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

House Resolution 1032

By: Representatives Jones of the 60th, McClain of the 109th, Glaize of the 67th, and Oliver of the 84th

A RESOLUTION

Creating the House Study Committee on Raising the Minimum Wage in Georgia; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, since 2009, the federal minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour, which equates to an annual salary of $15,080.00 for a full-time worker covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act; and

WHEREAS, since 1997, Georgia's minimum wage has been $5.15 per hour, which equates to an annual salary of $10,712.00 for a full-time worker; and

WHEREAS, three states, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Wyoming, have a lower minimum wage than the federal minimum wage, and five states, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee, have no state minimum wage, meaning the federal minimum wage applies in those eight states; and

WHEREAS, thirty-four states, territories, and districts have a minimum wage that is higher than the federal minimum wage, including Florida, which will increase its minimum wage to $15.00 per hour in September 2026; and

WHEREAS, raising the minimum wage will benefit workers in Georgia by improving morale, boosting living standards, increasing spending power, and improving chances of upward mobility; and

WHEREAS, raising the minimum wage will benefit employers in Georgia by creating a stable, experienced, and loyal workforce, boosting worker productivity, reducing absenteeism, and lowering costs for recruitment and training; and

WHEREAS, raising the minimum wage will benefit Georgia by stimulating the economy and job growth, boosting consumer spending, increasing tax revenue, reducing poverty and inequality, lowering reliance on public assistance, and attracting and retaining workers and employers; and

WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to study the best way to raise the minimum wage in this state as well as what minimum wage would be the most effective and beneficial for all Georgians.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee on Raising the Minimum Wage in Georgia.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.

(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.

(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.

(5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives.

(6) Report.

(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.