Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HR 1657: House Study Committee on Medicaid Waiver Populations and Long-Term Financial and Administrative Sustainability; create
Last action March 25, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported
A Georgia House resolution would create a five-member study committee to examine Medicaid waiver programs in Georgia, looking at how the state funds and administers long-term services for older adults, children with complex medical needs, and people with disabilities.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Medicaid waiver programs let Georgia use federal Medicaid dollars flexibly to design services for specific groups, such as older adults, children with complex medical needs, and people with disabilities who need long-term care. This resolution does not change any waiver rules itself. Instead it sets up the House Study Committee on Medicaid Waiver Populations and Long-Term Financial and Administrative Sustainability to look into how these programs are structured, funded, and administered in Georgia. The Speaker of the House would appoint five representatives to the committee, one of whom chairs it. The chair calls meetings, and members can receive standard legislative daily allowances under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 28-1-8) for up to three days unless more are approved. The committee must file any findings or proposed legislation before it is automatically abolished on December 1, 2026.
What the bill does
- Creates the House Study Committee on Medicaid Waiver Populations and Long-Term Financial and Administrative Sustainability within the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Directs the Speaker of the House to appoint five representatives to the committee, including one chairperson.
- Authorizes the committee to study Medicaid waiver populations and services and recommend legislation it finds necessary.
- Sets member pay using existing legislative allowance rules (O.C.G.A. 28-1-8), capped at three paid days unless additional days are approved.
- Requires the committee to file an approved report or meeting minutes with the Clerk of the House before it is abolished.
- Automatically dissolves the committee on December 1, 2026.
Who it affects
Members of the Georgia House of Representatives appointed to the committee, and indirectly Medicaid waiver beneficiaries such as older adults, children with complex medical needs, and people with disabilities, along with the state agencies that administer Medicaid waiver programs.
Why it matters
The resolution itself changes no Medicaid policy or funding. It sets up a fact-finding process that could lead to future legislation affecting how Georgia pays for and administers long-term services for vulnerable populations, so any real-world impact would depend on what the committee later recommends.
Key provisions
- Paragraph (1) formally creates the study committee.
- Paragraph (2) sets committee size at five House members appointed by the Speaker, with one designated chairperson.
- Paragraph (3) gives the committee authority to study Medicaid waiver issues and recommend action or legislation.
- Paragraph (5) sets funding and per diem rules, capping paid allowances at three days unless extended and specifying that House funds cover legislative members' costs.
- Paragraph (6) requires a report or, absent one, meeting minutes to be filed with the Clerk of the House before abolishment.
- Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.
From the bill
“There is created the House Study Committee on Medicaid Waiver Populations and Long-Term Financial and Administrative Sustainability.”
“The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.”
Discussed in meetings (5)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Special Rules Committee, March 16, 2026
From 0:18:23 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: A presenter speaking for the sponsor said HR 1657 would create a study committee on Medicaid waiver populations and the programs’ long-term financial and administrative sustainability. One committee member questioned the need for another study, saying data already showed which populations and areas needed Medicaid services. The presenter said the study would involve state partners and examine administrative burdens as well as the programs’ future. Asked what prompted the proposal, the presenter said they had been recruited at the last minute and were not an expert on Medicaid waivers, but described the sponsor’s interest in reducing administrative burdens and overseeing executive agencies. The chair said this was a hearing only. No vote was taken, and the chair said the presenter would be invited back.
House Special Rules Committee, March 23, 2026 (part 1)
From 0:16:24 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented HR 1657 as creating a study committee on Medicaid waiver populations and long-term financial and administrative sustainability. The sponsor cited changes in the field and said the proposal would support further examination during the period between legislative sessions, even if the resolution did not advance beyond Rules. Members asked no substantive questions. The committee approved the resolution by voice vote and sent it to Rules.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Alan Powell (R, HD-33)
- Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
- Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)
- Lee Hawkins (R, HD-27)
- Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
- Demetrius Douglas (D, HD-78)
Topics
- Medicaid waivers
- long-term care
- disability services
- state government study committees
- health policy