HR 1032: House Study Committee on Raising the Minimum Wage in Georgia; create

Georgia's state minimum wage has remained $5.15 per hour since 1997, well below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which has applied in Georgia since federal law preempts the lower state rate. This resolution does not raise the minimum wage itself. Instead, it creates the House Study Committee on Raising the Minimum Wage in Georgia to look into the issue. The Speaker of the House would appoint five House members to the committee and name one as chairperson. The committee could hold meetings, study conditions and problems related to the minimum wage, and recommend legislation. Members would receive standard legislative allowances for up to five meeting days unless more are approved, funded through the House's existing budget. The committee must file any approved findings or recommendations with the Clerk of the House before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Raising the Minimum Wage in Georgia, made up of five House members appointed by the Speaker.
• Directs the Speaker to name a chairperson who will call and organize the committee's meetings.
• Authorizes the committee to study minimum wage issues and recommend legislation, but does not raise the minimum wage itself.
• Sets member allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five paid days unless additional days are approved, funded from the House's existing budget.
• Requires any approved report or recommendations to be filed with the Clerk of the House before the committee's abolishment.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2026.

The five House members appointed to the committee, the Speaker of the House who makes the appointments, and indirectly Georgia workers and employers whose wages and labor costs could be affected by any future legislation the committee recommends.

The resolution itself changes nothing about pay for Georgia workers, since it only sets up a study process. But its findings could shape future legislation on the state's minimum wage, which has stayed far below the federal rate for nearly three decades and lower than every neighboring state's applicable minimum.

• Paragraph (1) formally creates the House Study Committee on Raising the Minimum Wage in Georgia.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at five House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying minimum wage conditions and recommending action or legislation it deems necessary.
• Paragraph (5) limits paid allowances to five days per member unless additional days are authorized, funded through the House's existing appropriation.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved report, with or without proposed legislation, to be filed with the Clerk of the House before abolishment.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-01-28House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-16House Hopper (House)

• Sheila Jones (D, HD-060)Primary sponsor
• Dewey McClain (D, HD-109)
• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-067)
• Mary Oliver (D, HD-084)

• minimum wage
• worker pay
• study committee
• Georgia labor law