HR712: HR712 House Study Committee on Protecting Working Families; create

25 LC 60 0151 House Resolution 712 By: Representatives Park of the 107 th, Hugley of the 141 st, Miller of the 62 nd, Frye of the 122nd, Williams of the 168th, and others A RESOLUTION Creating the House Study Committee on Protecting Working Famili es; and for other1 purposes.2 WHEREAS, the State of Georgia receives approximately $19 billio n from the federal3 government and any federal budget cuts will require the General Assembly to significantly4 slash funding, which will negatively affect Georgians' salaries , quality of life, access to5 healthcare, and ability to access essential services; and6 WHEREAS, reductions in federal Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program7 (SNAP) funding will have a significant negative impact on certain vulnerable populations,8 small businesses, rural communities, veterans, and first responders in this state; and9 WHEREAS, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health, nearly 2.5 million10 Georgians rely on Medicaid, including low-income working families, children, seniors, and11 people with disabilities, and any reduction in federal Medicaid funding could lead to higher12 uninsured rates, more expensive health insurance plans for families and employers, and an13 increased financial strain on hospitals, particularly in rural areas; and14 WHEREAS, over 1.4 million Georgians depend on SNAP benefits to afford basic nutrition,15 with working families, single parents, and low-income seniors b eing among the largest16 H. R. 712 - 1 - 25 LC 60 0151 recipients, and reductions in SNAP funding could result in high er food insecurity rates,17 increased pressure on food banks, and negative health outcomes for vulnerable populations;18 and19 WHEREAS, food insecurity remains a pressing issue in Georgia, w ith 13.1 percent of20 residents (approximately 1 in 8) experiencing food insecurity, including 18.4 percent of21 children (approximately 1 in 5), and the demand for food assistance has surged due to rising22 grocery prices and economic challenges; and23 WHEREAS, working families in Georgia already face rising healthcare costs, limited access24 to health insurance, and disparities in maternal health outcomes, disproportionately affecting25 women, children, and communities of color; and26 WHEREAS, Georgia has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country (13.4 percent), and27 cuts to Medicaid funding could further erode access to affordable healthcare for working28 families and small business employees; and29 WHEREAS, Georgia ranks among the worst states for maternal mort ality, with Black30 mothers facing a mortality rate more than twice that of white m others, and expanded31 Medicaid access has been shown to improve maternal health outcomes; and32 WHEREAS, over 152,000 women in Georgia live in maternity care deserts, putting them at33 greater risk of adverse health outcomes due to lack of accessible and equitable maternal care;34 and 35 WHEREAS, the loss of SNAP and Medicaid benefits would have casc ading economic36 effects, including reduced consumer spending, financial strain on small businesses and the37 state, and increased uncompensated care costs for hospitals and healthcare providers; and38 H. R. 712 - 2 - 25 LC 60 0151 WHEREAS, strengthening state based protections, such as emergency Medicaid funds, food39 security programs, and small business tax incentives, can help mitigate the negative impacts40 of federal policy changes and ensure that working families, first responders, veterans, and41 vulnerable populations continue to have access to essential healthcare and nutrition; and42 WHEREAS, the Georgia legislature understands that certain state-driven protections may be43 necessary to ensure that these individuals, businesses, and com munities continue to have44 access to essential healthcare and food security benefits, incl uding, but not limited to, the45 following protections:46 (1) State emergency Medicaid fund. The fund would provide healthcare coverage to47 individuals who lose Medicaid benefits due to federal policy changes;48 (2) State food security fund. The fund would provide grocery assistance benefits to49 first responders, veterans, and other eligible individuals equivalent to any loss of SNAP50 benefits due to federal policy changes;51 (3) Small business tax credits. Small business employers would receive tax credits for52 making certain healthcare contributions related to responding to reductions in Medicaid53 funding;54 (4) Affordable insurance pool for small businesses. Individuals affected by reductions55 in Medicaid funding would have the option to participate in and have access to subsidized56 healthcare coverage;57 (5) State funded food purchase program. The state would purchase and distribute58 local produce, dairy, and meat to food banks, K-12 schools, senior meal programs, and59 families with an incarcerated parent or a parent recently released from incarceration;60 (6) State funded Medicaid buy-in program. Individuals who lose Medicaid benefits61 due to federal policy changes would be permitted to purchase state sponsored coverage62 at subsidized rates;63 (7) State funded maternity care grants. Pregnant women from low-income64 households, children in households that lose access to benefits under Medicaid or the65 H. R. 712 - 3 - 25 LC 60 0151 Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and low-income mothers denied abortion66 access due to state restrictions would receive direct financial assistance from the state for67 maternity healthcare expenses; and 68 (8) State funded grants to food assistance organizations. Church-run pantries and69 religious, nonprofit organizations would receive state dollar-for-dollar matching grants70 to support their existing efforts of providing food assistance; and71 WHEREAS, a study is needed to evaluate these protections and ot hers, determine policy72 goals, and identify appropriate legislative actions to mitigate any adverse impact of federal73 Medicaid and SNAP funding changes on these individuals, businesses, and communities.74 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:75 (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee76 on Protecting Working Families.77 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of 11 members of the78 House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of79 Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson80 of the committee.81 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,82 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or83 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.84 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee85 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or86 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and87 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.88 (5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive89 the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Offic ial Code of Georgia90 Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any91 H. R. 712 - 4 - 25 LC 60 0151 member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. 92 Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds93 appropriated to the House of Representatives.94 (6) Report.95 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that96 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the97 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to98 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.99 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for100 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)101 of this paragraph.102 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of103 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.104 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with105 the Clerk of the House of Representatives.106 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the107 House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu108 thereof.109 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.110 H. R. 712 - 5 -