HR 512: House Study Committee on the Addiction Epidemic and Solutions for Recovery; create

This resolution creates the House Study Committee on the Addiction Epidemic and Solutions for Recovery, a temporary panel tasked with examining addiction in Georgia, including substance use and behavioral addictions, and identifying ways to help communities, healthcare providers, law enforcement, schools, and businesses respond. The committee would have 13 members: eight House members and five nonlegislative citizens, including a representative from the Georgia Council for Recovery, a physician specializing in addiction treatment, someone who lost a family member to overdose, a recovery organization staff member, and a certified peer specialist. The Speaker of the House appoints all members and names the chairperson. The committee can hold meetings, study the issue, and recommend legislation. Members receive standard state travel and expense allowances, capped at five days unless extended. The committee must file any report before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates a 13-member House Study Committee on the Addiction Epidemic and Solutions for Recovery to study addiction issues in Georgia.
• Requires the Speaker of the House to appoint eight legislative members and five nonlegislative citizen members, including specific roles like a physician and an overdose survivor's family member.
• Authorizes the committee to hold meetings, study addiction-related conditions and needs, and recommend legislation it finds necessary.
• Sets standard state travel and daily expense allowances for committee members, capped at five days unless additional days are authorized.
• Requires the committee chairperson to file an approved report or meeting minutes with the Clerk of the House before the committee dissolves.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

Members of the Georgia House of Representatives appointed to the committee, citizen representatives such as physicians who treat addiction, recovery organization staff, peer specialists, and families affected by overdose, as well as Georgians who rely on addiction treatment and recovery services statewide.

The committee would give Georgia lawmakers a formal venue to gather information on addiction's impact on families, workplaces, and public safety, potentially shaping future legislation on treatment funding, recovery programs, or coordination among healthcare, law enforcement, and community groups.

• Paragraph (1) establishes the House Study Committee on the Addiction Epidemic and Solutions for Recovery.
• Paragraph (2) sets membership at 13, with eight House members appointed by the Speaker and five specific nonlegislative citizen roles.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying addiction-related conditions and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (5) details expense allowances for legislative, state employee, and citizen members, capped at five days absent further authorization.
• Paragraph (6) requires any adopted findings or reports to be filed with the Clerk of the House before the committee's abolishment date.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-03-27House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
3. 2025-03-10House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-03-06House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-03-04House Hopper (House)

• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)Primary sponsor
• Matthew Gambill (R, HD-15)
• Todd Jones (R, HD-25)
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
• Marvin Lim (D, HD-98)
• Carter Barrett (R, HD-24)

• addiction recovery
• substance abuse policy
• public health
• legislative study committees