HR685: HR685 House Study Committee on Mental Health Workforce Development; create

Georgia faces a shortage of mental health professionals, with more than half of the United States living in an area officially short on mental health providers. This resolution responds by creating the House Study Committee on Mental Health Workforce Development. The five member committee, appointed by the Speaker of the House, would study current undergraduate degree paths, projected mental health careers, and employment needs, then recommend legislation or other action to grow the mental health workforce, particularly by creating paths to licensure for bachelor's degree holders. The committee would fund itself through the House of Representatives' existing budget and standard legislative per diem allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8). It must file any findings before it is automatically dissolved on December 1, 2025.

• Creates a five member House Study Committee on Mental Health Workforce Development, with members appointed by the Speaker of the House.
• Directs the committee to study undergraduate degree options, projected mental health careers, and workforce shortages, especially in rural Georgia.
• Authorizes the committee to recommend legislation or other action to address the mental health workforce shortage.
• Allows committee members to receive standard legislative allowances for up to five days of meetings, paid from House funds.
• Sets an automatic end date for the committee of December 1, 2025, after which it must file a report or meeting minutes.

The resolution directly affects members of the Georgia House of Representatives appointed to the committee. More broadly, its subject matter concerns college students studying behavioral science or psychology, aspiring mental health counselors, and Georgians, particularly in rural areas, seeking mental health care.

If mental health workforce shortages continue, especially in rural Georgia, residents may struggle to access counseling and treatment. This committee's study could lead to future legislation creating licensure paths for bachelor's degree holders, potentially expanding the pool of available mental health workers.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Mental Health Workforce Development.
• Paragraph (2) sets the committee at five House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) directs the committee to study workforce shortages and recommend legislation or other action.
• Paragraph (5) ties member pay to existing legislative allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five meeting days, funded through the House of Representatives' budget.
• Paragraph (6) requires a report on findings or recommended legislation, approved by majority vote, filed with the Clerk of the House before abolishment.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-03-27House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-25House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-21House Hopper (House)

• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)Primary sponsor
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
• Mary Oliver (D, HD-084)
• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)

• mental health
• workforce development
• rural health care
• higher education
• legislative study committee