HR100: HR100 House Study Committee on the Cumulative Impact of Pollution on Economic Development and Growth; create

This resolution does not change any law directly. Instead it creates the House Study Committee on the Cumulative Impact of Pollution on Economic Development and Growth, a temporary panel tasked with looking into how pollution affects Georgia communities, property values, public health, and economic growth. The committee would have 11 members appointed by the Speaker of the House, including five state representatives, officials from the Environmental Protection Division, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Human Services, plus academic, nonprofit, and community representatives. The committee can hold meetings, study the issues described in the resolution, and recommend legislation. Legislative members get standard travel and expense allowances, and other members can receive daily expense payments. The committee must file any findings or recommended legislation with the Clerk of the House before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the House Study Committee on the Cumulative Impact of Pollution on Economic Development and Growth, made up of 11 appointed members.
• Directs the Speaker of the House to appoint five legislators plus representatives from three state agencies and three outside groups with pollution or economic development expertise.
• Authorizes the committee to hold meetings, study pollution's effects on health and the economy, and recommend legislation or other action.
• Sets pay rules: legislative members get standard legislative allowances, state employees get expense reimbursement, and other members get a daily allowance capped at five days unless extended.
• Requires the committee to file a report with the Clerk of the House if it approves findings or recommendations by majority vote.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

The bill mainly affects the appointed committee members themselves: five state representatives, staff from the Environmental Protection Division, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Human Services, and representatives from academia, nonprofits, and affected communities. Indirectly, it concerns Georgians living near industrial facilities and businesses affected by pollution.

The resolution does not change any environmental or economic development law by itself. It sets up a formal process for lawmakers to gather information on how pollution affects property values, health, and jobs, which could shape future legislation on industrial siting, public health, or economic development in affected communities.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on the Cumulative Impact of Pollution on Economic Development and Growth.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at 11, naming specific agencies and community roles, and has the Speaker designate a legislative chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) gives the committee power to study pollution related conditions and recommend legislation it finds necessary.
• Paragraph (4) lets the chairperson call meetings at any time or place needed to carry out the committee's work.
• Paragraph (5) sets pay and expense rules, including a five day cap on allowances unless additional days are authorized, funded through House appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved findings or recommended legislation to be filed as a report with the Clerk of the House before the committee ends.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-02-03House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-01-30House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-29House Hopper (House)

• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)Primary sponsor
• Karla Drenner (D, HD-085)
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)
• Long Tran (D, HD-080)
• Marvin Lim (D, HD-098)

• pollution
• economic development
• public health
• environmental policy
• legislative study committees