SR489: SR489 Senate Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities; create

This resolution creates the Senate Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities. It responds to research cited in the resolution's preamble suggesting that students with disabilities benefit academically and socially when taught alongside students without disabilities, and that such settings do not harm other students. The committee would have seven senators appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom would serve as chairperson. It would study conditions and problems related to inclusive education for students with disabilities and could recommend legislation. Members would receive standard legislative allowances under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five meeting days unless more are approved, funded through the Senate's budget. The committee must file any approved report before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the Senate Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities, made up of seven senators.
• Directs the President of the Senate to appoint the members and designate one as chairperson.
• Authorizes the committee to study issues around inclusive education for students with disabilities and recommend legislation.
• Sets a cap of five paid meeting days per member unless additional days are authorized, funded from the Senate's existing budget.
• Requires any approved findings or recommendations to be filed as a report with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee ends.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

The resolution directly affects the seven senators who would be appointed to the study committee. Indirectly, it concerns Georgia students with disabilities, their families, teachers, and school administrators, since the committee's work centers on how these students are placed and supported in classrooms.

The committee's findings could shape future legislation on how Georgia schools place and support students with disabilities in classrooms alongside their peers. For now, the resolution itself changes no laws or school practices; it only sets up a temporary body to study the issue and report back.

• Paragraph (1) formally creates the Senate Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at seven senators appointed by the President of the Senate, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying inclusive education issues and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (4) lets the chairperson schedule meetings as needed to carry out the committee's work.
• Paragraph (5) limits paid allowances to five days per member unless more days are authorized, funded through Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires a majority vote to approve any report, which must be filed with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee's end date, or minutes filed instead.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-03-31Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
3. 2025-03-31Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
4. 2025-03-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
5. 2025-03-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)Primary sponsor
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)

1. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   52 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 1 absent)

   Consent Calendar For Senate Study Committees: Senate Vote #380

• students with disabilities
• special education
• inclusive classrooms
• legislative study committee
• Georgia schools