HR711: HR711 House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education; create

Georgia has seen rising chronic absenteeism, defined in the resolution as missing 10 percent or more of school days, with a statewide rate of 21.7 percent in 2024 and even higher rates in places like Atlanta Public Schools and Decatur County Schools. This resolution responds by creating the House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education. The committee would have six members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson. The committee is tasked with studying the causes of absenteeism and recommending legislation or other action. Members would receive standard legislative allowances funded through the House of Representatives budget, capped at three days of pay unless extended. The committee must file any approved findings or recommendations before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education, made up of six House members appointed by the Speaker.
• Directs the committee to study the causes of chronic absenteeism and recommend legislation or policy action to address it.
• Sets member pay under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at three days of allowances unless additional days are approved.
• Funds the committee's work through money already appropriated to the House of Representatives, rather than new state spending.
• Requires any approved report or recommendations to be filed with the Clerk of the House before the committee dissolves.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

The resolution directly affects the six House members appointed to the committee, the Speaker of the House who appoints them, and the Clerk of the House who receives any final report. Indirectly, it concerns Georgia's public school students, families, teachers, and school administrators dealing with absenteeism.

By creating a temporary legislative body focused solely on school attendance, the resolution sets up a process for lawmakers to gather evidence and propose future bills, but it does not itself change any law, funding, or school policy right now.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education.
• Paragraph (2) sets the committee at six House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying attendance-related conditions and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (5) limits member allowances to three days under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 unless more days are authorized, funded from the House's existing budget.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved findings, recommendations, or meeting minutes to be filed with the Clerk of the House before abolishment.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on 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. 2025-03-27House Second Readers (House)
5. 2025-03-25House First Readers (House)
6. 2025-03-21House Hopper (House)

• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)Primary sponsor
• Will Wade (R, HD-009)
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)
• Mike Cheokas (R, HD-151)
• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)

1. PassedHouse voteApril 4, 2025

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

   Uncontested House Resolutions: House Vote #444

• school attendance
• chronic absenteeism
• public education
• legislative study committee