Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) signed a series of bills alongside state and local officials.
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00:00Good afternoon.
00:10I'm very pleased to welcome you to the newly expanded Savannah Convention Center.
00:15We just covered in on the expansion last night.
00:18The center is off to an incredible start.
00:21What we're going to see today is just another example of the incredible support that our community, our region, continues to receive.
00:29My name is Bert Brantley.
00:31I'm the president and CEO of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.
00:34I have attended a lot of bill signings over my life.
00:37It's the first time I've ever done an introduction at one.
00:39We're really thrilled that you guys are here.
00:42A lot of you are probably here for a specific bill.
00:45We'll get to those as they get to signing.
00:48Please come up and if you're interested in one of those and want to be a part of the picture, we'll do those one by one later.
00:55But we're just thrilled you're here.
00:57We're thrilled this region continues to show up.
00:59We're thrilled that our state leaders continue to see the potential and the return on investment that the state gets when they make these really significant investments in our region.
01:10So I've got the easiest job in the world today introducing you to somebody you already know.
01:14And so I'm not going to take too long doing that.
01:16But we're just going to take a second to say this region, the leadership of Speaker Burns and Governor Kemp and, of course, our partners in the Senate as well, we're just incredibly blessed.
01:27If you look at what's happened here over the last several years, significant public and private investment all around our region, creating incredible job opportunities for our neighbors, for hopefully our children years and years to come as we retain them here instead of letting our talent leave and go elsewhere.
01:45And so it just continues, whether it's education, whether it's public safety, whether it's transportation, economic development, of course, health care, which we'll see a number of bills signed here today.
01:55The leadership team at the state capital continues to put Georgia first and they put coastal Georgia pretty close to the top of their list as well.
02:03So we're just thrilled as you guys are here to help us celebrate this.
02:06It's a big deal.
02:07A bill.
02:08I'm not going to do the when a bill becomes a law kind of deal from Schoolhouse Rock, but I'll just tell you that it takes a lot.
02:15It takes an idea.
02:16It takes drafting.
02:17It takes negotiation to get to the day.
02:19It is it is it is it is a tough work.
02:22And these folks that represent us up at the Capitol put their blood, sweat and tears into getting the bill across.
02:29And so the last step is what you're about to see today.
02:32And there's always a little bit of nervousness until they get the call with that bill number on the list saying your bill is going to get signed.
02:40Please come help us celebrate.
02:41So you'll see a lot of smiling faces today from the legislators, but also from those of you in the crowd that worked and testified at hearings called your your senators and your representatives and did the hard work to make sure they knew how important this bill was to you and to our community.
02:58So without any further ado, if you will, please help me welcome a friend, obviously, to coastal Georgia and and a friend to many of you personally.
03:09And then, you know, the guy that's going to sign the bills later and my former boss.
03:15But he always kind of remains the boss.
03:17Right.
03:18But you please help me welcome the third governor of the state of Georgia.
03:20Governor.
03:21Well, thank you, Bert.
03:22I appreciate that.
03:23I just want to reflect for the record that Bert doesn't work for the governor's office anymore since he mentioned the Senate, but not the House.
03:30Speaker, did you pick up on that?
03:31I think he meant the members of the General Assembly when he said Senate.
03:32Look, Bert doesn't even realize he did that.
03:33So you know he didn't do that.
03:34He didn't do that.
03:39Well, thank you, Bert.
03:40I appreciate that.
03:41I just want to reflect for the record that Bert doesn't work for the governor's office anymore since
03:48he mentioned the Senate, but not the House.
03:50Speaker, did you pick up on that?
03:51I think he meant the members of the General Assembly when he said Senate.
03:56Look, Bert doesn't even realize he did that.
03:59So you know he didn't do it on purpose, but he was talking about the whole delegation, obviously.
04:05Listen, on behalf of our great First Lady Marty Kemp and I, we are glad to be back in Savannah, glad to be back at the convention center.
04:13I apologize for being a few minutes late.
04:16I got delayed looking around the new part of the convention center.
04:20I didn't get to see yesterday at the grand opening when we came in the new side entrance right where the old meets the new.
04:27It just looks incredible.
04:29But we are honored to be here with you all in the hostess city where we just gathered last
04:34night to cut the ribbon on the convention center and really celebrate an incredible new
04:38milestone that will help this facility continue to grow and meet the needs of not only this city and this
04:46county, but of our entire state.
04:48And we'll have many, many visitors from around the country and around the world that will continue to visit Savannah, Georgia.
04:56But today is about marking another milestone and that is signing legislation that will support the health and well-being of our fellow Georgians at all stages of life.
05:06I want to thank the, I don't, I haven't seen any other constitutional officers that are here today.
05:12But I just want to thank them.
05:13They're a big part of our team.
05:15I know the Lieutenant Governor couldn't be here today.
05:18But the members of the General Assembly, there's too many of them in here to name.
05:22But if you'll just raise your hand, let us thank you for your service.
05:25I know we got a lot of members.
05:26We have a lot of members of the local legislative delegation, but also of the coastal delegation
05:37and then even outside the coast here with us today.
05:40So thank you all for your incredible work this session.
05:44I know the speaker and I have been doing a lot of these bill signings and we've talked about what a great
05:49legislative session we had and that's no kidding aside.
05:54You all were a big part of that and a big part of making that happen.
05:58I also want to thank the members of our health care workforce team as well as those in the
06:03health community and certainly all the local elected officials and other community leaders
06:09here in Savannah, in Chatham County and certainly this whole region of the state up and down the
06:15coast.
06:16You know, from the moment I first took office, even when I was campaigning, I was
06:21talking about promoting quality, affordable health care to all Georgians no matter their
06:27zip code.
06:28Quite honestly, we rejected the one size fits none government run approach to health care
06:33like many advocate for.
06:35Instead, we embraced innovative Georgia-centric programs that enable more people to get on private
06:42insurance that better meets their needs.
06:44We have dedicated more funding than ever in the history of our state to mental health.
06:51Following the passage of the Mental Health Parity Act and we've worked to let all Georgians
06:56know, as the first lady always says, it's okay not to be okay.
07:01We prioritize strengthening our health care workforce pipeline in many ways, including through
07:07loan assistance for those practicing in high-need areas and opening new schools like the new
07:13dental college we're working on right here in Savannah.
07:16We've also fought to protect life at all stages by expanding eligibility for Georgia
07:21pathways to parents of young children, defended the LIFE Act and have launched the rural maternal
07:28health program to meet mothers where they are and provide them with the care that they need.
07:35I'm proud to say that this year we increased funding to expand that program to even more
07:40counties.
07:41I again want to thank the members of the General Assembly for their support on that.
07:45It has been a priority not only of ours but also of the legislature.
07:49We've taken all those steps because protecting the health and well-being of Georgians isn't
07:55something we take lightly and I'm proud to stand here with so many men and women who carry
08:00out that mission every single day.
08:05First, I'm going to sign today House Bill 428 sponsored by Representative Liebman Franklin
08:10and carried by Ben Watson in the Senate.
08:14Speaker Burns laid down a marker before session that he would pass legislation ensuring families
08:19would have access to IVF procedures.
08:22A modern miracle for many families who yearn for the blessing of a child.
08:28Representative Franklin and his wife Lori bravely shared their personal story this year
08:34of their challenges but also thankfully their successes when it comes to growing their family.
08:41Families all across Georgia have similar stories and they deserve to have the chance to experience
08:46that great gift from God.
08:49As a state, we're working to make it easier for families to grow and that's what this
08:53legislation does.
08:54I'm proud that Georgia will now enshrine the right to IVF treatment in state law.
09:00Next, I'll sign House Bill 94 sponsored by Representative Eddie Lumson and carried by
09:06Senator Chuck Huffsteadler.
09:07This bill requires health benefit policies to provide coverage for standard fertility
09:13preservation services when a medically necessary treatment may cause infertility.
09:18A cancer diagnosis is scary enough without the thought that the treatment you need to save
09:26your life could also take away the ability for you to have children.
09:31This legislation ensures patients undergoing chemotherapy or other life-saving treatments
09:36will not lose the chance to grow their families.
09:39Next, I'll sign House Bill 89 sponsored by Representative Sharon Cooper and carried by
09:45Beau Hatchett in the Senate.
09:46This bill is also a priority of the State Department of Public Health and it implements
09:52crucial measures to ensure we can properly address maternal mortality and its causes.
09:58I know Dr. Toomey is incredibly excited about this.
10:02I also signed House Bill 584 sponsored by Representative Jesse Petrie and carried in the Senate
10:08again by Beau Hatchett.
10:10This bill is a priority of the Department of Community Health and transfers oversight of
10:15drug abuse treatment and education programs, narcotic treatment programs, community living
10:21arrangements and adult residential mental health programs from DCH to the Department of
10:26Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
10:29That was a mouthful.
10:31Helping better care for those who need it.
10:34Next, I'll sign House Bill 473 sponsored by Chairman Ron Stevens who is with us today
10:39and carried by Senator Ben Watson who is also with us.
10:43This bill, the annual GDNA drug update, not only safeguards access to new drugs approved
10:49by FDA for our people.
10:51It also brings the list of substances that can harm our citizens up to date so that we know
10:56what can hurt Georgians and what they need to be on the lookout for.
11:01Finally, I'll sign SB 55 sponsored by Senator Billy Hickman who is with us and carried by
11:07Representative Sharon Cooper in the House.
11:09This bill aids those with disabilities in the workforce and brings our state into
11:14compliance with the federal minimum wage laws for these Georgians.
11:18Everyone deserves the chance to work and thrive and this bill ensures individuals with
11:23disabilities are properly compensated for that work.
11:27As I've said earlier, we have worked hard these past few years to improve access to
11:32affordable, quality health care for all Georgians.
11:36We're constantly evolving and innovating to address the needs of the citizens of this
11:40area and our state.
11:42And these bills I will sign today represent the latest steps toward achieving those goals.
11:48But let's not be mistaken, there is still more work to be done and I'm proud to be part of
11:54that process and will make that happen along with so many other great leaders.
11:59And with that, I want to turn it over to just an incredible partner, an incredible leader
12:04for this part of the state, but also for this whole state of Georgia, and that is the
12:09Speaker of the House, the Honorable John Burns.
12:11Speaker.
12:12Well, good afternoon.
12:13Yes, afternoon.
12:14Good afternoon, y'all.
12:15The mornings and afternoons get mixed up sometimes.
12:16It's good to see all of you.
12:17Governor, I want to remind you of something.
12:32Since 1733, that's 1733, this fair city of Savannah has welcomed people from all over the world.
12:39It's been the center, the hub, if you will, of health care for Southeast Georgia, for hospitality
12:46in so many different ways.
12:48This great ribbon cutting that you did yesterday, the commitment you made to us in Southeast
12:53Georgia and in Georgia for this facility, and so many other things, I want to thank you
12:58as a Georgian, you and First Lady Marty Kemp, for y'all's commitment to Georgia and y'all's
13:03commitment to making life better for all Georgians, but especially for those of us here in Southeast
13:08Georgia.
13:09Governor Kemp.
13:14Governor Kemp, that leads me to say what I always say.
13:17It's a great day to be a Georgian, isn't it?
13:19It's a great day to be right here in Savannah.
13:25Today, we're celebrating our continued and the Governor and the First Lady's dedication to the health
13:31and well-being of Georgia families, citizens, and communities all over this state.
13:36In just a moment, and thanks for that synopsis, Governor Kemp, of the bills you will sign.
13:41Governor Kemp will sign a number of bills that we were proud to champion in the House working with the Senate
13:46from further mental health issues, and I see two of the champions of mental health here,
13:51Commissioner Kevin Tanner and my dear friend, Caleb McMicken, who works so closely with
13:56Speaker David Wolleston on advocating for mental health issues in our state.
14:00The mental health bills and other measures that build upon our work to increase maternal mortality
14:11here in our state.
14:12These issues have been and will continue to be top priorities for the Georgia House.
14:17I can assure you of that.
14:19There's one measure that I'm going to speak to you directly about that I was especially proud to be a small part of.
14:25After our neighboring state to the west, the Supreme Court made a historic and unprecedented ruling
14:34that limited access to fertility treatments, we knew that decisive action was required here in Georgia.
14:41We needed to ensure that here in Georgia, no family would ever have to question the access to IVF.
14:49And that's exactly what House Bill 428 accomplishes.
14:54For a trivia moment for you all.
14:57Dear friend, Speaker Ledbetter in Alabama, when the ruling came down, he immediately reacted.
15:04Guess why?
15:06His two teenage grandsons, twin, grand boys, identical, were IVF children, conceived by IVF.
15:15So it was a moment for him, he took action, and thanks for what he did for those in Alabama.
15:21We all know that children are life's greatest blessings, and no one knows that better than the Queen of the House,
15:32Lori Franklin, her husband, Representative Lehman Franklin.
15:35Now Lori, as you can see, just in a few short weeks, they will be the welcoming, their first, their first baby girl, their first child into the world.
15:48Because of the life-changing assistance IVF provided for them.
15:55Congratulations, y'all.
15:57Now thanks to his personal experience, he and Lori's, and the dedication it takes to getting the bill across the finish line, IVF protections will be codified,
16:08ensuring that the treatment that has assisted thousands of Georgians seeking to start and grow, their families will always, always be available to those who need it.
16:19Governor Kemp, members of the House that participated, and all of you voted positively and put up a green vote on this one,
16:29and certainly members of the Senate, I want to thank you all for your unwavering support for happy, healthy, growing families here in Georgia all the way along.
16:40There's one thing that's always done here in Georgia, and that's what we will always continue to do, just that.
16:47Happy, healthy families, quality of life, thanks to great leadership, great commitment from the General Assembly,
16:55but especially from those of you who live, work, and play here and enjoy the quality of life we enjoy here in Georgia.
17:02May God bless all of these bills as they go to work and provide access to so many different life-saving opportunities.
17:09It is a great day to our citizens in Georgia, and it is a great day to be your Georgian,
17:14and God bless you all, and God bless Georgia.
17:22Well, thank you, Speaker Burns, again, for your leadership, and congratulations to everybody.
17:27Right before you mentioned Commissioner Kevin Tanner, Marty was tapping me going,
17:32you didn't say Kevin Tanner was here, so my apologies to you and Caleb and your great leadership.
17:48We're going to move to the bill signing table, and our staff will take over and call
17:50up those that need to be called up.
17:51So, thank you all.
17:52The first bill we're going to sign is HB 428.
17:55If you're interested in being up here for HB 428, please come up now.
18:13All right.
18:24Okay.
18:26Way to go, thank you.
18:28All right, everybody ready?
18:45Thanks all again for your reach.
19:28Next, we'll be signing HB 94.
19:46If you want to be up here for HB 94, please make your way up or stay up here.
19:55I can't remember the number.
20:02I think it's the fourth one now.
20:12Okay, everybody.
20:13We've got House Bill 94.
20:15This is health, benefit, policies, utility.
20:47Next, the governor will sign HB 89.
20:54If you're an interested party for HB 89, you can make your way forward now.
21:06Next, the governor will sign HB 89.
21:12If you're an interested party for HB 89, you can make your way forward now.
21:19All right.
21:20We've got House Bill 89.
21:21This is the Department of Public Health.
21:26Thanks for the agency's legislation.
21:27We appreciate all of our public health folks for what they do.
22:25All right.
22:29Next, we have HB 584.
22:30next we have HB 584 if you're an interested party for HB 584 you can come up now
23:00all right we've got a little DCH DTH DT legislation appreciate all this hard work
23:30thank you
24:00Next, the governor will sign HB 473.
24:10If you're an interested party for HB 473, you can come up.
24:19All right.
24:20We've got an annual drug update bill.
25:00Finally, the governor will sign SB 55.
25:08If you're an interested party for SB 55, please come up.
25:15You want to come up while we sign it?
25:17All right.
25:30Here we go.
25:31All right.
25:31All right.
25:32All right.
25:33Did you go 55?
25:34Okay.
25:35Everybody?
25:36Everybody?
25:37Yes.
25:38I'll put you here.
25:39All right.