>>> YOU KNOW IN THIS DAYS MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN.

AND OF COURSE THEY CAN FALL LIKE THE TITANIC DID IN THE WATER.

>> EVERYBODY IN THE LEGISLATURE HERE, FRIENDS AND SO FORTH, I'D LIKE TO END IN SESSION WITH AN IRISH BLESSING.

MAY THE ROAD RICE TO MEET YOU.

AND THE WIND ALWAYS BE AT YOUR BACK.

MAY THE SUNSHINE WARM YOUR FACE AND THE RAINFALL SOFT UPON YOUR FIELDS.

AND UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, MAY GOD HOLD NEW THE HOLLOW OF HIS HAND.

>> IT'S HERE.

SINE DIE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MADE IT THROUGH 40 DAYS OF THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION DURING A PANDEMIC.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO A SPECIAL ONE-HOUR EDITION OF LAWMAKERS.

I'M DONA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

THE SESSION IS STILL UNDER WAY AT THIS HOUR WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON WHAT'S TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.

WE'VE SEEN BILLS FLY FASTEST AND FURIOUS THROUGH BOTH CHAMBERS.

SOME LEGISLATION THAT APPEARED TO HAVE DIED EARLIER IN THE SESSION HAS COME BACK TO LIFE WITHIN ANOTHER BILL.

AS LAWMAKERS HONE THE BILL RESUSCITATION TECHNIQUES TO TRY TO PASS LEGISLATION.

WE HAVE OUR LAWMAKER'S TEAM KEEPING UP WITH ALL OF IT.

WE BEGIN WITH CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT BRENDON IAAF WATERS WITH A LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR.

BRENDA.

>> HEY, DONA, VERY BUSY PLACE ALL DAY AND STILL BUSY.

HOUSE BILL 290 WOULD BAN NURSING AND -- NURSING HOMES AND HOSPITALS FROM DENYING VISITORATION.

NOW THERE WERE CHANGES MADE BY THE HOUSE WHICH INCLUDED INPUT FROM THE HOSPITAL COMMUNITY.

IT WAS PRESENTED BY REPRESENTATIVE ED SETZLER.

>> WE ADDED AT THE REQUEST OF THE SOME OF THE HOSPITALS GRADING ASKING ABOUT BURN UNITS.

THE PLACES IN WHICH THERE IS AN EXCEPTION TO THIS KIND OF IN-PERSON CONTACT WE ADDED BURN UNITS AND WE ADDED EMERGENCY SKRIRK PATIENTS.

WE CLARIFIED THAT THE -- THE RULES FOR ACCESS FOR REPRESENTATIVES WOULD BE IN PRINTED FORM AND MADE AVAILABLE IN THE FACILITIES.

PHYSICIAN UPON MEDICAL NECESSITY DETERMINES THAT A PERSON CAN'T HAVE ACCESS BECAUSE THERE IS A MEDICAL NECESSITY, WE TOOK THE LIMITATION OF THE DURATION OFF.

AS LONG AS AS THE MEDICAL PROHIBITION THE PROBE PROIBT COULD KIN.

CAN CAN'T LEAD TO FINANCIAL LAWSUITS AGAINST HOSPITALS OR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIESs ANY KIND.

>> HOUSE BILL 290 PASSED 100 TO 70 AND WAS SENT TO THE SENATE.

ALSO ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, THIS IS A BIG ONE, DEFUND THE POLICE.

HOUSE BILL 286 IS HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AS WELL.

IT STOPS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM SIGNIFICANTLY CUTTING THEIR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET, WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS.

>> I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BILL AT LENGTH.

BUT I THINK YOU KNOW ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS SINCE WE PASSED THIS BILL WE HAVE SEEN PORTLAND AND LOS ANGELES HAVE ALSO GONE BACK ON THEIR WORK TO TRY TO DEFUND THE POLICE AS CRIME SKYROCKETED IN THOSE CITIES.

I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT WE GET THIS LEGISLATION DONE AT AND CONTINUE TO PROTECT FAMILIES IN THIS STATE.

>> A STANDING OVATION DURING A VISIT BY REPRESENTATIVE MIKKI STEPHENS WHO MADE IT TO THE CAPITOL FOR IN LAST DAY OF THE SESSION.

HE HAS BEEN ILL. AND UNABLE TO COME TO THE GOLD DOME DURING THE 2021 GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND TODAY IS ALSO THE LAST DAY AS A LAWMAKER FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE GREG MORRIS STEPPING DOWN AFTER BEING ELECTED TO THE STATE TRANSPORTATION BOARD.

>>> AND IF YOU LIKE PECANS, YOU LOVE SENATE BILL 222.

IT PASSED IN THE HOUSE 170 TO ZERO MAKING THE PECAN THE OFFICIAL STATE NUT.

HOUSE BILL 94, THE PORCH PIRACY BILL PASSED 103 TO 59 AND GOING TO THE GOVERNOR AS WELL.

LANGUAGE WAS ADDED LEAVING IT UP TO THE TRIAL JUDGES TO DETERMINE IF THE CRIME SHOULD BE DEEMED A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR.

ALSO, THREE OR MORE PACKAGES FROM THREE OR MORE HOMES MUST BE TAKEN BEFORE CHARGES COULD BE FILED.

>>> WELL ACROSS THE HALL SENATE BILL 100 PASSED.

UNDER THIS BILL GEORGIA WOULD GO TO DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME YEAR-ROUND IF AND WHEN CONGRESS ALLOWS IT.

S BILL 100 IS HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

SENATE BILL 42, THE DEXTER MOSELEY ACT PASSED TODAY.

IT ALLOWS HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COMPETE IN ATHLETICS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE BILL IS ALSO ON THE WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

WELL LET'S TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BILLS WERE PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR KEMP DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, A PANDEMIC WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THE LEGISLATORS DID WHAT THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO.

YESTERDAY MORNING THERE WAS AN EMOTIONAL CEREMONY TO HONOR THE 18,000 GEORGIANS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES TO COVID-19.

WHILE FLAGS QBO, WHITE FLAGS WERE PLACED IN THEIR MEMORY.

REPRESENTATIVE SANDRA SCOTT WAS JOINED BY OTHER LAWMAKERS.

>> WE ARE HERE TODAY TO REMEMBER ALL OF THE RESIDENTS IN OUR DISTRICTS AND THE STATE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES TO COVID-19.

I SAY TO ALL OF GEORGIANS THIS MORNING WITH A HEAVY HEART, THAT I AM TRULY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

AND I ASK THAT YOU REMEMBER TODAY AS A DAY OF HEALING AND LOVE.

>> WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGAN IN JANUARY, WE GAVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT 8-FOOT FENCE GOING UP AROUND THE CAPITOL TO INCREASE SECURITY.

WELL, PROGRESS IS BEING MADE.

SAMPLES OF THE FENCING HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CAPITOL.

THE FENCE WILL HAVE SPIKES AT THE TOP TO DETER ANYONE FROM CLIMBING OVER IT.

>> AND WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT SOMEONE WHO SHOWS UP ON YOUR TELEVISION SCREEN QUITE OFTEN.

DAVID COWAN IS PASSIONATE ABOUT PROVIDING ACCESSIBILITY TO THE DEAF AND PROVIDING THE HEARING COMMUNITY WITH EDUCATION ABOUT THE DEAF.

I RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH THIS BUSY GUY WHO YOU WILL RECOGNIZE IMMEDIATELY.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AS ALWAYS.

>> YOU'VE SEEN DAVID, MOST OFTEN SIGNING DURING GOVERNOR KEMP'S PRESS CONFERENCES.

HE HAS BECOME QUITE THE SUPERSTAR.

>> PEOPLE DO WANT TO TAKE THEIR PICTURE WITH ME.

THEY'LL COME UP CAN I GET A SELFIE WITH YOU AND THEN THE FACEBOOK FRIEND REQUESTS.

>> BUT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE SAID ABOUT DAVID COWAN.

HE HAS BEEN AN INTERPRETER FOR 37 YEARS.

AS A FREELANCER THIS IS HOW HE STARTED AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> WELL, I STARTED INTERPRETING FOR GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL BEFORE GOVERNOR KEMP WAS ELECTS PPD THAT'S WHO YOU STARTED INTERPRETING FOR, 2014, 2015, SOMEWHERE IN THAT AVENUE.

>> DAVID SAYS TWO THINGS BUTT PUT MORE OF A DEMAND ON HIS SERVICES.

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

>> THE CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY, THAT REQUIRED IMMEDIATE INFORMATION.

THAT REQUIRES INFORMATION TO MAKE IT TO THE PUBLIC UPON AN IMMEDIATE BASIS.

SFO IT REALLY HELPS TO HAVE AN INTERPRETER LIKE MYSELF HERE.

BUT IT WASN'T JUST ME.

IT WAS A LOT OF INTERPRETERS.

CDI DATABASE CERTIFIED DEAF INTERPRETERS.

GEORGIA BECAME THE KIND OF MODEL IN A WAY.

OTHER STATES WERE LOOKING AT WHAT WE WERE DOING AND STARTED TO COPY THAT GEORGIA MODEL.

I'M HONORED TO BE PART OF THAT.

>> YOU SEE TWO INTERPRETERS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

THEY FACE EACH OTHER.

THIS IS WHY.

>> FIRST, I'M DEAF.

THAT'S THE THING I CAN'T DO DO.

I CAN'T HEAR WHAT'S BEING SPOKEN.

I'M ABSOLUTELY DEAF.

SO I HAVE A HEARING INTERPRETER WHO IS ABLE TO HEAR THE MESSAGE BEING SAID IN ENGLISH AND THEN SIGN TO ME.

AND WHAT I DO IS I SEE WHAT THEY'RE SIGNING AND I THINK, HOW DEAF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.

BECAUSE I'M A DEAF MAN MYSELF MY MIND IS DEAF, MY HEART IS DEAF.

I SEE WHAT'S BEING COMMUNICATED.

AND I KNOW HOW A DEAF PERSON WOULD UNDERSTAND IT.

OR WHAT WON BE EASILY UNDERSTOOD AND HOW TO RENDER THAT MESSAGE IN A MORE ACCESSIBLE WAY.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TWO INTERPRETERS.

>> HE ENCOURAGES OTHER STATES TO FOLLOW THIS MODEL.

IS TO, DAVID, TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> I AM A DEAF MAN.

I AM A GAY MAN.

I LIVED IN GEORGIA SINCE 1998.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

I LOVE MY JOB.

I THINK IT'S FUNNY WHEN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW I'M DEAF AND THEY APPROACH ME.

THE FUNNY PART IS MOST OFTEN HEARING PEOPLE WILL SAY SOMETHING LIKE, OH, YOU DON'T LOOK DEAF.

>> THAT'S MY CAPITOL REPORT, DONA.

I'LL BE BACK BACK DO YOU.

>> YES YOU WILL.

THANK YOU BRENDA I'M GLAD YOU HAD A CHANCE TO DO THAT STORY.

WE THINK HE IS GREAT.

THANK YOU.

>>> WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU LATER IN THE SHOW.

WITH ME IN THE STUDIO THROUGHOUT THIS EVENING I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THE A TEAM OF POLITICAL EXPERTS FROM CROSS-OVERDAY.

FORMER LAWMAKERS CORRESPONDENT RICHARD PATRICIA MURPHY.

SHE HAS COVERED AND STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND BILL CRANE, OWNER OF CSI CRANE AND A LINC-TIME COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST IN GEORGIA.

HE HAS COVERED STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS AND WORKED FOR GEORGIA LAWMAKERS UNDER THE GOLD DOME AND ON CAPITOL HILL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM YOU THROUGHOUT THE EVENING.

BUT FIRST LET'S GO BACK TO BRENDA AND BRENDA, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST FOR US.

>> I DO.

ONE OF MY FAVORITES RIGHT HERE.

HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID RALS TON.

I TOLD YOU NOW THAT THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR DOING THIS.

NOW I'M WAKING UP EVERY MORNING AND GO, BRENDA FOR WHAT REASON DO YOU RISE?

ALL THANKS TO YOU.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU TONIGHT.

OKAY.

I WANTED TO START WITH THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN BERNS'S COMMENTS TODAY ABOUT HOW THE SESSION WENT.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE COVID-19 PROTOCOLS.

HOW DO YOU THINK IT WENTZ, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT A LOT OF LAWMAKERS DIDN'T WANT TO FOLLOW PROTOCOL INITIALLY.

>> I THOUGHT IT WENT WELL.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS ACTUALLY THAT I'M MOST PLEASED ABOUT THE SESSION, YOU KNOW, WE -- WE GOT IN.

WE STAYED ON A SCHEDULE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SUSPEND.

AND I GIVE THE CREDIT FOR THAT TO THE VERY STRICT PROTOCOLS THAT WE HAD.

WE DID HAVE AN ISSUE WITH COMPLIANCE WITH THE MANDATORY TESTING.

BUT I THINK PEOPLE SAW THAT I WAS SERIOUS ABOUT ENFORCING THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE KEPT PEOPLE SAFE.

AND SO IT'S REALLY BEEN GREAT TO SEE AS THE WEEKS HAVE GONE ON THAT THE RATES OF POSITIVE RATES FROM THE TESTING HAVE GONE DOWN.

AND NOW THEY'RE DOWN TO ZERO FOR THE LAST TWO, THREE, FOUR WEEKS.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

>> I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE WAY THAT'S GONE.

>> THANKS TO YOU TODAY I GOT MY SHOT DOWNSTAIRS.

I GOT THAT.

>> GOOD FOR YOU.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAPPENED TODAY.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE DELTA AIRLINES CEO COMMENT ON SENATE BILL 202.

HE CALLED THE NEW ELECTIONS AND VOTING LAW, QUOTE, UNACCEPTABLE.

THERE ARE LAWMAKERS LOOKING TO PUNISH DELTA, POSSIBLY THROUGH SENATE BILL 6 ON TAX CREDITS.

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HIS COMMENTS, FRANKLY.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE TRIED TO PROMOTE A PRO ECONOMIC GROWTH ENVIRONMENT HERE IN THIS STATE AND GROW JOBS, INCLUDING AT DELTA.

YOU KNOW, THE STATE HAS BEEN -- AELTA HAS BENEFITTED DIRECTLY FROM SOME STATE ACTIONS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

AND THEN -- AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY AT THE TABLE DURING MUCH OF THE DISCUSSION ON THE BILL.

SO -- AND HIS COMMENTS WERE JUST SO -- SO WRONG.

I MEAN, THEY WERE INACCURATE ABOUT THE BILL.

IT KIND OF MADE ME WONDER IF HE HAD EVEN READ THE BILL.

AND I ALSO WONDER NOW IS HE GOING TO STOP DELTA FLIGHTS TO ALL THE MANY, MANY STATES THAT HAVE VOTING LAWS THAT ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN GEORGIA'S SUCH AS NEW JERSEY, SUCH AS DELAWARE, SUCH AS NEW YORK?

THOSE ALL -- WE'RE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND MORE OPEN IN OUR VOTING LAWS THAN THOSE STATES.

IS TO I DON'T KNOW IF HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO FLY DELTA AIRPLANES TO THOSE PLACES OWNER.

>> AND THEIR HUB IS RIGHT HERE IN.

>> IN ATLANTA.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

OKAY.

NOW YOU PASSED PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR