>>> YOU SUFFER FROM ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION FOR A WHILE, BUT HE USUALLY -- IT WAS A STREET PILL.

HE WAS AFRAID TO GO TO A DOCTOR.

HE DIDN'T WANT THE STIGMA ATTACHED.

HE DIDN'T WANT THAT ATTACHED TO HIS WORK LIFE SO HE BOUGHT A PILL OFF THE STREET WHEN HE HAD ANXIETY FOR XANAX.

IT WAS XANAX SO THAT PILL THAT HE TOOK THAT AFTERNOON, GUS HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE PHONE WITH HIM, AND HE WANTED TO GO TO SLEEP AND GET SOME REST AND THAT PILL KILLED HIM.

>>> GUS AND BETH WALTERS TALK ABOUT HOW A FENTANYL-LACED PILL KILLED THEIR 30-YEAR-OLD SON AUSTIN.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS DAY 37 OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWREY IN ATLANTA.

THE HOUSE PASSED AUSTIN'S LAW TO GO AGAINST DRUG DEALERS WHO SPECIFICALLY SELL PRODUCTS WITH FENTANYL.

CAPITAL REPORTER SARAH KALAS WILL HAVE THAT IN A MOMENT.

THREE CAUCUSES ARE UNITED TO TALK ABOUT COMMON GOALS AND THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS AND THE ASIAN-AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER CAUCUS AND THE HISPANIC CAUCUS HELD THEIR FIRST TOWN HALL.

WE'LL LEARN ABOUT THAT AHEAD.

CHANGES APPEAR LIKELY FOR GEORGIA'S TAX CREDIT.

TWO LAWMAKERS HERE IN THE STUDIO WILL TELL US THE LATEST.

FIRST A DAY AT THE CAPITAL FROM SARAH KALAS.

>> HI, DONNA.

DAY 37 KICKED OFF WITH A CELEBRATION OF FANCY FOOTWORK BEFORE THE VOTE WORK.

THE SENATE STARTED THE DAY ON A HAPPY NOTE AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BERT JONES SHOWED OFF THE TROPHY, AFTER TWO YEARS OF HOUSE VICTORIES.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE -- TO THE KICK BALL CHAMPIONSHIP YESTERDAY.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

IT WAS BIG IN THAT AND THE HOUSE, MAN, THEY TRIED TO CHEAT AGAIN THIS YEAR, MAN.

I'M GLAD WE WERE THERE TO WATCH THEM THIS YEAR, SO -- THEY HAD ALL THESE INTERNS WANTING TO PLAY AND THEY KEPT RUNNING THE SAME FIVE PEOPLE THE WHOLE TIME.

I MEAN, IT WAS -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT WILL TRY TO CHEAT AT KICK BALL, THAT SOMEONE WILL CUT YOU RIGHT THERE.

>> THE VISIT FROM NATHAN RILEY, LINCOLN RILEY BROUGHT A MORE SOMBER MOOD ON THE FLOOR.

>> I HAND BEFORE YOU A HEART BROKEN MAN.

GOD GAVE ME A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER TO FATHER, PROTECT, PROVIDE FOR AND NURTURE.

A MAN WITH AN EVIL HEART STOLE HER LIFE.

HE WAS IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS STATE ILLEGALLY.

MY VISION FOR EVERY SENATOR IN THIS CHAMBER IS THAT YOU PROTECT CITIZENS FROM THIS ILLEGAL INVASION.

PLEASE RECOGNIZE OVER A MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE IN THIS STATE AND MAKING FAMILIES NERVOUS.

PLEASE RECOGNIZE ATHENS CLARK IS A SANCTUARY CITY AND THIS POLICY AND THE LACK OF ACTION LED TO THE MURDER OF MY DAUGHTER.

>> THREE HOURS AFTER THEY GAVELLED IN THEY FINALLY GOT DOWN TO BUSINESS AND STARTED TO DEBATE BILLS.

HB-935 CALLED THE BACK THE BLUE BILL WAS A GUTTED HOUSE BILL THAT WAS AUB STUTED WITH THE BILL THAT THE SENATE PASS LAST YEAR, BUT DIDN'T PASS IN THE HOUSE.

>> WHEN THEY DO THEIR VEHICLE REGISTRATION THERE WILL BE A VOLUNTARY CHECKOFF ON THE REGISTRATION TO CONTRIBUTE $5 TO THE BACK THE BLUE FUND WHICH WILL BE COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND DISTRIBUTED ANNUALLY TO THE GEORGIA SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION WHO WILL THEN DISTRIBUTE IT EQUALLY TO ALL 159 SHARES.

>> THEY ALSO PASSED TWO HOUSE TAX BILLS.

HB-1015 WHICH WILL REDUCE THE INDIVIDUAL TAX RATE FROM 49% TO 5.39%.

WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT IN JUST ONE TAX YEAR WE'LL REALIZE A 36 BASIS POINT TAX CUT IN OUR STATE'S INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX RATE, REDUCING TAXES YEAR TO YEAR BY APPROXIMATELY $1.1 BILLION AND KEEPING DOLLARS IN THE POCKETS OF HARDWORKING GEORGIAN -- HARDWORKING GEORGIA TAXPAYERS.

>> IN HB-1023 THIS BILL REDUCES THE CORPORATE TAX RATE TO THE SAME 5.39 INDIVIDUAL RATE THAT THE PREVIOUS BILL DID.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF RESEARCH THAT SAYS THAT THERE'S MORE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY GAINED BY LOWERING THE CORPORATE RATE THAN THE PERSONAL RATE SO THIS WOULD PUT IT DOWN EQUAL WITH THE PERSONAL RATE.

>> BOTH BILLS ARE PASSED ALONG PARTY LINES.

THE HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED A BILL THAT CODIFIES A FUND THAT TEACHERS USE TO PURCHASE SUPPLIES FOR THEIR CLASSROOMS.

IT INCLUDES LANGUAGE SCREENING.

MEMBERS IMPROVED A MEASURE THAT WOULD IMPROVE PENALTIES FOR FENTANYL-LACED DRUGS.

>> IN MY DISTRICT I'VE HAD THREE OVERDOSES OF FENTANYL AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS.

OKAY.

I GOT THROUGH THAT, FOLKS.

WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE.

THANK YOU.

WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IS GIVEN A TOOL TO OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND OUR JUDGES TO BE ABLE TO GO AFTER PEOPLE THAT ARE SELLING AND MANUFACTURING FENTANYL AND PUTTING IT IN DRUGS.

>> SB-465 ALLOWS PROSECUTORS TO CHARGE PEOPLE WHO SELL DRUGS LACED WITH FENTANYL WITH AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER IF SOMEONE DIES FROM THE DRUGS.

THE ISSUE WAS PERSONAL FOR SOME MEMBERS.

>> I GREW UP WITH HIM.

WE WERE ON VACATION TOGETHER, ME AND MY BROTHERS.

HE WAS A COUSIN AND HE WAS A BROTHER TO US.

HE DIE LAST JUNE, JUNE 28, 2023.

HE STRUGGLED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS WITH DRUG ABUSE.

HE'D FOUND HIS WAY.

ME WENT TO COLLEGE AND GAINED A SKILL.

HE WAS CRUSHING IT IN LIFE AND HE HAD ONE SLIP UP, AND WENT TO SLEEP AND NEVER WOKE UP.

>> THE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

SB-465 WAS NAME AFTER A LAIRENCE COUNTY MAN WHO DIED OF AN OVERDOSE AND HIS PARENTS VISIT THE CAPITOL.

>> HE HAD SUFFERED FROM ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION FOR A WHILE, BUT HE USUALLY -- IT WAS A STREET PILL AND HE WAS AFRAID TO GO TO THE DOCTOR AND HE DIDN'T HAVE THE STIGMA ATTACHED AND SO HE BOUGHT A PILL OFF THE STREET WHEN HE HAD ANXIETY FOR XANAX.

IT WAS XANAX, AND SO THAT PILL THAT HE TOOK THAT AFTERNOON, GUS HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE PHONE WITH HIM, AND HE WANTED TO GO TO SLEEP AND GET SOME REST AND THAT PILL KILLED HIM.

>> AFTER LUNCH THE HOUSE DEBATED THE ROLE OF LABOR UNIONS WITH SB-362.

THE CUTBACK BILL PROVIDES ECONOMIC INCENTIVES TO COMPANIES WHO PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON LABOR UNIONS.

SUPPORTERS SAY THE BILL PROTECTS EMPLOYEE PRIVACY.

>> THIS IS A PRO-WORKER BILL BECAUSE IT'S PROTECTIONING THEIR PRIVACY AS AN EMPLOYEE TO HOW THEY WISH TO VOTE.

>> I WOULD REMIND US THAT EVERY ONE OF US IN THIS BUILDING WAS ELECTED ON THE SECRET BALLOT.

>> OPPONENTS SAY THAT BY BEING LESS ACCOMMODATIVE TO UNION, THE BILL COULD FACE A SHORTAGE THAT GEORGIA IS FACING.

>> BY PUNISHING BUSINESSES FOR DOING THINGS THE THEY WAY WANT TO DO IT UPON THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES.

>> THE BILL PASSED 96-78.

LATE IN THE DAY THE SENATE GAVE FINAL PASSAGE TO 465.

THEY ALSO APPROVED THE SCHOOL VOUCHERS BILL.

THAT'S ALL FOR MY CAPITOL REPORT.

BACK TO YOU, DONNA.

>> THANK YOU, SARAH, FOR THAT WRAP-UP.

IT APPEARS CHANGES TO GEORGIA'S POPULAR FILM TAX INCENTIVES ARE UNDER WAY.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE ARE THE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMEN OF THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE AND HE IS ALSO SECRETARY OF THE HOUSE INDUSTRY AND LABOR COMMITTEE AND DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE INGA WILLIS OF ATLANTA AND SHE'S ON THE HOUSE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND THE STATE PLANNING COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO GO BACK TO TALK ABOUT THE BILL THAT WE WANT YOU TO BE THERE TO SEE A SENATE FINANCE THAT'S LOOKING AT IT AND THIS DEALING WITH GEORGIA'S FILM TAX.

>> ABOUT 20 MINUTES I HAVE TO BE BACK TO COMMITTEE.

SO 1180 WE PASSED ON THE HOUSE WITH 130 VOTES.

WHAT I THINK IT DOES IS IT MAKES THE FILM INDUSTRY SUSTAINABLE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

IT PUTS GUARDRAILS ON THE EXPENDITURES FOR THE STATE SO IT MATCHES THE TOP LINE REVENUE NUMBER WITH 2.5% FOR TRANSFERABLE CREDITS.

WHAT THAT MEANS IN LAYMAN'S TERMS IS OVER $900 MILLION WOULD BE TRANSFERABLE.

SO THIS LIMIT WOULD GROW AS THE STATE BUDGET GROWS.

BEFORE NOW IT WAS OBVIOUSLY, IT DIDN'T HAVE LIMITS, BUT WE FELT LIKE TO BE PHYSICALLY RESPONSIBLE IT WAS SMART TO PUT LIMITS ON.

>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HOW IT IS DOING NOW?

>> THE INDUSTRY IS DOING BETTER.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE WAS THE STRIKE STRIKE BAZ WE WERE ONE OF THE ONLY FATE STATES OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND THERE WAS A NEED FOR SHOWS, IF YOU, FOR STREAMING AND THAT HAS PULLED BACK SOMEONE AND IT'S GET IT, AND THIS LIMIT WILL CONTINUE TO GOH AS THE STATE GROWS?

>> YOU VOTED FOR IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE SO MANY EMERGING BUSINESSES HERE AND PART OF WHAT MAKES GEORGIA SPECIAL AND BEING A NATE OF OF ATLANTA IS BEING MAGNETIC FOR CREATIVES TO COME AND THRIVE SO YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO GO TO LOS ANGELES TO FILM.

YOU CAN COME TO ATLANTA, BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INCENTIVIZE IT, TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE AND NOT TO FORGET ABOUT THE SMALLER COMPANIES THAT ARE EMERGING HERE, AS WELL.

SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO YOU PASSED IN THE HOUSE AND TONIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO SENATE FINANCE TO SEE IF YOU CAN GET IT THROUGH THE SENATE.

>> OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE IN THE MOMENT.

IF YOU'RE IN THE INDUSTRY, I WOULD SAY TAKE A DEEP BREATH ALTHOUGH THERE ARE THREE DAYS LEFT THERE'S STILL TIME FOR NEGOTIATIONS.

I'LL SEE WHAT THE SENATE BRINGS TONIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THE BIGGEST THING IS IF YOU WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY I WOULD ASK YOU TO REMAIN CALM.

WE'RE WANT TRYING TO BLOW UP THE FILM INDUSTRY IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

WE ARE JUST PUTTING FAIR GUARD TRAILS THAT WE SEE.

>> ANOTHER BILL THAT YOU ARE BOTH CO-SIGNERS ARE AND THAT IS THE STATEWIDE MUSIC OFFICE ACT AND IT IS NOW HB-1048.

WHAT IS THAT TALKINGING ABOUT?

>> I HAD A CORN BREAD BILL IN THE SENATE, TO MAKE BREAD AND IT WAS FOR THE BIG FELLOW AND IT WAS GOING TO TIE TOGETHER WITH THE STATEWIDE MUSIC OFFICE AND THAT CAME OUT OF A STUDY COMMIT TWO YEARS AGO SAYING THAT GEORGIA WAS DOING WELL IN FILM AND NO KNOCK ON THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT AND THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AND THIS WOULD BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY AND THIS IS SIMILAR TO TEXAS AND WE THINK IT IS A GREAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, AND THIS IS -- STARTING IN HIGH SCHOOL, WAS THERE NO OFFICE.

THERE WAS TAL NOT AND OPERATION AND AGGREGATING OUR RESOURCES HAVING SOMEONE OVER WHAT IS AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, THAT ALLOWS US TO CREATE WORKFORCE PIPELINES FOR STUDENTS THAT WANT TO BE ENGINEERS MORE THAN JUST ON STAGE.

SO I AM EXTREMELY HOPEFUL ALTHOUGH NOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, CORN BREAD MUSIC.

THAT WE CAN GET WHERE WE NEED TO BE, THERE ARE NO PERFECT BILLS, BUT THERE ARE STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE AGREE UPON.

>> WILL THE CORN BREAD BILL DIE, TOO OR IS THAT PART OF IT?

>> IT'S PART OF IT.

IT WILL MATCH TWO BILLS, EACH BETTER.

>> YOU ARE FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT IT?

>> IT'S RECALL.

WE DIDN'T, AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT MAES OVER, AND OBVIOUSLY TIME, AND IT DIDN'T CROSS OVER AND IT WASN'T VOTED ON IN THE HOUSE.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU HAD TO VOTE ON IT TO MAKE ANYTHING CORRECT.

>> IT'S NOT A HUGE, NOVEL IDEA.

GEORGIA IS KNOWN FOR THEIR MUSIC.

WE HAVE GREAT POCKETS OF MUSIC ALL OVER THE STATE MAKING ALBANY, ATLANTA, ATHENS ALL THESE FANTASTIC PLACES FOR MUSIC.

WE'RE JUST SAYING LET'S BRING IT ALL TOGETHER AND CREATE SOME UNITY.

>> YOUR MUSIC BACKGROUND AND YOU'VE BEEN NOMINATED FOR GRAMMYS AND THE WHOLE BIT.

>> I JUST THINK IT'S GREAT TO ADD MORE RESOURCES TO THE TALENT POOL HERE AND IT IS MY HOPE AND THE HOPE OF MY COLLEAGUE, AS WELL, THAT WE CAN GET MUSIC ON PAR WITH WHERE WE HAVE THE FILM INDUSTRY AT THE MOMENT AND THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO CHANGE GEARS A LITTLE BIT.

YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A BILL THAT'S ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE DEALING WITH CASH BONDS.

YOUR FEELINGS, AND WE DIFFER IN SOME SPOTS AND ALIGN IN OTHERS AND ONE THING I'M STEADFAST IN IS NOT TO CRIMINALIZERY THAT AFFECTS YOUR WEIGHT STACK AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT BEING A GEORGIAN AND WHAT I RECEIVED IN A POWERFUL EDUCATION IN A TWO-PARENT HOME AND THE ARTS EDIFYING MY LIFE I SAY YOU NG THE MOST EXPENSIVE THING YOU CAN BE IN GEORGIA IS A DOCTOR OR STRIVING TO BECOME AN ATTORNEY OR ENTREPRENEUR, BUT THE MOST EXPENSIVE THING YOU CAN BE IN GEORGIA IS POOR.

FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T AFFORD CASH BAIL IT LEAVES THEM IN THE SYSTEM.

THE JAILS ARE ALREADY OVERCROWDED AND IF YOU CAN'T MAKE CASH BAIL FOR A NON-VIOLENT OFFENSE AND SOMETHING THAT IS NOT GOING TO KEEP YOU IN THE SYSTEM ANYWAY, IT EXACERBATES AN ISSUE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

IT ALSO CRIMINALIZES FUNDS LIKE CHURCHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT PUTS A LIMITATION ON HOW MANY THINGS THEY CAN DO THAT AND A LOT OF BLACK CHURCHES IN THE HAVE DONE THAT FOR A LONG TYPE.

THIS IS AN ISSUE I SPOKE AGAINST AND THE ACLU HAS RESPONDED TO IT.

SO I THINK THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY IS SOMETHING THEY WILL ALWAYS BE AGAINST.

>> SO IT'S ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

>> INDEED.

>> YOU VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT?

>> WE MADE HUGE ADVANCES ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF IT PULL BACK AND WE'RE SEEING CRIME ISSUES IN THE STATE AND YOU'RE SAYING WAIT, JUST A MINUTE.

WE TRIED THIS AND YOU HAD SOME SERIOUS CRIME RATES ESPECIALLY IN THE METRO AREAS WHERE THEY WERE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO -- WITH NO CASH BAIL OR NO CASH BONDS AND THEY WERE JUST RELEASING THEM AND SO THEY WOULD NEVER COME BACK TO COURT.

AND SO THE ISSUE IS YOU NEED SOME SKIN IN THE GAME TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION COMPLETELY.

IT'S NOT A PERFECT BILL, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE POINT IS HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND GET PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING CRIMINALS OFF THE STREET AND ADDRESS THE ISSUES.

>> WE WILL CHANGE GEARS DRAMATICALLY NOW AND TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU AND WHO ELSE FOR THE BEST DRESSED?

>> SENATOR ELENA PARENT.

IT'S ON.

>> ONE MORE DAY TO VOTE, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OKAY.

HERE'S YOUR PITCH.

>> I CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE TO BE KNOWN FOR MY MIND, BUT I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE PARENTS THAT ARE ROOTED IN PRESENTATION.

I HAD A VERY SHARP GRANDMOTHER AND A FABULOUS MOTHER AND TO ME FASHION IS THE CONVERSATION YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU UTTER A WORD WHEN YOU NOT A SPACE AND I THINK GRATEFUL TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR IT.

IF YOU ARE INSPIRED I ASK THAT YOU VOTE FOR ME.

>> YOU'RE GOING DOWN!

>> SENATOR PARENT, YOU'RE GOING DOWN AND THEY DID WIN THE KICK BALL.

>> I'M AINGS UPSET ABOUT THAT.

A LITTLE SORE AND UPSET ABOUT THAT.

>> ALL RIGHTY.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU GETTING BACK TO THE CAPITOL.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> ABSOLUTELY, IF YOU'RE A POLICE OFFICER BETWEEN HERE AND THE CAPITOL, TAKE IT EASY.

I'M HURT.

>> THANK YOU.

COMING UP, TWO MEMBERS OF THE GEORGIA HOUSE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT A VARIETY OF ISSUES INCLUDING A NEW TRI KAUKS US AND THE CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND.

>>> IT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

FOR OVER 08 YEARS OF HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, AFTER ALL, AG IS THE NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY AND FOOD AND FIBER REPRESENTS 4 BILLION IN OUTPUT IN THE GEORGIA STRONG ECONOMY AND THE LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITOL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF FARMERS.

>>> PEOPLE PUT THEIR FAITH ON PBS BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT IS CONSTANTLY DELIVERING QUALITY.

IT COVERS THE WHOLE THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS A FREE AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA.

WE GO WHERE THE VIEWERS ARE.

>> WHAT ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?

>> WE FEEL THAT CIVIL DISCOURSE IS A CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.

WHAT WE DO IS AUTHENTIC REPORTING OF PEOPLE WE TRUST.

>> WE GIVE TIME SO YOU CAN HEAR VOICES ON ALL SIDES OF AN ISSUE.

THIS IS THE PLACE THAT PEOPLE TURN TO FOR STORIES THAT MATTER.

>> AND THEY KNOW THAT WHEN THEY WALK AWAY THEY WILL HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

THAT'S WHY THIS MAKES PBS IMPORTANT FOR DAILY LIFE AND IN OUR WORLD.

♪♪ >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SFLA COMMUNITY, DOING, WORKING, PLAYING AND DOING LIFE IS ALWAYS BETTER TOGETHER.

WE PROVIDE YOU WITH THE TOLS TO DO LIFE TOGETHER WELL AND OUR MISSION TO EDUCATE, INFORM KNOW ENTIRES EVERYTHING FROM OUR PROGRAMMING TO OUR STIMULATING RADIO CONVERSATIONS TO OUR FUN IN-PERSON EVENTS.

WE'VE GOT SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

VISIT GPB.ORG/COMMUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR UPCOMING EVENTS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWERY.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT A CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND AND COLLABORATIONS UNDER THE GOLD DOME.

JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES IS DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE CARL GILL YARD OF SAVANNAH.

HE'S CHAIR OF THE GEORGIA LTHSIVE BLACK CAUCUS AND DEMOCRATIC LISA CAMPBELL OF KENESAW.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" TO BOTH OF YOU.

THE GEORGIA HAS THIS NEW TRICAUCUS COMPRISED OF THE BLACK CAUCUS AND THE ASIAN-AMERICAN ISLANDER CAUCUS AND THE HISPANIC CAUCUS.

>> WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER.

51 YEARS OLD REPRESENTS 30% OF THE POPULATION AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER DIVERSE COMMUNITIES WE CAN DO MORE TOGETHER SO WE CAME TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMONALITIES THAT FACE OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR LIVES.

IT WAS A GREAT START FOR A BIG LONG BEGINNING AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF THE CAUCUSES YOU MAY HAVE MORE?

>> SO WE'VE GOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT.

LET'S HEAR IT.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE COMMONALITY OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON AND GEORGIA SAYS WE HAVE THESE TITLES AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHERE WE'RE AT.

WE WILL LAUNCH A 14-CITY TOUR AFTER THE SESSION TO GO ACROSS GEORGIA TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT AND TALK AND LISTEN TO THEM AND BE ABLE TO ENGAGE THEM ON THE ISSUES THAT THEY MIGHT NOT BE PRIVY ON.

>> EARLIER TODAY I INTERVIEWED REPRESENTATIVE MICHELLE AO WITH THE AAPI CAUCUS AND JASON ERCK STEVEZ ABOUT THE GROUPS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP YESTERDAY IS THE IMPORTANCE OF TURNING OUT VOTERS OF COLOR AND I WILL SAY THIS CAREFULLY BECAUSE ALL THREE CAUCUSES ARE BIPARTISAN CAUCUSES, HOWEVER, BOTH PARTIES RECOGNIZE NO MATTER WHOM YOU VOTE FOR THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU TURN OUT TO VOTE, RIGHT?

SO I THINK THAT A LARGE PART OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO DO ERCK SPECIALLY IN THE OFF SESSION AND WE ARE BACK IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE VOTERS ARE COVERED AND THEY CAN BE PART OF THE OF THIS PROCESS AND IT IS MORE SPECIFIC TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE ASIAN-AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY OR ANY COMMUNITY WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH AS A LANGUAGE EVEN IF THEY CAN VOTE.

HAVING THAT LANGUAGE BY TRANSLATING ELECTION MATERIALS AND DOING ETHNIC PRESS, PEOPLE WHO ARE EUROPES AND MAGAZINES FOUR SPECIFIC LANGUAGE GROUPS AND FOUR SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES WILL BE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT WORK AND SOMETIMES TAKES PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT.

>> I THINK THAT FOCUSING IN ON HEALTH CARE, ON SMALL BUSINESSES, SUPPORTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE OUR RESPECTIVE CAUCUSES WE ALL HAVE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRITS IN OUR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES AND ENSURING THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH TAX INSENSITIVES AND WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH PROVIDING MINORITY CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES.

ALL OF THOSE ARE COMMON WITH ALL THREE CAUCUSES.

WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE HIGH-PERFORMING, HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOLS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT'S SOMETHING WHETHER YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN YOU CAN AGREE ON.

HOW WE GET THERE, THAT MIGHT TAKE MORE CONVERSATION.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT LAST NIGHT AT THAT TOWN HALL?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, BUILDING BRINGS.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND TO THE LEFT ECONOMICS.

WE TALK ABOUT THE FOCUS OF THE 2024 ELECTION.

WE ARE BIPARTISAN, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN THE ROOM, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE TO VOTE.

THE OTHER THING IS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE HOUSING MARKET.

THE HOUSING CRISIS PROFUSE, SO WE HAVE TO GO TO THE PEOPLE AND BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP.

>> OKAY.

14-CITY TOUR.

>> 14-CITY TOUR.

OKAY.

WE'LL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE CAMPBELL.

LET'S TALK OF THE BILL AND THE ASIAN FIRST TRUST FUND.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IN THE SAME VEIN I'M TALKING ABOUT ISSUES THAT EVERY GEORGIAN IS DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.

EDUCATION IS A BIG PLATFORM FOR ME AND FOR ALL OUR CON STITCH WENS, BUT EARLY LEARNING IT A PLACE WE HAVE A COUPLE THINGS, WE HAVE 70% OF PARENTS IN GEORGIA ARE WORKING AND THE COST OF CHILD CARE IS INCREASING AND HAS BEEN FOR AT LEAST THE LAST DECADE, AND DURING COVID WE HAD A LOT OF FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WERE COMING TO HELP US.

DECAL IN GEORGIA IS THE THAT HELPS OUR CHILDREN AND WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT CALLED C.A.P.S., CHILDREN AND PARENT SERVICES.

WE WERE GOING TO HELP PARENTS STRUGGLING THE MOST TO COVER THE HIGH-RISING COST OF CHILD CARE.

WELL, THAT FUNDING ENDED THIS PAST FALL AND SO WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS GAP TO FILL.

SEE IS THE NIGH IDEA TO TAKE $2 BILLION, WE HAVE $16 BILLION, YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD IN RESERVES RIGHT NOW.

FUNDS THAT ARE SITTING THERE WITH SERVICES THAT OUR PARENTS NEED.

SO THE IDEA IS THAT THOSE DOLLARS WOULD BE INVESTED INTO THIS TRUST FUND THAT WOULD BE SELF-FUNDED OVER TIME AND AS THE FUND GROWS WE COULD HELP MORE AND MORE PARENTS COVER THE IMPORTANT COST OF EARLY LEARNING AND CHILD CARE AND ONE OF THE REASONS THIS IS SO PERSON, WE'VE SEEN DECREASING ACADEMIC OUTCOMES WITH THE STUDENTS AND EMPHASIS ON LITERACY AND WE KNOW THAT EARLY LEARNING AND THE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND ALL OF THE SCIENCE SHOWS US IS IT HAPPENS IN THE 0 TO 3 AND 0 TO 5 TIMEFRAME.

THAT'S WHY I INTRODUCED THIS BILL TO PUT EMPHASIS ON EARLY LEARNING AND PRIORITIZE THAT HERE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA OKAY.

WE'LL KEEP UP WITH THAT.

BEFORE OUR TIME IS OVER I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOU HAVE A BILL TO PRESERVE THE WEEPING HERITAGE CORRIDOR.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> HISTORIC LANDMARK LEGISLATION.

HOUSE BILL 1425.

IN 1859 OVER 400 SLAVES WERE SOLD BY A PLANTATION OWNER NAMED MR. BUTLER.

HE WAS TRYING TO REDUCE HIS DEBT.

329 OF THEM WERE SOLD IN SAVANNAH'S MARKET.

THEY SAID THAT THOSE TWO-DAY PERIOD GOT WEPT.

IT WAS CALLED THE WEEPING TIMES.

THERE WAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SAVANNAH TELL THE STORY AND PRODUCE THE PROPERTY.

JESSE PETRIE HAD A SOLUTION TODAY TO RESERVE AND PRESERVE THE PROPERTY.

SO WE ARE WORKING TO TELL THE HISTORY, BUT STIMULATE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

SO IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT PRESERVES THAT AND TELL US THE TORE THAT PEOPLE -- A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.

>> SAVANNAH IS THE PORT ENTRY NEXT TO CHARLESTON AND VIRGINIA AND THOSE SLAVES WERE BROUGHT UNWILLINGLY AND THEY WERE SOLD.

THERE WERE 300 AND SEVEN ADDITIONAL ONES THAT WERE NOT HEALTHY TO SELL SO THEY WERE SOLD.

THIS AREA IS A HISTORIC BOUNDARY AND THE NUMBER ONE TOURISM IN SAVANNAH IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN TOURISM AND THIS WILL HELP PRESERVATION AND JESSE PETRIE'S RESOLUTION WILL HELP US BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE LAND BY THE STATE AND MAKE IT A STATE MONUMENT FOR THE NATION.

>> WHERE DO THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW WITH THE BILL?

WHAT ABOUT OUR BILL.

IT'S PASSED OUT OF THE LOCAL OBSERVATIONS AND WE HAVE SENATOR STRICKLAND AND SENATOR BEN WATSON AND BE SURE BEFORE THE WEEK IS OUT.

>> I WANT TO QUICKLY GET TO YOU.

SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DON'T REALIZE THAT THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT HAS NOT PASSED IN GEORGIA AND IT'S ONE OF THREE STATES THAT HAS AREN'T PASSED IT, RIGHT?

>> THERE ARE A FEW MORE STATES THAN THAT, BUT YES.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A HUNDRED YEARS.

>> SOME OF US REMEMBER BACK IN THE '70s AND I TOOK A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOLERS THROUGH THE CAPITAL TODAY AND IN THE MUSEUM, A DEDICATION TO THE E.R.A.

AS IF THIS HAD ALREADY HAPPENED AND I ASKED THE STUDENTS DO YOU KNOW WHAT E.R.A.

STANS FOR AND THEY DIDN'T, AND IT WAS AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE.

SO I WAS EXCITED TO ADDRESS HOUSE RESOLUTION RATS PHI THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT, AND WE AREN'T PROTECTED.

WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN TERMS OF RIGHTS FOR WOMEN ANDITY RIGHTS.

AND YOU WERE DEFINITELY LEFT OUT OF CON SUGZ STUG WITH THIS AGAINST, THAT WE END DISCRIMINATION.

IT'S BEEN A HUNDRED YEARS AND IT MAY NOT HAPPEN IN THIS LEGISLATION, BUT IT WILL NOT STOP AND THIS WILL WORK SO THAT WE RATIFY IN GEORGIA AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.

>> IT COMES UP EVERY YEAR.

>> WE HAVE ENERGY AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT WILL BE PLANNED AFTER SESSION SO WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE TOUR.

WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR ALL OUR COMMUNITIES, AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THAT DOES IT FOR "LAWMAKERS" TODAY.

TOMORROW WE'LL TALK ABOUT LEGISLATION DEALING WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND MORE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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