HR859: HR859 House Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities; create

This resolution creates the House Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities. The committee would have seven members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker, who would also name a chairperson. The committee's job is to study the conditions, needs, and problems around placing students with disabilities in inclusive classroom settings alongside students without disabilities, and to recommend any action or legislation it thinks is needed. Members would receive standard legislative allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five meeting days unless more are approved, paid from House funds. If the committee approves findings by majority vote, the chairperson would file a report with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities, made up of seven House members chosen by the Speaker.
• Directs the committee to study data, benefits, and barriers related to including students with disabilities in general classroom settings.
• Allows the committee to recommend legislation or other action based on its findings.
• Sets legislative allowances for committee members for up to five days of work, funded through the House of Representatives' budget, unless more days are authorized.
• Requires any approved findings or 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 seven House members appointed to the committee, students with disabilities in Georgia's public schools, their families, and the educators and school districts who make decisions about classroom placement and inclusive education practices.

The resolution itself does not change any law or school policy. It sets up a temporary legislative committee to gather information on inclusive education for students with disabilities, which could later shape proposed legislation affecting how Georgia schools serve these students.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at seven House members appointed by the Speaker, who also designates the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying inclusive education conditions and problems and recommending legislation if appropriate.
• Paragraph (5) limits paid allowances to five meeting days unless additional days are authorized, funded from House appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires committee approval by majority vote before any report can be filed with the Clerk of the House.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-02House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-31House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-28House Hopper (House)

• Marvin Lim (D, HD-098)Primary sponsor
• Karen Lupton (D, HD-083)

• special education
• students with disabilities
• inclusive classrooms
• Georgia legislature study committees
• education policy