTURED RIGHT NOW, AND I BELIEVE THE 1B LEVEL, WHICH IS A LEVEL OR TWO DOWN FROM WHERE WE ARE IN A VACCINE DISTRIBUTION, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME, YOU KNOW, PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS.

WE'D LOVE TO -- WE HOPE WE WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES.

THAT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A STRONG STRATEGY.

WE BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, EVERYONE'S VERY INTERESTED IN THAT.

WE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE INVENTORY AND HOPEFULLY CAN OPEN UP SOME OF THAT IN THE FUTURE VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT OUR GUEST WORKERS, OUR GUEST WORKERS THAT WILL BE COMING TO HELP WITH BLUEBERRY AND VEGETABLE, WE HAVE TO HAVE A STRATEGY THERE.

WE'RE ALREADY TALKING WITH COMMUNITIES ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING ALL ACROSS THE RED MEAT INDUSTRY IN GEORGIA AND POULTRY AND THEN ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE WE CONTEND, I'LL ALWAYS CONTEND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES, THAT IS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE COUNTRY.

AND SO HOPEFULLY THE QUICKER WE CAN HAVE A STRATEGY AND BE PUTTING THAT IN PLACE WITH FUTURE INVENTORIES, VACCINES WE'RE SURELY HOPEFUL THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN QUICKLY.

>> WE HAVE THE TERRIBLE DEATHS IN HALL COUNTY.

WE KNOW THERE'S A FEDERAL RESPONSE.

IS THERE A STATE RESPONSE TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

SURE THERE IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THIS PLANT IS SAFE FOR OUR INSPECTORS TO COME BACK IN.

WE HAD TWO INSPECTORS IN THAT PLANT, AND TRAGICALLY THEY KNEW SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT HAD LOST THEIR LIVES.

PRAISE THE LORD THAT THEY WERE IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, ONE OF OUR INSPECTORS SAYS WE NEED TO MOVE, AND HE HAD NO INKLING OF WHAT, AND HE SAID I'M NOT SURE.

I'M CONFIDENT I KNOW THE LORD TOLD YOU TO MOVE.

SO THEY DID.

THEY GOT OUT SAFELY.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INSPECTION SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED FROM OUR SIDE PLUS FROM USDA'S SIDE, THERE HAVE TO BE SOME ASSURANCES THAT THOSE CHECKLISTS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DISCUSSING THAT EVEN TODAY WITH THAT COMPANY.

BUT WE -- THERE'S NOTHING WE WANT MORE THAN TO HAVE THAT COMPANY OPEN AND EMPLOYING GEORGIANS.

THIS IS FROM A STANDPOINT FROM ALL INDICATIONS, IT WAS JUST A TRAGIC ACCIDENT, AND SO -- BUT STILL, YOU WANT TO GO BACK THROUGH YOUR CHECKLIST AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S SAFE FOR PEOPLE.

I'M SURE THE COMPANY'S COMMITTED TO THAT, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO THAT.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THEM BACK OPEN AND EMPLOYING GEORGIANS AGAIN.

>> THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TODAY IS LOOKING INTO THE LAWSUIT INVOLVING THE GEORGIA/FLORIDA WATER WARS.

HOW DID THAT AFFECT FARMING?

>> IT IS VITAL TO THE FUTURE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT, RURAL VITALITY IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, NOT JUST AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.

THAT'S A GIVEN.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE ADEQUATE WATER TO GROW THE TYPE OF CROPS THAT WE GROW, TO HAVE THE LONG SEASON THAT WE HAVE.

CERTAINLY WE'LL BE -- WE'LL BE WAITING WITH EXPECTATIONS AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A FAVORABLE OUTCOME.

>> FARMERS ARE INVOLVED WITH ANTIBACTERIALS AND ANTIMICROBIALS THAT ARE HELPING COMPANIES LIKE DELTA WHEN IT COMES TO SANITIZING THINGS.

>> WE'VE HAD A VERY INTERESTING PROJECT WORKING WITH DELTA.

FROM THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN IT COMES TO PESTICIDES, PESTICIDES, REMEMBER, IS A BROAD TERM, BUT IT ALSO IS AN ANTIMICROBIAL OR A DISINFECTANT, AND SO BECAUSE THEY KILL PESTS.

IT'S CALLED EMERGENCY USE.

I DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING THAT'S A GREATER EMERGENCY THAN FINDING A SOLUTION TO MAKING, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SPACES CLEANER AND HEALTHIER AND HOPEFULLY THESE PRODUCTS ARE GOING TO GO A LONG WAY TOWARD DOING THAT AND THEN THE PUBLIC CAN KNOW THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WAS A PART OF THAT PROCESS, AND I'M REAL PROUD OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING IN THAT AREA.

>> YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ASK IS IT A SPRAY?

IS IT A GAS?

WHAT FORMAT?

>> YES.

>> ALL OF IT.

ALL RIGHTY.

IT'S A SPRAY AND A GAS.

SO WE'LL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.

I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER GARY BLACK FOR TALKING WITH ME.

>>> NOW, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DISCUSSING AGRICULTURE WITH THE CHAIRS OF THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEES IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

WE'LL HEAR HOW THE PANDEMIC HIT THEM PERSONALLY, TOO.

"LAWMAKERS" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>>> "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

WITH OVER 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE, AFTER ALL, AG IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER 74 BILLION IN OUTPUT OF GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITOL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> WE'RE ALL IN THIS FIGHT ALL THE WAY FROM THE 7,000 CIGNA CLINICIANS SUPPORTING FRONT LINE DOCTORS AND NURSES TO EVERYONE STAYING HOME TO PROTECT OTHERS.

FIND ANSWERS TO YOUR MOST PRESSING QUESTIONS.

AT CIGNA.COM/COVID-19.

>>> GEORGIA HUMANITIES CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS GEORGIA TO ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION, EDUCATION, AND UNDERSTANDING.

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.GEORGIAHUMANITIES.ORG.

>>> JOIN GPB AS WE CELEBRATE AMERICAN PORTRAIT.

>> I HAVE A GREAT TRADITION IN MY FAMILY.

WE GO TO STAR WARS MOVIES EVERY YEAR WHEN THEY COME OUT.

>> HALF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HALF SOUTH ASIAN EDUCATED INDIVIDUAL, I'VE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME RETHINKING MY CHOICE TO CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY.

>> WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER, I HOPE TO GO BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY.

>> SHARE YOUR STORY AT GPB.ORG/AMERICANPORTRAIT.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWRY.

WE ARE CONTINUING OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT GEORGIA'S LARGEST INDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE.

WE ARE JOINED BY BOTH OF THE NEW CHAIRMEN OF THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, STATE SENATOR LARRY WALKER III AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT DICKEY.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

>> THANK YOU, DONNA.

>> LET'S BEGIN WITH YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE INTERVIEW WITH COMMISSIONER BLACK, AND LET'S START WITH YOU SENATOR.

>> VERY GOOD INTERVIEW.

YOU DID A GOOD JOB.

COMMISSIONER BLACK IS A GOOD FRIEND.

HE'S BEEN A GREAT LEADER FOR AGRICULTURE IN GEORGIA.

ONE OF THE THINGS HE'S PROMOTED AND DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB WITH AND HAD THE VISION FOR IS OUR GEORGIA GROWN PROGRAM WHERE WE PROMOTE GEORGIA GROWN PRODUCTS AND HAS A TRADE NAME ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, AND THAT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM, AND THAT ALLOWS THEM TO SEE IN THE GROCERY STORE OR WHEREVER THAT THEY'RE BUYING GEORGIA GROWN PRODUCTS.

>> YEAH, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PANDEMIC HELPED THEM GET IT ALMOST RIGHT FROM THE FARM TO TABLE LITERALLY.

>> YEAH, HE TALKED ABOUT, I THINK, THE FOOD BOXES WHERE IT WAS KIND OF A WIN-WIN SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE ABLE TO FEED SOME NEEDY FAMILIES AND ALSO MOVE PRODUCE THAT WOULD HAVE SAT IN THE FIELD.

>> THAT WHOLE TRANSPORTATION PIECE, YOU KNOW, FAILED DURING THAT TIME.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE TRUCKS COMING IN, THE WAREHOUSES COULDN'T GET THINGS AND PEOPLE WERE UPSET ABOUT NOT HAVING THINGS ON THEIR SHELVES INCLUDING YOUR PEACHES.

SO YOU'RE A PEACH FARMER.

TELL US WHAT OTHER THINGS YOU MIGHT GROW.

>> IT'S A LARGE FAMILY FARM THAT'S BEEN THERE MANY YEARS, BUT WE REALLY TRANSITION ALSO INTO AGRI TOURISM AND THE DIVERSITY AND PECANS AND THOSE TYPE CROPS.

COMMISSIONER BLACK WAS RIGHT.

THIS PANDEMIC REALLY DID, I THINK, BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO APPRECIATE WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM.

AND HOW IT GETS INTO THE GROCERY STORES.

IT WAS GOOD FOR OUR FARM THIS YEAR.

WE HAD TONS OF PEOPLE CAME OUT TO OUR FARM TO PICK STRAWBERRIES AND PEACHES AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATED OUR SHELVES BEING FULL IN THE GROCERY STORE THIS -- DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO REAL PROUD OF THE JOB THE WHOLE SYSTEM DID IN GEORGIA.

>> YEAH, HE SAID FRUITS AND VEGETABLES DID EXTREMELY WELL, SO GOOD FOR YOU.

>> THEY REALLY DID, AND SO YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY SCARY FOR A TIME THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE WORKERS PICK AND HARVEST OR TO PROCESS AND TRANSPORT THE FOOD TO THE GROCERY STORES, BUT THANK GOODNESS OUR GOVERNOR AND COMMISSIONER BLACK AND EVERYONE KEPT THE SUPPLY CHAIN OPEN.

>> YEAH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS WHOLE VACCINE.

APPARENTLY THE AGRICULTURE WORKERS INCLUDING AND EVEN THE GROCERY STORE WORKERS, THE FOOD PROCESSORS, THEY'RE IN THE NEXT PHASE.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT HIT HOME TO ALL OF US WHEN WE SAW SOME EMPTY GROCERY STORE SHELVES EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC.

SO CERTAINLY THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE.

I THINK THE VACCINE IS THE AMOUNT OF VACCINES BEING ADMINISTERED IS CONTINUING TO INCREASE.

IT'S BEEN A REAL LOGISTICAL CHALLENGE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAVE DONE A STELLAR JOB.

THEY'VE OPENED SOME MASS VACCINE SITES THIS WEEK, I THINK YESTERDAY.

SO I'M ENCOURAGED THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THAT.

I THINK IT'S THE 1B PEOPLE THAT WILL GET -- BE ABLE TO GET VACCINES SOON.

>> YOU HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT THE POULTRY WORKERS TRYING TO HAVE THEIR SITE ON SITE.

THAT WOULD HELP A LOT IF THEY COULD HAVE THEIR VACCINES GIVEN RIGHT ON THE SITE.

THEY APPARENTLY HAVE CLINICS, SO THAT WILL WORK OUT.

>> HOW ABOUT THE TEMPORARY WORKERS?

YOU MUST USE THEM WHEN IT COMES TO -- >> I DO, AND VERY ESSENTIAL.

THAT'S WHAT SENATOR WALKER IS TALKING ABOUT, TRYING TO GET TO THOSE ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND VERY GLAD WE DID THESE 65 AND OLDER AND FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORKERS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY AND OTHER ESSENTIAL INDUSTRIES THAT NEVER LEFT THE JOB.

STAYED ON IT THROUGH THICK AND THIN, THROUGH HIGH NUMBERS AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET TO THAT, TOO, AND I'M JUST VERY GLAD THE GOVERNOR OPENED UP ONE OF THESE SITES TO THE FARMERS MARKET THIS WEEK, AND IT'S WORKING OUT VERY, VERY WELL THERE.

>> WILL THAT HELP YOU WHEN IT COMES TO THE TEMP WORKERS?

>> YES.

WHEN WE GET TO THAT NEXT STAGE, IT WILL BE CLOSE BY, AND WE CAN GET THEM THERE.

OUR PEACHES, THEY DON'T WAIT ON THE HARVEST.

YOU GOT TO HAVE PEOPLE THERE TO DO THAT, AND SO THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE WEATHERED THAT STORM VERY WELL SO FAR.

>> THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

LET'S SWITCH GEARS AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HEMP FARMING.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT IT UNDER THE DOME THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT'S NEW.

I GUESS THAT'S THE BIG THING.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HEMP FARMING IN THIS STATE?

>> IT'S STILL A VERY NEW INDUSTRY HERE IN GEORGIA AND KIND OF IN ITS INFANCY.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE FULL BLOWN POTENTIAL OF IT IS, BUT WE WANT TO HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT, A REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT AND A LEGAL FRAMEWORK WHERE IF IT IS A PROFITABLE INDUSTRY FOR OUR FARMERS AND AN ALTERNATIVE CROP FOR THEM, WE WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE CBD OIL, YOU SEE THAT JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE IT SEEMS LIKE, NOW.

THAT, OF COURSE, IS A BY-PRODUCT OF HEMP, BUT HEMP CAN BE USED TO DO ALL KIND OF STUFF, MAKE ROPE AND FABRIC AND ALL KIND OF THINGS.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT GOES.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A BILL IN MY COMMITTEE THURSDAY THAT'S GOING TO TRY TO UPDATE SOME OF OUR CODE SECTION TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

>> HOUSE BILL 336.

YOU THINK IT WILL DEAL WITH REGULATIONS, TESTING, OR IS THAT SEPARATE?

>> WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SENATE BILL.

I DON'T KNOW THE BILL NUMBER.

>> ALL RIGHTY.

>> BUT IT'S PROBABLY -- I KNOW WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE HOUSE.

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A COMPANION BILL.

YOU KNOW ABOUT 336.

>> YEAH, THE HOUSE HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO UPDATE, TO COORDINATE NEW FEDERAL REGS WITH THE GEORGIA REGS, AND WE'LL WORK TOGETHER AND GET THAT RIGHT, BUT GEORGIA HAS TAKEN A VERY CAUTIOUS, SLOW APPROACH TO HEMP AND -- BUT SOME OTHER STATES ARE AHEAD OF US, BUT I HOPE IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY PROFITABLE LONG-TERM CROP THAT WE CAN USE.

>> YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN IT, AND THE ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS SURPRISING THAT IT CAN BE USED AS FIBER.

THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT -- SO WE MAY SEE IT IN OUR FOOD, TOO, DOWN THE ROAD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S A LOT OF USES FOR HEMP, AND WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUTTING IT IN THE FARM PROGRAM AND LESSENING SOME REGULATORY RULES, WE'RE READY TO GO WITH IT.

>> YEAH.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF THE -- YOU KNOW, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE VACCINE, BUT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT AS THIS PANDEMIC CONTINUES GETTING WORKERS FOR YOUR FARM?

>> WE WORRY EVERY YEAR ABOUT GETTING WORKERS.

I USED H 2 A TEMPORARY WORKERS AND VERY ESSENTIAL FOR THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INDUSTRY, AND I'VE STAYED.

IT'S GONE VERY WELL SO FAR, AND I'VE GOT SOME GREAT RETURNING WORKERS THAT WE DEPEND ON, CANNOT FIND SEASONAL WORKERS AS YOU USED TO TO HARVEST.

IT'S A TOUGH JOB, AND IT'S SEVEN DAYS A WEEK SOMETIMES.

SO THANK GOODNESS WE GOT A PRETTY GOOD SYSTEM RIGHT NOW FOR THAT.

>> AND YOU DID WELL IN 2020.

>> WE ABSOLUTELY DID.

IT'S THE RIGHT WEATHER AND THE RIGHT MARKETS AND GEORGIA'S AG CULTURE IS DOING WELL.

>> I'M GOING TO STICK WITH YOU A SECOND.

YOU HAVE SIGNED ONTO HOUSE RESOLUTION 185, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, WHICH WILL CONTINUE THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU.

>> IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE'VE WORKED HARD ON THAT OVER THE YEARS, AND I THINK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR RURAL AREAS IS IN NEED OF HELP, AND THEY REALLY -- AND GETTING BROADBAND HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF THAT PROGRAM, AND SO JUST SO PROUD OF EMCs BEING ABLE TO GET INTO THAT, AND YOU SAW SOME RESULTS IN MY DISTRICT JUST THIS PAST WEEK OF TWO EMCs WALKING TO RUN BARBARA INTO EVERY SINGLE HOUSE THAT THEY SERVED.

>> THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOU BOTH HAVE TRANSITIONED TO NEW CHAIRMANSHIPS.

WHAT'S THAT BEEN LIKE?

>> WELL, I'M HONORED TO BE CHAIR OF THE SENATE AG COMMITTEE.

I APPRECIATE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THE CONFIDENCE HE'S SHOWN IN ME TO DO THAT.

AS YOU SAID EARLIER, AGRICULTURE IS OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

IT'S THE ECONOMIC DRIVER IN COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS OUR STATE, EMPLOYS ONE IN SEVEN GEORGIANS SO IT'S AN IMPORTANT JOB.

IT'S A JOB I LOOK FORWARD TO.

I CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ACROSS THE HALL WITH CHAIRMAN DICKEY.

HE AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME.

I VISITED HIS FARM MANY TIMES.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL, AND HE'S GOT THE BEST ICE CREAM I'VE EVER HAD.

>> WE DIDN'T GET ANY TODAY.

OKAY.

THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

>> WE'LL WORK ON THAT.

>> I KNOW YOU MUST LOVE -- >> THANK YOU TO THE SPEAKER AND BUT BIG SHOES TO FILL WITH TOM McCALL.

HE LEFT AND ACTUALLY PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA FARM BUREAU WHICH IS ANOTHER GREAT JOB THAT PROMOTES AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO PRO ETTING -- PROMOTING THE AG IN OUR STATE AND MAKING THE RIGHT POLICIES TO MOVE GEORGIA FORWARD.

>> I WANT TO FINISH WITH SENATE BILL 222 WHICH WOULD MAKE THE PECAN THE OFFICIAL STATE NUT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

I DON'T KNOW IF THE PEANUT FARMERS ARE HAPPY.

ANYBODY WANT TO COMMENT?

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF CONTENDERS THAT ACTUALLY SERVE IN THE STATE SENATE THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR THE OFFICIAL STATE NUT, BUT THE PECAN IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY REALLY IN MIDDLE GEORGIA.

IT'S A BIG, BIG PART OF OUR AGRIBUSINESS AND ECONOMY.

THE PEANUT IS A LEGUME, AND IT IS THE OFFICIAL GEORGIA CROP.

>>ST THAT'S THE ARGUMENT.

IT IS NOT ACTUALLY A NUT.

>> BUT REMEMBER, GEORGIA'S THE PEACH STATE, SO DON'T EVER FORGET THAT.

>> WHY AM I NOT SURPRISED THAT WOULD COME FROM YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE BOTH OF YOU, AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CHAIRMANSHIPS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR "LAWMAKERS."

BE SURE TO TUNE IN FOR "LAWMAKERS" TOMORROW FOR LEGISLATIVE SESSION DAY 22.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.