HR757: HR757 House Study Committee on Civil Rights Protections; create

Georgia does not currently have a broad state civil rights law covering discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and public services the way many other states do. This resolution would create the House Study Committee on Civil Rights Protections to look into that gap. The committee would have five House members appointed by the Speaker of the House, who would also name a chairperson. It would review Georgia's existing anti-discrimination laws, look at data on discrimination, study other states' and federal civil rights laws, examine enforcement tools like state agency roles and private lawsuits, and weigh the impact of any new rules on businesses and government. Members would get standard legislative allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five meeting days unless more are approved, funded through the House's existing budget. The committee must file any findings or a report before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates a five-member House Study Committee on Civil Rights Protections, with members and a chairperson appointed by the Speaker of the House.
• Directs the committee to review Georgia's current anti-discrimination laws and identify gaps in protections for employment, housing, public accommodations, and public services.
• Requires the committee to study enforcement mechanisms, other states' civil rights laws, and the potential impact of new legislation on businesses and government.
• Sets committee member pay using existing legislative allowance rules and funds the work from the House of Representatives' budget, capped at five paid meeting days unless more are approved.
• Sets a hard end date for the committee: it is abolished on December 1, 2025, with any report due before that date.

The five House members appointed to serve on the committee, House leadership involved in appointments, and more broadly Georgians affected by potential future civil rights legislation, including employees, renters, businesses, and government agencies that could be shaped by the committee's recommendations.

No new civil rights law is created by this resolution itself; it only sets up a study process. Any real change in protections against discrimination in jobs, housing, or public services in Georgia would depend on legislation the committee recommends later, not on this resolution.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Civil Rights Protections.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at five House members appointed by the Speaker, who also designates the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) lists the committee's study topics, including reviewing existing Georgia anti-discrimination law, analyzing discrimination data, comparing other states' and federal laws, assessing enforcement mechanisms, and evaluating impacts on businesses and government.
• Paragraph (5) ties member pay to allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, caps paid days at five unless more are authorized, and funds the committee from House appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved findings or legislative recommendations to be filed as a report with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-03-31House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-28House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-27House Hopper (House)

• Jasmine Clark (D, HD-108)Primary sponsor
• Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)
• Marvin Lim (D, HD-098)
• Imani Barnes (D, HD-086)

• civil rights
• anti-discrimination law
• housing discrimination
• employment discrimination
• legislative study committee