HB 1608: Georgia Youth Advisory Council; create

Georgia currently has no formal statewide council of young people advising the Governor. This bill would add a new article to state law (O.C.G.A. Title 50, Chapter 12) creating the Georgia Youth Advisory Council, made up of 15 members: one youth from each of Georgia's congressional districts plus one at-large member appointed by the Governor. Members must be state residents between 14 and 21 when appointed, serve two-year terms, and can be reappointed. The Governor's office would run the application process. The council would elect its own chairperson and meet at least quarterly. Its job is to advise the Governor on issues affecting young people, including education, employment, safe environments, substance abuse, health, foster care, poverty, homelessness, and access to services. It can form committees on topics like cyber fraud and online predators, and must send an annual report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and House Speaker by November 30 each year. Members are unpaid but get expense reimbursement, and the Governor's office provides staff support.

• Creates a new 15-member Georgia Youth Advisory Council made up of youth ages 14 to 21, with one member per congressional district plus one at-large appointee.
• Requires the Governor's office to set up an application process open to youth statewide and to administer appointments.
• Sets two-year terms for members, allows reappointment, and requires the council to meet at least quarterly.
• Directs the council to study youth issues, recommend policy changes, and form committees on topics like online scams and digital predators.
• Requires an annual report on the council's activities and recommendations to be sent to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and House Speaker by November 30.
• Provides that members serve without pay but can be reimbursed for expenses like travel, and that the Governor's office supplies administrative support.

Georgia youth between ages 14 and 21 who could apply to serve on the council, the Governor's office which runs the application process and provides staff support, and state leaders including the Lieutenant Governor and House Speaker who receive the council's annual reports.

The bill would give young Georgians a formal, recurring channel to raise concerns directly with the Governor on issues like education, mental health, foster care, and online safety, and would require the state to act on those findings through annual public reporting.

• Section 1 (new O.C.G.A. § 50-12-160) defines 'youth' as ages 14 to 21 and creates the 15-member council, one per congressional district plus one at-large Governor appointee.
• Establishes two-year terms, an application process run by the Governor's office, quarterly meetings, and unpaid service with expense reimbursement.
• New § 50-12-161 sets the council's advisory purpose, covering education, employment, health, foster care, poverty, homelessness, and youth access to services, and allows forming committees on topics like cyber fraud and online predators.
• New § 50-12-162 requires an annual report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House by November 30 each year.
• New § 50-12-163 assigns the Office of the Governor to provide administrative support, including staffing meetings and preparing the annual report.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-04-02House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-31House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-27House Hopper (House)

• Omari Crawford (D, HD-089)Primary sponsor
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)
• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)
• Akbar Ali (D, HD-106)
• Imani Barnes (D, HD-086)

• youth advisory council
• state government
• education policy
• online safety
• governor's office