Tort reform bill faces pushback; Senate debates book bans; Ga. HS Basketball Finals

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary
Episode: Tort reform bill faces pushback; Senate debates book bans; Ga. HS Basketball Finals
Release Date: March 4, 2025
Host: Sophie Gradas

---

1. Urgent Warning About Counterfeit Pills Containing Fentanyl

Timestamp: [00:00 - 00:14]

The episode opens with a critical alert regarding the dangers of counterfeit pills. An expert from DBHDD warns, “One of every ten counterfeit pills contains fentanyl, a powerful and very deadly drug. Pills from friends or dealers are unsafe” (00:03). Host 1 emphasizes the severity by stating, “And one pill can cause an overdose” (00:12). Listeners are encouraged to seek more information at opioidresponse.info.

---

2. Governor Brian Kemp's Tort Reform Bill Faces Pushback

Timestamp: [01:08 - 02:14]

Governor Brian Kemp’s proposed tort reform bill, Senate Bill 68 (SB 68), aims to reduce insurance premiums for businesses by limiting their liability in personal injury cases. However, the legislation is encountering resistance from survivors of violent crimes. Atlanta attorney Kara Phillips expresses concerns, stating, “Survivors of sexual assault, including people I represent, could be barred from a jury trial and damages if the bill passes” (01:59). Another expert highlights the misuse of the term “frivolous lawsuits,” arguing that victims bring up lawsuits to prevent further harm (02:05). Sophie Gradas notes that SB 68 passed the Georgia Senate in late February and is now moving to the House for further debate (02:14).

---

3. Senate Debates Book Bans in Libraries and Schools

Timestamp: [02:36 - 03:14]

The Georgia Senate is revisiting Senate Bill 74 (SB 74), which seeks to expand book ban laws in schools and state-run libraries. The bill would punish librarians who allow access to what is deemed “harmful material” for minors. Senator Max Burns argues, “It protects children and makes an exception for librarians who mistakenly break the rules” (02:36). Conversely, Senator Josh McLaurin opposes the bill, claiming it aims to control librarians: “The threat of being charged is going to make that librarian comply with the first demand” (03:08). SB 74 passed the Senate along party lines and will proceed to the House (03:14).

---

4. Dignity and Pay Act Passes in Georgia Senate

Timestamp: [03:25 - 04:03]

Senate Bill 55 (SB 55), known as the Dignity and Pay Act, mandates that companies pay employees with disabilities at least the minimum wage. Currently, some individuals with disabilities earn as little as 22 cents per hour. The bill garnered bipartisan support, passing with a vote of 5-13. Gainesville State Senator Republican Drew Echols shares a personal connection, stating, “We all know this is a matter of minimum wage. It’s ultimately a matter of value and dignity. My son Cohen is no less deserving of a minimum wage than a typical, fully functioning adult” (03:49). SB 55 now moves to the House for further debate (04:03).

---

5. Georgia Senate Bans Gender-Affirming Care for Minors

Timestamp: [04:03 - 04:55]

The Georgia Senate has approved Senate Bill 30 (SB 30), which prohibits the prescription of puberty blockers and other gender-affirming treatments for individuals under 18. Savannah State Senator Republican Ben Watson defends the bill, stating, “We are here to protect minors. That is part of what we do” (04:34). In contrast, Duluth State Senator Democrat Nabila Islam Parks criticizes the legislation, arguing, “It’s about stripping transgender youth of their right to health care and criminalizing the doctors who provide it” (04:47). SB 30 passed the Senate with a vote of 34 to 19, largely along party lines, and will advance to the House (04:55).

---

6. Tariffs Impact Georgia’s Logistics Industry

Timestamp: [04:55 - 05:43]

The Trump administration’s tariffs on major trading partners are set to affect Georgia’s robust logistics sector, particularly the Port of Savannah. Market experts like Sina Golara from Georgia State University explain, “Tariffs on China in particular will drive down container traffic” (05:27). This reduction in imports could decrease economic activity across the supply chain, impacting everything from port operations to trucking and warehousing (05:27). Despite the challenges, the Port of Savannah continues to break cargo traffic records, though the Georgia Ports Authority CEO did not address the tariffs in a recent annual address (05:43).

---

7. Renaming Fort Moore to Fort Benning Sparks Debate

Timestamp: [05:43 - 07:31]

Georgia officials are contesting the Trump administration’s decision to rename Fort Moore back to Fort Benning. U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff criticizes the move as “a sleight of hand to restore a name honoring the Confederacy” (06:25). The rename is justified by the administration, stating it honors a World War I soldier with the same surname, distancing from Confederate ties. This decision emerges amid broader efforts to remove Confederate names from military bases initiated during the Biden administration.

---

8. Georgia Declared Free of Avian Influenza

Timestamp: [07:31 - 08:03]

Georgia's Agriculture Commissioner, Tyler Harper, announced that the state is now free of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu), following 28 days without new infections since January’s outbreak in Elbert County. However, Harper cautions that the virus remains active in the U.S., with new cases reported recently. He urges Georgia poultry producers to stay vigilant, noting that surging egg prices are linked to the ongoing battle with bird flu (06:50).

---

9. Merger of Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers and Carter Center’s Mental Health Program

Timestamp: [07:31 - 08:03]

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers (RCI) and the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program are merging their advocacy efforts to enhance support for mental health and caregiving. Horvi BHA, interim CEO of RCI, states, “The mission is to help people better care for one another” (07:31). Nicole Price adds, “This has been an exciting opportunity for us to join forces and work hard on expanding our reach to make sure that caregivers, family caregivers are better seen, heard and supported” (07:50). The merger is expected to be finalized by June 2025 (08:03).

---

10. Decline of Alcohol Consumption in Savannah and Impact on Tourism

Timestamp: [08:12 - 11:56]

Alcohol consumption is decreasing among Americans, particularly young adults, due to rising awareness of health risks. In Savannah, this trend is influencing the tourism economy. Nicole Price, managing the speakeasy at the American Prohibition Museum, demonstrates serving mocktails, highlighting a shift towards alcohol-free socializing (08:34). Dr. Sharon Bergquist from Emory University explains, “No amount of alcohol has a health benefit” (09:22), and mentions upcoming revisions to federal alcohol consumption guidelines based on recent scientific findings (09:35).

Michael Owens, president of the Tourism Leadership Council, asserts that Savannah’s tourism remains resilient: “Our tourism community is based on our history, our architecture, the aesthetics of Savannah” (10:12). Charles Marville from Georgia Southern University adds that mocktails are profitable alternatives for bars adapting to the decline in alcohol sales (10:32). Despite these changes, Savannah’s cultural attractions continue to draw visitors, ensuring the city's tourism sector remains robust (11:13).

Nicole Price reflects on the cultural shift, saying, “People are thinking more about the long run and kind of pivoting where they need to get that sort of thrill” (11:34). The movement towards moderation and alternative beverages suggests a lasting change in social habits within Savannah (11:56).

---

11. Georgia High School Basketball Finals Preview

Timestamp: [12:10 - 16:17]

The Georgia High School Association’s basketball finals are set to commence at the Macon Coliseum, with GPB Sports’ John Nelson and an expert discussing potential outcomes (12:58). They highlight the possibility of back-to-back championships for teams like Baldwin and perennial powerhouses such as Hebron Christian versus Holy Innocence. Additionally, underdog stories include Butler and Union County in Double A classifications, and Savannah and Washington Wilkes on the girls' side, both seeking their first titles in decades (14:07).

Key players to watch include Eric Chatfield from Pace Academy and Makai Joiner from Savannah on the boys’ side, and Aubrey Beckham and Haley Swain from Holy Innocence on the girls’ side (14:59). John Nelson emphasizes GPB’s comprehensive coverage of the finals, available through various platforms including gpbgpb.org, the GPB sports app, social media, and over-the-air broadcasts, ensuring fans can follow the action closely (15:38). The experts encourage listeners to tune in and support their favorite teams during the four-day competition (16:17).

---

For more detailed information on these stories, visit gpb.org/news.

Transcript

[Host 1]

DBHDD has an urgent warning for all Georgians.

[Expert 1]

One of every ten counterfeit pills contains fentanyl, a powerful and very deadly drug. Pills from friends or dealers are unsafe.

[Host 1]

And one pill can cause an overdose.

[Expert 1]

More [e-mail].

[Sophie Gradas]

Welcome to the Georgia TODAY Podcast from GPB News. On this podcast, we feature the latest reports from the GPB news team. We'd love to hear your feedback and or story tips, so send us an email to georgia todaypb.org Today is Tuesday, March 4th. I'm Sophie Gradas. On today's episode, Governor Brian Kemp's tort reform bill faces pushback from some survivors of violent crimes. The Georgia Senate reignites a debate over the banning of books deemed, quote, harmful material to minors. And the Georgia high school basketball finals begin tomorrow. We'll have a look at what's to come.

[Expert 1]

You've got a lot of big names, a lot of the powerhouses that are there, but there's also some really cool stories on the flip side, too.

[Sophie Gradas]

These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia today. Governor Brian Kemp's proposed tort reform bill aims to reduce insurance premiums for businesses by scaling back their liability in cases of personal injury. That legislation, Senate Bill 68, is getting some pushback from survivors of crimes that occurred in the places that would be protected under the new law. Some involved in negligence cases are now saying that the tort reform bill is moving too fast and without clear enough language. Atlanta attorney Kara Phillips says that survivors of sexual assault, including people she represents, could be barred from a jury trial and damages if the bill passes. She also referenced cases where people were violently harmed at amusement parks, apartment complexes and in churches.

[Expert 1]

Frivolous lawsuits is something that's thrown around a lot in my experience representing crime victims.

[Expert 2]

No one who has been sexually assaulted.

[Expert 1]

Wants to draw attention to that and bring it up. They're doing it because they don't want others to have the same thing happen to them.

[Sophie Gradas]

She wants lawmakers to consider amending the bill to protect the, quote, vulnerable. SB 68 passed the Georgia Senate in late February and was sent to the House for more debate. The Georgia Senate has reignited a debate on books children are allowed to access in libraries. GPB's Sarah Kalis has more.

[Expert 2]

SB 74 would amend a current law allowing book bans in school and state run libraries to also punish librarians who allow children to access, quote, harmful material. Supporters of the bill, like Senator Max Burns say it protects children and makes an exception for librarians who mistakenly break the rules.

[Expert 1]

They have the same affirmative defense if they make a good faith attempt to identify and remove from access.

[Expert 2]

But opponents like Senator Josh McLaurin say it seeks to control librarians because it's.

[Expert 1]

The threat of being charged that's going to make that librarian comply with the first demand.

[Expert 2]

SB 74 passed along party lines. It now moves to the House. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kalis at the State Capitol.

[Sophie Gradas]

A bill passed through the Georgia Senate yesterday that would require companies to pay people with disabilities minimum wage. Under current law, some people with disabilities are paid as little as 22 cents per hour. Senate Bill 55, named the Dignity and Pay act, received bipartisan support. Gainesville State Senator Republican Drew Echols said the bill is personal to him.

[Expert 1]

We all know this is a matter of minimum wage. It's ultimately a matter of value and dignity. I would submit to you that my son Cohen is no less deserving of a minimum wage than a typical, fully functioning adult.

[Sophie Gradas]

The bill passed 513 and now moves to the House for more debate. The majority of Georgia senators are in favor of banning prescriptions of puberty blockers for minors. Senate Bill 30, which passed through the state Senate yesterday, would outlaw those medications to treat gender dysphoria for those under 18 years old. It also would ban other forms of gender affirming care. Savannah State Senator Republican Ben Watson said the bill protects children.

[Expert 1]

Yes, we are here to protect minors. That is part of what we do. We don't allow minors to do lots of things.

[Sophie Gradas]

Duluth State Senator Democrat Nabila Islam Parks opposed the bill.

[Expert 1]

It's about controlling them. It's about stripping transgender youth of their.

[Expert 2]

Right to health care and criminalizing the.

[Expert 1]

Doctors who provide it.

[Sophie Gradas]

The bill passed 34 to 19 in a mostly party line vote. It now moves to the House for more debate. The Trump administration's tariffs on America's biggest trading partners will hit Georgia's powerhouse logistics industry, including the Port of Savannah. That's according to market experts including Sina Golara, who teaches supply chain management at Georgia State University. He says tariffs on China in particular will drive down container traffic.

[Expert 1]

Everyone is now incentivized to do less of these imports, which means less economic activity for anyone involved, like in the supply chain, like the people who work at the port, the companies who manage the trade, the trucking industry, the warehousing.

[Sophie Gradas]

The Port of Savannah continues to break cargo traffic records, and the CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority made no reference to tariffs at an annual address last week. Georgia leaders are blasting a decision by U.S. secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to rename Fort Moore back to Fort Benning. Hegseth announced the move yesterday as the Trump administration rolls back Biden era changes aimed at removing names honoring the Confederacy. Hegseth is renaming the base not for the Confederate Benning, but for a distinguished World War I soldier with the same last name. U.S. senator Jon Ossoff calls that a, quote, sleight of hand to restore a name honoring the Confederacy. Georgia is now once again free of highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu. Georgia's Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper today said the World Organization for Animal Health has recognized the state as bird flu free after at least 28 days of no new infections since January's outbreak in northeast Georgia's Elbert County. The virus remains very active in the US Though, with new cases reported as recently as last week. Harper warns Georgia poultry producers to remain vigilant. Surging egg prices over the last few years have been tied to the nation's ongoing battle with bird flu. The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, or rci, and the Carter Center's Mental Health Program are merging their advocacy efforts. Both mental health and caregiving were issues championed by the late former first lady. GPB's Ellen Eldredge has more.

[Expert 2]

The Carter Center's mental health program focuses on public policy, school based mental health and strengthening access to care worldwide. The Caregiver Institute advocates on behalf of family taking care of people who are aging, ill or disabled. Horvi BHA is the interim CEO of rci. She says the mission is to help people better care for one another.

[Nicole Price]

And so this has been an exciting opportunity for us to join forces and work hard on expanding our reach to make sure that caregivers, family caregivers are better seen, heard and supported.

[Expert 2]

The merger is expected to be complete by June of 2025. For GPB news, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[Sophie Gradas]

Alcohol is falling out of favor among many Americans, especially young adults. This comes as awareness grows about the health risks of even moderate consumption. So how is this public health awakening playing out in the party city of Savannah? And what does the decline of alcohol mean for its bustling tourism economy? GPB's Benjamin Payne reports.

[Nicole Price]

Nice little and then we shake.

[Host 1]

Nicole Price manages the speakeasy at the American Prohibition Museum in downtown Savannah. I meet her there on a Sunday, the day most bar in Georgia. Yes, even this speakeasy cannot serve booze because of state liquor laws. And so she makes me a mocktail.

[Nicole Price]

Get all those little ice chips out of there. And just like that, got a mocktail. That's our Brown Derby. You want to try it?

[Host 1]

I feel like I should drink it slowly, but I'm like, I guess I don't need to, right?

[Nicole Price]

Exactly. You get to sit and socialize like you're drinking a cocktail and you don't feel that weird stigma of, oh, you're not drinking. Why aren't you drinking?

[Host 1]

For many, it's because they know what Dr. Sharon Bergquist knows.

[Expert 1]

No amount of alcohol has a health benefit.

[Host 1]

Bergquist is a professor of medicine at Emory University and a researcher in preventative care. She says the federal government's dietary guidelines for alcohol consumption will be revised later this year.

[Expert 1]

The current ones, just to recap, say that for women, you can have up to one drink a night and for men, up to two drinks a night.

[Host 1]

But more recent science suggests even that much drinking in itself is enough to.

[Expert 1]

Lead to various cancers and health risks.

[Host 1]

The new guidelines will help inform public health policy and perceptions through 2030, and so Dr. Bergquist hopes they will more accurately reflect modern scientific understanding. Whether or not federal regulators sober up to the science and update the guidelines accordingly remains to be seen. But in Savannah, tourism leaders say they're ready for whatever the future may bring.

[Expert 1]

Our tourism community is not based on alcohol.

[Host 1]

Michael Owens is president of the Tourism Leadership Council, a trade group in Savannah, representing businesses in the city's $6 billion tourism industry.

[Expert 1]

Our tourism community is based on our history, our architecture, the aesthetics of Savannah. That's really the bread and butter of our visitors.

[Host 1]

This, he says, is why Savannah's tourism sector and its roughly 40,000 workers are well positioned to handle young Americans slow but steady decline in alcohol consumption.

[Expert 1]

People are drinking mocktails more than ever.

[Host 1]

Charles Marville is a business professor at Georgia Southern University, where he teaches food and beverage operations. He says the shift away from alcohol doesn't have to hurt a bar's bottom line.

[Expert 1]

Mocktails are very profitable. I've seen them on menus as expensive as any alcoholic drink, but the ingredients that go into them are generally juices and other types of flavoring agents that don't tend to have super high costs.

[Host 1]

Meaning mocktail profit margins could be even higher than those of their cocktail counterparts. But again, as Michael Owens from the tourism council pointed out, nowadays it's not so much Savannah's nightlife that draws visitors to Georgia's oldest city. Rather, it's cultural attractions like the American Prohibition Museum, where Nicole Price made me that alcohol free Brown Derby on a dry Sunday morning.

[Nicole Price]

I think people are thinking more about the long run and kind of pivoting where they need to get that sort of thrill. And so I think rather than just binge drinking, which was the culture when I was younger, like when I was 21, I think people are recognizing that you don't need to be drinking that heavily.

[Host 1]

And so the days may be numbered for the old joke here in the Hostess city that Savannah is a drinking town with a history problem. For GPB News, I'm Benjamin Payne in Savannah.

[Sophie Gradas]

Each morning it's a new opportunity, a chance to start fresh. Up first from NPR makes each morning an opportunity to learn and to understand. Choose to join the world every morning with Up First, a podcast that hands you everything going on across the globe and down the street, all in 15 minutes or less. Start your day informed and anew with up first by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. The Georgia High School Association's basketball finals begin tomorrow at the Macon Coliseum. After four days of competition, we'll find out if any dynasties fall, if Cinderella slippers fit on any teams, and who finally reigns supreme. With a lot riding on the outcome for players and coaches. GPB's Orlando Montoya spoke with John Nelson of GPB Sports.

[John Nelson]

Hi there, John.

[Expert 1]

Good to be with you, my friend. It is going to be a fun four days when it comes to hoops down in Macon. It's going to be a blast.

[John Nelson]

And we have the possibility of back to back championships in several divisions. Let's talk favorites.

[Expert 1]

Sure. I'll give you one off the top of my head. Baldwin and it's back to back, but it's a little different. They would be winning a championship in a different classification. It would be different A's attached to a place like Baldwin. And then you have, you know, perennial powers like Hebron Christian on the girls side and they're going up against Holy Innocence. And there's some backstory there with those two coaches and their, their time together all the way from central Georgia and private schools all the way up to private schools in the Atlanta area with Jan Azar, Nicole Dixon, you've got, let's see, perennial power and Wheeler, who has won like 38 bazillion championships in their time in the past. And so you've got a lot of, a lot of big names, a lot of, a lot of the, the powerhouses that are there. But there's also some really cool stories on the flip side too.

[John Nelson]

We have the possibility for Cinderella stories, too, underdogs without recent appearances in the finals to look out for as well. Who Are they?

[Expert 1]

Oh boy, we got a lot of them. I'm trying to flash really quickly. Okay, Double A, you have Butler. And Butler is chasing after their first title since 1966, with Chaz Clark on the flip side of that same bracket, they're playing Union County. Union county is chasing after their first ever title. They have not been in the final since 1971. You've got Savannah chasing after their first title since 1998. On the boys side, and I'll give you one on the girls side. Washington Wilkes, first winning season since 2018. First time out of the first round of the playoffs. First ever region championship. Lost their first six games. They've won 14 out of 16. They have 10 underclassmen on their team, eight freshmen on the roster.

[John Nelson]

I mentioned pressure to win. What kind of college prospects are in the mix here?

[Expert 1]

A lot. Looking on the the boys side of things, you look at Eric Chatfield, a point guard out of Pace Academy. You have Makai Joiner out of Savannah, who's a shooting guard you need to be paying attention to. On the girls side, you're looking at Aubrey Beckham and Haley Swain, two point guards, Hebrew and Christian. Holy innocence. Oh boy. I'm trying to like buzz through them really quickly. See, finding. Let's start there and just say watch them all. How about that?

[John Nelson]

And watch them all. On gpb, we've got a lot of ways for people to watch. We cover high school sports like no other broadcaster. How and when can people tune in?

[Expert 1]

Let's see, 1:00 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. And we go all the way through until the games are done. Four games each day, plus some really good competitions in between game two and game three. Whether it's wheelchair three pointer, slam dunk, 11am is the start. On Thursday, gpbgpb.org, the GPB sports app, all the GPB sports, social media, it's gonna be there and you can watch over the air. If you just wanna park in front of your couch, we're gonna be there for that four day period. We ain't leaving. They shouldn't either.

[John Nelson]

All right, John, it's always a pleasure having you on.

[Expert 1]

I'm gonna catch my breath. I'll see you on the other side.

[John Nelson]

See you later.

[Sophie Gradas]

That's it for today's edition of Georgia Today. Thanks so much for listening. If you would like to learn more about these stories, visit gpb.org news until tomorrow.