>>> ON THE GENTLEMAN'S MOTIONS.

THE AYES 129, THE NAYS WERE 25.

THE HOUSE AGREES TO THE SENATE SUBSTITUTE AND THE HOUSE BUILT 30, CONGRATS .

[ APPLAUSE ] >> A BILL TO DEFINE ANTI- SEMITISM IN GEORGIA LAW OVERWHELMINGLY PASSES IN BOTH CHAMBERS FOR GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO "GPB LAWMAKERS" OF HIS KNIFE TO LEGISLATIVE SESSION, DONNA LOWRY AND HERE'S MY UPDATE.

>> ARE PARTNERS WILL FILL YOU IN ON THE UPDATE SURROUNDING THE ANTI-SEMITISM BILL COMING UP.

IN THE STUDIO OUR GUESTS TONIGHT WE WILL TALK ABOUT ALEXA AND BILLS.

GEORGIA/STATEWIDE ELECTION WAS IN NOVEMBER BUT THE RESIDENTIAL MARY COME ON UP IN MARCH BUT SOME LAWMAKERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGES TO VOTING SYSTEM AND MORE.

>>> ALSO TWO YEARS AGO THE LEGISLATURE CRACKED DOWN ON DRAG RACERS WITH SPECIFIC LAWS AGAINST THE DRIVERS THERE NOW THERE'S AN EFFORT TO CHARGE THE PEOPLE WHO WATCH STREET RACING.

>>> AND HENRY COUNTY SHERIFF'S CORPORATE SHOT LAST YEAR'S ARRIVED.

BUT HAS PAID A HIGH PRICE FINANCIALLY FOR HIS INJURIES FOR THE SENATOR JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT HOW HE WANTS TO FULLY COMPENSATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

>>> THE FIRST AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED TODAY AT THE GOLD DOME FROM CAPITAL SPORTS PUNDIT SARAH CALLAS.

>> Reporter: HI DON IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL DAY LINE NINE AS LAWMAKERS IN BOTH CHAMBERS PASSED A BILL THAT MAY BE USED IN HATE CRIME PROSECUTION.

A CONTROVERSIAL BILL THAT WAS FIRST PASSED LAST YEAR THE HOUSE BUT FAILED TO MAKE ITS WAY TO THE SENATE WAS AMENDED AND BROUGHT ACT OF THE SENATE FLOOR TODAY.

HB30, THE BILL DEFINED AS ANTI- SEMITISM WILL BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH GEORGE'S HATE CRIME AND ANTIDISCRIMINATION LAW FOR THE CONTROVERSY WAS USING THE INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST.

AND WHETHER STIFLES THE RIGHT TO SPEAK FREE-SPEECH WHEN CRITICIZING THE STATE OF ISRAEL.

>> WITH THIS LEGISLATION WE CAN CONFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING ENVIRONMENT WHERE GEORGIANS, ALL GEORGIANS REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE, RELIGION OR NATIONAL ORIGIN CAN LIVE THEIR LIVES FREE OF FEAR OF DISCRIMINATION.

>> Reporter: THE BILL WAS SUPPORTED AND OPPOSED TO MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES.

>> I WILL BE VOTING NO ON HB30 TODAY.

BECAUSE I , PERSONALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS TO BE A MINORITY VOICE WITHIN A MINORITY GROUP.

I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO SHARE MY RACE , MY ETHNICITY AND RELIGION AND THEY CHOOSE TO IGNORE MY VOICE , CHOOSE TO TELL ME THAT I'M NOT CHRISTIAN ENOUGH, OR BLACKEN UP BECAUSE OF MY DEEPLY HELD CONVICTIONS THAT DON'T ALIGN WITH THE LOUDEST VOICES.

>> SENATOR, WITH THE PRESIDENT WITH HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION PRESENTS TO US, SHE WOULD NOT CREATE A DEFINITION FOR EVERY RELIGION?

>> NO, SENATOR I DON'T INC.

SO.

AND PART OF THAT LIES IN THE FACT THAT THIS IS PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF IDENTIFYING ANTI- SEMITIC BEHAVIOR.

IT IS NOT SENATOR JUST RELATIONS BASSFORD IS NOT COMMUNITY-BASED, IT'S NOT NATIONAL ORIGIN BASED , IS NOT JUST RACE-BASED.

THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HAS HAD INCREASINGLY , BEEN INCREASINGLY VULNERABLE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SUFFICIENTLY IDENTIFY .

>> I HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST MY WHOLE LIFE.

BOTH AS A BLACK PERSON, AND A WOMAN.

AND, AT EVERY MOMENT , BLACK PEOPLE OR WOMEN ASK FOR EQUALITY .

THE JEWISH COMMUNITY STOOD HAND-IN-HAND WITH US.

THEY MARCHED DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, AND THEY HELPED DEMAND THAT WOMEN BE TREATED LIKE PEOPLE.

TODAY, I RETURNED THEIR FAVOR AND STAND WITH THEM.

TO DESTROY THIS POISONOUS HATE , WE MUST ALL STAND AND FIGHT TOGETHER .

>> THIS DOES NOT CHILL SPEECH.

THIS IS NOT AN ANTI-SPEECH BILL.

YOU CAN STILL SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT TO UNDER THE COLOR OF THE LAW.

BUT THEN, IF YOU SAY THESE THINGS, AND HAVE A CERTAIN BELIEF , TARGET SOMEONE , OR A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS , THEN IT IS A CRIME.

>> Reporter: THE BILL PASSED 44- 6 WITH FIVE DEMOCRATS AND ONE DEMOCRAT VOTING AGAINST IT.

THE SENATE ALSO TOOK UP THE TASK ON VOTING ON THREE COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO THE JUDICIAL PUTTING BOB BARTLETT THEIR APPOINTMENTS WERE PASSED 29-20.

BUT AT BUT SR 44 RESOLUTION TWO POINT FORMER STATE SENATOR MIKE JEFFRIES TO THE SENATE WAS MORE CONTENTIOUS WITH DEMOCRATS OBJECTING TO HIS OUTSPOKEN BELIEFS SURROUNDING THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> GIVING AN OUTSPOKEN ELECTION DENIER POWER ON THE STATE ELECTIONS BOARD UNDERMINES THE INTEGRITY OF GEORGE'S ELECTIONS.

LET ME BE CLEAR WHEN I SAY AN ELECTION DENIER.

AN ELECTION DENIER IS A PERSON WHO DESPITE ALL FACTS AND EVIDENCE , CONTINUED PUSHING DANGEROUS, BASELESS CONSPIRACY THEORIES TO UNDERMINE STATES IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> Reporter: WAS PASSED 22-13 ALONG PARTY LINES FOR GOVERNOR KEMP ALSO APPOINTED JOHN FOR BEER TO BE THE ELECTION BOARD CHAIRMAN WHICH GARNERED MORE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR THE >> IS ADDED TO THEIR LOT MUST BE A LOT OF IHOP'S AND THE SITTER MUST'VE VOTED FOR THAT RESOLUTION.

>> HE LOOKS LIKE HE CAN PUT DOWN A PANCAKE OR TWO.

>> Reporter: IN HOUSE, REPRESENTATIVES UNITEDLY UNANIMOUSLY VOTED FOR HIM.

BUT WHEN IT CAME TO PASS HOUSE BUILT 30 .

>> FOLKS, WANT TO JOIN WITH ME AND SHOW THE NATION WHO WE ARE AS GEORGIANS.

AND, STAND UP TO THIS ANTI- SEMITIC BEHAVIOR ONCE AND FOR ALL.

>> Reporter: REPRESENTATIVES RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE BILLS FREE-SPEECH IMPLICATIONS FOR THE BILL PASSED 129-5 SPEAK OF THE HAS JOHN BURNS RAISE THE MULTIYEAR EFFORT TO GET THE BILL OVER THE FINISH LINE.

>> HATE WILL NOT RULE THE STATE.

HATE WILL NOT RULE THIS HOUSE.

WE HAVE TAKEN THAT STANCE.

WE WORKED HARD AT IT , WE HAVE PERSISTED THAT WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHAT WE STAND FOR.

>> Reporter: STATE REP AND REPRESENTATIVE ESTHER PANITCH, THE ONLY JEWISH REPRESENTATIVE, SAID SHE IS OVERWHELMED BY THE SUPPORT OF HER COLLEAGUES.

>> NOW WE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN SEEN AND HEARD , AND ACKNOWLEDGED AND PROTECTIVE .

AND FOR THAT, I WILL BE FOREVER IN YOUR GRATITUDE.

>> Reporter: ALSO, REPRESENTATIVE PEDRO MARINE , ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT.

MARINE SERVED IN THE HOUSE FOR 22 YEARS AND WILL RETIRE AT THE END OF THIS SESSION.

>> TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO CAME TODAY TO SHARE IN THIS GLORIOUS OCCASION, YOUR PRESENCE WARMS MY HEART.

HERE TODAY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY I HAVE BECOME A PART OF IT.

I AM SO PROUD TO CALL MANY OF YOU MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> AND A 10 THE SENATE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON CREATING COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE DISTRICT ATTORNEY FANI WILLIS WOULD ALL THE LATEST TOMORROW EVENING, BACK TO YOU, DONNA.

>>> ON MARCH 12, GEORGIA WILL HOLD ITS FIRST STATEWIDE ELECTION THIS YEAR FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, LAWMAKERS HAVE FILED SEVERAL ELECTION RELATED BILLS AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THEM TONIGHT.

JOINING ME ARE TWO ATTORNEYS, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BOB LEVERETT, HE IS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE REAPPORTIONMENT , AND REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE.

AND DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE SIREN DRAPER OF ATLANTA , HE IS A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, WILL COME TO LAWMAKERS TO BOTH OF YOU.

SO, CHAIRMAN WEBER WE ARE GOING TO START WITH YOU AND YOUR A COSPONSOR OF HB 976 WHICH WOULD REQUIRE OPTICAL SCAN VOTING SYSTEM TO USE PAPER WITH A VISIBLE WATER MAKER AS A SECURITY FEATURE.

>> THIS IS THE CHAIRMAN'S BILL, ALREADY HAVE A CERAMIC COATING ON THE BALLOTS THAT WE USE .

AND SO THERE IS A SECURITY FEATURE ALREADY IN PLACE THERE.

BUT, IT IS NOT VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE, YOU HAVE TO USE A WANT TO PERCEIVE THE CODING.

SO, THE BILL SEEKS TO REQUIRE A WATERMARK TO BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT SO THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT WATERMARK AND KNOW THAT IT IS A PROPER BALLOT LEGITIMATE BALLOT.

>> AND PEOPLE I DON'T THINK REALIZE THAT THERE IS A CERAMIC COATING ON THE BALLOT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT BUT I DON'T THINK THEY DO BECAUSE IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE VISIBLE.

YOU HAVE TO USE A SPECIAL DEVICE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

SO, THIS BILL, CHAIRMAN LaHOOD COLLABORATED WITH THE SECRETARY OFFICE, DIRECTOR STERLING WHO CAME TO OUR COMMITTEE MEETING WHICH I APPRECIATE HIM TAKING THE TIME TO DO, AND WE TALKED SOME ABOUT THE COST AND THE DIFFERENT SORT OF LOGISTICAL FEATURES OF IT.

BUT I THINK IT IS WORKABLE, THE COSTS ARE VERY MANAGEABLE, THE STATE WOULD BEAR THE COST SO IT WON'T BE FORCING ANOTHER COST ON ACCOUNT EASTWARDS WITH THE LIKE A REALLY GOOD WAY TO INSTILL SOME PUBLIC CONFIDENCE , OF THEIR KIND OF LOW-COST, HIGH- VALUE MOVE.

>> AND BE READY BY MARCH 12?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE READY BY THE PRIMARY, BUT IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE READY FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT.

>> I'M GENERALLY NOT OPPOSED THE BILL, I THINK IS A GENERAL MATTER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MAKING POLICY BASED ON ADDITIONAL SECURITY NEEDS AND ELECTIONS.

THAT DOES RAISE A RED FLAG.

I MEAN, WE ALL WANT SECURITY IN OUR ELECTIONS, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IS THAT WE HAVE SUPREME SECURITY IN GEORGIA.

THE INCIDENT UPFRONT IN GEORGIA IS AN INFINITESIMALLY SMALL.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THESE POLICY CHANGES WE HAVE A THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF POLICY ACCESS.

WE HAD TO FIND THAT BALANCE BETWEEN ACCESS AND SECURITY.

I THINK AS LAWMAKERS WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT SIGNING THAT LINE.

>> I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A BILL YOU HAVE THAT WOULD -- YOU WANT TO SEE AN INTO RUNOFF THE STATE MUST WIN 50% OF THE VOTE PLUS ONE.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> WE HAVE SO MANY ELECTIONS IN GEORGIA, MORE THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER STATE.

WE ARE THE ONLY STATE THAT HAS RUN OFF AFTER THE PRIMARY ELECTION AND AFTER THE RUNOFF ELECTION.

SO, WHAT MY BILL WOULD DO WOULD REDUCE THAT 50% THRESHOLD THAT A CANDIDATE HAS TO GET IN ORDER TO KNOW AVOID A RUNOFF IT WOULD BRING ABOUT 45%.

AND WHAT THAT ACCOUNTS FOR YOUR ELECTIONS WILL MAYBE HAVE THREE CANDIDATES, MAYBE ONE CANDIDATES AGAINST 2% OF THE VOTE AND THEY'RE NOT REALLY A VIABLE CANDIDATE, BUT ENOUGH TO KEEP THE OTHER TWO VIABLE CANDIDATES OUT OF THE RUNNING.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE THE MATTER.

>> I RESPECT REPRESENTATIVE DRAPER VERY MUCH.

SHE HAS A LOT OF VERY GOOD AND CREATIVE IDEAS.

I AM INTRIGUED BY THIS ONE.

I AM A LITTLE CAUTIOUS , I KNOW THAT THE RUNOFF GET A LOT OF CRITICISM, BUT I DO BELIEVE THEY SERVE A USEFUL PURPOSE.

SO, WHILE I BELIEVE THAT IT IS CERTAINLY MERITS FURTHER STUDY, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF IT YET, BUT I DO SALUTE HER FOR TRYING TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO SAVE COSTS FOR THE THE COMMUNITIES.

>> PLURALITY IS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

>> EXACTLY, A MAJORITY OF GEORGIANS ARE AGAINST THE RUNOFF, IT RUINS THEIR THANKSGIVING.

>> SO THERE WAS A BIT OF RUNOFF FATIGUE , WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WE'VE HAD THAT.

I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BIPARTISAN BILL, HB 559, YOU HOPE WILL HELP VOTERS WITH CHILDREN FIVE YEARS OLD AND UNDER WHEN IT COMES TO GOING TO THE POLLS.

>> I'M A MOM OF THREE FAULT SMALL KIDS BUT I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE SOMETIMES.

WHEN IT WENT KNOCKING ON DOORS AS A CANDIDATE I TALK TO OTHER PARENTS AND THEY SAID TO THE KIDS IN THE BACKGROUND?

WE HAVEN'T VOTED YET.

THAT SHOULD NOT BE AN OBSTACLE TO GETTING TO THE POLLS.

, A BABY, AN INFANT AND YOU CAN GET TO THE POLL THERE'S A LONG LINE, YOU CAN GO TO THE FRONT.

>> WHAT YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> I LIKE THE IDEA.

WE VOTED IT OUT OF COMMITTEE LAST YEAR AND WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR.

BUT I AM IN SUPPORT OF THAT.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE BUSY DOING ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT?

IN DECEMBER, WHEN WE HAD THE SPECIAL SESSION TO BUILD WITH REDISTRICTING.

SO SINCE THAT TIME OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT THE MAPS OF BEEN APPROVED BY A FEDERAL JUDGE .

I'M THINKING YOU'RE FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THINGS RIGHT NOW.

>> I WAS A LITTLE TOUGH TO LIVE WITH AFTER THE WORD CAME DOWN.

I APPRECIATE JUDGE JONES VERY MUCH FOR RULING THE WAY HE DID.

WE CERTAINLY WERE TRYING DURING SESSION TO MAKE SURE WE COMPLIED , TO READ HIS ORDER CAREFULLY AND COMPLY BECAUSE I RESPECT JUDGE JONES MUCH I CERTAINLY RESPECT THE AUTHORITY OF THE FEDERAL COURTS.

SO, IT WAS GRATIFYING FOR HIM TO FIND THAT WE HAD COMPLIED.

>> DID YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH A LITTLE BIT WAITING?

>> I DID.

THERE WERE A LOT OF ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE THINGS WE WERE DOING AND I STARTED TO QUESTION MYSELF A LITTLE BIT.

BUT I WAS PLEASED THAT JUDGE JOAN CAME BACK AND SAID HE THOUGHT WE HAD DONE WHAT HE WANTED TO.

>> ALL RIGHT REPRESENTATIVE DRAPER , A BIGGER QUESTION THAT IS RAISED IS WHETHER POLITICIANS SHOULD BE THE ONE DRAWING THESE MAPS.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST HAS BEEN A VERY CLEAR PART OF IT.

SO, DO WE REALLY WANT POLITICIANS CHOOSING THEIR VOTERS?

OR SHOULD THE VOTERS BE CHOOSING THE POLITICIANS?

>> ANYTHING ELSE ON REDISTRICTING?

I KNOW THERE ARE STILL SOME THINGS IN THE WORKS, RIGHT?

>> YES, MA'AM.

JUDGE JONES 'S ORIGINAL ORDER, WHICH WE COMPLIED WITH HAS BEEN APPEAL.

AND SO, WE STILL UNDER THE COURSE OF APPEALING THE ORIGINAL RULING.

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT IS?

THE APPEAL IS ?

WHAT ARE THEY APPEALING?

>> THEY ARE APPEALING HIS FINDING THAT THE ORIGINAL DISTRICTS THAT WE DREW IN 2021 DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

SO WE HAVE APPEAL THAT RULING.

THAT IS GOING TO TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO WORK ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS, IMAGINE.

BUT WE WENT AHEAD AND COMPLIED WITH THE ORDER DURING SPECIAL SESSION .

BUT THE BILL THAT WE PASSED DOES HAVE A REVISION THAT WOULD REVERT BACK TO THE 2021 DISTRICTS IF WE DO PREVAIL AT SOME POINT IN THAT APPEAL.

>> I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THAT IS STILL A POSSIBILITY, RIGHT?

>> YES, MA'AM IT DEAFLY IS.

>> AND THAT WILL GET YOU WORK AGAIN POLICE SPECIAL SESSION NEED TO BE IN PLACE AGAIN?

>> FIRST OF ALL, IF THAT HAPPENS AND WHEN IT HAPPENS, WE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION BUT WE MIGHT NOT.

WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE GET THERE.

>> OKAY AND WE WILL KEEP YOU UP- TO-DATE ON I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> COMING UP , A BILL TO GO AFTER PEOPLE WHO STAND AROUND AND WATCH ILLEGAL STREET RACING AND THOSE WHO PUT ON THE EXHIBITIONS.

CRIMINALIZING THE DRIVERS.

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

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

AFTER ALL, AGIS GEORGE'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENT OVER 74 BILLION IN GEORGE'S STRONG ECONOMY FOR THE GEORGIA FARM BILL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITAL DURING THE SESSION, AND YEAR-ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "GPB LAWMAKERS", I AM DONNA LOWRY.

LET'S DIG INTO CIVIC TOPICS WITH OUR GUESTS FROM THE SENATOR .

FRANK GANNON OF DANIELS BILL, HE IS CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE , STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE , FONDLY REFERRED TO AS THIS LOGO ACRONYM.

AND DEMOCRATIC SENATOR EMMANUEL JONES OF DECATUR AMONG OTHER THINGS, HE IS ON THE SENATOR PROBATION COMMITTEE ALONG WITH CHAIRMAN GANT.

SO WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS, BOTH OF YOU.

SO SENATOR JONES I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU APPEARED IN 2021 YOU SUCCESSFULLY PASSED A BILL THAT ALLOWS THE STATE TO SUSPEND THE DRIVERS LICENSES AND ACTUALLY SEES THE VEHICLES OF PEOPLE CONVICTED OF RECKLESS STUNT DRIVING AND YOU HAVE A BILL ALONG THAT SAME LINE RIGHT NOW IT'S SP-10, TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT BILL AND THE NEW BILL, SP-10 ALLOWS FOR CARS PERFORMANCE TO HAVING SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES BUT ALSO ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO IMPOUND THOSE CARS IF THEY ARE CAUGHT LAYING TRACKS OR DRAGRACING.

AND, THERE'S A PROVISION IN THEIR THAT THOSE THAT PARTICIPATE IN THESE KIND OF EVENTS CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL.

>> WHY GO LITTLE BIT FURTHER ON THIS?

WHAT IS HAPPENED SINCE 2021 WITH THIS LAW?

>> WELL, THE ACTIVITY HASN'T STOPPED.

I HAVE SPOKEN TO LOTS OF MENTAL IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEY'VE SHARED WITH ME ON MANY OCCASIONS THAT WE DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.

AND NOW A REASON, IF WE HAD SOME OF THESE BILLS, AS IT MOVED TO THE PROVISIONS THEY WERE STRIPPED OUT.

>> SO, IT'S BIPARTISAN, AND THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT ON IT AND YOU'RE FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO MAKE THE OTHER ONE THAT YOU HAD IT WAS A MEMORY OF SOMEONE WHO WAS INJURED BECAUSE OF A CAR, RIGHT?

>> AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT BILL?

>> I SUPPORTED SENATOR JONES IN HIS BILL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN WE START LOOKING, YOU HAVE GOT TO TAKE AWAY THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO PROFIT OFF OF THIS.

A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ARE USING THAT TO SELL ADS, SELL THINGS THAT, TO ME, I'M NOT SURE WITH THE BEST SOLUTION IS.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT OUR STATE PATROL DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB OF WORKING WITH THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GO AFTER THESE SPEEDERS AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO BRAG ON YOU KNOW, COLONEL HITCHENS, AND WHAT WERE DOING OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE BECAUSE WHEN YOU CATCH THEM AND YOU LOSE YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE AND VEHICLE, IT GETS REALLY EXPENSIVE.

AND THAT IS WHERE, FOR ME, WE'VE GOT TO SHOW WE CAN STOP THIS AND WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN DO IT AND THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD WE'RE WORKING WITH JUDGE JONES TO DO BIPARTISAN WORK ON THIS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT , THAT YOU'RE AGREEING ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN I WANT TO GET TO THE TOP OF OF ELECTIONS WITH YOU FROM THE PREVIOUS SEGMENT.

YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF VOTING IN GEORGIA.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YOU KNOW IT'S REALLY INTERESTING FOR ME, DONNA, I'VE BEEN A CITY AND COUNTY MANAGER FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS .

I STARTED OFF WHEN WE USING MCR PAPER AND VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS YOU FILLED OUT , IT TOLD EVERYTHING FROM YOUR MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME TO YOUR EYECOLOR AND MAYBE EVEN YOUR WEIGHT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE COULD DO TO EMBARRASS MORE.

BUT FOR ME, I LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND I WAS ALL AN OLD 4-H AND WE TRIED TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

AND THIS WEEK I HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS AND BOOKS IN THE SEPARATE TASTE OFFICE, AND FRED RATZENBERGER ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND CHAIRMAN ROB ELLIOTT , YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT PUTTING THAT WATERMARK ON THERE, IT IS IMPORTANT AND IT'S A VISUAL EFFORT THAT IS FAIR.

AND WHAT I ALSO LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I AM GOING TO HELP PUSH BECAUSE I HANDLE THAT PART OF THE BUDGET , WE ARE NOT JUST GOING TO DEPEND ON A QR CODE.

IN TWO SECONDS I CAN MAKE A QR CODE OF OUR CONTACT INFORMATION ON YOU , WHETHER IT IS RIGHT OR WRONG I CAN'T READ IT, YOU CAN READ IT.

BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, WE CAN STILL READ IT AND THE VOTER CAN READ THAT VALID THAT THEY FELL OUT AND IT PRINTS, AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO .

WE ARE GOING TO FUND ELECTION EQUIPMENT THAT CAN READ THE WRITTEN TEXT OF THAT AND AUDIT EVERY ONE OF THESE ELECTIONS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL ALL THE WAY TO THE PRESIDENT.

AND THAT IS IMPORTANT.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I HOPE TO BE PUSHING FORWARD IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

IT IS EXPENSIVE, IT IS GOING TO BE CLOSE TO $5 MILLION TO DO THAT.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT A STATE THAT WANTS FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, IT IS OUR FUTURE.

>> WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY FROM HANGING TAZ AND WHATNOT WITH ELECTRONIC VOTING .

SO, OKAY SO WE WILL KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON THAT.

AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO TALKING UP BUT ANOTHER BILL OF YOUR AND YOU HAD ANOTHER BIPARTISAN BILL , SB 371 AIMED AT HELPING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

AND THE BILL WAS NAMED FOR DANIEL --TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED WITH HIM FIRST?

>> TRAGIC INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED IN HENRY COUNTY , HE WAS ENGAGED WITH THE SUSPECT IN THE CITY OF HAMPTON AND HE WAS SHOT SEVERAL TIMES.

HE ALMOST LOST HIS LIFE.

BUT DURING THE TIME THAT HE IS RECOVERING FROM HIS INJURIES, THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD BY MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THEY WERE RAISING FUNDS AND AND THE HOPE FOR ALL OF US WAS TRY TO MAKE THE OFFICER WHOLE.

A LOT OF PEACE OFFERS A, YES THEY DO PROVIDE POLICE SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE PUBLIC PART-TIME JOBS AS WELL.

THE SAD PART ABOUT THIS INCIDENT , THAT WHILE HE WAS RECUPERATING FROM HIS INJURIES HIS FAMILY WAS SUFFERING .

>> UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT TO VENTURE THEIR COMPENSATED WHEN THEY ARE INJURED LIKE THAT, WHAT DOES THE BILL DO?

>> CURRENTLY, IF THE POLICE OFFICERS INJURED THEY GET WORKMEN'S COMP.

AND THAT PAYS 56% OF THEIR PAY.

MY CHALLENGE WAS TO FIND THE OTHER 34% THAT THE STATE COULD COVER AN OFFICER IN THE EVENT THEY WERE INJURED AND THIS WAS A VERY NEARER NARROW TELL BECAUSE ONLY THOSE OFFICERS THAT ARE IN PURSUIT OR ENGAGEMENT OF SUSPECTS THAT HAVE INJURIES.

>> AND HE STILL HAS SHRAPNEL IN HIS BODY, RIGHT?

>> HE DOES.

SO THIS COULD BE A LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY.

BUT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT YOU FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THIS BILL?

>> I DO.

THE KEY SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION IS MY COLLEAGUE FROM THE COUNTY.

WE MET WITH OFFICERS POSIADLY AND HIS FAMILY .

AND JUST TO HEAR HIS STORY AND FOR HIM TO TELL US HOW HE WAS IMPACTED TOUCHED ALL OF US IN A VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT WAY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE VERY LEAST WE CAN DO AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND THE WAY THAT SENATE BILL 371 WAS CRAFTED IS THAT WE FOUND ANOTHER ACCOUNT FOR PEACE OFFICERS ACCOUNT UNDER DOE S, DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR THAT ACCOUNT IS RARELY USED FOR PEACE OFFICERS.

THEY DID KNOW WHOLE LOT ABOUT IT.

SO, THE BILL BASICALLY DIRECTS WORKMEN'S COMP.

TO REACH OUT TO THE ACCOUNT TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHER DIFFERENCE IN THEIR PAY WOULD NOT BE PAID BY WORKMEN'S COMP.

, BUT WOULD BE PAID BY THIS IDENTIFICATION COUNT THAT'S ALREADY AVAILABLE, THAT WE FUND IN THE GENERALLY ASSEMBLY EVERY YEAR.

>> AND I KNOW YOU LIKE THIS BILL.

>> YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO KEEP OUR LAW , COMPENSATE THEM WHEN THEY ARE WORKING, BUT WHEN THEY GET INJURED, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>> OKAY, SO WE WILL KEEP UP ON THAT BILL.

LET'S GET BACK TO SOME MORE THINGS WITH YOU IN TERMS OF, YOU HAVE A BIPARTISAN BILL I BELIEVE IS SB 122 , IT IS NOT YOUR BILL BUT YOU ARE A COSPONSOR ON IT .

IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE ELECTIONS BILL.

YOU KIND OF TOUCH ON A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

TALK ABOUT MORE .

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT ELECTIONS, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY DO THE VOTERS GET TO CHOOSE WHO THEY ARE ELECTING, BUT I THINK IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU BOAT IT MATTERS WHO COUNTS.

AND FOR ME , WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON IN -- THERE IS AN IDEA WITH PEOPLE DAILY THAT DON'T BELIEVE THE ELECTIONS .

ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS VERY ELOQUENT SPEECH A FEW YEARS AGO ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

AND, WHEN HE GOT TO THE END OF HIS SPEECH HE SAID, WISH I COULD TAKE CREDIT FOR THAT SPEECH.

I DIDN'T WRITE THAT SPEECH.

THAT SPEECH WAS GIVEN FOUR YEARS EARLIER BY ONE OF OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE AND WAS ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

AND THE FACT THAT THERE WAS MISTRUST, OR SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON .

AND YOU KNOW THAT IS NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE.

WE WANT TO BE WHERE NOBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.

AND FOR ME, I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THAT A REALITY HERE IN GEORGIA.

I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH SECRETARY OF STATE RATZENBERGER, OR WHOEVER THE NEXT EQUITY OF STATUS.

AND I THINK THAT I WAS REALLY PROUD TO SEE WHAT HE'S DOING RIGHT NOW.

SOME OF THE THINGS HE'S DOING IN OFFICE , BELIEVE IT OR NOT, OUT OF 50 STATES WE ARE NUMBER TWO IN ELECTION INTEGRITY.

AND THAT IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE I LIKE BEING NUMBER ONE, THE FACT THAT WE ARE NUMBER TWO ACROSS THE NATION IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

>> BUT YOU STILL WANT TO DO, MAKE SOME CHANGES?

>> THE OLD MODEL OF 4-H, MAKE THE TEST BETTER.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND WE MUST.

BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY OUT THERE THAT'S TRYING TO DO A LITTLE DIFFERENT TWIST TO IT, YOU KNOW.

I'M SCARED TO DEATH ABOUT AI, YOU HEARD ABOUT LAST WEEK, SOMEBODY SENT OUT ROBO CALLS BASICALLY ON THE PRESIDENT THAT SAID DON'T VOTE IN THIS ELECTION.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE NEXT THREAT IS GOING TO COME FROM IT, COME FROM INTERNALLY IN OUR STATE, IT COULD COME FROM OTHER STATES OTHER COUNTRIES.

AND THAT IS WHERE, TO ME, AND FAIR ELECTIONS ARE CRITICAL FOR OUR FUTURE OF OUR REPUBLIC.

>> THAT BILL HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT BY BUT THE MAJORITY PARTY AND I'M NOT SURE HOW FAMILIAR YOU ARE WITH IT?

>> NOT VERY FAMILIAR .

>> OKAY.

>> IN TERMS OF ELECTION INTEGRITY, THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US, NOT JUST THOSE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, BUT ALSO DEMOCRATS AS WELL.

AND CERTAINLY, I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO LOOKING AT ANY LEGISLATION THAT IS GOING TO ENSURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE TO BE FAIR AND ALSO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THAT DOES IT FOR "GPB LAWMAKERS" WE WILL BE BACK WITH A FULL SHOW ON MONDAY.

BUT TOMORROW TO AND FOR "GPB LAWMAKERS" THE CAPITALS REPORT IS AT THE END OF HE PBS NEWS HOUR.

I AM DONNA LOWRY, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.