HR655: HR655 House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia; create

Georgia lawmakers have repeatedly considered letting voters decide whether the state and its counties could allow land based destination resort casinos, horse racing with betting, and sports betting. This resolution does not legalize any of that. Instead it creates the House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia to look at whether expanding gaming would help the economy, create jobs, boost tax revenue, and support Georgia's horse breeding industry, while also weighing possible social costs. The seven member committee would include the chairs of the House Ways and Means, Regulated Industries, and Economic Development committees, plus four more House members picked by the Speaker, one of whom chairs the group. It must hold at least four public hearings around the state plus one meeting to finalize findings, and file a report with any recommended legislation. Members get standard legislative allowances, funded through the House's existing budget. The committee is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia to study legalizing casinos, horse racing betting, and sports betting.
• Sets the committee's membership at seven: three House committee chairs (Ways and Means, Regulated Industries, Economic Development) and four more members picked by the Speaker.
• Requires at least four public hearings across the state and one meeting to finalize findings before issuing a report.
• Directs the committee to recommend any legislation it finds necessary, with funding drawn from money already appropriated to the House.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

Members of the Georgia House of Representatives appointed to the committee, particularly the chairs of the Ways and Means, Regulated Industries, and Economic Development committees. Georgians interested in casino gaming, horse racing, sports betting, and the state's horse breeding industry would also be affected by any resulting recommendations.

No gaming law changes yet; this only sets up a committee to gather information and public input across the state. Its report could shape future legislation on casinos, horse racing betting, or sports betting, which would affect state revenue, jobs, and Georgia's agricultural horse industry.

• Paragraph (1) formally creates the House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia.
• Paragraph (2) sets the committee at seven members, including three named House committee chairs and four Speaker appointees, one serving as chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying gaming related issues and recommending action or legislation it deems necessary.
• Paragraph (4) requires at least four public hearings statewide plus one meeting to finalize findings.
• Paragraph (5) grants legislative allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days unless extended, funded from the House's existing appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires the committee to file a report with findings and any proposed legislation before it is abolished.
• Paragraph (7) sets the abolishment date as December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-03-25House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-21House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-20House Hopper (House)

• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)Primary sponsor
• Shaw Blackmon (R, HD-146)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)

• gaming legislation
• casino gambling
• horse racing betting
• sports betting
• legislative study committee