HR847: HR847 House Study Committee on Evaluating Funding for Public Health; create

Georgia's public health system, run mainly through the Department of Public Health, has historically received a much smaller share of state health spending than other health agencies. This resolution responds to that by creating the House Study Committee on Evaluating Funding for Public Health. The Speaker of the House would appoint five House members to the committee and name one as chairperson. The committee would study how the state's public health system is organized and funded, what services it currently provides, and whether the state needs to take further action. It can hold meetings as needed, and legislative members can receive standard travel and expense allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to three days unless more are approved. Any findings or proposed legislation must be approved by majority vote and filed with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Evaluating Funding for Public Health, made up of five House members appointed by the Speaker.
• Directs the Speaker to designate one committee member as chairperson, who calls and organizes all meetings.
• Charges the committee with studying how Georgia's public health system is structured and funded and what services it provides.
• Allows legislative members to receive standard state travel and expense allowances for up to three meeting days, with more allowed if authorized.
• Requires any approved findings or legislative recommendations to be filed as a report with the Clerk of the House before the committee ends.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

The bill directly affects members of the Georgia House of Representatives appointed to the committee, the Department of Public Health, and other state health agencies whose funding and structure would be studied. It could eventually affect Georgians who rely on public health services if the study leads to funding changes.

The committee itself changes no funding or programs, but its findings could shape future legislation on how much money Georgia's public health system receives compared to other health agencies, which affects services like disease prevention and community health programs statewide.

• Paragraph 1 creates the House Study Committee on Evaluating Funding for Public Health.
• Paragraph 2 sets committee membership at five House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph 3 gives the committee power to study public health funding and structure and recommend action or legislation.
• Paragraph 5 sets funding rules, capping paid allowances at three meeting days unless additional days are authorized, funded through the House of Representatives' budget.
• Paragraph 6 requires any adopted report or legislative recommendations to be approved by majority vote and filed with the Clerk of the House.
• 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 By Substitute (House)
4. 2025-03-31House Second Readers (House)
5. 2025-03-28House First Readers (House)
6. 2025-03-28House Hopper (House)

• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)Primary sponsor
• James Hatchett (R, HD-155)
• Katie Dempsey (R, HD-013)
• Butch Parrish (R, HD-158)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)

1. PassedHouse voteApril 4, 2025

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

   Uncontested House Resolutions: House Vote #444

• public health funding
• state budget
• legislative study committee
• Department of Public Health