HR207: HR207 House Study Committee on the Eradication of Homelessness; create

Homelessness affects Georgians in many ways, from the cost to individuals and families to the burden on businesses, neighborhoods, and government. This resolution responds by creating the House Study Committee on the Eradication of Homelessness, made up of nine members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker, drawn from committees including Appropriations, Higher Education, Public Health, Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Urban Affairs, among others. The committee would study the causes of homelessness, such as lack of affordable housing, job shortages, domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental illness, and recommend action or legislation it finds necessary. The chairperson, chosen by the Speaker, would call meetings and, if the committee approves findings by majority vote, file a report with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished on December 1, 2025. Members receive standard legislative allowances funded through the House's existing budget.

• Establishes the House Study Committee on the Eradication of Homelessness, made up of nine members of the House of Representatives.
• Directs the Speaker of the House to appoint members from eight specific House committees plus one additional member, and to name a chairperson.
• Authorizes the committee to study the causes of homelessness and recommend legislation or other action.
• Sets a process for the committee to approve and file a report with the Clerk of the House, or file meeting minutes if no report is approved.
• Provides legislative allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 (per diem and expense payments for lawmakers) for up to five days unless more are authorized.
• Sets December 1, 2025 as the date the committee is automatically abolished.

Members of the Georgia House of Representatives who would serve on or chair the committee, and more broadly Georgians experiencing or at risk of homelessness, since the committee's recommendations could shape future state legislation on housing, healthcare, and social services.

If created, the committee could produce specific legislative proposals addressing housing shortages, mental illness, substance abuse, and other drivers of homelessness identified in the resolution, potentially shaping future state policy and funding decisions on the issue.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on the Eradication of Homelessness.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at nine House members, one each from eight named committees plus one additional member, appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying homelessness-related conditions and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (5) ties member allowances to O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 and caps them at five days unless additional days are authorized, funded through the House's existing appropriated funds.
• Paragraph (6) requires any adopted report to be approved by majority vote of a quorum before the chairperson files it with the Clerk of the House.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-02-11House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-10House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-06House Hopper (House)

• Eric Bell (D, HD-075)Primary sponsor
• David Huddleston (R, HD-072)
• Mary Oliver (D, HD-084)
• Inga Willis (D, HD-055)
• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)

• homelessness
• housing policy
• legislative study committees
• mental health and substance abuse
• affordable housing