♪ ♪ >>> HOW CAN WE HAVE ELECTION INTEGRITY WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE CANDIDATES ARE SAYING AND WHAT THEY'RE TRUTHFULLY SAYING, WHAT THEY TRUTHFULLY BELIEVE IN?

I KNOW NO PERSON IN THIS BODY WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IN FREEDOM AND LIBERTY, BUT I DO KNOW THIS -- THERE ARE OPERATIVES THIS THIS STATE WHO WOULD PREFER TO USE GENERATIVE AI AND DECEPTIVE MEDIA TO BE ABLE TO TAKE OVER THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE TODD JONES DESCRIBES THE DANGERS OF ELECTION INTERFERENCE CAUSED BY DEEP FAKES.

GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS DAY 25 OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

WE'LL HAVE MORE DEBATE OVER THE LEGISLATION DEALING WITH COMPUTER GENERATED AUDIO AND VIDEO USED IN CAMPAIGNS IN JUST A MOMENT.

JOIN USING US IN THE STUDIO IS A LAWMAKER WHO WORRIES ABOUT THE USE OF AI IN HEALTH CARE.

WE'LL LOOK AT BILL IN A WAY THAT HEALTH CARE MAY USE AI.

AND THE SENATE PASSED A BUDGET THAT THE HOUSE APPROVED EARLIER THIS MORNING.

AND THERE'S NO LEGISLATION INVOLVED, BUT THE BEST-DRESSED LAWMAKERS LIST IS HOTLY DEBATED EVERY YEAR.

WE UNVEIL A NEW WAY OF DETERMINING WHO MAKES THE FASHION CUT.

BUT FIRST, LET'S GO TO SARAH KALLIS AT THE CAPITOL WITH THE CAPITOL REPORT.

>> Reporter: HI, DONNA.

TODAY AT THE CAPITOL, THE CHAMBERS CLASHED OVER THE BUDGET AND LAWMAKERS DEBATED SAFEGUARDS OF A NEW TYPE OF ELECTION FRAUD.

HUNDREDS GATHERED FOR THE ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITOL.

IT ADD SLOW KATES FOR AN END TO ABORTION.

LAUREN DANIEL, WHO GAVE BIRTH TO HER FIRST CHILD AT HIGH SCHOOL, SPOKE AT THE EVENT.

>> MY HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS TOLD ME THAT, YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE FOR ME TO APPLY TO GO TO COLLEGE, THAT I HAD OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES, AND IF I CHOSE TO KEEP MY CHILD, THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND COLLEGE OR ACCOMPLISH, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, IN LIFE.

HOWEVER, I WAS VERY BLESSED.

MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A NICU NURSE, AND ALL MY LIFE SHE TAUGHT ME THE VALUE OF BABIES.

>> Reporter: IN THE HOUSE, HOUSE BILL 986 WOULD CREATE REGULATIONS AROUND DEEP FAKE AND AI VIDEOS CREATED OF A CANDIDATE.

ANY CONTEMPT USED AUDIO AND VIDEO OF A CANDIDATE WOULD REQUIRE A WARNING.

SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T DISCLOSE IT'S AI GENERATED WOULD BE CHARGED WITH A FELONY.

>> IT DEFINES A DECEPTIVE VIDEO OF A STILL IMAGE OR IMAGE FILE OR VIDEO OR AUDIO THAT APPEARS TO DEPICT A REAL INDIVIDUAL'S SPEECH OR CONDUCT THAT DID NOT OCCUR IN REALITY.

AND IN ADDITION, IT WOULD HAVE TO APPEAR TO A REASONABLE PERSON TO BE AUTHENTIC.

>> Reporter: ONE REPRESENTATIVE PUSHED BACK AND SAID IT SACRIFICES FREEDOM.

>> THIS IS A DANGEROUS LAW TO HAVE ON THE BOOKS.

I DO NOT ADDRESS YOU TODAY TO CAST DOUBT ON THE INTENT OF MY COLLEAGUES.

WE DO OFTEN TALK IN THIS ESTEEMED CHAMBER ABOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE MANY BILLS DESIGNED TO SIMPLY CORRECT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF BILLS PASSED THE PRIOR YEAR.

AGAIN, THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS THE BEDROCK OF THIS COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL SAID GEORGIA IS BEING PROACTIVE AT COMBATTING AN INCREASING THREAT FROM TECHNOLOGY.

>> WE HAVE DONE IN NINE MONTHS WHAT WASHINGTON, D.C. IS SAYING IT MAY TAKE THREE MORE YEARS TO DO.

WE CAN'T BE AFRAID TO STEP OUT.

>> Reporter: THE BILL PASSED 148-22.

AND REPRESENTATIVE JAY COLLINS ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT.

>> I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW HUMBLED I AM THAT THEY HAVE ALLOWED ME IN SOME CAPACITY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS TO BE A PUBLICER IS VENT TO THEM.

ALL THAT I HAVE AND ALL THAT I WILL BE IS BECAUSE OF THAT COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: THE SENATE'S VERSION OF THE HOUSE AMENDED BUDGET WAS THE BIG NEWS TODAY.

THE BUDGET WILL INCREASE THIS YEAR'S SPENDING BY AN ADDITIONAL $5 BILLION.

>> OUT OF THESE 302 PAGES, ONLY -- THERE ARE ONLY 11 PAGES OF DIFFERENCES WHERE THE SENATE DISAGREES WITH THE HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR.

SO IT'S -- FOR 95% OF THE BUDGET, THERE'S AGREEMENT ACROSS THE THREE STOOLS OF OUR STOOL THAT PASSED THE BUDGET.

>> Reporter: ONE TO HAVE MAIN DIFFERENCES IS HOW THE STATE WILL PAY FOR FUTURE EXPENDITURES.

>> I MENTIONED THE THINGS THAT WERE THE SAME.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT.

BECAUSE OF THEFINANCIAL FOOTING, WE WERE ABLE TO AVOID LONG-TERM DEBT IN THE FY-25 BUDGET BY TAKING WHAT WOULD NORMALLY BE BONDED PROJECTS AND PUT THEM IN THE FY-24 AMENDED BUDGET AND PAYING CASH.

ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE USING OUR SAVINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE OVER YEARS BECAUSE OF THE STRONG FISCAL STEWARDSHIP OF ALL OF YOU IN THIS CHAMBER TO AVOID THE NOW RECORD HIGH 40-YEAR INFLATION THAT WE WOULD SEE IF WE WENT TO THE BOND MARKET.

>> Reporter: SOME OF THE NOTABLE DIFFERENCES -- >> AT THE DEPTH OF HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES, THE SENATE AGREED WITH THE HOUSE, THE HOUSE HAD THAT NUMBER AT $2 MILLION.

THE SENATE SAYS THIS IS A PILOT PROJECT.

WE ONLY HAVE THREE MONTHS LEFT IN THE FISCAL YEAR.

$500,000 SHOULD BE A BETTER NUMBER E. WE SUPPORT THAT PILOT, BUT THE $2 MILLION FIGURE WAS HIGHER THAN NECESSARY.

THE SENATE, AGAIN, CHAMPIONED BY THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, MADE A DOWN PAYMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROGRAM TO SHUT DOWN CELL SIGNALS INSIDE THE PRISONS.

WE SET A THREE-YEAR SET FOR DOING THAT.

PRISONS BY 2026 SHOULD ALL HAVE THIS TECHNOLOGY.

AND THE FIRST PROJECT SHOULD BEGIN IMMEDIATELY.

THE SENATE, THOUGH, WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT MIDDLE GEORGIA WAS NOT LEFT OUT.

AND BECAUSE OF THE STRONG EFFORTS THERE THE SENATOR FROM THE 26th, THE SENATE PROPOSAL INCLUDES $3.1 MILLION IN CAPITOL PROJECTS FOR THE EXPANSION AND RENOVATION OF THE GBI MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE AT THE MAY CONFACILITY.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS HAD FOUR REQUESTS.

ONE WAS FOR POWER SOURCE UPS SYSTEM.

IT'S TO HELP PLUG IN AS BACKUP POWER FOR VOTING MACHINES.

IT WAS A REQUEST TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM AT $6 MILLION.

THE SENATE'S POSITION IS WE DON'T THINK ALL OF THOSE BATTERIES WILL GO BAD AT THE SAME TIME, SO WE MOVED TO FUND $3 MILLION.

>> Reporter: AFTER BEING PASSED, THE SENATE'S VERSION WAS SENT BACK TO THE HOUSE.

BUT THE HOUSE REJECTED THE REVISIONS.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL NOW CREATE A JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO WORK OUT THE BALANCE SHEET.

ALSO TODAY, SENATOR PARKS HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE ADVOCATING FOR A SALES TAX HOLIDAY ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND ON MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS AND BABY SUPPLIES.

>> THIS IS ABOUT RESTORING THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT THAT WE LET SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS.

AND IT'S TIME WE BROUGHT IT BACK.

MAKING IT EASIER FOR PARENTS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL NEEDS WITHOUT THE ADDED STRESS OF THE SALES TAX.

IT'S ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR FAMILIES AND INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.

>> Reporter: LAWMAKERS WILL RETURN TO THE CAPITOL ON MONDAY FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY 26.

THAT'S ALL FOR MY REPORT.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SARAH, FOR THAT REPORT.

>>> LAST FALL, IN MINNESOTA, THE ESTATES OF TWO DECEASED MEN FILED A CLASS ACTION SUIT ACCUSING UNITED HEALTH CARE OF USING AN AI ALGORITHM TO DENY COVERAGE.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THAT, AND THE BUDGET WITH OUR GUEST.

DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS OF SOUTH FULTON.

AMONG HER COMMITTEES IS THE HOUSE INDUSTRY AND LABOR COMMITTEE.

AND HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER SERVES ON NINE HOUSE COMMITTEES, INCLUDING THE ALL-IMPORTANT APPROPRIATIONS PANEL.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" TO BOTH OF YOU.

SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BILL, HB-887, IT WOULD PROHIBIT THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MAKING CERTAIN DECISIONS REGARDING INSURANCE COVERAGE.

TALK ABOUT IT.

>> YES, THANK YOU.

THIS BILL CAME OUT OF HURT AND PAIN.

MY HURT AND PAIN FOR PEOPLE IN THIS SESSION, AND THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING.

WHEN I DID MY RESEARCH, I HAD A COUPLE OF CONSTITUENTS THAT WERE CONCERNED HOW AI WAS USED, AND IT'S BASICALLY THE SENIORS.

WE ARE IN THE TECHNOLOGY AGE, SO SOME OF THE SENIORS ARE JUST GETTING PAST SOCIAL MEDIA AND FACEBOOK AND ALL THE DATA THAT THEY'VE BEEN COLLECTING.

NOW HERE COMES AI.

SO I HAD THIS ONE CASE OF A CONSTITUENT, HER DOCTOR ACTUALLY SAID, AS I USE THIS AI TOOL, IF I WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU THIS DOSAGE, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN DEAD.

USE THING AI TOOL FOR A BRAND NEW PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION THAT SHE WAS ON.

>> WOW.

SO SOMETIMES THE AI IS BEING USED ALSO TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH HEALTH COVERAGE A PERSON RECEIVES, RIGHT?

OR SOME OF -- I GUESS IN THIS CASE IN MINNESOTA THAT IS WHAT IS AT ODDS.

>> IT'S HEALTH COVERAGE, IT'S HEALTH CARE, AND IT'S ALL THE PLANS FROM ANY CLINICIAN.

SO DOCTORS, MEDICAL DIRECTORS, ALL OF THE ABOVE.

>> OKAY, THEN.

SO YOU PERSONALLY WANT TO SEE SOMETHING DONE WITH THIS.

HOW ARE YOU DOING WITH THIS BILL?

>> THE BILL IS MOVING ALONG.

IT'S NOT ANTI-AI.

WE LIKE AI.

WE JUST DON'T WANT IT TO BE THE FINAL WORD.

>> OKAY.

AND SPEAKING OF AI, TODAY IN THE HOUSE, YOU BOTH LISTENED TO QUITE A BIT ABOUT DEEP FAKES.

YOU VOTED IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL THAT WOULD KIND OF CLAMP THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO DEEP FAKES.

>> HOUSE BILL 986 ADDRESSES THESE ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY.

AI CAN PRODUCE VIDEO AND SOUND WHICH MAKES IT LOOK LIKE A CANDIDATE IS SAYING SOMETHING THE CANDIDATE THEY HAVE SAID.

IT'S FRIGHTENING TO THINK THAT VOTERS COULD BE MISLED THAT THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY IS MISUSED.

SO THIS BILL WAS CAREFULLY DRAFTED.

IT ONLY APPLIES TO FOLKS WORKING FOR CAMPAIGN EFFORTS WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE ELECTION TO PUT OUT MATERIALLY FALSE INFORMATION THAT'S KNOWN TO BE FALSE AT THE TIME.

THE BILL INCLUDES SAFEGUARDS TO ENSURE THAT FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS ARE MAINTAINED.

BUT THIS GETS AT THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO DECEIVE VOTERS ABOUT WHAT A CANDIDATE HAS SAID AND WAS PROUD THAT THE BILL PASSED TODAY.

IT WAS A PRIORITY OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE JOHN BURNS AND PASSED WITH AN OVERWHELMING VOTE.

>> SO WE HAVE YOU HERE.

IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, AND THE SENATE PASSED THE HOUSE PASSED EARLIER, THE SUM SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.

>> THE AMENDED BUDGET THIS YEAR HAS MANY EXCITING THINGS FOR OUR STATE.

FIRST OF ALL, NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL IN ATHENS.

A NEW DENTAL SCHOOL IN SAVANNAH ASSOCIATED WITH GEORGIA'S SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.

THEIR PRIORITIES FOR HEALTH CARE, FOR TRANSPORTATION, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND EDUCATION THAT ARE MET IN THIS BUDGET.

ADDITIONALLY, IN THE AREA OF TAX REFORM, WHICH IS RELATED, THERE'S A DOUBLING OF THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, AND A CUT OF THE INCOME TAX RATE FROM 5.75 TO 5.39, A $1.9 BILLION SAVINGS FOR GEORGIA TAXPAYERS.

SO GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT THE STATEHOUSE RIGHT NOW.

>> WE HEARD FROM CHAIRMAN TILLERY THERE ARE STILL SOME THINGS BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE THAT HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT IN THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO PROCEDURALLY, THERE'S ALWAYS A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE EVERY YEAR.

SO THE HOUSE PASSES A BUDGET, THEN THE SENATE DOES.

AND WE HAVE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO WORK OUT ANY DIFFERENCES.

AS THE CHAIRMAN AND SENATE SAID, THERE ARE FEW DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WILL GET TO WORK TO RESOLVE THOSE.

>> WE KNOW WE'RE GOING INTO CROSSOVER NEXT WEEK.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

>> IT'S BEEN A VERY PRODUCTIVE SESSION.

WE PASSED A LOT OF TERRIFIC POLICY FOR THE STATE, AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO FALL THROUGH, THROUGH CROSSOVER DAY NEXT THURSDAY.

AND THROUGH THE END OF SESSION ON MARCH 28th.

I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING BACK TO TALK ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS TO RECAP THE SESSION.

>> YEAH, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW THAT NIGHT WHILE EVERYTHING IS GOING AROUND CRAZY.

YOU READY FOR THAT?

>> I'M READY FOR THAT.

>> GET YOUR REST OVER THE WEEKEND.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>>> COMING UP, OUR OWN VERSION OF MARCH MADNESS AT THE CAPITOL.

AS WE LOOK AT THE BRACKETS AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHO WILL BE CROWNED THE BEST DRESSED LEGISLATOR.

TWO JOURNALISTS FROM THE "ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION" ARE WITH US.

SO STAY WITH US.

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

WITH OVER 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTING OVER $74 BILLION IN GEORGIA'S ECONOMY.

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM REPRESENTS PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITOL, DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR AROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWRY.

THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAS KEPT THE PRESS CORPS OUT OF THE GOLD DOME VERY BUSY.

CROSSOVER DAY IS ONE WEEK FROM TODAY, SO WE'LL SEE THINGS HEAT UP MORE AS LAWMAKERS TRY TO GET THEIR BILLS PASSED IN AT LEAST ONE CHAMBER.

JOINING ME ARE TWO JOURNALISTS WHO COVER THE STATEHOUSE EXTENSIVELY.

MARK NIECY COVERS VOTING RIGHTS, ELECTIONS, GOVERNMENT FOR THE "ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION."

AND MAYA COVERS GEORGIA GOVERNMENT, POLITICS, GAMBLING, AND THAT INCLUDES ABORTION, ALL KINDS OF LEGISLATION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING ON.

SO LET'S GET INTO SOME THINGS.

ONE OF THE PASSIONATE DEBATES, AND I JUST TALKED ABOUT IT WAS ABOUT DEEP FAKES.

GIVE PEOPLE AN IDEA WHY THIS WAS SUCH A BIG DEAL AND WHAT THE PENALTIES ARE.

>> SURE.

THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN DEEP FAKES INCREASING IN OTHER AREAS ACROSS THE NATION AND ACROSS THE WORLD.

IN PARTICULAR, IN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY LAST MOMENT, THERE WAS A ROBOCALL THAT CLAIMED TO BE THE VOICE OF JOE BIDEN SAYING PEOPLE DON'T VOTE.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT WAS NOT JOE BIDEN, BUT IT SHOWS IT CAN HAPPEN IN ELECTIONS ANYWHERE.

SO WHAT THIS BILL DOES, IT WOULD BE TO MAKE THAT A FELONY IN GEORGIA.

IF YOU IMPERSONATE A CANDIDATE'S VOICE OR VIDEO, AND USE IT TO DECEIVE VOTERS OR TRICK THEM OR DISCOURAGE THEM FROM PARTICIPATING IN AN ELECTION, THAT WOULD BE A CRIME.

>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, THEY HAD TO PUT PARAMETERS ON IT.

FOR INSTANCE, A COMEDIAN, LATE-NIGHT COMEDIAN COULD DO SOMETHING, AND THEY WOULDN'T FALL UNDER THIS BILL.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GOING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE DOING THIS FOR A CAMPAIGN.

THEY HAVE TO WORK FOR A CAMPAIGN, RIGHT?

>> IT HAS TO BE -- THE PARAMETERS ARE IT HAS TO BE IN SUPPORT OF A CAMPAIGN OR CANDIDATE, JOURNALISM AND SATIRE AND PARODY ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE BILL.

BUT THERE ARE A VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS, POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES, CAMPAIGNS, CANDIDATES THAT ARE COVERED BY THIS BILL.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO GET TO YOU, MAYA, A LITTLE BIT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BILL THAT GOT A LOT OF DEBATE TODAY AND SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE SENATE.

IT DEALS WITH BILLBOARDS, A FOLLOW UP TO LEGISLATION LAST YEAR.

SO LET'S LISTEN TO SOME OF THAT DEBATE THIS AFTERNOON, THIS MORNING.

>> THE DISCLOSURE WE PASSED LAST YEAR, THIS BILL, GOES PRETTY HEAVY.

IT SAYS THAT DISCLOSURE, IF IT'S IN PRINT MEDIA, WOULD BE NEED TO BE 50% OF THE AD.

LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

HERE'S A SHEET, IT'S GOT AN AMENDMENT FROM ONE OF MY FRIENDS ON IT.

IF THIS WERE THE AD, THIS WOULD BE THE SIZE OF THE DISCLOSURE.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT RELY ON THIS INCOME.

WHAT IF THE NEXT BILL IS FOR FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS?

50% OF IT HAS TO SAY HOW MANY CALORIES ARE IN THE BURGER.

WHAT IF IT'S FOR GAS STATIONS?

WHAT IF THEY MAKE IT FOR FUNERAL HOMES, CAR DEALERSHIPS, REALTORS, BANKERS?

IS IT OUR JOB TO REGULATE COMMERCIAL FREE SPEECH IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA?

NO.

BUT THERE ARE PROFESSIONAL BOARDS, THE STATE BAR OF GEORGIA FOR EXAMPLE, AND IF WE SAY YOU HAVE TO DO IT, THEN THEY'VE GOT TO DO IT.

>> MAYA, THE BILL PASSED 43-8.

I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT REPUBLICANS DEBATED THIS A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S REALLY THAT SMALL PRINT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SEE IN COMMERCIALS AND THAT KIND OF THING, RIGHT?

>> THE SMALL PRINT, THE SPEED TALKING AT THE END OF COMMERCIALS.

THIS WOULD REQUIRE THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE AD IN COMMERCIALS BE THE DISCLOSURES, AND IT WOULD TO BE READ AT A NORMAL PACE AND NOT THE SPEED READING THAT THEY TEND TO DO AT THE END WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE SKIPPING THROUGH FIELDS WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT MAY CAUSE "AND DEATH."

AND IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING LIKE YOU SAID, IT HAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION.

RIGHT BEFORE THE DEBATE, SENATOR TILLERY WALKED BY ME AND SAID GET READY FOR A FLOOR FIGHT.

>> AND TO PUT ALL OF THAT ON THE BILLBOARD WAS THE OTHER THING.

LIKE WHEN YOU DRIVE, THESE BILLBOARDS ARE BUSY RIGHT NOW AND THEY COULD BECOME BUSIER WITH THIS KIND OF THING.

>> THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT DISTRACTIONS AND CAR CRASHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> THERE'S A LOT.

SO THAT'S KIND OF INTERESTING.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT MOVES OH EVER TO THE HOUSE.

SO THE OTHER THING THAT YOU'RE WELL KNOWN TO COVER, AND THAT'S ANYTHING DEALING WITH ELECTIONS.

WE HAD SOME ELECTIONS RELATED TO THINGS TODAY, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE ELIMINATED AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION IN GEORGIA.

SINCE 2016, WHEN YOU GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE IN GEORGIA, YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE UNLESS YOU CHOOSE TO OPT OUT.

AND SO WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO WOULD BE TO ELIMINATE THAT.

AND IT'S PART OF AN EFFORT THAT SENATORS SUPPORTING THE BILL SAY THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT VOTER LIST ACCURACY AND DOING AWAY WITH AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION WOULD REDUCE ACCURACY.

BECAUSE YOUR LICENSE IS VERY ACCURATE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU USE WHEN YOU VOTE.

WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS, YOU CHANGE YOUR LICENSE AND IT'S SEPTEMBER TO THE LEKIONS OFFICE TO UPDATE YOUR REGISTRATION.

BUT IT MOVED FORWARD.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

>> SO NOW, I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF MUSIC TO SIGNAL OUR NEXT TOPIC, OUR ANNUAL LIST OF GEORGIA'S BEST DRESSED LAWMAKERS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW THIS IDEA CAME ABOUT, AND WE'RE GOING TO PUP UP LAST YEAR'S WINNERS.

WHERE DID YOU GET THIS IDEA?

>> SO IN MY FIRST LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN 2018, I JUST NOTICED THAT ACTUALLY IT WAS SENATOR PARENT.

FOR THREE DAYS IN A ROW, I COMPLIMENTED HER ON SOMETHING SHE WAS WEARING.

SO I THOUGHT I'M GOING TO LOOK AROUND AND FIND TEN PEOPLE DRESSED WELL.

IN 2019, ONCE THEY KNEW ME A LITTLE BETTER, I DECIDED TO PICK TEN LAWMAKERS WHO I THOUGHT DRESSED THE BEST.

I ALWAYS DO THE DISCLAIMER, EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT FASHION I LEARNED FROM "PROJECT RUNWAY," SO I'M NOT AN AUTHORITY, BUT IF I HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM EVERY DAY, I NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO KEEP THE LEVITY.

>> AND IT REALLY IS A FUN THING.

BUT YOU ALSO GET, YOU SAID, YOU GET CALLS, PEOPLE DM YOU, THE TEXTS.

NOT EVERYBODY'S HAPPY WITH THE LIST.

>> YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY IF THEIR FAVORITE DOESN'T MAKE IT ON THE LIST.

SOMETIMES IT'S SOMEONE WHO I -- NO ONE HAS EVER RECOMMENDED THEM TO ME BEFORE.

SOMETIMES IT'S ALREADY SOMEBODY ON THE LIST.

I HAVE A SELF-IMPOSED RULE NO REPEATS.

BUT BECAUSE OF THAT, THIS YEAR I DECIDED TO COME UP WITH A BRACKET.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT LAST YEAR.

ALL OF THESE PEOPLE FROM LAST YEAR ARE GOING TO BE ON THE LIST AGAIN.

>> NO.

THESE ARE FAN FAVORITES.

>> FAN FAVORITES.

OKAY THEN.

SO TELL US WHAT YOU'RE DOING DIFFERENT THIS TIME.

>> SO THIS YEAR, IN ADDITION, I AM STILL GOING TO DO THE TOP TEN OF NEW PEOPLE.

BUT THE FAN FAVORITES, ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN ON THE LIST SINCE 2019, WHO EVERY YEAR PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AND WOW, WASN'T ELENA PERRY ON THE LIST.

I SAID SHE WAS ON THE FIRST INAUGURAL LIST.

SO I RANK THEM, I ASK PEOPLE TO ASK ME TO SEED THEM.

WE HAVE 16 LAWMAKERS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO IN HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUPS STARTING TOMORROW.

YOU CAN VOTE ONLINE.

COME TO MY TWITTER PAGE IN THE MORNING.

I HAVE TO POST EACH ONE MANUALLY.

I CAN'T SCHEDULE THEM.

SO SOMETIME IN THE MORNING.

OR MAYBE AT MIDNIGHT, WE'LL SEE.

COME TO MY PAGE, YOU'LL HAVE SEVEN DAYS TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE.

I TOLD ALL OF THEM, YOU KNOW, I ENCOURAGE TRASH TALKING BETWEEN CANDIDATES.

I ENCOURAGE TAKEOUTS OF ADS.

>> A LITTLE BRIBERY.

>> NO BRIBERY, BUT THEY KNOW HOW TO DRUM UP VOTES.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHO IS ON THE LIST.

>> MY NUMBER ONE OVERALL PICK IS ENGEL WILLIS.

SHE'S A FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SHE WAS ON MY LIST LAST YEAR, AND SHE ALWAYS -- EVERYONE, BEFORE I MET HER SINCE SHE WAS A NEW LEGISLATOR, YOU HAVE TO FIND HER.

WHEN I SAW HER, SHE SAID EVERYONE KEEPS TELLING ME I NEED TO MEET YOU.

WE GET TO DO A PHOTO SHOOT FOR THE WINNER, AND THE SUIT SHE WORE WAS KILLER.

AND THEN WE HAVE ON THE OTHER SIDE MICHELLE OWL, ANOTHER PERSON WHO EVERY YEAR PEOPLE ARE LIKE WHY ISN'T SHE ON THE LIST?

SO MY HOPE IS THAT THIS WILL NARROW IT DOWN AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE NUMBER ONE OVERALL BEST DRESSED LAWMAKER.

>> WHAT I NOTICED IS, AT LEAST FOR A FEW OF THEM, THERE'S A HOUSE MEMBER AGAINST A SENATOR.

>> YOU KNOW, THE WAY -- AND MEN AGAINST WOMEN.

SO THE WAY I DID IT, I HONESTLY BASE IT ON HOW MANY PEOPLE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, I SAID LET ME KNOW IF YOU THINK SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE SEED.

SO I TOOK RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I LOOKED TAT 16 NAMES, AND I SAID THESE TWO ARE ONE.

IT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH CHAMBER OR GENDER.

WHO ARE THE BEST DRESSED TO THE LEAST -- THEY'RE ALL BEST DRESSED, BUT TO THE LEAST BEST DRESSED.

>> BEGINNING AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT?

>> MAYBE.

>> FIRST THING IN THE MORNING PEOPLE WILL LOOK.

SO I'M GOING TO PUT A PIN ON THAT.

I WANT TO GET BACK TO YOU ON SOMETHING ELSE YOU MENTIONED TODAY, DEALING WITH A LITTLE BIT WITH THE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY BILL.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> SURE.

SO THERE WAS A BILL THAT WAS CONSIDERED IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THIS EVENING THAT WOULD HAVE INCLUDED GREATER LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR RELIGIOUS RIGHTS.

SO IT WOULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO IF IT CONTRADICTED YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

THIS IS CONTROVERSIAL, BECAUSE ESPECIALLY AMONG LBGTQ COMMUNITIES, THEY FEEL LIKE IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE WEAPONIZED AGAINST THEM, WHERE THEIR RIGHTS WOULD BE WEIGHED AGAINST THE RIGHTS OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE CONTROVERSY COMES IN.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED A SIMILAR DEAL.

I BELIEVE IT WAS 2016, AND NOW IT IS BACK.

THE CURRENT VERSION REFLECTS THE LANGUAGE IN THE FEDERAL RELIGIOUS LIBERTY LAW THAT HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS, I BELIEVE SINCE THE EARLY '90s, MAYBE 1993 OR SO.

IT DID PASS OUT OF COMMITTEE ON THIS, THE LAST COMMITTEE DAY OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY.

SO IT MAY WELL REACH THE SENATE FLOOR BEFORE NEXT THURSDAY, WHICH IS THE DEADLINE FOR BILLS TO CLEAR, AT LEAST ONE CHAMBER.

>> ONE TO WATCH NEXT WEEK.

ALSO, THE SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE DID SOMETHING TODAY.

IS THERE SOMETHING TO REPORT ABOUT THAT?

OKAY, ALL RIGHT THEN.

SO THINGS ARE PRETTY -- YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU SEE GOING INTO NEXT WEEK, SOME OF THE BIG ISSUES?

>> THERE'S SO MUCH, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> LIKE WE'RE FOLLOWING GAMBLING, WE'RE FOLLOWING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

THERE ARE PROBABLY LIKE 10 OR 12 ELECTION BILLS BEING DISCUSSED.

THEY WILL PROBABLY, MANY OF THEM WILL PASS IN SOME FORM AND LATER ON THIS THE SESSION BE COMBINED TOGETHER, SCHOOL VOUCHERS IS STILL OUT THERE.

THAT'S A BIG ISSUE.

CERTIFICATE OF NEED, WHICH DEALS WITH WHERE YOU CAN BUILD HOSPITALS AND HOW MUCH THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REGULATE THOSE.

I THINK THAT'S A PRIORITY.

I'M SURE I'M MISSING SOME IMPORTANT ITEMS.

>> MEDICAID, WE THOUGHT MIGHT MOVE, BUT WE'RE HEARING IT MAY NOT MOVE BUT WHO KNOWS?

>> ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE AT ANY TIME.

BUT WE'VE NOT SEEN A MEDICAID BILL FILED BY REPUBLICANS.

DEMOCRATS HAVE FILED MEDICAID BILLS FOR TEN YEARS.

BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN A REPUBLICAN FILED MEDICAID BILL WE THOUGHT WAS COMING.

SOME OF THE FOLKS IN LEADERSHIP HAVE BEEN A LITTLE CHEEKY.

BUT WE'LL SEE.

>> THERE'S ALWAYS SURPRISES.

>> ALWAYS.

>> ON THAT CROSSOVER DAY IN PARTICULAR.

IT'S ALWAYS A LONG DAY.

SO, YEAH.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF BILLS OUT THERE.

>> I'M EXCITED FOR THE ELECTIONS THAT WILL GET BY THE END OF THE SESSION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONCE AGAIN, BEFORE WE FINISH, WE WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT YOUR BRACKETOLOGY.

>> YOU CAN SEE EVERY MATCHUP ON MY TWITTER PAGE, AND YOU HAVE A WEEK TO VOTE.

>> OKAY.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, VOTE EARLY AND OFTEN.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS, TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO TELL A FRIEND.

EVERYTHING THEY SAY ABOUT GET OUT THE VOTE RALLIES.

EACH WEEK WE'LL NARROW IT DOWN, AND THEN THE WEEK BEFORE, WE WILL CROWN OUR BEST DRESSED.

>> SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS AROUND MARCH MADNESS, SO PEOPLE CAN DO THIS BRACKET, THERE'S THE MARCH MADNESS BRACKET.

>> IN MID MARCH, EARLIER THAN NORMAL, THAT'S A SPOILER, WE WILL HAVE THE REGULAR TOP TEN BEST DRESSED.

>> SOUNDS GOOD.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING ON.

GET YOUR REST OVER THE WEEKEND.

>> YES.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR "LAWMAKERS" TODAY.

WE'LL BE BACK ON MONDAY FOR A SHOW THAT FOCUSES ON EDUCATION FROM BIRTH THROUGH COLLEGE.

ON TUESDAY, WE'LL TALK HEALTH CARE.

AND ON THURSDAY, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUR ONE-HOUR "CROSSOVER" SPECIAL WITH LIVE REPORTS COVERING ALL THE ACTION.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.