HR 1650: House Study Committee on Local Government Emergency Disaster Relief Loans; create

When a disaster is federally declared, local governments in Georgia can get reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for eligible disaster expenses, but only after they pay those costs themselves first. Many local governments do not have enough cash on hand to cover this gap before FEMA money arrives. This resolution creates the House Study Committee on Local Government Emergency Disaster Relief Loans, made up of five House members appointed by the Speaker, to study whether Georgia should create its own bridge loan program. The committee would look at similar programs in other states, how a Georgia program could be funded and run, and whether current law needs to change. It can hold meetings, receive standard legislative allowances, and must file any findings or recommended legislation before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Local Government Emergency Disaster Relief Loans, made up of five House members appointed by the Speaker.
• Directs the committee to study whether Georgia should create a bridge loan program to help local governments cover disaster costs before FEMA reimbursement arrives.
• Authorizes the committee to hold meetings and requires the Speaker-appointed chairperson to call and organize them.
• Allows committee members to receive standard legislative daily allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days unless more are approved.
• Requires any approved findings or proposed legislation to be filed as a report with the Clerk of the House before the committee ends.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2026.

The five House members appointed to the committee, local city and county governments that respond to federally declared disasters, and state budget officials who would weigh in on funding a potential future loan program. FEMA's reimbursement process for local disaster expenses is the backdrop for the study.

If the study leads to a real bridge loan program, local governments facing hurricanes, floods, or other disasters could get faster access to cash for cleanup and repairs instead of waiting on federal reimbursement, potentially easing budget strain during emergencies. For now, the resolution only sets up the research process, not the program itself.

• Paragraph 1 creates the House Study Committee on Local Government Emergency Disaster Relief Loans.
• Paragraph 2 sets committee membership at five House members chosen by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph 3 directs the committee to study disaster loan needs and recommend legislation if warranted.
• Paragraph 5 ties member pay to existing legislative allowance rules (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) and funds the committee through the House of Representatives' existing budget.
• Paragraph 6 lays out reporting rules, requiring majority committee approval before any findings or proposed legislation can be filed with the Clerk of the House.
• Paragraph 7 abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-25House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-03-12House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-10House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-03-09House Hopper (House)

• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)Primary sponsor
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)

• disaster relief
• local government funding
• FEMA reimbursement
• emergency management
• legislative study committees