[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6688003,"mediaKeyId","2346971-edd4071dafc9ae5632a009a2f3324873","parentId",2346971,"title","Committee holds hearing on bill to designate second Monday in August as Locally Elected Officials Day","audioSeconds",152,"startMs",2549855,"endMs",2702080,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2346971-edd4071dafc9ae5632a009a2f3324873&start=2549&end=2702","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2346971-edd4071dafc9ae5632a009a2f3324873/thumbnail_2549855.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6688003/Georgia/Committee-holds-hearing-on-bill-to-designate-second-Monday-in-August-as-Locally-Elected-Officials-Day","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6688003-6af11c0dadc3c84a23abb3f6af5af9ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1770963160&Signature=V7lsaJz5~cmjmIEsWfnwqzGBJxpk8AIQOfD-cuDuoCDxW58eysJWThLatFVZlUa4KWX4LorGtfNy5KQByhbXdvfvSBK-DaBuE6s0dBr0EYHDPDBNCEMP8ugCcK5sxVD0VqlSmEjnxmrCRKsk5IrFXn1gWtrwO-INGsCiLrcTKwguvN0E7ZfqOKdm97Q1fA0~1UTgSpHcoxY5VcLQZGeXCGIs5sLmABvBd83zU0gRybyShY8Mjx91BI5cg6M0OB83HYZ576dluGlzW0qwU59Q9mbRXghV5p7csz5dd-VlPrZthXS7UxVzaExa0tCbwVxAy0GSh7zJB8q0-agZZ0bJSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-02-19T21:11:34.63Z","article","The Committee on Special Rules held a hearing on House Bill 259 (LC394556), a bill that would designate the second Monday in August each year as Locally Elected Officials Day.

Representative Sharper, who introduced the bill, said the measure would recognize local elected officials (city and county officials and local judges) and encourage businesses to offer acknowledgements similar to veterans’ recognitions. Sharper told the committee he had contacted restaurants and community partners that said they would offer free meals or other acknowledgements to local officials if the bill is adopted. He said the intent is to show appreciation for the often “thankless” work of local officeholders.

Members asked clarifying questions. Representative Taylor asked why the bill applies only to local officials and not to state lawmakers; Sharper said he excluded state officials intentionally so the measure would not be perceived as legislators giving a benefit to themselves. Representative Griffin spoke in support, noting the difficulty of local public service. The committee treated the item as a hearing only; Representative Sharper was to return at a later date for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Rules 02.19.25","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Sharper presented House Bill 259 (LC394556) to designate the second Monday in August each year as Locally Elected Officials Day; the item was a hearing only and received bipartisan support in discussion but no committee vote.","taxTitle","Special Rules, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",17382,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6688009,"Committee approves bill to name Brunswick stew Georgia’s official stew",187,2204559,2391755,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2346971-edd4071dafc9ae5632a009a2f3324873&start=2204&end=2391","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2346971-edd4071dafc9ae5632a009a2f3324873/thumbnail_2204559.jpg","/articles/6688009/Georgia/Committee-approves-bill-to-name-Brunswick-stew-Georgias-official-stew","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6688009-88a50a99effa4e1024e24ca99f52c886/orig.mp4?Expires=1770963160&Signature=Sq~n~p5i8uDcBp1oDunCUVRkRTBMqZ~Y8grSVoG88ZX-myqfIwLR9IX6mQHWBcF2oL3IdMnkpMCRQjUQtHIS9o3V-JsUq8ChWs4v9~MOTKNuzCF4kfloe0lAY4kCkfX0TRtpTxXtkEyVsDwx6vFX~wK7Q3a5Mg~6EOQOefIP1vQnjSXpNEdRS9Oaryu4mCo3J84dUmh3O6LJV7eIorQtjPdF~5ZdXZ09L6JtzkcdgFpYZAXbiQZaLInTtGZx5-Q-lBH4Y5OtON8UALqr9XhK5ROjKMZujc9-di~k376e9tvdnzhagw4sNZrwfsY1a8m2r3mZU0Ui9XbHOFhMJRsoig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Special Rules voted to pass House Bill 233 (LC394510), a measure seeking to designate Brunswick stew as the official stew of Georgia.

Representative Townsend presented the bill and described Brunswick stew’s local and economic significance, saying it “originated in Brunswick, Georgia in 07/02/1898.” He told the committee that the annual Stew Boulée brings thousands of people to the region and that events tied to Brunswick stew raised “over $22,000 for local youth and youth groups” in Glynn County, with proceeds benefiting organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club and Safe Harbor.

Tyler Lewis of Peachtree Government Relations, representing the city of Brunswick, read a sentence from a letter of support by the mayor that said the delegation “serves as an opportunity to promote our local heritage, support economic development through culinary tourism, and continue fostering pride in Georgia's unique identity.” Committee members asked clarifying questions about ingredient variations and event participation; the author invited committee members to attend local events and noted vendors often pair cornbread with the stew.

The committee moved and seconded the bill and passed it on the rules agenda by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.","The committee approved House Bill 233 (LC394510) to designate Brunswick stew as the official stew of Georgia; proponents said the designation promotes local heritage and culinary tourism and cited recent fundraising tied to stew events.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6688014,"Committee advances bill to name cornbread Georgia’s state bread",96,1895520,1992375,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2346971-edd4071dafc9ae5632a009a2f3324873&start=1895&end=1992","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2346971-edd4071dafc9ae5632a009a2f3324873/thumbnail_1895520.jpg","/articles/6688014/Georgia/Committee-advances-bill-to-name-cornbread-Georgias-state-bread","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6688014-f550f7ff242d98e18b889c158949b802/orig.mp4?Expires=1770963160&Signature=YeUlSqKAoT9H3VfgRpu-acTfr5KpcC50BE67PVq7IuLlVVRjwYIJbtMz5SmuU4oE0Ix8n3W3nQ6FKVb8hP5iC43-mmaWysWZd4QP2CRZi~dOPy0FO5hOSUcitG-8GWTzaXcKVONIRvpME9UGptQFQcXA9mdm1nVvh5jCAj7xHy5mgAUvNo2WDd1EIrYlCYKAg9mvlJ2HB-GbhVX5raatdqwnCu6~d5qJFm1AUNwdh4rvTZpqh4zjAazsR8G~SIUh5QyyWpRjEhSsGjl1jJ1JIKBQ3CWpi5tB-ccloJJJWmDBJhDsHJagSUFkqY2x4A-DtTFT9b6mHT6hElkY6hyZvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Special Rules advanced House Bill 14 (LC550345) to designate cornbread as Georgia’s official state bread.

A presenter told the committee the bill had previously passed the House but was held in the Senate the prior year and that the measure “just dedicates, the state bread of Georgia as cornbread.” The presenter framed cornbread as a unifying cultural food with historical roots in methods taught to settlers by Indigenous peoples.

Committee members discussed variations in cornbread recipes and regional food pairings. Representative Griffin said she would support the bill but joked she would prefer the bill also include collard greens; the committee noted there is a separate House bill, House Bill 65, concerning collard greens. Representative McQueen asked whether the bill would specify preparation methods (from-scratch vs. boxed mixes) and the presenter replied it would not.

Representative Rhodes asked that cornbread be made available if the bill reaches the House floor; the presenter said he would try to arrange cornbread and collard greens if the bill comes to the floor. The committee moved and seconded the bill and passed it on the rules agenda by voice vote; the transcript does not include a roll-call tally.

Outcome: Bill passed out of committee for floor consideration. No vote tally or named mover/second was recorded in the committee transcript.","The Committee on Special Rules advanced House Bill 14 (LC550345) to designate cornbread as the state bread of Georgia; members discussed regional preferences and accompanying dishes such as collard greens.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":91,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6688018,"Committee approves bill designating April as Georgia Native Plant Month",1667260,1763320,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2346971-edd4071dafc9ae5632a009a2f3324873&start=1667&end=1763","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2346971-edd4071dafc9ae5632a009a2f3324873/thumbnail_1667260.jpg","/articles/6688018/Georgia/Committee-approves-bill-designating-April-as-Georgia-Native-Plant-Month","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6688018-ddc9cbfbc61c10134c5f570e6df6639b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770963160&Signature=elYsYIsrY~Lf8-mw2IlQo2rlxK51898QSnhNGR98JqY7gNgLin6wPyAZiJrbszt57nMiLiGOxquCUlsza-3IgnDGAM~Ku89q6wV7buEFbEyUnZWKWzlcGZ2U0u2w81HPZ3bXT9mjJ~RszZqmemv7IZ3aynH5ZtnetEIqHEndEH-cOKwxcgaLatsIvIfMp9fZ2KkUfuDxzkTYr9IRqutDMeo6x6TsVMRxuGDp2I-3vzG1aSJD3qi2CCCDHnp1hmpRbCermE2xAUilNmOt71YUVB8pTjGqw-A8ItB13e~cz8fLBJD12jSt3NAVQsZxFSb99NliUkEdDM7jy8ns7PM8Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Special Rules approved House Bill 444 (LC461081) on a voice vote to designate April as Georgia Native Plant Month.

Chairlady Silcox, who presented the bill, said the measure grew out of community requests from garden clubs and the Native Plant Society and is intended to encourage Georgians to “plant native plants, because everybody grows best, you know, where they're planted.” She cited recent introductions of nonnative species — including armadillos and a “terrible hornet” found by Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper — as part of the reason for the designation. The bill’s LC number was given as LC461081.

The bill sponsor said the bill was drafted to avoid confusion with an earlier proposal that would have changed the state flower. Committee members asked a few procedural questions and then moved and seconded the bill for passage. The committee chair called for those in favor; the measure passed on the rules committee.

Outcome and next steps: The committee approved the bill for consideration by the full chamber; no roll-call tally was recorded in the committee transcript. Any additional floor amendments or Senate action were not discussed during the committee appearance.","The Committee on Special Rules approved House Bill 444 (LC461081) to designate April as Georgia Native Plant Month to encourage planting native species and address recent invasive-species problems.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee holds hearing on bill to designate second Monday in August as Locally Elected Officials Day

Committee approves bill to name Brunswick stew Georgia’s official stew

Committee advances bill to name cornbread Georgia’s state bread

Committee approves bill designating April as Georgia Native Plant Month