BRING TO THIS BODY.

THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT TO HOUSE.

BILL 19, THE STATES, FYI.

24 GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS BUDGET.

THIRTY, FOUR, THIRTY TWO POINT FOUR BILLION IN FUNDS.

EVERY AGENCY FROM THIS BODY.

THE LEGISLATURE TO VETERANS AT THE END AND THE IS THAT WE PROVIDE FOR OUR VETERANS?

THE ONE THING THE LEGISLATURE IS MANDATED TO DO THE BUDGET, MAKE IT MAKES IT TO THE SENATE FLOOR ON THE LAST DAY OF THE SESSION.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO OUR SPECIAL, ONE-HOUR LAWMAKERS.

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA, 40, LEGISLATIVE DAYS IN THE MAKING.

AND IT'S FINALLY HERE.

SIGNING DIED.

THE LAST DAY FOR THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PASS LAWS AND 2023.

EACH CHAMBER CAME INTO THE DAY JAM-PACKED WITH BILLS TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER FOUR VOTES WILL RUN DOWN ALL THE ACTION OF THE DAY AND WHAT TO EXPECT TONIGHT TO SO COVER POLITICS FOR THE AJC, WILL OFFER BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS THROUGHOUT THE HOUR.

AND IF ANYTHING MAJOR HAPPENS DURING OUR TIME, ON THE AIR WILL BRING IT TO YOU RIGHT AWAY.

BUT WE WANT TO GET RIGHT TO THE GOLD DOME.

WE'RE SIGNING.

DIE IS STILL UNDERWAY AT OUR CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT.

MICHELLE RICCI IS STANDING BY HI ROCHELLE.

WELL, HI, DONNA.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT'S A VERY BUSY DAY HERE AT THE CAPITOL AS MEMBERS OF BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE PUSH AND MAKE ARGUMENTS FOR THEIR BILLS.

NOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE DID SEE SOME MOVEMENT IN COMPROMISE ON THE 2024 FISCAL BUDGET AND OF THE HOUSE OF PRETTY LENGTHY DEBATE OVER CASH BAIL.

THE NEWS OF THE DAY STARTED THIS MORNING OUTSIDE OF CHAMBERS, WHEN THE SELECT APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AGREED ON THE 20, FOR FISCAL YEAR BUDGET.

BUT HB 19, THE NEW VERSION.

NOW, IN HARMONY WITH THE HOUSE VERSION, DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE SENATE UNTIL LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

I'M BRINGING TO THIS BODY.

THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT TO HOUSE.

BILL, 19, THE STATES, FYI.

24 GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS BUDGET.

THIRTY, FOUR, THIRTY TWO POINT FOUR BILLION IN FUNDS.

EVERY AGENCY FROM THIS BODY.

THE LEGISLATURE TO VETERANS AT THE END AND THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE FOR OUR VETERANS CHANGES.

INCLUDED HOPE IS THAT 100%?

THE HOPE NUMBERS THE WAY WE WERE ABLE TO FUND HOPE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AT 100% WAS BAD.

USING UPDATED NUMBERS FOR STUDENTS ARE USG, POPULATION HAS BEEN DECLINING AS YOU KNOW, SO THAT HELPED US SAVE A LITTLE BIT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SAVINGS THERE AND BY UPDATING THOSE NUMBERS.

WE THINK WE CAN MAKE BOTH OF THOSE FIT IN THE PROGRAM HOTELLING A MAJOR FOCUS OF THIS BODY MONEY'S IN THIS BUDGET ADDRESS, HOTELLING SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING AT DHS, TO BEGIN TO CONTINUE PREPARING FOR PANDEMIC.

UNWINDING THE TASK THAT WE HAVE PLACED ON DHS, THOUGH, THAT'S BEEN PLACED ON ALL STATES TO UNWIND.

AFTER THAT.

AFTER THE PANDEMIC THOUGH IS DAUNTING AT DB H DD 117 MILLION DOLLARS TOWARDS INITIATIVES CONCERNING MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL.

LT'S THE SENATE THE CONFERENCE COMMENCE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES.

FINAL VERSION HAS 47 ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS ON TOP OF THE ADDITIONS THAT WERE MADE FOR THE GOVERNOR.

BUT THERE WAS SOME COMPROMISE WHEN IT CAME TO RAISES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, MOST STATE OFFICERS RECEIVE A SIX THOUSAND DOLLAR.

PAY RAISE MANY OTHERS RECEIVE A FOUR THOUSAND DOLLAR PACE ERASE THE BILL WAS PASSED FIFTY FOUR TO ONE AND IMMEDIATELY SENT TO THE HOUSE.

BUT EARLIER IN THE DAY THERE WAS A DISPUTE WITH THE HOUSE AS THE SENATE IN STOOD ON THEIR POSITION.

THE HOTLY DEBATED TRUCK, WAIT, BILL, HB, 198 AT DISPUTE, THE CARGO WEIGHT OF TRUCKS AND THE TYPES OF MATERIALS THAT WILL GET THE HIGHER ALLOWANCES.

THE TWO CHAMBERS WILL AGAIN HAVE TO FIND A COMPROMISE AND COMMITTEE ON THERE, TWO POSITIONS BEFORE THE SESSION ENDS TONIGHT.

BUT HOW SUBSTITUTE OF SENATE BILL 222 ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE ZUCKER BUCKS.

BILL CAME BACK TO THE SENATE WITH CHANGES.

THE BILL WOULD KEEP COUNTY ELECTION BOARDS FROM ACCEPTING OUTSIDE DONATIONS, THAT SECTION CREATES AN INDEPENDENT.

IT CREATES AN INDEPENDENCE FOR THE STATE ELECTION BOARD.

SO THE STATE ELECTION BOARD IS AN INDEPENDENT BUDGET UNIT THAT IS ASSOCIATED OR AFFILIATED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES.

BUT IS NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, IT PROVIDES FOR THE ABILITY, FOR THE STATE ELECTION BOARD TO BE AN INDEPENDENT BODY.

AND MINISTER ITS OWN AFFAIRS.

THE SHAME OF THIS BILL IS YOU ARE RAISING TAXES ON ALL THE LOCALS BECAUSE THIS BODY HAS PUT ALL THESE REQUIREMENTS ON THE LOCALS.

THEY ARE ALL UNFUNDED.

AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING, WE WILL NOT LET YOU BE ENTERPRISING, BE INNOVATIVE BE CREATIVE AND TRY TO THAT ALL RED COUNTIES CAN APPLY FOR TO FILL SOME BUDGETARY GAPS.

WHEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, CONSIDERS THE FISCAL IMPACTS OF THE LAWS THAT DELIBERATES WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING THE FINANCIAL IMPACT.

OF BOTH REVENUES AND EXPENSES AND SB CHOO CHOO CHOO TO SEEKS TO REDUCE REVENUES FROM SUPPLEMENTAL, FUNDING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, CAUSING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEANT TO HAVE TO MAKE A NET INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES.

THE BILL PASSED ALONG PARTY LINES, 32 TO 21 THE CONTROVERSIAL BILL.

SB 63 AREN'T A LENGTHY DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE JUDGES TO SET CASH BALES FOR VIOLENT CRIME.

THIS BILL SO REALLY AGAIN THE SUM IT UP, HAS TWO KEY OBJECTIVES, ENSURING, THAT CITIES AND COUNTIES.

THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED BLANKET, NO CASTE BAIL POLICIES.

THIS BILL ADDRESSES THAT ISSUE SAYS THAT CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS, INCLUDING MUNICIPAL VIOLATIONS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO CONFINEMENT.

WILL REQUIRE AN INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALIZED BOND HEARING BEFORE.

A JUDGE WILL BE NO MORE CATCH AND RELEASE ON MUNICIPAL VIOLATIONS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO CONFINEMENT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WE HEAR ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF CRIMINALS WE HEAR ABOUT, OH, THIS IS GOING TO DISENFRANCHISE, A CERTAIN GROUP OF PEOPLE.

I SUBMIT TO YOU THE BYPASSING HOUSE BILL, OR SENATE, BILL 63.

WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT PEOPLE IN THIS STATE.

THE BILL ADDS ADDITIONAL OFFENSES SUCH AS STREET RACING TO THE LIST OF BAIL.

RESTRICTED OFFENSES, SOME DEMOCRATS ARGUE, THE BILL PUTS PRIVILEGE OVER JUSTICE IN OUR CURRENT CRIMINAL SYSTEM, YOU'RE TREATED BETTER.

IF YOU'RE RICH AND GUILTY, THAT IF YOU'RE POOR AND INNOCENT, THEREFORE WEALTH, NOT COPE ABILITY IS TURNING OUR IS IMPACTING OUR OUR JUSTICE OUTCOMES.

THIS IS YET ANOTHER BAD BILL THAT THE APPEARANCE OF WHICH IS TO LOOK LIKE WE ARE BEING TOUGH ON CRIME.

AGAIN, WE HAVE THE CAPACITY AS LEGISLATORS IN THIS INFORMATION AGE TO CRAFT.

GOOD POLICY BASED ON AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WORKS BEST BUT FOR OTHER DEMOCRATS, CLARITY, AND SAFETY GARNER SUPPORT FOR SB 63.

WE GO TO LINE 25, T. IT SAYS EXCEPT AS PROVIDED THE JUDGE OF ANY COURT OF INQUIRY.

MAY BUY WRITTEN ORDER, ESTABLISH A SCHEDULE OF BILLS, INCLUDING LOCAL ORDINANCES.

THE JUDGE IS DECIDING, NOT THIS PIECE OF PAPER.

THIS IS SAYING THE ACCUSED MUST APPEAR BEFORE A JUDGE.

ONE BEFORE, THE BILL CAN BE SET, OR EVEN RELEASED, DO WE WANT TO RELEASE SOMEBODY THAT COMMITTED MURDER WITHOUT BILL?

ROBBERY BECAUSE THESE ARE, THIS IS WHAT'S ON THE PAPER?

DO WE WANT TO RELEASE SOMEBODY FOR KIDNAPPING WITHOUT BAIL.

RAPE, CHILD MOLESTATION, SODOMY ASSAULT BATTERY CARJACKING.

PEOPLE ARE CARJACKED IN MY COMMUNITY, OFTEN PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY WOULD BE OFFENDED.

IF WE LET SOMEBODY OUT FOR CARJACKING WITHOUT BILL, THE BILL PASSED 95 281, BUT THE SENATE REJECTED THE CHANGES AND IT NOW GOES TO A JOINT COMMITTEE AND THE SURPRISED ABOUT FACE FOR SB 233 WHICH WOULD PROVIDE PARENTS, A SIXTY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR VOUCHER TO BE USED TOWARD PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION.

BUT AFTER LUNCH, THE BILL WAS TABLED, I MOVED TO RECOMMIT SB 233 BACK TO RULES.

THE BILL WAS RECOMMITTED TO RULES WITH A 97 273 VOTE.

AND DONNA, OF COURSE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS COMING UP WITHIN THE HOUR, BUT FOR NOW THAT IS MY CAPITOL REPORT.

I'M GOING TO SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

THANKS, WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.

ROCHELLE.

JOINING ME ARE JUST TWO OF A LARGE TEAM OF A JC REPORTERS COVERING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THERE ARE POLITICAL INSIDERS, GREG BLUESTEIN JOURNALIST AUTHOR, AND ONE OF THE WRITERS OF THE AJC'S JOLT NEWSLETTER AND ONE OF THE HOSTS OF THE POLITICALLY GEORGIA PODCAST, THE OTHER HOST IS AJC POLITICAL COLUMNIST FOR TRICIA MURPHY AND SHE'S EDITOR OF THE JOEL.

SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU GUYS ON WITH ME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DAY SO IT HAS TO ME DIFFERENT FROM IN IN RECENT PAST YEARS, WHAT WOULD, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE WAY THE DAY IS GOING TO PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T DOWN THERE?

I WOULD SAY IT'S A DAY OF FITS AND STARTS.

YEAH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HURRY UP AND WAIT ON THE SURFACE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THINGS ARE CALM AND NORMAL.

BUT BEHIND THE SCENES, IT'S CHAOS.

THERE'S A LOT OF FRENZIED BACK AND FORTH.

I'M GETTING TEXTS ABOUT SOME OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES THINGS AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW.

SO, IT IS A VERY IT STILL RUSH AND THINGS START REALLY PICKING UP AT NIGHT AND THE SUN, HE DIES.

AND SO EXPECT A LOT OF ACTION IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

YOU DESCRIBED IT THE SAME WAY.

VERY SIMILAR.

MY METAPHOR IS THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM.

IT REALLY THE COMMA IN FRONT OF THE STORM, WHAT WE SEE ON THE CHAMBER, FLOORS ARE DEBATE BACK AND FORTH, TAKING SOME TIME OFF.

LET'S HAVE A DEBATE, A DEBATE ABOUT KIND OF A SILLY SIDE MATTER BUT WE KNOW BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THAT HOUSE LEADERSHIP.

THE SENATE LEADERSHIP.

A LOT OF THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS, JUST BETWEEN REPUBLICANS OCCASIONALLY, BUTTING HEADS AMONG REPUBLICANS, AS WELL.

THEY ARE REALLY HAMMERING OUT THESE FINAL DETAILS.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY MEMBERS THAT, THEY START TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION AROUND 9:00 ON SIGNEE DIE BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE BILLS JUST START TO FLY ACROSS THEIR DESKS.

THEY HAVE TO READ THEM ABSORB THEM QUICKLY.

A LOT OF TIMES ITS NEW TEXT NEW BILLS, THINGS THAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE SEEN BEFORE AND SAY, THEY SAID THAT, THEY REALLY TRY AND PAY VERY, VERY CLOSE ATTENTION AND THEN IT JUST AS FAST AND FURIOUS AT THAT POINT.

YEAH.

AND SO TODAY, WE SAW TIMES WHERE WELL, ONE POINT ON THE SENATE.

LET'S JUST AFTER THE BUDGET WAS PASSED, LET'S JUST IN.

IT'S, UM, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF FUN MAYBE THERE.

YEAH.

I THINK THAT WAS FROM STATE SENATOR, JOSH MCLAREN, WHO MIGHT BE ON THIS PROGRAM LATER?

I THINK PART OF IT IS JOKING BUT PART OF IT WAS SERIOUS.

ONCE THE SENATE LAWMAKERS PASSED THE BUDGET THAT IS THERE ONLY CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT BUILDING WHO WERE S AND JOSH MACLAURINS MOTION AT THAT MOMENT.

DID YOU KNOW LIKE SORT OF LIKE LET'S KIND OF?

YEAH, TAKE A BOWL BREAK THERE.

OKAY, WELL LET'S GO, LET'S HEAD BACK TO THE CAPITAL WHERE ROCHELLE RITCHIE HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BYRD JONES.

I ROCHELLE HI, DONNA.

YES, I'M HERE WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND WE'RE GOING TO GET RIGHT INTO THIS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE A VERY, VERY BUSY DAY, IS GOING TO BE A VERY LONG NIGHT.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR PUSH FOR HOSPITALS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD AND SMALLER COMMUNITIES, WITHOUT THE CERTIFICATE OF NEED.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU PUSH FOR QUITE A BIT, BUT WE HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH ABOUT IT TODAY.

ARE YOU HOPEFUL THAT THAT'S GOING TO COME BACK UP OR HAVE SOME SORT OF MOVEMENT, YOU KNOW.

IT'S UNFORTUNATELY IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET THERE TONIGHT, BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS A SOMETHING MEASURE THAT I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT.

I'M FROM RURAL GEORGIA.

I'M FROM THE COUNTY THAT HAS LESS THAN 25,000 PEOPLE IN IT.

AND THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT A THE BILL WITH SAID THAT IT WOULD ADDRESS COUNTIES.

THEY HAVE LESS THAN 50,000 WHICH IS ABOUT A HUNDRED TWELVE COUNTIES.

AND I'VE WATCHED A CERTIFICATE OF NEED PROCESS REALLY SLOW LOCAL COMMUNITIES EITHER FROM BEING ABLE TO BUILD NEW FACILITIES OR OR OR NOT BE ABLE TO GET FACILITIES AT ALL BECAUSE OF THAT PROCESS.

SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT DOES NEED TO BE REFORMED AND IT DOES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BUT, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR, BUT IT IS A TWO-YEAR PROCESS.

AND SO WILL WORK IN AT WORK ON IT AND ALL SEASON.

SEE WHAT HAPPENS NOW, STAYING WITHIN THE THEME OF HEALTHCARE HP.

520, THAT IS ANOTHER AS MENTAL HEALTH.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING HAPPENING WITH THAT TODAY.

WHICH IS PRETTY SURPRISING BECAUSE IT HAS SO MUCH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S STILL TIME FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT, THAT BILL AS WELL?

WELL, WHEN WE GOT 520, THE WHEN WE HAD A FISCAL NOTE, YOU KNOW ASK FOR A FISCAL NOTE IT CAME WITH ABOUT A 72 MILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG AND SO WE'VE HAD A LOT OF MEMBERS ON THE SENATE SIDE.

I KNOW IS VERY POPULAR ON THE HOUSE SIDE.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF MEMBERS ON THE SENATE SIDE THAT WERE HAVING A HARD TIME AND SWALLOWING THAT NUMBER UNTIL WE'RE ALL FROM MENTAL HEALTH AND WE'RE ALL FOR WANTING TO DO THINGS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE PASS 1013 LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS A GOOD START.

WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE 520 BILL DONE TONIGHT, BUT IT'S NOT GOING.

BE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE YOU KNOW THE 70-PAGE 520 BILL.

THAT WAS SENT TO THE SENATE.

YEAH.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU WERE ALSO TRYING TO AT LEAST BRING SPORTS BETTING TO A VOTE.

BUT THERE ARE SOME RUMBLINGS THAT DEMOCRATS ARE WITHHOLDING THEIR VOTE ON SPORTS BETTING BECAUSE OF THE GENDER AFFIRMING BILL.

WHAT IS, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

YOU KNOW, I HAVE HAD, I'VE TAUGHT TO THE LEADERSHIP AND THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS ON THE SENATE SIDE AND, AND THERE'S BEEN VARIOUS THINGS AT ONE TIME.

I HAD THEM ON BOARD AND THEN AND THEN, AND THEN ALL THE SUDDEN WE LOST, JUST A FEW AND SO, AND IT'S BEEN FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, YOU KNOW, AND SO, BUT YEAH, WELL WE'LL KEEP TALKING.

WE'LL KEEP TALKING TILL MIDNIGHT AND SOMETHING MAY HAPPEN, BUT BUT IT'S GOING BACK AND FORTH.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE WOULD HAVE GOT ABOUT HALF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE THAT WOULD LIKE TO DO IT AND THEN AND THEN OF COURSE YOU NEED 29 VOTES.

AND SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A STRONG SHOWING FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN ORDER TO GET IT DONE.

AND THEY'RE WRAPPING ME UP, BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU JUST 10 SECONDS.

SO TELL ME HOW WAS IT PRESIDING?

OR THE SENATE FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SESSION I WAS GREAT.

I MEAN I ENJOYED IT, I'VE SERVED IN THE BODY AND I'M, YOU KNOW, VERY COMFORTABLE IN THE SENATE AND IT WAS GREAT, GREAT WORKING WITH THE SPEAKER AND HAD A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AS WELL AS THE HOUSE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT WAS A GOOD SESSION AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO END WITH, WITH SOME GOOD THINGS AND SO, SO, YEAH, IT'D BE GOOD.

ALL RIGHT.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BYRD, JONES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US AND DONNA.

I'M GOING TO SEND IT BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHELL.

SO I WANT TO GET REACTIONS FROM YOU.

YOU GUYS SO YOU EARLIER TODAY REPORT IT ON THE CERTIFICATE OF NEED AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH TRYING TO GET THE HOSPITAL BUILT AND IT NOT ONLY JACKSON COUNTY BUT HE SAID 112 COUNTIES THAT ARE SUCH A NEWS INTERVIEW, MY ROCHELLE.

YEAH.

BECAUSE HE MADE NEWS IN A COUPLE OF FRONTS BUT ONE WAS HIS KNOWLEDGE IN THAT.

IT'S A REALLY TOUGH FIGHT TO GET THIS HOSPITAL DEREGULATION.

BILL PASSED THIS YEAR ESPECIALLY WITH OPPOSITION FROM HOUSE LEADERS IN THE GOVERNOR.

BUT THE OTHER BIG PART THAT HE MENTIONED AMONG THE SEVERAL NEW Z ITEMS WAS MENTAL HEALTH REFORM.

YOU KNOW, HE'S THAT, YOU JUST HEARD THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE ENTIRE PACKAGE WILL NOT BE PASSING THIS YEAR, UNLESS SOMETHING DRAMATIC CHANGES.

INSTEAD, THERE MIGHT BE SOME PIECEMEAL PARTS OF IT HERE AND THERE THEY SLIDE THROUGH ON OTHER BILLS.

BUT THE OVERALL REFORM PACKAGE THAT THE HOUSE LEADER HOUSE SPEAKER, JOHN BURNS AND OTHER HOUSE LEADERS.

ADVOCATED FOR DOES NOT LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO PASS.

YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM REPRESENTATIVE MARY MARGARET OLIVER, WHO WAS ONE OF THE SPONSORS ON THAT BILL COMING UP LATER?

IN THE SHOW.

LET'S LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT THAT 70 MILLION 72 MILLION DOLLARS.

HE SAID HEFTY PRICE TAG BUT THE HOUSE FELT IT WAS WORTH IT.

TO GO AHEAD AND PUSH FOR THAT.

YES, THAT'S A BILL THAT PASSED THE HOUSE 163 23.

SO THERE WAS NOT SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION TO THAT FROM REALLY ANY CORNER OF THE STATE HOUSE.

WHEN IT WENT OVER TO THE STATE SENATE, EVEN IN SENATE COMMITTEE, THERE WAS DEBATE ABOUT IT.

THERE WAS CONVERSATION, NO MAJOR OBJECTIONS RAISED TO IT DURING THE SENATE COMMITTEE HEARING BUT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM THE COMMITTEE.

CHAIRMAN BEN WATSON WHO SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE VOTING ON A ON THIS BILL TODAY AND COMMITTEE.

THAT'S BEEN DECIDED.

SO THAT HAD BEEN DECIDED SEEM LIKE BY SENATE LEADERSHIP.

SO THAT'S A MAJOR BLOW TO MENTAL HEALTH ARE HEALTH CARE.

ADVOCATES ALSO TO PEOPLE WHO WERE PUSHING FOR IT REALLY ON BEHALF OF SPEAKER RALSTON, KNOWING THAT, THAT WAS HIS BIG PRIORITY.

I REALLY WANT TO CONGRATULATE ROCHELLE FOR THAT INTERVIEW BECAUSE SHE REALLY HIT ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDING ON SPORTS BETTING AS WELL.

YEAH, I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT'S GOING ANYWHERE.

THERE'S A THERE'S THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ON THAT, TOO, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

YEAH.

THAT ABOUT SOME.

YES.

THAT'S RIGHT.

HE DID THE LIEUTENANT, GOVERNOR DID NOT TALK ABOUT THE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE OPPOSING THAT BILL AS WELL.

WE HAVE HEARD FROM RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVES, EVEN GEORGIA, FAITH AND FREEDOM, THIS MORNING WAS WHIPPING AGAINST THAT AND REACHING OUT TO INDIVIDUAL CENTERS TO SAY, WE DO NOT WANT SPORTS BETTING.

THIS IS AGAINST WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, GOING TO OTHER CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS.

BUT THE TENANT GOVERNOR DID SAY WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TALKING.

HE DID NOT SAY THAT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING TONIGHT.

SO IT HAS A VERY HIGH, VERY HIGH MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB TO GET THROUGH TONIGHT.

BUT AGAIN AN ACKNOWLEDGED NOT AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT IT WON'T PASS BUT ESPECIALLY ON A COUPLE OF THESE BILLS.

IT'S A TWO-YEAR PROCESS AND IT IS A TWO-YEAR PROCESS.

SO I THINK ESPECIALLY ON CERTIFICATE OF NEED.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THE LIEUTENANT.

GOVERNOR PUSH FOR THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

YEAH, IT KIND OF LOOKED LIKE EARLIER IN THE WEEK THAT HE WAS IT, THAT WAS IT, IT WAS DEAD AND HE WROTE AN OP-ED IN YOUR PAPER ON CERTIFICATE NEED.

YEAH.

HE WROTE AN OP-ED SAYING THAT HE WAS OFFERED MADE AN OFFER BY UNSPECIFIED LOBBYISTS THAT HE COULD GET THE HOSPITAL.

HE WANTED IN HIS HOME COUNTY OF BUTTS COUNTY AND MIDDLE GEORGIA.

IF HE JUST RELENTED ON A BROADER DEREGULATION PUSH AND HE SAID THAT, HE SAID NO TO THOSE LOBBYISTS AND HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT ON ON THIS ISSUE.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT WERE WATCHING TO HIS PATRICIA SAID, HE SAID HE WANTED A VERDICT ON SPORTS BETTING THIS YEAR, AND HE DOESN'T HAVE THEIR VOTES IN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

HE NEEDS THAT DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT AND DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE'S GOING TO GET IT.

OKAY, WELL, WE'LL BE WATCHING CLOSELY TONIGHT BUT RIGHT NOW STANDING BY AT THE CAPITOL TO JOIN US IS GEORGIA, GOVERNOR.

BRIAN KEMP.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON LA.

LAWMAKERS GOVERNOR HEY HAPPY SIGN AND DIE, EVERYBODY GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WANT TO GET INTO A FEW OF YOUR PRIORITIES AND ONE OF THEM WAS THE SCHOOL.

VOUCHER BILL TO ALLOW PARENTS TO HAVE MORE THAN 65-HUNDRED DOLLARS TO PUT CHILDREN IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR HOMESCHOOLS IT FACED AN ESPECIALLY TOUGH TIME IN THE HOUSE.

DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN RESOLVING THAT AT ALL?

HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS?

WELL, REALLY, I THINK, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THE WHOLE SESSION, I MEAN, I PRIORITIES GOING INTO SESSION.

IT'S HELPING GEORGIANS FIGHT TO 40-YEAR HIGH INFLATION.

WE'VE DONE THAT ALREADY WITH THE SECOND INCOME TAX REBATE, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE TO HELP GEORGIANS FIGHT THROUGH BAD POLICIES, IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WE'RE ALSO FOCUSED ON KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE AND KEEPING OUR CHILDREN EDUCATED.

SO I CERTAINLY AM SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL 233.

I APPRECIATE THE SENATE'S WORK ON THAT.

I REALLY DIDN'T SAY A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THAT BILL MOST OF THE SESSION BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THE LEGISLATORS WERE HAVING VERY THE BAIT.

WE WERE LISTENING TO CONCERNS ON ALL SIDES OF THE ISSUE FROM BOTH CAMPS AND I THINK THEY'VE REACHED A GOOD CONSENSUS ON A BILL.

BUT, I MEAN, THEY STILL GOT TO GET THE VOTES IN THE HOUSE.

I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT, SO WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

THE REST OF THE NIGHT.

WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF YOUR OTHER PRIORITIES AND YOU MENTIONED SOME THAT THEY TOUGH ON CRIME LEGISLATION, YOU KNOW, CASH, BALES OTHER THINGS FULLY FUNDING HOPE, THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP.

YOUR FLOOR LEADERS SAY THEY'VE HAD SOME PUSHBACK ON A FEW OF THESE SO, HOW ARE YOU FEELING OVERALL ABOUT SOME OF THOSE PRIORITIES?

OH, LISTEN, I THINK OUR AGENDA IS MOVED VERY WELL.

THE SENATE JUST PASSED OUR GANG BILL, WHICH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAD, YOU KNOW, LANGUAGE ON THAT, TOO.

SO, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT GETTING DONE TONIGHT.

WE'VE ALREADY DONE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS IN REGARDS TO GOING AFTER GANGS TO THE FIRST LADY'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING, BILL PASSED AGAIN WITH ONLY ONE VOTE IN THE WHOLE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGAINST IT AND SO A LOT OF THE INITIATIVES, THE EDUCATION PIECE IS THAT WE'VE DONE HAVE BEEN PASSED A SCHOOL SECURITY AND OTHER THINGS.

IS THAT PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED ON AND THAT'S CERTAINLY AN IMPORTANT ISSUE IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS UP IN NASHVILLE AND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS CONTINUE TO GO OUT TO THOSE FOLKS, OKAY?

I DO WANT TO ASK YOU, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL HEARING THERE'S A POSSIBILITY.

MAYBE SLIM THAT SOMETHING WILL COME OUT ON SPORTS?

THE SPORTS, BETTING BILL.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

I DON'T KNOW.

I HAVEN'T BEEN HEARING MUCH ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S NOT BEEN A PRIORITY OF MINE.

OTHER THAN, IF THAT DOES GET PASSED, I WANT THE MONEY TO GO TO FUND THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP.

MY NUMBER ONE GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT HOPE AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW AND THE GENERATIONS TO COME WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT GREAT PROGRAM THAT ZELL MILLER CREATED.

I KNOW THAT BILL HAS DIED A COUPLE OF TIMES THIS SESSION.

I HAVEN'T SEEN OR HEARD A LOT OF MOMENTUM, BUT YOU KNOW, LOOK, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO COME BACK THE LAST FEW HOURS AND THAT'S CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY THAT THERE MAY BE A VOTE LATER TONIGHT.

WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES LIKE THAT THAT ARE OUT THERE.

THE TRUCK, WAITS BILL, YOU KNOW, SENATE, BILL 233 OBVIOUSLY SPORTS BETTING.

THERE'S HEMP BILL THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED OR INTERESTED IN AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IS GOING TO BE A LONG REST OF THE NIGHT WITH A LOT TO DO A SHORT TIME TO GET THERE.

WELL, I KNOW IT TRADITIONALLY YOU GO TO BOTH CHAMBERS AND YOU SAY A FEW WORDS?

ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO THAT?

AND IF SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY?

WELL, I'M ON TELL HIM, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING AND FIGHTING FOR THE AGENDA THAT WE ALL CAMPAIGNED ON YOU, NOT TALKED ABOUT THAT IN THE STATE-OF-THE-STATE, THE GEORGIANS HAD, GIVEN US OUR MARCHING ORDERS AND, YOU KNOW, WE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT OF THOSE THINGS IN THE AMENDED BUDGET AND WITH PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN PAST, YOU KNOW, MY MESSAGE TO THE CHAMBER, THE CHAMBERS WOULD BE TO FINISH STRONG AND LET'S GET THESE THINGS DONE THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT.

WE MADE PROMISES TO DO AND THANKFULLY AS FAR AS BY GENDER GOES, WE'VE DONE THAT ALREADY, BUT WE WANT THE LEGISLATORS TO BE SUCCESSFUL TO.

WE'VE DONE OUR BEST JOB WORKING TOGETHER HERE AND I'M COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO DO THAT THE REST OF THE NIGHT AND THE NEXT THREE YEARS AS YOUR INFLUENCE, BEEN MORE IN THE BACKGROUND THIS SESSION THAN IN PAST SESSIONS.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT WRITTEN ABOUT THAT.

I HAVEN'T HAD TO WEIGH IN ON A LOT OF THINGS BECAUSE THE AGENDA THAT I CAMPAIGNED ON MOST PEOPLE SUPPORTED INCLUDING THE DEMOCRATS.

I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMENDED BUDGET, VOTE, THE FINAL VOTE WAS BROADLY BIPARTISAN ON THE THE BILLS ON TAX RELIEF AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IN REGARDS TO SCHOOLS AND KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.

WE'VE HAD SUPPORT ON, SO I HAVEN'T HAD TO WEIGH IN ON A LOT OF THOSE ISSUES.

YOU KNOW NEXT YEAR MAY BE DIFFERENT BUT THAT'S JUST WHERE WE ARE THIS YEAR.

I THINK IT SHOWS THAT WE REALLY HAD AN AGENDA THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE COULD GET BEHIND AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, SO-CALLED FLEX HER MUSCLES TOO MUCH.

YOU KNOW WE DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN WITH SOME OF THE CLOUDS THAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE HORIZON I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT MORE FINANCIALLY TONIGHT WITH THE YOU KNOW EVEN THE FED NOW IS PREDICTING THE RECESSION IN 23 SO WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO BE PHYSICALLY.

CONSERVATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR BUDGETING AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT TO FIGHT THROUGH TOUGH TIMES.

IT MAY BE AHEAD OF US.

WELL, WE'LL BE PAYING ATTENTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH GOVERNOR FOR JOINING US ON LAWMAKERS, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

THANK YOU, YOU.

WELL, PATRICIA, LET'S START WITH YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD TO SAY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING WHEN YOU ASKED HIM ABOUT HIM, PLAYING A MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES ROLE, THE SESSION AND HE CERTAINLY HAS BEEN MORE BEHIND THE SCENES.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN HIM OUT GIVING IS CALLING ON LAWMAKERS TO DO SOMETHING PUBLICLY.

HE HAS BEEN DOING MORE, SOMETHING BRINGING MEMBERS INTO HIS OFFICE REACHING OUT SAYING WE WOULD LIKE YOU.

YES.

HE DID START TO WHIP ON SOME BILLS BUT HE'S RIGHT.

A LOT OF THE PIECES THAT HE CAMPAIGNED ON HAVE BEEN BROADLY POPULAR BUT WITH GEORGIA VOTERS AND AMONG LAWMAKERS.

SO YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET, YOU LOOK AT THE TAX CREDITS, THE TEACHER PAY RAISES THE LAWMAKER OF THE POLICE.

PAY RAISES, LAW ENFORCEMENT.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE BROADLY POPULAR.

AND THEY HAVE MOVED VERY QUICKLY SO HE REALLY DIDN'T NEED TO GET IN AND START WHIPPING BOATS.

AND AND YOU KNOW, CRACKING HEADS THAT JUST WASN'T NECESSARY.

HE HAS BEEN GETTING INVOLVED MORE THOUGH, PARTICULARLY ON VOUCHERS.

THAT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING MOVE THAT HE MADE TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT FIGHT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WERE WONDERING.

IT WAS NOT ON HIS AGENDA WHEN HE PUT FORWARD HIS AGENDA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, BUT IT VERY QUICKLY BECAME QUITE AN IMPORTANT TO HIM AND HIS DECISION TO GET INVOLVED.

I THINK MADE A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE AND THE MOMENTUM THAT IT'S PICKED UP ANY THOUGHTS FROM YOU, GOT A PATRICIA IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR GOT IN ON THE SCHOOL, VOUCHER BILL IS A HUGE STEP FOR HIM.

WE HADN'T HEARD HIM SPECIFICALLY ENDORSE THIS LEGISLATION FOR SIXTY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR PER STUDENT.

VOUCHERS THAT WOULD GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION OR HOME SCHOOL EXPENSES.

IT'S ALSO A TEST OF HIS CLOUT.

HE COMES INTO THIS ELECTION THIS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AFTER A RESOUNDING RE-ELECTION VICTORY WITH HIGH APPROVAL RATINGS, NOW, THAT SEE, HE'S GOT TO HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT.

THAT HOW FAR THAT TAKES HIM UNDER THE GOLD DOME.

YEAH.

SO WELL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT MORE OF THAT AND SO MUCH MORE COMING UP.

WE'LL HEAR FROM HOUSE MINORITY LEADER, JAMES BEVERLY AND MORE 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.

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 JUST TO BE MARRIED.

SHE IS NOT.

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.

THIS AT GPB.ORG COMMUNITY, 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 IN EVERY ISSUE.

THIS COUNTRY HAS NOT SEEN THIS IN 80 YEARS.

THIS EXTRAORDINARY, IN AMERICAN HISTORY, YOU MAKING SUCH A HUGE IMPACT.

TRUST IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO.

WELCOME BACK TO LAWMAKERS ON THIS.

I NEED I THE FINAL DAY, THE THE 40TH DAY OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR 2023, AND WITH ME, ARE TWO OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE TO HAVE ON A DAY LIKE THIS, TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.

PATRICIA MURPHY, AND GREG BLUESTEIN WITH THE AJC.

SO LET'S, LET'S WE GOT SOME TIME HERE AND LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THESE PAST.

40 DAYS.

SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SESSION AND WE'LL START WITH YOU PATRICIA.

SO WE WERE JUST TALKING TALKING ABOUT WHAT GOVERNOR KEMP HAD DONE TO MOVE SOME THINGS FORWARD.

HE ALSO TOOK A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP EARLIER THIS SESSION TO ESSENTIALLY KILL THE BUCKHEAD CITY MOVEMENT, THE EFFORT IN BUCKHEAD THAT THE VERY WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOOD IN ATLANTA TO SPLIT OFF AND CREATE ITS OWN CITY OUT OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA.

THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, GOT A COMMITTEE HEARING A COMMITTEE VOTE AND THEN WAS SCHEDULED FOR A VOTE ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

GOVERNOR KENT.

MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE HAD NO INTEREST IN THAT PASSING.

HAS BEEN WORKING WITH ATLANTA MAYOR, ANDRE DICKENS ON A NUMBER OF SORT OF JOINT INITIATIVES HAVING TO DO WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO, THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT, AND MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE WOULD NOT SIGN THAT BILL WAS A VERY IMPORTANT MOVE FOR HIM ON THE DEFENSIVE RATHER THAN AN OFFENSIVE MOVE.

AND THAT WAS, IT WAS A CRITICAL MOVE AND SOMETHING WE EASY TO FORGET ABOUT NOW, THAT WE'RE AT DAY 40, BUT IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST STORIES, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION, A BIG SIGH OF RELIEF FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AFTER THAT HAPPENED.

AND THEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WHERE WE WOULD GO FROM THERE.

TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU THINK IS BIG FROM THE PAST, 40, ADANA, THE GOVERNOR SORT OF TOUCHED ON THIS.

BUT ONE OF THE BIGGER MOMENTS OF THE SESSION WAS A MOMENT THAT I CALL THE HALLELUJAH MOMENT, FOR DEMOCRATS, HOW OFTEN YOU HEAR?

DEMOCRATS CHEERING A GOVERNOR CAN'T MOVE.

WELL, THEY DID.

WHEN HE DECIDED TO USE HIS BUDGET TO FULLY FUND.

THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP AT USED TO BE AT 90%.

THERE IS NOW A PUSH TO MAKE IT 100% IN THE STATE BUDGET.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A DEBATE UNDER THE GOLD DOME.

AS YOU WELL KNOW, SINCE 2011, WHEN GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL AT THE TIME, HAD TO SIGN IN SIGN INTO LAW, SOME SLASHES TO THE HOPE BUDGET SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS.

THEY HAVE NOW BEEN FULLY RESTORED AND A LOT OF STUDENTS WILL BE THANKFUL FOR THAT.

YEAH, SO IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN INTERESTING THAT SEE WHAT HAS COME UP AND WHAT HASN'T OVER THE WE CAME IN THERE AND TO THE SESSION THINKING WE MIGHT SEE SOME THINGS WITH ABORTION OR GUNS AND NONE OF THOSE THINGS CAME UP, EVEN WHEN IT DOES, WE DIDN'T SEE THE BILLS COME IN.

WE STILL THOUGHT MAYBE AT THE LAST MINUTE, SOMETHING MIGHT COME OUT, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

WHERE THIS IS WHERE WE GET INTO.

IT'S A TWO-YEAR SESSION.

I HEARD FROM PEOPLE, EVEN IN THE HALLS TODAY THEY'RE LIKE WELL IT WAS PRETTY QUIET THIS YEAR BUT IT'S A TWO-YEAR SESSION.

SO A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT MORGAN MEASURES AND MORE ABORTION MEASURES IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SESSION.

BUT WE HEARD VERY EARLY FROM HOUSE SPEAKER.

JOHN BURNS THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO SEE ABORTION LEGISLATION AS LONG AS IT IS BEFORE THE COURTS AND WE HAD ARGUMENTS JUST YESTERDAY.

AT THE GEORGIA SUPREME COURT ABOUT THE ABORTION BILL.

AND SO WHICH HAS OBVIOUSLY GONE INTO EFFECT.

IT'S GOT A LEGAL CHALLENGE AGAINST IT BURNS IT AND WANT TO SEE ANYTHING UNTIL THAT'S BEEN DECIDED WHEN IT IS DECIDED THAT'S GOING TO REALLY DEPENDING ON HOW IT GOES.

THAT COULD REALLY PUT THESE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS BACK ON THE HOT SEAT AND UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE FROM THEIR BASE TO MOVE SOMETHING SIMILAR AGAIN.

YEAH, ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN THINK OF THAT?

WE THOUGHT WELL, THAT'S GREAT POINT FOR THE MOST PART, THERE WAS A TRUCE AND CULTURE WARS THIS SESSION ABORTION.

ACTIONS, NO NEW EXPANSIONS AND GUNS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

AS OF THIS MOMENT, STILL HASN'T COME BACK UP IN A MAJOR WAY.

OTHER MEASURES THAT SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES WERE FIGHTING FOR THAT MANY DEMOCRATS AND EVEN FRANKLY, SOME MODERATES DIDN'T LIKE HAVEN'T MOVED FORWARD, THE CLOSEST YOU HAD OF COURSE, WITH THE TRANSGENDER YOUTH LEGISLATION WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT IT WASN'T A BROADER EFFORT, FAR BEYOND THAT WITH A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS ON THIS PROGRAM.

BUT THAT, THAT BUILDING ITSELF HAS PROVED TO BE A STICKING POINT FOR THE DEMOCRATS AND MAY HAVE HAM.

SOME OTHER MOVEMENT ON SOME OTHER BILLS.

SO MUCH.

SO THAT DEMOCRATS ARE VOTING AS OF THIS MOMENT IN A BLOCK AGAINST SPORTS, BETTING LEGISLATION IN PROTEST OF THAT MEASURE, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY WERE WARNING ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE AND THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE THAT THAT IT COULD DAMAGE MENTAL HEALTH AND I COULD COST LIVES.

YEAH.

SO IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT MOVED AND WHAT DIDN'T AND AND THEY KIND OF SESSION.

IT'S BEEN.

I MEAN IF YOU HAD TO LOOK BACK ON IT I MEAN HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS SESSION?

I THINK I LOOK AT IT AS AS IT WAS A CHANCE FOR THE NEW LEADERSHIP TO REALLY KIND OF FEEL EACH OTHER OUT AND FEEL FIND FIND THEIR FOOTING.

I COMPLETELY AGREE.

THESE ARE TWO NEW LEADERS AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BERT JONES AND HOUSE.

SPEAKER, JOHN BURNS WHO WERE BRAND NEW IN THEIR JOBS AND SPEAKER BURNS DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

HE WOULD BE THE SPEAKER UNTIL DECEMBER.

AND SO HE HAD JUST A FEW WEEKS TO GET HIS OFFICE TOGETHER TO GET A PLAN TOGETHER.

TO THINK ABOUT HOW HE WANTED TO CONDUCT HIS SPEAKERSHIP.

HE WAS VERY CLOSE WITH SPEAKER RALSTON.

SO IT'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF CONTINUITY BUT IT HAS FELT LIKE THIS IS BOTH SIDES.

REALLY SIZING EACH OTHER UP WHO HAS WHO'S GOING TO HAVE THE POWER?

WHO'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO CALL THE FINAL SHOT?

AND THAT FEELS LIKE EVEN UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE GETTING THOSE ANSWERS OR EVEN LATER OR EVEN LATE.

LATEST.

SO THE SENATE AND WE JUST SHOWED SOME VIDEO, THE SENATE IS BACK IN RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT SOME LOCAL CONSENT BILLS BUT AS WHO SAID 9:00 MIGHT BE THE LIKE THE BEWITCHING HOUR OR SOMETHING.

WE MIGHT AS AROUND, BUT SENATOR DUGAN AND WE MAY SEE SOME THINGS HAPPEN ABOUT THAT TIME.

AND THEN WE'RE THE HOUSE IS STILL OUT AND WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THEM TO COME BACK IN, BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE, IT'S KIND OF AN EXCITING NIGHT IN THAT, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

AND IF YOU'RE GOOD WITH ALL OF THAT EXCITING ANXIETY-RIDDEN, ASK THE LOBBYISTS, HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT YET, BUT BACK TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW THE DOMINANT ISSUE THIS SESSION.

2019, IT WAS ABORTION 2020.

IT WAS WAS, YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC IN THE BEGINNING, THE PANDEMIC AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS 2021, IT WAS THE ELECTION LAW 2022 IS ALL ABOUT, GETTING GOVERNOR REPUBLICANS, WANTED TO GET GOVERNOR KIP RE-ELECTED.

THIS SESSION IS SORT OF A FRESH START.

WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FEEL OUT.

HOW LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE GOING TO HANDLE CRISIS SITUATIONS, WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT TONIGHT.

OKAY, WELL WELL IT'S NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO RETURN.

THE CAPITAL ROCHELLE HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE MARY, MARGARET OLIVER ROCHELLE.

YES, DONNA HERE ARE STANDING HERE WITH REPRESENTATIVE MARY.

MARGARET OLIVER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO GET RIGHT TO.

THE FIRST THING IS, IS I WAS PRETTY SURPRISED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED WITH SENATE BILL 233.

THE FACT THAT IT WAS TABLED, ITS GOING BACK TO THE COMMITTEE TO BE DISCUSSED, WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THAT AS WELL?

I WASN'T SURPRISED.

I KNEW THAT PUTTING IT ON THE TABLE WOULD GIVE THEM ANOTHER OPTION.

IF THEY GOT ENOUGH VOTES, I THINK THEY'RE STILL COUNTING VOTES AS OF ABOUT 7:30.

SO THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BRING.

IT BACK TO THE FLOOR FOR A FULL VOTE LATER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ISSUE IS WITH SB 233?

WELL, IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE.

ARE WE GOING TO GIVE ANOTHER 250 MILLION DOLLARS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND THOSE AREAS OF THE STATE THAT ARE VERY LOW INCOME AREAS THAT HAVE NO PRIVATE SCHOOLS?

WE'RE TAKING THAT 200 MILLION DOLLARS AWAY FROM THEM.

SO IT'S A REAL HAVES AND HAVE NOTS ANALYSIS.

AND THE VOTE HAS BEEN PRETTY - SO FAR, SO I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN TWISTING ARMS TODAY.

I KNOW THAT THEY WANT TO PASS THIS EVEN THOUGH IT AFFECTS, I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE, BUT A 6500 INCENTIVE TO PARENTS TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL AND MAYBE AN INCENTIVE TO HOME SCHOOL, THEM SOUNDS LIKE A BIG CHANGE OF OUR EDUCATION POLICY.

I'M A PUBLIC SCHOOL PERSON.

SO I'M FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND NOT ANOTHER SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO OUR PRIVATE SCHOOL INDUSTRIES.

HE'S NOW OBVIOUSLY, I CAN'T LET YOU GO WITHOUT OBVIOUSLY, TALKING ABOUT HP, 520 THAT'S BEEN ON YOUR HEART AND YOU'VE PARTNERED WITH REPRESENTATIVE TODD JONES ON THIS AS WELL.

ARE YOU A LITTLE FRUSTRATED THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT?

COME UP TODAY, VERY DISCOURAGED.

RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S 7:40 P.M. AND WE GET NO INDICATION THAT THE SENATE IS GOING TO SEND US ANY ANY MENTAL HEALTH REFORM IN 2023.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING OUR PROCESS ARE PAGE REPORT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY.

FORWARD-MOVING MENTAL HEALTH REFORM BILL AND WE'RE GETTING NOTHING BACK FROM THE SENATE.

I KNOW THERE'S A FEW HOURS LEFT BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M PRETTY DISCOURAGED.

YEAH.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE YOU THINK ABOUT THE LATE SPEAKER, DAVID RALSTON.

THIS WAS A MISSION OF HIS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THIS AS WELL.

WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS THE, WHAT'S THE HOLDUP?

I THINK THE HOLDUP IS POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP.

I THINK THE HOLDUP IS POLITICAL HOT.

HASTA JING.

I THINK, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS COMMITTED TO WHAT HIS ISSUES ARE.

AND I SEE NO EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FROM THE SENATE AND IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH REFORM IN GEORGIA.

AND I'M HOPING, I'M HOPING THE REST, EVEN, I'LL BE PROVEN WRONG ON THAT.

WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU HAVE SEVERAL HOURS LEFT, RIGHT?

SO ANYTHING COULD OBVIOUSLY HAPPEN.

I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH REPRESENTATIVE, MARY MARGARET OLIVER FOR JOINING US HERE ON LAWMAKERS, AND I'M GOING TO SEND IT BACK TO THE STUDIO TO DONNA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MICHELLE.

LET'S GET INTO THAT.

LET'S START, LET'S START WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH BILL, SHE CALLED IT, SHE'S DISCOURAGED OVER IT.

SHE SAYS IT'S POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP GAMESMANSHIP THAT WE FIRST FOUND OUT THE MENTAL HEALTH PACKAGES ARE IN DIRE TROUBLE LAST WEEK AROUND THE SAME TIME THE HOUSE AND SENATE WERE BICKERING BACK AND FORTH OVER THAT HOSPITAL LEGISLATION THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BYRD JONES WANTS THE PRESS.

SO SO BADLY I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME AND OTHER OTHERS WERE TOLD AS WELL THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH REFORM PACKAGE COULD BE CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE NOW, WE'RE SEEING WHAT THAT MEANS.

NOW WE'VE HEARD FROM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO EARLIER ON THE SHOW THAT HE DOES NOT THINK THAT THE ENTIRE PACKAGE WILL PASS, THE SENATE MIGHT MAYBE PARTS OF IT WILL BE KIND OF DICED AND SLICED AND PASSED ANOTHER BILLS, BUT THE MAJOR PACKAGE WON'T HAPPEN.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG STICKING POINT AFTER THE SESSION FOR HOUSE REPUBLICANS WHO SEE THIS AS A LEGACY INITIATIVE FOR THE LATE HOUSE SPEAKER.

DAVID RALSTON.

YEAH.

AND THEN THERE'S THAT.

AND ONE OF THE THEY HAD THE COMMISSION OVER THE SUMMER THAT REALLY LOOKED INTO THIS AND THE BIG ISSUE WAS WORKFORCE ISSUES, REALLY.

SO HAD THE BILL FROM LAST YEAR AND NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE SPACES OR ENOUGH BEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE HELP.

YET, THE REALITY IS THAT TODD JONES WHO IS THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBER, WHO HAS BEEN LEADING THIS EFFORT SAYS THAT HE GETS CALLS EVERY DAY FROM FAMILIES AND GEORGIA BEGGING HIM TO HELP GET A FAMILY MEMBER INTO A BED FOR INPATIENT TREATMENT AND THERE JUST AREN'T THE BEDS.

AND SO THEY'VE HAD THIS COMMISSION.

THEY HAD THEIR STUDY GROUP OVER THE SUMMER.

THIS HAS BEEN A MULTI-YEAR EFFORT.

AND IT'S DESIGNED TO BE AN ONGOING MULTI-YEAR EFFORT, SO TO MISS A YEAR AND THIS PLAN OF KIND OF AN ARC, REACHING UP TO A CRESCENDO OF FULL FUNDING FOR THIS MENTAL HEALTH CARE EFFORT IS YOU COULD HEAR IT.

IT'S JUST HEARTBREAKING FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PULLING FOR THIS AND WORKING TOWARD IT VERY DILIGENTLY FOR YEARS.

AND AGAIN FOR NO, NO OBVIOUS REASON OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THE HOUSE HAS STOPPED A BILL THAT THE SENATE WANTS AND NOW THE SENATE IS GOING TO STOP A BILL THAT THE HOUSE.

ONCE THIS IS WHERE THAT POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP REALLY COMES IN SO WE'LL TALK MORE IN A MOMENT BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE CAPITAL NOW.

ROCHELLE HAS SENATOR JOHN ALBERT'S ROCHELLE.

HI, DONNA.

YES, I'M STANDING HERE WITH SENATOR JOHN ALBERS.

I REALLY WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE TOUGH ON CRIME BILLS THAT WE'VE SEEN COME FROM REPUBLICANS EARLIER TODAY WE HAVE THE CASH BAIL DISCUSSION.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE GANG RECRUITMENT AND JAIL TIME.

MANDATORY JAIL TIME FOR THAT.

WHAT SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THIS ACTUALLY ROLLS BACK SOME OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM THAT WE'VE SEEN.

WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

I THINK IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE.

THIS IS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, RIGHT?

WE WANT TO BE THE NUMBER ONE PLACE.

TO DO BUSINESS.

BUT TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO BE THE SAFEST PLACE TO OPERATE YOUR BUSINESS AND TO RAISE YOUR FAMILY.

SO, WE DID SOME GREAT THINGS OVER TIME, UNDER BOTH GOVERNOR DEAL AND GOVERNOR CAMP GOVERNOR CAMPUS CONTINUE TO LEAD THOUGH AND MAKING SURE WE'RE PROTECTING OURSELVES FROM THOSE.

WE ARE AFRAID OF NOT NECESSARILY THOSE THAT WERE MAD AT SOME WOULD MAYBE ARGUE THAT TOUGH-ON-CRIME OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN A SAFE COMMUNITY BUT PEOPLE ALSO WANT TO GET PAID.

WELL, SO DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN SAYING, WELL, WE HAVE ALL THESE TOUGH ON CRIME ISSUES.

WHY NOT?

WAIT RAISE WAGES.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

WELL, THOSE ARE COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM EACH OTHER.

AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE REASON WHY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO MOVE TO GEORGIA AND ARE LEAVING THE WEST COAST, AND THEY'RE LIVING THE NORTHEAST IS BECAUSE THEY'RE IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT SAFE, THEY'RE OVERLY BURDENSOME WITH THE REGULATIONS.

THEY WANT TO COME DOWN TO A PLACE LIKE GEORGIA WHERE THEY CAN RAISE THEIR FAMILIES SAFELY, THEY CAN BE IN A COMMUNITY AND WORK THEIR BUSINESS IN A PLACE.

THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT AND THAT'S WHAT WE PROVIDE UNIQUELY AS GEORGIA.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RELATIONSHIP IN MY MIND AND THEN I DO WANT TO ASK YOU VERY BRIEFLY BEFORE I LET YOU GO OBVIOUSLY.

SLI.

WE SAW SOME MOVEMENT SOME COMPROMISE WHEN IT COMES TO THE 2024 BUDGET.

ARE THERE THINGS IN THERE THAT YOU'RE VERY EXCITED, ABOUT WHAT ARE THOSE AND THEY WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE STILL APPREHENSIVE OF?

WELL, I WORK VERY CLOSELY ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PART OF THE BUDGET THROUGH THE SENATE.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THE ENHANCED RAISES.

WE GOT TO GIVE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S EXTRAORDINARILY COMPETITIVE.

HOWEVER, WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTINUES TO NEED TO MOVE UP THE SCALE.

I THINK WE INVEST IN PROPERTY IN OUR PRIORITIES AGAIN.

A BALANCED BUDGET WITH NO DEFICIT HERE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS.

WE FUNDED HOPE 100%, WE HAVE EDUCATION FUNDED HUNDRED PERCENT.

I THINK AGAIN, GEORGIA CAME TO THE TABLE AND DID WHAT'S RIGHT?

THAT'S WHY WE'RE ONE OF THE MOST FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE STATES IN THE ENTIRE NATION.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I KNOW YOU HAVE A VERY LONG NIGHT AHEAD OF YOU SO I'M GOING TO LET YOU GO SENATOR.

JOHN ALBERT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

THANK YOU TO ALL RIGHT.

DONNA BACK TO YOU.

THANKS SO MUCH ROCHELLE.

SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT A LOT OF TOUGH ON CRIME THIS, THIS SESSION RIGHT THERE.

WE SAW A LOT OF BILLS THAT SOME PEOPLE WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT.

YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT SENATOR ALBERS ON SOME OF THESE BILLS PARTICULARLY THE GANG RECRUITMENT.

THE GANG VIOLENCE BILLS WORKED WITH FAWNI.

WILLIS ON SOME PIECES OF THOSE BILLS DA'S HAVE COME TO THE STATE HOUSE AND STATE SENATE AND SAID, WE NEED MORE RESOURCES.

WE NEED MORE SPECIFIC LAWS IN ORDER TO DETAIN THE, THESE THE SPECIFIC DISCRETE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO DETAIN BASED, ON THE WAY THE LAWS ARE CURRENTLY WRITTEN.

THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS RAISED CONCERNS AMONG OTHER DEMOCRATS WHO SAY WE DON'T, THIS DOESN'T SOUND.

SOUND SPECIFIC TO US, THE SOUNDS TO BRA.

THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF LEGISLATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

I WOULD SAY THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL BILL THAT WE'VE SEEN, THAT IS FREE.

THAT IS KIND OF COMES INTO THIS UMBRELLA OF TOUGH ON CRIME.

IS THE PROSECUTOR BILL, CREATING STATE OVERSIGHT OVER LOCALLY ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S.

FUNNY WILLIS WAS NOT ON BOARD WITH THAT BILL.

VERY, VERY UPSET ABOUT THAT.

PLETELY AGAINST IT BUT SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR KIM PLAYED OUT AS A PRIORITY AND THAT HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS WERE JUST ABOUT UNANIMOUS ON THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO CREATE AND NOT JUST STATE OVERSIGHT, BUT A COMMISSION APPOINTED BY REPUBLICANS TO OVERSEE THESE DAYS, MANY OF WHOM ARE NEWLY ELECTED DEMOCRATS.

YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO REALLY BE LOOKING TO SEE HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT.

WE WILL.

AND LOOK TAKEN AS A HOLISTIC SORT OF ALL-ENCOMPASSING APPROACH.

WE'RE SEEING A VERY DIFFERENT STYLE WHEN IT COMES TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND WE SAW UNDER 8 YEARS, FORMER GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL, WHO ADVOCATED FOR DIFFERENT WAY TO TREAT NONVIOLENT?

OFFENDERS STEERING THEM AWAY FROM PRISON SENTENCES.

HAVEN'T GONE AWAY FROM THAT, MOVE COMPLETELY.

BUT INSTEAD OF YOUR HEARING REPUBLICAN LEADERS THAT GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP, AND HIS ALLIES TALK ABOUT, CRACKDOWNS ON VIOLENT CRIMINALS ON VIOLENT OFFENDERS ON GOING AFTER PROSECUTORS, WHO THEY SEE, AS TO PROGRESSIVE, TO WOKE OR TOO, INEPT TO DO THEIR JOB.

SO WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING A DIFFERENT STYLE OF LEADERSHIP WHEN IT COMES TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE, OKAY?

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO THE CAPITAL WHERE ROCHELLE RITCHIE NOW HAS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR.

JOSH MCLAREN ROCHELLE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

DONNA AND I WANT TO ASK YOU SENATOR, THANK.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, BUT I WANTED TO START WITH YOU ABOUT SOMETHING.

I HAVEN'T REALLY ASKED, A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT TONIGHT IS ABOUT THE PROSECUTOR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WHO WERE FEELING THAT THIS WAS JUST A PROBLEM FOR A HANDFUL OF COMMUNITIES AND THAT IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WE WERE SEEING ACROSS THE BOARD IN GEORGIA.

YEAH.

SO THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW THE SAME POLICY IDEAS CAN CHANGE DEPENDING ON WHAT THE INTENTION IS BEHIND THEM.

YOU SEVERAL YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY SUPPORTIVE A PROSECUTORIAL OVERSIGHT COMMISSION AND VOTED FOR, AND WORK CLOSELY WITH REPUBLICANS TO TINKER WITH SOME OF THE LANGUAGE, AND MAKE IT IN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS FAIR.

AT THAT TIME, I WAS LESS CONCERNED THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES.

I WAS IN THE VAST MINORITY OF MY COLLEAGUES IN TERMS OF VOTING FOR THAT BILL BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED FOR ME.

I THINK THAT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE CAST A NEW LIGHT ON THIS EFFORT AND IT'S NOT JUST THIS BILL.

YOU'VE SEEN OTHER EFFORTS TO REGULATE PROSECUTORS LIKE INTRODUCTION OF RECALL BILLS OR BILLS THAT WOULD MAKE PART OF YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY PART OF THE PROSECUTORS NONPARTISAN.

ADDISON.

AND I THINK THAT THESE BILLS ARE IN ATTEMPTS TO UNDERMINE A HANDFUL OF PROSECUTORS AS YOU SUGGESTED IN THE STATE.

AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF I SAY SO MYSELF, A LITTLE MORE CREDIBILITY IN SAYING THIS THAN REPUBLICANS MIGHT WANT ME TO HAVE.

BECAUSE I DID SUPPORT AN EARLIER VERSION OF THIS BILL, BUT LIKE I SAID, I MEAN, SOMETIMES POLITICS WILL CHANGE THE WAY THAT THE INTENTION BEHIND A BILL DEVELOPS.

AND I'M JUST NOT COMFORTABLE THIS YEAR.

WITH THE WAY THAT THESE PROSECUTORIAL BILLS ARE BEING INTRODUCED AND DEPLOYED, WHAT'S OUR OVERALL SENTIMENTS ON THE TOUGH ON CRIME BILLS THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE PUSHED THROUGH.

YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

REALLY RESPECT TO THE WAY THAT GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL ADDRESS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BECAUSE HE KNEW, AND I MEAN, HE WENT TO ACCOUNTABILITY COURTS IN PLACES LIKE DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS WHERE PEOPLE WERE GETTING SECOND CHANCES AND IT WOULD BRING TEARS TO HIS EYES.

HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

EVEN IF THEY DO MAKE MISTAKES COMMIT CRIMES.

AND SO YOU KNOW HIS TRAJECTORY WAS TO MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE GEARED TOWARDS REHABILITATION AND NOT MORE PUNITIVE, UNFORTUNATELY.

I THINK THIS GOVERNOR HAS TAKEN SORT OF THE OPPOSITE APPROACH AND A LOT OF THE BILLS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH HAVE INCLUDED MANDATORY, MINIMUMS INCREASES IN THE SCOPE OF CASH, FAIL, WHICH MEANS THE PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO GO TO JAIL ON THIS UNLESS THEY CAN AFFORD TO GET OUT.

SO IT'S BASICALLY A WAY OF CRIMINALIZING POVERTY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN MOVING ON THE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION NOW FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS ON THIS STUFF AND SO I'VE BEEN VOCAL GOING TO THE WELL THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO SAY THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS AND YOUR OWN ADMINISTRATION, REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION SHOWED YOU THE WAY BUT WE JUST HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE FAITH THAT GOVERNOR DEAL HAD AND BELIEVING IN PEOPLE AND THEIR ABILITY TO CHANGE.

ALL RIGHT AND LAST IN THE LAST QUESTION I WANT TO ASK YOU NOW USUALLY SIGNING DAY GOES FOR MANY, MANY HOURS.

IN EARLIER TODAY, YOU ACTUALLY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

WERE YOU SERIOUS?

OR WERE YOU JUST GOT A TROLLING?

YOU KNOW LIKE WITH MOST THINGS IN THE GOLD DOME YOU SORT OF TRY SOMETHING OUT TO SEE WHAT STICKS.

I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF WILL IN THAT BODY TO GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN EARLY BECAUSE IT IS TRUE THAT THE ONLY CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT WE HAVE IS TO PASS A BUDGET.

NOW, THESE OTHER BILLS ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED AND THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A PLAYFUL INFIGHTING YOU CAN SAY IN THE HOUSE IN THE SENATE THIS YEAR ON WHO'S PASSING ENOUGH BILLS FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

SO I THOUGHT AT THE VERY LEAST IT WOULD BE FUN.

NOW WE STARTED PLAYING WITH LIVE AMMUNITION THOUGH BECAUSE YOU KNOW.

YEAH.

AND A GOVERNOR JONES SAID THIS MOTIONS IN ORDER, WE ALMOST HAD A VOTE ON IT BUT WHEN MY OWN MINORITY LEADER WENT TO THE WELL AND SAID, ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH.

I FIGURED I'D FOLLOW MY LEADER LEADER BUTLER AND GO AHEAD AND WITHDRAW THE MOTION.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL SENATOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE ON LAWMAKERS DON.

I'M GOING TO SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHELL.

SO, YEAH.

A LITTLE FUN TODAY WITH THAT.

BUT THIS SERIOUS ISSUE OF THE BUDGET, THEY REALLY DID.

THAT'S THE ONLY THAT CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED THING THEY HAVE TO DO AND THEY GOT IT DONE.

LOTS OF GOOD THINGS IN THERE.

AND A, BUT THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM MAY NOT BE HAPPY WITH SOME OF THE MONEY THEY LOST.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE, THIS GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHAT WE WERE DISCUSSING EARLIER THE MEANT THE THE HOSPITAL DEREGULATION MEASURE THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BERT JONES PUSHED FOR HE WAS VERY UPSET AND SO WE'RE SOME OF HIS ALLIES THAT 105 MILLION DOLLARS IN A PREVIOUS BUDGET.

WENT TOWARDS UPGRADING A MEDICAL HEALTH MEDICAL SYSTEM THAT COULD BENEFIT WELLSTAR HEALTH, WHILST OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS ALSO AGAINST THIS HOSPITAL DEREGULATION.

SO IT ALL GOES BACK TO THAT, BUT IN A SENSE LAWMAKERS COMPROMISED ON THE SIZE OF THE CUTS THAT HAVE 105 MILLION 66 MILLION DOLLARS BUT THAT'S STILL GOING TO HURT AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE WORRIED AND CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS.

YEAH.

AND THEN THERE WAS THE I'M NOT SURE HOW TO DESCRIBE THIS BUT THERE WAS SOME FUNDING TO UNIVERSITIES THAT THEY FEEL THAT THEY STILL HAVE SOME MONEY FROM LAST YEAR THAT THEY CAN.

THEY CAN MAKE UP.

YES, THERE WAS A LENGTHY DEBATE DURING THE BUDGET CONVERSATION ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

AND THE SENATE BUDGET COVERS EVERY PIECE OF STATE FUNDING BUT I WOULD SAY 90% OF THE DEBATE WAS ABOUT UNIVERSITY FUNDING AND FUNDING FOR THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

AND I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH GREG HERE, THIS IS ALL ABOUT THAT CERTIFICATE OF NEED PROGRAM.

WELL STARS OPPOSITION TO THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HOSPITAL NEIGHBORING, THE HOSPITAL THAT BERT JONES FAMILY HAS TALKED ABOUT BUILDING AND BUTTS COUNTY, THEY OPPOSE THAT THEY OPPOSE LIFTING THE CERTIFICATE OF NEED.

THEY ARE ALSO PARTNERING WITH AUGUSTA MEDICAL CENTER.

ON A LARGER PROGRAM AS WELL AS THIS PROGRAM, BUT THAT'S ALL DONE THROUGH WHEN AUGUSTA UNIVERSITIES GETTING INVOLVED IN IT, THAT COMES THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA.

SO ANY CUTS TO THAT ARE REALLY, IT'S JUST LIKE A BRAID BASICALLY.

SO THEY'RE ALL BRAIDED ALL TOGETHER TOGETHER TOGETHER.

AND SO, WE HEAR THAT CONVERSATION ON THE SENATE FLOOR TODAY AND NOW, THE QUESTIONS ARE NOW, HOW IS THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM FUNDED?

IS IT TRUE?

WE DON'T HAVE A SAY OVER THE CONTRACTS THAT THEY'RE SIGNING.

MAYBE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE SHOULD REVISIT NEXT YEAR.

SO YOU CAN REALLY SEE THEM LAYING THE GROUNDWORK TO MAYBE, COME BACK FOR THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM AND TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO.

HOW EXACTLY ARE YOU GETTING MONEY?

AND HOW EXACTLY ARE YOU PAYING YOUR BILLS?

AND WHERE IS IT ALL GOING?

YOU CAN SORT OF SEE THE GROUNDWORK BEING LATE FOR THAT.

OKAY, WELL WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO THE CAPITAL WHERE ROCHELLE RITCHIE NOW HAS MINORITY LEADER.

JAMES BEVERLY ROCHELLE THAT'S RIGHT.

DONNA HERE WITH HOUSE MINORITY, MINORITY LEADER, JAMES BEVERLY.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO ASK YOU IS WHAT ARE YOUR SENTIMENTS OVERALL FOR THIS SESSION?

I THINK IT'S BEEN INTERESTING.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NEW SPEAKER, NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND IT'S BEEN INTERESTING.

I THINK WE TRIED ON OUR PART TO TRY TO BE BIPARTISAN AS MUCH AS WE COULD.

I THINK THE SESSION WAS FAST, BUT IT WAS SLOW AT THE SAME TIME.

THERE'S A LOT OF BILLS DIDN'T COME TO GOT SORT OF COMPRESSED INTO A SPACE.

WE'RE NOW DEALING WITH THE BUNCH OF STUFF, BUT I THINK, AS A RESULT OF THE NEW SPEAKER.

BUT OVERALL, I MEAN, I'M PRETTY IMPRESSED BY MY CAUCUS ABILITY TO STAY TOGETHER.

AND SO, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE FOR DEMOCRATS, IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

NOW, THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF FRUSTRATIONS BETWEEN BOTH HOUSES, THE, THE SENATE AND, AND THE HOUSE, OBVIOUSLY, THE SENATE MORE.

SO, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN FEWER HOUSE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN RULED ON.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

AND IS THAT HAVING AN IMPACT ON HOW BILLS ARE MOVING THROUGH THE HOUSE TODAY?

YEAH, I THINK, I THINK QUITE FRANKLY.

I MEAN, I THINK THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE SORT OF PLAY IS.

AND SO WE CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE ALSO FOOLISHNESS THAT THEY MADE.

THEY ARE GOING AND THAT'S TO BE EXPECTED.

I MEAN, YOU GOT TWO NEW GUYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO HAS WHATEVER AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, HOW DO WE GET BUSINESS, THE BASE OF THE PYRAMID DONE.

SO HOW DO WE DEAL WITH HEALTH CARE REFORM?

HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THE CASH BAIL?

ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE REALLY TRY TO DO IS DEMOCRATS GETS PUSHED TO THE SIDE BECAUSE THESE GUYS GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ECOSYSTEM LOOKS LIKE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

NOW, EARLIER TODAY, WE SAW SB 63 WAS PASSED, WHICH ADDRESSES CASH BAIL.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WHAT DEMOCRATS CALL TOUGH ON CRIME.

BILL'S COMING FROM REPUBLICANS.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE MANDATORY JAIL TIME FOR GANGS THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR PROSECUTORS?

DO YOU THINK THAT IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT WE NEED TO BE GOING IN GEORGIA?

AND I THINK THAT WHAT HAPPENED WITH, I THINK IT, YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR DEAL FOR WHAT WE DISAGREE WITH AND I WAS HERE WHEN HE WAS SERVED UNDER GOVERNOR DEAL, HE WAS A GUY WHO WAS PRINCIPLED AROUND THE WAY IN, WHICH HE DEALT WITH NOT JUST MENTAL HEALTH, BUT ALSO HOW YOU DEALT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THEIR ROLE IN ALL THAT STUFF BACK.

AND SO, YOU START TO MOVE INTO A MORE CONSERVATIVE GEORGE.

I MEAN, THE NUMBERS OF GEORGIA CHANGING, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES, BUT THERE'S SOME PEOPLE JUST HOLD ONTO THOSE CULTURAL WARFARE AND I THINK THEY WENT TOO FAR AND IT STARTING TO TRY TO ROLL BACK STUFF.

I THINK THE PUBLIC IS GOING TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

WE DON'T NEED TO SEND GEORGE ANYMORE.

IF WE'RE GOING TO BE THE BEST STATE TO DO BUSINESS, WE GOT TO HAVE HEALTH CARE AND WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CRIMINALS THAT WE DON'T THAT WE REALLY ARE CRIMINALS, DON'T GET LOCKED UP BUT SOME PEOPLE JUST NEED TO HAVE A SECOND CHANCE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY THEM.

I THINK GEORGE IS GOING TO SPEAK TO THAT NEXT YEAR, REAL SOON.

NOW, EXPANDING HEALTH CARE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF YOUR AGENDA.

HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH OF THAT SESSION.

SHAME ON THOSE GUYS.

I MEAN, AND, I MEAN, SHAME ON THOSE GUYS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 500,000 GEORGIANS RIGHT NOW WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE AS MEDICAID UNWIND, ANOTHER 500,000 PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO LOSE HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH.

NO, FAULT OF THEIR OWN AND NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT IT.

THEY PUT, YOU KNOW, LIPSTICK ON THE PIG IS STILL A PIG AND THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO REALLY STEP UP AND SAY, LISTEN, WE CAN DO THIS.

YOU HAVE 500,000 GEORGE'S WITHOUT HEALTH COURT HEALTHCARE RIGHT NOW AND ALL YOU WAS EXPAND MEDICAID.

YOU GOT HOSPITALS, CLOSING DOWN.

THAT'S ALL A RESULT OF THIS GUY NOT DOING WHAT'S NECESSARY FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE AND IT'S A SHAME ON HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL HOUSE MINORITY LEADER.

JAMES BEVERLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I KNOW YOU'RE ABOUT TO RUN BACK IN THERE BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING WITH SP 233.

IT SOUNDS LIKE.

SO I KNOW YOU GOT A BUSY NIGHT AHEAD.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US, RIGHT?

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, DONNA.

I'M GOING TO SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHELL.

AND SO SHE TOLD US ABOUT SOMETHING SOMETHING WITH HOUSE, BILL 2 3 THAT WE WILL BE CHECKING TO SEE THE VOUCHER BILL IS IN THE HOUSE, RIGHT?

NOW I'M HEARING SO REAL QUICK, NOT MUCH TIME.

WHAT DIDN'T MAKE IT?

WELL?

SO FAR THE ANTI-SEMITISM BILL THAT WOULD DEFINE ANTI-SEMITISM.

SO IT COULD APPLY TO GEORGIA'S HATE CRIMES ACT WHERE WE'RE WATCHING THAT VERY CLOSELY.

SEE IF IT HAS TRACTION, I HEARD IT COULD, BUT WE'LL FIND OUT TONIGHT.

OKAY, WHAT ABOUT FROM YOU?

SO OBVIOUSLY, THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE BILL, WE WILL LOOK TO SEE IF ANY PIECES OF THAT GO TONIGHT.

MAYBE, MAYBE NOT ALSO, THERE WAS ONE OF THE MOST LOBBIED BILLS DOWN AT THE CAPITOL.

THIS YEAR WAS ON TRUCK WEIGHTS, INCREASING THE MAXIMUM.

AMOUNT THAT TRUCKS COULD DRIVE AROUND THE STATE ON STATE AND LOCAL ROADS.

THERE WERE SUCH STRONG PUSHBACK FROM MAYORS AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

WHO SAID, WE KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BASICALLY DESTROY OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REBUILD THEM AT A THIRD FASTER RATE AND WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THAT.

SO THAT HAS REALLY, IT HAD A LOT OF MOMENTUM COMING INTO THE SESSION AND IT HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF PUSHBACK IN THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOTTEN.

SO IT'S UP TO THIS WEEK.

IT'S IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AT 8:00 ON SIGNEE DIED.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHERE THAT GOES AND THE FARMERS REALLY WANTED THAT BILL MURRAY'S REALLY WANTED THAT BILL.

THE OTHER WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING YOU AJC, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT.

THE HOUSE BILL 40 FOR THE DEALT WITH TRYING TO IMPROVE HOUSING, RENTAL HOUSING.

IT WE YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT HEAR SOMETHING DATE.

I GUESS THERE'S STILL A POSSIBILITY AND THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CALLED A SAFE HOUSE ACT.

SO THAT HOUSING MUST BE FIT FOR HABITATION.

THERE'S A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL FORCES AGAINST IT.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THERE'S A LOT OF LAWMAKERS WHO ARE ALSO LAT IT'S INTERESTING.

WELL, WE'VE GOT A STILL A LOT OF THE NIGHT LEFT DOWN THERE AT THE CAPITOL WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED.

GREG AND PATRICIA IS ALWAYS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW THAT DOES IT FOR LAWMAKERS FOR THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023, A COUPLE DOZEN HARD-WORKING PROFESSIONALS BOTH HERE AT GPB IN THE STUDIO AND A GEORGIA AT THE CAPITOL PUT TOGETHER LAWMAKERS EACH OF THE 40 DAYS EXCEPT FOR THE TWO OF US THAT YOU SEE ON IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA, THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES JEANS AND I WANT TO THANK THEM ALL FOR ALL THEY DO TO MAKE THE SHOW, INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE TO GEORGIANS THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO SHOW AIRS ON 9 TELEVISION STATIONS, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.