HR304: HR304 House Study Committee on the Costs and Effects of Smoking; create

This resolution sets up a temporary study committee in the Georgia House of Representatives focused on smoking and its costs. The preamble cites the toll of smoking-related disease, secondhand smoke exposure, and the billions of dollars in medical costs and lost productivity nationwide. The committee would have five House members, all appointed by the Speaker of the House, who would also name the chairperson. The committee's job is to study smoking-related health and economic issues, including impacts on Medicaid and Medicare, and to recommend legislation if it sees fit. Members would receive standard legislative allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, funded through the House's existing budget, capped at three days of allowances unless more are approved. The committee must file any report before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the House Study Committee on the Costs and Effects of Smoking, made up of five House members.
• Gives the Speaker of the House sole authority to appoint all committee members and designate the chairperson.
• Directs the committee to study the health and economic costs of smoking, including Medicaid, Medicare, and lost worker productivity, and recommend legislation if warranted.
• Sets committee member pay using existing legislative allowance rules (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8), capped at three days unless additional days are authorized.
• Funds the committee from money already appropriated to the House of Representatives rather than new funding.
• Abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025, requiring any report to be filed and approved before that date.

This resolution directly affects members of the Georgia House of Representatives who may be appointed to the study committee. Indirectly, its findings could eventually touch public health agencies, Medicaid and Medicare programs, and Georgians affected by smoking or secondhand smoke, if the committee's recommendations lead to future legislation.

The resolution itself does not change any law or fund any program beyond the study; it simply directs a small group of legislators to gather information on smoking's health and financial costs in Georgia. Any real-world effect on smokers, health care costs, or Medicaid depends on legislation the committee might recommend later.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on the Costs and Effects of Smoking.
• Paragraph (2) sets the committee at five House members, all appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying smoking-related costs and problems and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (5) ties member pay to O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 allowances, limited to three days unless extended, funded from existing House appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved report to be filed with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished.
• Paragraph (7) sets the committee's abolishment date as December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-04House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
2. 2025-04-04House Third Readers (House)
3. 2025-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
4. 2025-02-21House Second Readers (House)
5. 2025-02-20House First Readers (House)
6. 2025-02-19House Hopper (House)

• Michelle Au (D, HD-050)Primary sponsor
• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)

1. PassedHouse voteApril 4, 2025

   166 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 9 absent)

   Uncontested House Resolutions: House Vote #444

• smoking and tobacco
• public health
• legislative study committee
• Medicaid and Medicare
• secondhand smoke