HR 257: House Special Committee on Oversight of Federal Funds; create

This resolution sets up the House Special Committee on Oversight of Federal Funds, a temporary panel of nine state representatives tasked with digging into how Georgia handles federal grant dollars. The committee would be able to demand records like Notices of Grant Award, account ledgers, financial statements, and budget comparisons, and it could compel testimony from witnesses under oath about how federal funds are tracked, spent, and audited. The chairperson would be picked by the Speaker of the House, with four members named by the Majority Leader and four by the Minority Leader. The committee could subpoena witnesses and documents, hold hearings during the legislative interim, and would receive standard legislative per diem for up to five meeting days unless more are approved. It must file any findings with the Clerk of the House, and the committee automatically ends on December 15, 2026.

• Creates a nine member House Special Committee on Oversight of Federal Funds, with members appointed by House leadership.
• Gives the committee power to issue subpoenas, put witnesses under oath, and compel production of financial records related to federal funds.
• Directs the committee to examine detailed federal grant data, including award notices, account ledgers, financial statements, and audit findings.
• Sets committee meeting and reporting rules, including a requirement that subpoenas need committee or chairperson approval.
• Provides standard legislative allowances (O.C.G.A. Section 28-1-8) for up to five meeting days, funded through the House's existing budget.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 15, 2026.

State agencies and officials that receive or administer federal grant funds, House members appointed to the committee, and any witnesses who could be subpoenaed to testify or produce records about how federal money is tracked, spent, and audited in Georgia.

If created, the committee could pull detailed financial records and compel sworn testimony from state officials about federal grant spending, giving lawmakers a formal, subpoena-backed way to scrutinize how federal dollars are managed and whether any funds were misused.

• Paragraph 1 delegates House authority to create the special committee and formally authorizes it.
• Paragraph 2 sets committee composition: a chairperson named by the Speaker, four members named by the Majority Leader, and four by the Minority Leader.
• Paragraph 3 grants the committee power to administer oaths, subpoena witnesses and documents, take depositions, and enforce subpoenas, while requiring committee or chairperson consent before a subpoena is issued.
• Paragraph 4 allows meetings at any time, including during the legislative interim after the House adjourns for the year.
• Paragraph 5 sets member allowances under O.C.G.A. Section 28-1-8, capped at five days unless extended, funded from the House's existing appropriation.
• Paragraph 6 requires any adopted findings or reports to be approved by majority vote and filed with the Clerk of the House.
• Paragraph 7 abolishes the committee on December 15, 2026.

1. 2025-02-19House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-18House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-13House Hopper (House)

• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)Primary sponsor
• Samuel Park (D, HD-107)
• Tanya Miller (D, HD-062)
• Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)
• Kimberly Alexander (D, HD-066)
• Al Williams (D, HD-168)

• federal funding oversight
• legislative investigations
• government accountability
• state budget transparency