HR 590: House Study Committee on Telecommunications Services and Programs for the Hearing and Visually Impaired; create

Since 1990, Georgia's Public Service Commission has run a dual party relay service and related programs, such as an audible information access service and equipment distribution, to help deaf, hard of hearing, and blind Georgians communicate. This resolution notes that newer technology has sharply reduced use of the older relay service over the past 35 years, raising questions about whether these programs still fit current needs. The resolution creates the House Study Committee on Telecommunications Services and Programs for the Hearing and Visually Impaired, made up of five House members chosen by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson. The committee would study these programs, hold meetings as needed, and can recommend legislation. Members get standard legislative allowances, funded through the House's existing budget, capped at five paid days unless more are approved. The committee must file any report before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Establishes a five-member House study committee focused on telecommunications relay services and equipment programs for people with hearing, speech, or visual impairments.
• Directs the Speaker of the House to appoint all five members and designate one as chairperson.
• Authorizes the committee to study current programs and recommend legislation or other action it deems necessary.
• Sets standard legislative per diem and travel allowances (O.C.G.A. 28-1-8) for members, capped at five paid days unless additional days are authorized.
• Requires any approved findings or recommendations to be filed as a report with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

The resolution most directly affects members of the House of Representatives appointed to the committee, the Public Service Commission's relay and equipment programs, and Georgians who are deaf, hard of hearing, or visually impaired who rely on these telecommunications services.

The study committee's work could shape whether Georgia keeps, changes, or replaces decades-old telecommunications assistance programs as technology evolves. Any resulting legislation could affect how deaf, hard of hearing, and blind Georgians access phone and communication services going forward.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Telecommunications Services and Programs for the Hearing and Visually Impaired.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at five House members appointed by the Speaker, who also picks the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying the relay service and related programs and recommending any needed legislation.
• Paragraph (5) funds the committee through existing House appropriations and limits paid allowances to five days absent additional authorization.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved report to be filed with the Clerk of the House before abolishment, or minutes filed if no report is approved.
• Paragraph (7) sets the committee's abolishment date as December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-03-25House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
3. 2025-03-20House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-03-18House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-03-13House Hopper (House)

• Robert Dickey (R, HD-134)Primary sponsor
• Don Parsons (R, HD-44)
• Chuck Martin (R, HD-49)
• Mary Frances Williams (D, HD-37)
• Victor Anderson (R, HD-10)

• disability services
• telecommunications
• hearing impairment
• blind and visually impaired services
• legislative study committees