HR817: HR817 House Study Committee on Governmental Use of Drones and Unmanned Aircraft from Foreign Adversaries; create

This resolution creates the House Study Committee on Governmental Use of Drones and Unmanned Aircraft from Foreign Adversaries. The committee would be made up of five members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker, who would also name a chairperson. The committee's job is to study concerns raised in the resolution, such as foreign-made drones operating near sensitive infrastructure, data collection by drone manufacturers based in countries considered adversarial, risks to military installations in Georgia, and gaps in state and federal policy on government drone procurement and use. The committee can hold meetings as needed and would recommend any legislation it thinks is necessary. Members would receive standard legislative allowances for up to five days unless more are approved, funded through the House of Representatives budget. The committee must file a report of its findings before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Governmental Use of Drones and Unmanned Aircraft from Foreign Adversaries, made up of five House members appointed by the Speaker.
• Directs the committee to study security, privacy, and procurement issues tied to government drone use, including drones made by foreign adversaries.
• Authorizes the committee to hold meetings and recommend legislation or other action based on its findings.
• Sets legislative allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 for committee members, capped at five days of meetings unless additional days are approved.
• Requires the chairperson to file a report with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished, or file meeting minutes if no report is approved.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

Members of the House of Representatives appointed to the committee, state and local government agencies that use drones such as law enforcement, and by extension Georgians concerned about privacy, data security, and drone activity near military installations and critical infrastructure in the state.

The study could shape future Georgia laws on how government agencies buy and use drones, particularly those made by foreign manufacturers, potentially affecting data privacy protections, security around military sites and infrastructure, and rules for law enforcement drone surveillance.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Governmental Use of Drones and Unmanned Aircraft from Foreign Adversaries.
• Paragraph (2) sets the committee's size at five House members appointed by the Speaker, who also designates the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) gives the committee authority to study drone-related security, privacy, and procurement issues and recommend legislation.
• Paragraph (5) ties member allowances to O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five paid days unless more are authorized, funded through House appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires a report to the Clerk of the House if findings or recommendations are approved by majority vote, or meeting minutes if no report is approved.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
3. 2025-03-28House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-03-27House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-03-27House Hopper (House)

• David Clark (R, HD-100)Primary sponsor
• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)
• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
• Eddie Lumsden (R, HD-012)
• Brad Thomas (R, HD-021)

• drone regulation
• government surveillance
• data privacy
• national security
• legislative study committees