YOU SEE FOLKS IN THIS BUILDING, WILL TRY TO STIR YOU UP SOMETIMES AND GET YOU WORRIED.

I WANT TO REMIND YOU, THEY'RE GETTING YOU WORRIED ABOUT 236 LINES.

236 LINES OUT OF 1400.

MEMBERS OF THIS BODY WHAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE PAST THIRTY EIGHT DAYS, IS INCREDIBLE YOU FOCUSED ON YOUR DISTRICTS AND FOCUSED ON YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND FOCUSED ON YOUR FAMILIES AND WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR FUTURE.

AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BUILDING BURNING DOWN OR LESS MAKING IT TO DAY, 40.

IT'S DOWN TO LAST-MINUTE HAGGLING BETWEEN THE GEORGIA HOUSE AND SENATE OVER THE STATE'S THIRTY TWO POINT.

FOUR BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.

GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS ON DAY 38 OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE.

SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWRY AND ATLANTA, WE'LL HAVE MORE ON TODAY'S BUDGET PROCESS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE DURING OUR CAPITOL REPORT.

THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH CHAMBERS, THEY WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT THE FARM LAND CONSERVATION, BILL THE STATE OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY AND TRUCK WEIGHTS ON.

THE ROADS WILL ALSO DISCUSS A COUPLE OF EDUCATION BILLS, INCLUDING ONE ON THE CARE OF STUDENTS TREATED FOR EPILEPSY OR SEIZURES.

WE'RE GOING TO LEARN ABOUT SOME MIDDLE SCHOOL.

STUDENTS WHO ARE GETTING AN UP.

CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

LOOK AT THE BILL MAKING PROCESS WILL FOLLOW THEM THROUGH THE STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET A LAW.

THEY THINK WILL MAKE IT SAFER TO WRITE ON SCHOOL.

BUSES ALONG THE WAY, THEY MET THE GOVERNOR AND TESTIFIED DURING A HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE, HEARING ONE OF THE LEGISLATORS WHO SPONSORED THE BILL JOINS US.

BUT FIRST, LET'S GET RIGHT DOWN TO THE GOLD DOME WHERE OUR CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT ROCHELLE.

RITCHIE HAS COVERED A VERY BUSY DAY, RIGHT ROCHELLE?

HI DONNA.

I GUESS IS DEFINITELY A VERY BUSY DAY AND IF YOU CAN PROBABLY HEAR BEHIND ME, IT IS STILL GOING ON TODAY COVID, PROTOCOLS.

AND THAT FIGHT BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE OVER THE 20-24 BUDGET.

WE'RE ALL ON THE DOCKET.

THE SENATE PRESENTED THEIR VERSION OF THE 2024 BUDGET TODAY.

THE FY2014 BUDGET PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU NOW IS A 34 2.4 BILLION, DOLLAR BUDGET, IT SUPPORTS LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AS I SAID IN COMMITTEE, IT PROTECTS OUR FAMILY SUPPORTS OUR CHILDREN AND QUITE LITERALLY AS MANY OF YOU WROTE AND ASKED, GIVES THEM HOPE.

IN THE BIG PICTURE THAT I SAID ALREADY I KNOW IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THE SENATE'S VERSION MORE FAIRLY REFLECTS THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET THEN THAN OUR COMRADES COST, THE HAULER COMPADRES ACROSS THE HALL COMRADES.

PROBABLY NOT THE BEST WORD TO USE.

WAS IT THEIR VOICE, THE SENATE'S, VERSION INCREASED SPENDING IN SOME AREAS.

THE SENATE'S BUDGET IN BIG PICTURE, REPLACES FUNDING THAT THE HOUSE PULLED FROM MEDICAID.

IT ALSO REPLACES RE IN THE REINSURANCE PROGRAM THAT WAS REDUCED BY THE HOUSE AND ADDS TO IT.

IT RETURNS HOPE FUNDING TO 100% FOR STUDENTS WITH A B.

AVERAGE, THAT WAS THE SECOND MOST REQUESTED ITEM BY THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY AND IT SUPPORTS THE GOVERNOR'S.

TWO THOUSAND DOLLAR RAISE FOR ALL STATE EMPLOYEES.

ALSO A PRIORITY EDUCATION, WE ADDRESS THREE THINGS LITERACY DYSLEXIA, AND QBE FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THERE'S NO AUSTERITY REDUCTION TO THE QB FORMULA, AND WE DID FUND, THE TWO THOUSAND DOLLAR TEACHER INCREASE AND HIGHER EDUCATION, THE SENATE'S BUDGET RETURN TO THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION BY FUNDING 100% FAT.

ACTOR RATE FOR PRIOR YEAR TUITION, FOR THE HOPE GRANTS.

AND THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIPS AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE REDUCED OUR TESTING BUDGET, AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE ASKED, WHY DID WE DO THAT?

WELL, THIS BODY FOR YEARS, HAS MAINTAINED ITS COMMITMENT TO REDUCE THE TESTING, REQUIREMENT ON OUR STUDENTS AND ON OUR TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THAT TESTING REQUIREMENT, WE BELIEVE THE BUDGET SHOULD FOLLOW THAT REDUCTION IN TESTS.

AND ONE OF THESE SESSIONS, BIGGEST ISSUES WAS ALSO ADDRESS THE PRACTICE OF HOTEL.

AS OF RIGHT NOW OR AS OF LAST NIGHT, 68 CHILDREN WERE IN HOTELING SITUATIONS ACROSS OUR STATE THAT IS 68 TOO MANY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAMMER THIS POINT UNTIL IT'S 68 LESS.

WE ALSO HAD 17 CHILDREN AS OF RIGHT NOW.

WHO ARE BOUNCING EITHER BETWEEN AN ER, A CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT OR RESIDENTIAL PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT FACILITY.

WE SPEND ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, INCLUDING FEDERAL FUNDS ON THIS CONTRACT, AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHILE THAT 178 MILLION DOLLAR.

TOTAL CONTRACT CANNOT END, THIS ISSUE, SENATOR TILLERY, ALSO, DISPUTED, MEDIA CLAIMS THAT THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE WERE PARTICULARLY AT ODDS.

OVER THIS BUDGET.

I SAW LINES THAT SAY WE'RE IN A BUDGET FIGHT THAT THIS BUILDING IS ABOUT TO BURN DOWN.

THEY DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL MAKE IT.

THUS I NEED I WILL GUYS I WANT TO TELL YOU FOR THE PAST 200 YEARS WE'VE MADE IT THIS.

I NEED I THERE'S BEEN NO PROBLEM.

AND THE RHETORIC IN THE HALLS ISN'T ALWAYS THE TRUTH.

YOU SEE, I ASKED OUR STAFF TODAY WITH ME TO COUNT UP THE LINES OF THIS BUDGET.

THERE ARE 1412 LINES IN SHB.

19 OF THOSE LINES 743 52.6%.

HAVE ALREADY BEEN AGREED UPON BY THE HOUSE, THE SENATE.

AND THE GOVERNOR ONE OF THE BIG LOSERS AND THE NEXT BUDGET LAWMAKERS OWN NETWORK.

GEORGIA.

PUBLIC BROADCASTING, WHOSE BUDGET IS SCHEDULED TO BE CUT BY 26%.

I JUST WANTED AT LEAST RAISE THAT QUESTION FOR YOU MR. CHAIRMAN, TODAY TO SEE IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THE RECORD ON.

WHY THE SENATE VERSION OF BUDGET?

INCLUDES THAT CUT OVER THE YEARS.

OTHER STATIONS, WHO ARE, I GUESS, WOULD BE VIEWED AS COMPETITORS.

AND THE SAME SPACE, AS GPB OF BROUGHT A VERY VALID ARGUMENT TO OUR BODY AND THEY SAID, HEY HEY, WHY ARE YOU FUNDING ONE?

AND NOT THE OTHER.

LET'S BE HONEST.

WHAT THEY'RE REALLY SAYING IS WHY ARE YOU FINDING MY COMPETITION?

BUT I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY A VERY VALID POINT.

WELL, WHY ARE WE PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS?

I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THE SPACE WE WANT TO BE IN.

THE BUDGET WAS PASSED FIFTY ONE TO ONE AND WAS IMMEDIATELY SENT BACK TO THE HOUSE, BUT THEY REJECTED THE SENATE'S VERSION AND THEIR DIFFERENCES WILL NOW HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT IN A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

ALSO IN THE HOUSE A CONTENTIOUS DEBATE OVER SB1 WHICH WOULD REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT TO SHOW PROOF OF A COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR SERVICES.

THIS IS NOT A BILL ON WHETHER OR NOT DEPEND EMIC IS OVER, OR WHETHER OR NOT IT'S STILL ONGOING.

BUT RATHER THIS IS A BILL THAT SAYS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THE STATE ITS AGENCIES, OR ITS SUBDIVISIONS OR AUTHORITIES TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY GEORGIA CITIZEN FOR SERVICES THAT THEY ARE DUE.

BUT DEMOCRATS FIRMLY STOOD IN OPPOSITION.

CALLING THE BILL HARMFUL AS IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE VARIANCES OF COVID-19 OR OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS AND A WAY TO SIMPLIFY MAKE MONEY BILLS.

LIKE THIS TIE, OUR HANDS WITH RESPECT TO THE RESPONSE.

WE CAN PROVIDE AND IT LIMITS OUR TOOLBOX, WHETHER WE THINK WE NEED THE TOOLS AT PRESENT OR NOT, I HAVE SPENT YEARS NOW IN MY ROLE, AS A HOUSE MEMBER IMMERSED, IN THE WORLD OF ANTI-VACCINE MISINFORMATION.

AND I'M TELLING YOU, THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE MAKING.

SO THEY SAY IT IS TO THEIR ECONOMIC BENEFIT THAT THEY HAVE POLICIES LIKE THIS LIKE SP1 THAT WERE DISCUSSING.

TODAY BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO ERODE THAT FAITH AND VACCINES DESPITE THE OPPOSITION, THE BILL PASSED 99 TO 69.

AND LASTLY, A FRIENDLY BATTLE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

AS EACH CHAMBER TOOK TO THE FIELD, FOR THE ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE KICKBALL.

TOURNAMENT SPEAKER, JOHN BURNS, CALLING THE SHOTS ON THE FIELD, LIKE HE DOES IN THE HOUSE.

TOOK HOME THE TROPHY FOR THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE WIN, WHICH THEY WERE NOT SHY TO BRAG ABOUT TODAY.

AND YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT THE HOUSE BOASTED ABOUT THAT.

WHEN TODAY AS WELL, DONNA, THAT IS MY CAPITOL REPORT.

I'LL SEND IT BACK OVER TO YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SELL.

WE'RE WATCHING A WHIRLWIND OF BILLS FLY THROUGH BOTH CHANGER.

CHAN CHAMBERS TODAY, IT'S ALWAYS HECTIC.

AND THESE FINAL DAYS WITH LAST-MINUTE HOPES OF ONE LAW MAKING IT THIS YEAR AND WE JUST HAVE TWO DAYS LEFT THIS YEAR.

IT SEEMS THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT MORE OF THAT AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE WAY EARLY ON IN THE SESSION, WE DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF BILLS AT ALL AND NOW THEY'RE ALL COMING AND BOTH CHAMBERS ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THAT.

OF COURSE, THE BUDGET IS ALSO BIG AND IT IS A LAST-MINUTE ITEM EVERY YEAR.

IT IS THE ONE THING, THE ONE ITEM.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED TO TAKE CARE OF EACH YEAR SO THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF THESE BILLS COMING AT THE LAST MINUTE.

A LOT OF HAGGLING BACK AND FORTH.

THE BUDGET GOING FROM ONE PLACE TO THE OTHER ALWAYS THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

AND THE END IS SIDES FROM WITH MEMBERS, FROM BOTH SIDES, FROM THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE GETTING TOGETHER AND DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOING TO AGREE ON WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING INTO THE 32 POINT, FOUR BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.

AND THAT'S A BUDGET THAT IS SET BY THE GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP JOINING US LIVE.

NOW NOW FROM THE CAPITAL IS REPUBLICAN SENATOR RUSS, GOODMAN OF COGDILL, WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS YOU CHAIR THE SENATE AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M GLAD TO BE WITH YOU ALL TODAY, LITTLE LITTLE TIRED AT THIS POINT.

IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE.

SO, WE'RE GETTING GETTING READY TO WRAP THIS SESSION UP AND ALWAYS WHEN YOU GET CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

SO, SO CHAIRMAN GOODMAN BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE BUDGET.

I'D LIKE TO GET YOUR COMMENTS ON, JUST THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING THE LAST FEW DAYS AND TO, AND TODAY, IN PARTICULAR, WELL, I WOULD SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET, OF COURSE, STARTS OUT WITH THE GOVERNOR SITTING THE REVENUE ESTIMATE, AND THEN COURSE, HE PUTS OUT HIS HIS BUDGET.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, EACH CHAMBER, YOU KNOW, THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES, AND THOSE CHAMBERS WILL WORK UP THEIR OWN BUDGET.

AND SO, WE NORMALLY DO, THERE'S, THERE'S SOME WORK TO BE DONE THERE.

I DO NOT SERVE ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, BUT I HAVE FOUND A LOT OF TIMES THAT PEOPLE GET, THEY GET THEIR DANDER UP.

UP.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THINGS THINGS TEND TO WORK OUT BETTER THAN NOTHING IS EVER AS GOOD AS IT SEEMED AND NOTHING'S EVER AS BAD AS IT SEEMS.

YEAH, I KNOW YOU'RE THERE AT THE CAPITOL BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS GOING ON LATE TODAY AND WE JUST SAW VIDEO OF THAT.

THE HOUSE IS STILL IN SESSION.

IS THE SENATE IS OUT RIGHT NOW.

ACTUALLY, I JUST HAD A FELLOW SENATOR.

EXCUSE ME, WE WENT BACK INTO SESSION.

WE WERE IN RECESS AND RULES COMMITTEE MET AND SO THEY JUST WENT BACK INTO SESSION.

SO, I HAD A FELLOW SENATOR, EXCUSE ME, WHERE I COULD JOIN YOU ALL TONIGHT?

WELL, WE APPRECIATE THAT.

LET'S GET TO SOME OF YOUR BILLS.

SB 220.

THE FARM LAND CONSERVATION.

BILL.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

ABSOLUTELY, IT'S A BILL.

I'VE BEEN PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT SENATE, BILL 220, THE GEORGIA, FARM LAND CONSERVATION ACT.

THERE'S 29 OTHER STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ALREADY HAVE PACE PROGRAMS WHICH IS THE PURCHASE AGRICULTURAL, CONSERVATION, EASEMENT PROGRAMS.

AND THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS OF LEARNING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, I FOUND OUT THAT SINCE 1974 TO STATE OF GEORGIA HAS LOST 20% OF ITS FARMLAND THAT'S IN YOU KNOW LESS THAN A GENERATION AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE AT IN TERMS OF THE YIELD CURVE AND THE POPULATION CURVE THE YIELD CURVE ISN'T KEEPING UP WITH THE POPULATION CURVE SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD.

THAT WE PROTECT FARMLAND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AS I SAID EARLIER 29, OTHER STATES ALREADY HAVE THESE PACE PROGRAMS, THERE ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT COME DOWN.

THAT'S A DOLLAR TO DOLLAR MATCH FOR ANY STATE LOCAL OR PRIVATE FUNDS THAT GO INTO THESE PROGRAMS.

AND THAT'S WHERE FARMERS CAN CAN BASICALLY SELL A PERPETUAL EASEMENT ON THEIR FARMS AND IT HAS TO STAY IN AG PRODUCTION IN PERPETUITY.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

WE GOT THE FRAMEWORK OF THE LEGISLATION PASSED SO I CARRIED IT WAS A POLICY PROPOSAL, ACTUALLY FROM MY GOOD FRIEND COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, TYLER HARPER.

AND I CARRIED IT ON HIS BEHALF AND THE SENATE, AND MY COUNTERPART IN THE HOUSE.

AKSHAY ARMAND.

ROBERT DICKEY CARRIED IT ON HIS ON HIS BEHALF IN THE HOUSE AND I SHOULD MENTION THAT YOUR EVIL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, RIGHT?

YOU'RE A FARMER.

SO THIS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO YOUR HEART.

YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY.

I KNOW PEOPLE OF WORRIED ABOUT FOOD PRICES, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

WELL, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN PRETTY PASSIONATE ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, NINETY EIGHT POINT, TWO PERCENT OF THE POPULATION DOESN'T FARM ANYMORE, SO THE 1.8 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION THAT DOES FARM, YOU KNOW, THEIR VOICES.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS, I GUESS, THAT INSPIRED ME TO FOR PUBLIC SERVICES TO BE A VOICE FOR OUR FARMERS.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE AT AND FOOD SECURITY TODAY YOU KNOW 75% OF THE WORLD'S AMMONIUM NITRATE COMES FROM THE RUSSIA AND UKRAINE.

YOU KNOW, WE FOUND OUT OUT THAT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

THAT SO MUCH OF OUR MEDICINES WERE THE RAW MATERIALS FOR OUR MEDICINES.

YOU KNOW, WHERE WE WERE DEPENDENT UPON CHINA AND THAT'S THOSE SAME CHEMICAL COMPANIES THAT MAKE OUR MEDICINES ALSO MAKE OUR ADD KIM PRODUCTS ARE FUNGICIDES INSECTICIDES HERBICIDES.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FEED OURSELVES AND SO I WORRY ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THAT IN TERMS OF OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SORT.

THE PRODUCTS THAT WE NEED TO RUN OUR FARMS AND ALSO TO BE QUITE HONEST, CONSOLIDATION.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT, WHEN WE HAD THE BABY FORMULA CRISIS, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHETHER OR NOT THE ABBOT PLANT IN MICHIGAN, WHETHER OR NOT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN OR IF IT WAS, IF THEY GOT IT BACK GOING FAST ENOUGH.

BUT I DO KNOW THE ROOT CAUSE OF THAT PROBLEM OR IT'S MY BELIEF ANYWAY, BUT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THAT PROBLEM IS IS WE NOW HAVE ONLY THREE CORPORATIONS THAT PRODUCE VIRTUALLY ALL THE BABY.

OH, THAT'S CONSUMED IN THIS COUNTRY AND 11 PLANT GOING DOWN, YOU KNOW, CAN CAUSE CAUSE US TO LOOK LIKE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY HAVING TO AIRLIFT BABY FORMULA AND HERE.

SO I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS, NOT ONLY WHAT CONSOLIDATION IS DOING AND IN TERMS OF FOOD SECURITY, BUT AS ALSO AS BEING ABLE TO SOURCE, THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE FARMERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO GROW OUR CROPS AND WE NEVER WANT TO BE DEPENDENT UPON OTHER COUNTRIES FOR OUR FOOD SUPPLY.

I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU REAL QUICK ABOUT YOUR TRUCKING.

WAIT BILL, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO FARMERS.

RIGHT.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO FARMERS AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, HAS A FARMER AND ESPECIALLY AS A GEORGIA FARMER, WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST OTHER COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT HAVE THE SAME SET OF LABOR STANDARDS EMISSION, STANDARDS ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND IT PUTS US AT A DISADVANTAGE AND IT BOTHERS ME THAT HAS A STATE.

ONCE THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER EXPIRED AT 95,000 POUNDS WENT BACK TO EIGHTY FOUR THOUSAND POUNDS.

SO HAS A STATE, WE'RE DOING THAT TO OUR FARMERS AS AS WELL.

I MEAN IN EVERY STATE THAT TOUCHES US IN TERMS OF AG AND FORESTRY PRODUCTS YOU CAN HAUL FOUR TO SIX THOUSAND MORE POUNDS.

I AM THANKFUL THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THIS FAR WITH THE BILL BUT IT IS FOR UP FOR A LOGGER DOWN IN MY PART OF THE WORLD, A SMALL FAMILY LOGGER LOGGING OPERATION, THAT MAYBE MOVE 60 LOADS A WEEK.

IT WORKS OUT TO ON A 55 50 MILE, AVERAGE HALL AND IT ENDS UP.

WORKING OUT TO ABOUT A HUNDRED AND FIFTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR IN COST TO THAT FAMILY.

OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO 1,000 POUNDS, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP UP LOOKING AT THAT BILL AND I KNOW THAT THAT WE'VE BEEN SHOWING PICTURES OF THE SENATE AS MEETING AND THAT THEY PROBABLY WANT YOU BACK THERE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO COME OUT OF THE CHAMBER AND AND TALK TO US FOR A FEW MOMENTS.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO BE WILLIAM.

SORRY, YOU CAUGHT ME LATE IN THE DAY.

I'M, I'M ABOUT WHIP BUT I'M PROUD TO BE WITH YOU.

WHAT YOU DO.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT, THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO, TOO.

YES.

MA'AM, THANK YOU.

WELL, COMING UP.

WE'RE GOING TO LEARN ABOUT SOME MIDDLE SCHOOL.

STUDENTS WHO HAVE CREATED A BILL?

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 AGUS, GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY FOOD AND FIBRE PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER 74 BILLION IN OUTPUT OF GEORGIA.

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.

HERE'S WHAT'S NEW THIS MONTH WITH PASSPORT, WHICH WAY?

I TURN?

JUST TO BE MARRIED.

SHE IS NOT MARRIED YET.

SUPPORT YOUR PBS, STATION, AND STREAM, MORE WITH PASS ON THE PBS APP.

COMMUNITY LEARNING WORKING PLANK CELEBRATING DOING LIFE IS ALWAYS BETTER TOGETHER AT GPB.

WE AIM TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DO LIFE TOGETHER.

WELL, OUR MISSION TO EDUCATE INFORM, AND ENTERTAIN INSPIRES EVERYTHING.

FROM OUR WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMMING TO ARE STIMULATING, RADIO CONVERSATIONS TO OUR FUN IN PERSON EVENTS.

WE'VE GOT SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

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

WE CARE ABOUT THINGS THAT AFFECT THE LIVES OF EVERY AMERICAN.

WE ARE THERE AT THE FRONT LINE TO GET TO THE HEART OF WHAT REALLY MATTERS AND EVERY ISSUE THIS COUNTRY HAS NOT SEEN THIS IN 80 YEARS.

THIS EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT IN HERE, YOU MAKING SUCH A HUGE IMPACT, TRUST IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO.

WELCOME BACK TO LAWMAKERS, I'M DONNA LOWRY.

THERE ARE TIMES ON THIS SHOW AS WE COVER EACH GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THAT THE PROCESS OF LAWMAKING LOOKS COMPLICATED AND DAUNTING.

SOME MIGHT WONDER WHY BOTHER BUT A GROUP OF 11 AND 12 YEAR, OLDS ARE FEARLESSLY GOING DOWN THAT PATH.

JOINING ME NOW, IS THE LAWMAKER WHO IS SPONSORING THE BILL THAT THEY CREATED DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE, ROGER, BRUCE OF ATLANTA.

ALSO, HERE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT THAT MENTORS THE GIRLS DEAL ON BROWN OF KIDS WITH STRONG.

OPINIONS INC.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

THANK YOU, KIDS WITH STRONG OPINIONS INC, IS A GREAT NAME.

TELL ME, TELL ME HOW YOU WORK WITH THEM AT RENAISSANCE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

WELL, AS YOU SAID, WE ARE A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AND WE TEACH CHILDREN TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, HOW TO USE THEIR VOICE, YOU KNOW, TO SPEAK IN AND DEFEND, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT AND RENAISSANCE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS A PART OF FULTON COUNTY WHICH WE ARE PARTNERS WITH.

AND SO WE WENT TO THAT SCHOOL AND YEAH ASKED TO MENTOR SOME IF THEY EAT, THAT'S HOW OFTEN I'M ONCE A WEEK.

YEAH.

AND THEY HAVE STRONG OPINIONS.

HUH, THEY OKAY I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT BEFORE WE HEAR FROM YOU REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE LET'S HEAR FROM THE GIRLS AND LOOK AT THEIR JOURNEY TO TRY TO GET THEIR IDEA TO BECOME A LAW.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS SARAH ROSE.

I ATTEND RUN IS ON TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MY PARENT IS LATOYA BROWN.

AND TODAY, I'M HERE TO DISCUSS WHY WE NEED BUS MONITORS ON OUR BUSES.

THIS IS NO PRESENTATION TO CLASSMATES.

SARIAH AND THREE OTHER STUDENTS SPOKE BEFORE ADULTS, WHO CREATE GEORGIA LAWS.

SO, I WANT THIS BILL PASSED, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND THE BUS DRIVER, A LOT MORE.

SAFE POISED CONFIDENT, SMART, THESE GIRLS FROM RENAISSANCE MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF SOUTH.

FULTON ARE JUST FOR MEMBERS OF GIRL CODE A NON-PROFIT.

THE WORKS IN SCHOOLS, THE GIRLS RECOGNIZED A PROBLEM WANTED TO SEE IF IT COULD BECOME LAW.

AND AS WITH ALL BILLS, THEY STARTED WITH A MEETING WITH A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAWYER WEEKS LATER, THEY HAD HOUSE BILL 238 FOR A FIVE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM TO GET ADULTS TO SERVE AS SCHOOL BUS MONITORS WHEN I WAS ON THE BUS.

AND WE'RE ENTER SCHOOL A GIRL.

AND A GUY, THE GUY WAS TALKING ABOUT HER BROTHER AND WHAT'S HAPPENING AT HER HOUSE.

AND THEN SHE GOT REALLY MAD AND BOTH OF THEM START FIGHTING.

AND THEN, AT THE END OF THE FIGHT, SHE GOT, SHE ENDED UP WITH A BLACK EYE, THE BUS DRIVER IS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.

THERE WERE HIRED TO FOCUS ON THE ROAD TO DRIVE A BUS.

SO WHEN THEIR SITUATIONS GOING ON ON A BUS, WHEN THERE'S ONGOING SITUATIONS ON THE BUS, THE BUS DRIVER WOULD HAVE TO LIKE STOP AND LIKE POSSIBLY PULLED UP, PUT A BUS OVER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FOCUSED ON THE ROAD.

THEY FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

THEY ASKED TO MEET WITH GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP AND HE SPENT TIME LISTENING AND ASKING QUESTIONS TEACH OUR SCHOOLS.

THEY ARE POLICE OFFICERS IS DEFINITELY EXCITING.

IT WAS KIND OF SCARY WHEN I FEEL LIKE THERE'S JUST LIKE SO MUCH PRESSURE AND LIKE WHEN THE MEETING WAS OVER, I WAS LIKE OH THANK GOD BECAUSE LIKE IT WAS LIKE SO I WAS LIKE I'M LIKE OH MY GOSH I CAN'T MAKE A SINGLE MISTAKE.

I'M MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR HERE.

LIKE THIS IS LIKE REALLY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR THE HOUSE, EDUCATION POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE, TO INVITE THEM TO EXPLAIN THE REASONS THEY WANT THE LAW, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S MEDICAL ISSUES ON THE BUS.

LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE GIRL, ON MY BUS ONE TIME, SHE HAD A SEIZURE AND YOU KNOW THAT THE TEACHERS HAD THE BUS DRIVER HAD TO PULL OVER THE KIDS, HAD TO PICK HER UP.

IT WAS SO MUCH GOING ON AND YOU KNOW THE IT WAS LIKE CARS GOING PAST AND IT WAS SO MUCH GOING ON.

AND IN THE BUS DRIVER, THEY WERE LIKE, CALL THE AMBULANCE, CALL THE AMBULANCE, AND THERE WERE SO MANY KIDS LIKE, ARE THEY WERE SCREAMING?

THEY WERE TRYING TO CALL THEIR PARENTS.

IT WAS A LOT GOING ON BECAUSE THE GIRL COLLAPSED ON THE FLOOR, LAWMAKERS OFFERED, SOME SUGGESTIONS, INCLUDING OTHER OPTIONS.

I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO HIT EVERY IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO HIT EVERY RESOURCE OF COMMUNITIES, OF FAITH, NONPROFITS, PTAS, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PROTECT THE STUDENTS ON THE BUS LAWS AREN'T NECESSARILY THE ONLY WAY, TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE WITH BUS DRIVERS, IS THE FACT THAT NOW I THINK COBB COUNTY IS PAYING $25 AN HOUR OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT AND BECAUSE THEY'RE ASKED TO DO SO MANY JOBS IN THE END.

I FEEL LIKE ANYONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, HOW BIG, HOW TALL, HOW SHORT YOU ARE, HOW ANYTHING YOUR GENDER YOUR RACE OR NATIONALITY, YOUR ETHNICITY.

I FEEL LIKE ANYBODY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE.

I'D HAVE THEM REPRESENT ME ANYTIME AND I THINK THEY'RE DOING IT.

THEY CAME TO YOU EARLY IN THIS PROCESS, RIGHT?

RIGHT.

AND WHAT WOULD IT TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.

IT CAME ABOUT AS A RESULT OF AN INVITATION TO COME AND TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT HOW BILLS GET PASSED.

AND THEN IT'S OKAY.

WE GOT TO BUILD, WE WANT TO GET PAST AND THE ORIGINAL BILL WAS NOT EXACTLY THIS WAY.

THEY WANTED TO MANDATE IT AND THEY WANTED YOU KNOW TO BE PAID FOR BUT YOU KNOW SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT TEND NOT TO WANT TO BE MANDATED TO.

SO AFTER THEY TALKED WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IT CAME TO WHERE WE ARE NOW WHERE IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WILL ALLOW SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT HAVE A NEED BECAUSE NOT ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE A NEED TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR FUNDS FROM THE STATE THAT WOULD PAY FOR THIS ADDITIONAL PERSON ON THE BUS AND IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM AT THIS POINT.

WELL IS IT IS A PILOT PROGRAM FOR FIVE YEARS.

WE'VE ALREADY GOT SCHOOL SYSTEM, SAYING WE WANT IN AND THE CAB DRIVER.

IS COUNTY WAS WITH US A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND THEY SAID THEY WANT IN FULTON COUNTY WARRANTS IN OTHER COUNTIES ARE STARTING TO CALL AND SAY THEY WANT TO BE IN.

SO THE KIDS HAVE A GREAT IDEA AND IT SHOULD NOT BE STOPPED BECAUSE OF MONEY IT JUST SHOULDN'T WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON SOME CRAZY THINGS AND I'VE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE AS YOU KNOW, FOR 20, 20 YEARS AND I'VE SEEN CRAZIER THINGS THAT THIS WHERE MONEY WAS SPENT.

I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE LAWMAKERS BROUGHT UP AND ONE OF THEM THEY TALK ABOUT WELL, WHAT ABOUT GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS BEING MONITORS ON BUS BUSES.

BUT EVEN ANOTHER LAWMAKER SAID THERE IS, THERE'S A DANGER IN DOING THAT TALKS ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

AND I THINK THEIR ISSUE WAS, YOU KNOW, CERTIFICATE CERTIFYING THEM TO BE, YOU KNOW, CPR CERTIFIED AND THE KIDS WERE AGAINST THAT.

BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY NOT RESPECT PARENTS, YOU KNOW THE PARENTS OF A ANOTHER PERSON IN THEIR AUTHORITATIVE, YOU KNOW?

SO THEY WOULD LIKE IT TO BE SOMEONE WHO WAS HIRED FROM THE SCHOOL WHO'S TRAINED, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE CARE OF MEDICAL ISSUES AND TO ALSO BE KIND OF A MEDIATOR OR DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP THEM TO WHAT IS DEFLECT BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEFLECT YOU KNOW WHEN THEY ARE APPROACHED.

SOMEBODY WOULD NEED TRAINING.

YEAH, SOMEBODY WOULD NEED TRAINING.

BUT THEY WOULD.

ALSO, THERE'S ALSO THE THE IDEA THAT THERE'S JUST SO MUCH VOLUNTEERS CAN DO IN TERMS OF TOUCHING KIDS.

IF THEY HAD TO INTERVENE YOU HAVE THOSE ISSUES, AND YOU ALSO HAVE JUST THE ISSUE OF VOLUNTEERS SAYING, I CAN'T MAKE IT TODAY AND THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCE FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE A VOLUNTEER AND, YOU KNOW, SIR THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO MAKE THE CHILDREN FEEL SAFE AND HAVING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FOCUSED ON BEING ON THAT BUS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE FOCUSED ON BEING GRANDMA OR GRANDPA OR WHATEVER THAT COULD BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

AND IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.

THE KIDS SAID WE WOULDN'T WANT OUR OWN PARENTS ON BECAUSE THAT THAT COULD CAUSE A PROBLEM AND YOU HAVE HAD A FUN TIME AND TAKING THESE KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL BECAUSE THE HEARING WAS A LAST-MINUTE THING.

WHAT YOU SAY NIGHT YOU GUYS FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS WEDNESDAY.

YES.

YEAH.

SO WE HAVE SOME GOOD PARENTS AND SUPPORTIVE PARENTS AND THEY'VE BEEN WITH THEM FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS AND TOLD US ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, LET US KNOW.

SO WE CALLED THEM UP AND THEY WERE LIKE OKAY WE'RE THERE, THIS IS IT.

THIS YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE MOMENT THEY'VE BEEN WAITING.

OR SO, THEY WERE SAYING MADE IT HAPPEN.

THEY WERE SO POISED YESTERDAY AND FRONT OF THAT COMMITTEE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE BILL.

NOW, IT'S GOOD BECAUSE IT'S NEVER, IT'S NOT GOING TO PASS THIS SESSION.

SO WE'RE YOU, OUR SESSIONS ARE TWO YEARS LATER AND THE EVERY ALMOST EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE CAME TO ME TODAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, TELLING ME HOW PROUD THEY WERE OF THOSE KIDS.

SO I ASKED HIM.

I SAID, DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO PASS THIS BILL IF YOU PROUD OF HIM AND THEY DID A GOOD JOB.

WE'RE GOING TO PASS IT.

SO WHAT IT APPEARS IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS THAT WHEN WE COME BACK IN JANUARY, WILL BE SENT TO THE FULL COMMITTEE.

AND THEN THE FULL COMMITTEE, HOPEFULLY, WE'LL SEND IT TO RULES, AND THEN RULES WILL PUT IT ON THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE.

YEAH.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO STOP.

THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO START LETTER SENDING LETTERS, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE A PETITION ON CHANGE.ORG AND THAT THEY'RE PUSHING, AND YES, THEY HAVE SOME OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT THEY WANT TO DO, WHAT'S IT, WHAT'S THE NAME ON CHANGE.ORG?

IF ANYBODY HOUSE BILL 2, 32 38, YANG SAFETY.

SCHOOL BUS, SAFETY BILL?

YEAH.

SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS GIRLS.

WHO ARE OPINIONATED AS IT GIRLS?

KIDS?

WITH STRONG OPINIONS.

GET STRONG OPINIONS.

YES, I DO.

IS OUR KIDS ARE OUR FUTURE.

OH, WE'RE PREPARING THEM FOR THE FUTURE.

IT'S GREAT.

YOU MUST FEEL REALLY PROUD OF THIS.

I COVERED YEARS AGO OF ANOTHER BILL, YOU WHO HELPED SHEPHERD SOME KIDS THROUGH, RIGHT?

AND I BELIEVE THIS IS IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, TO GET THE KIDS INVOLVED IN THEIR YOUNG AGE.

AND EVERY PART OF THAT BILL THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS NOW STATE LAW.

YEAH AND THAT WAS INITIATED BY 10 YEAR OLDS AND WHAT YEAR WAS THAT?

THAT'S NOT TAKE ABOUT 45 SECONDS.

IT'S GONNA TAKE US BACK.

WELL I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH THE STUDENTS TO AND I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

THAT DOES IT FOR A LAWMAKER IS TODAY WILL BE BACK ON MONDAY FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY.

39, THE LAST DAY BEFORE SIGNING DIE.