HR 685: House Study Committee on Mental Health Workforce Development; create

Georgia faces a shortage of mental health professionals, particularly in rural areas, and this resolution responds by setting up the House Study Committee on Mental Health Workforce Development. The Speaker of the House would appoint five representatives to the committee and name one as chairperson. The committee would study current undergraduate degree paths, projected mental health career opportunities, and workforce needs, with an eye toward creating a path to licensure or certification for people with bachelor's degrees in mental health related fields. It can hold meetings as needed and, if it approves findings by majority vote, file a report with the Clerk of the House, possibly including suggested legislation. Legislative members would receive standard allowances under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five days unless more are authorized, funded through the House's existing budget. The committee would automatically dissolve on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Mental Health Workforce Development, made up of five House members appointed by the Speaker.
• Directs the committee to study undergraduate degree options, job prospects, and workforce needs for mental health careers in Georgia.
• Allows the committee to recommend legislation or actions to address the mental health workforce shortage.
• Sets legislative member pay using existing per diem and travel allowance rules (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8), capped at five days unless extended.
• Requires committee funding to come from the House of Representatives' existing appropriated funds rather than new money.
• Automatically abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025, after it files a report or meeting minutes.

Members of the Georgia House of Representatives appointed to the committee, college students considering mental health related degrees, aspiring mental health professionals seeking licensure paths, and Georgians, especially in rural areas, who need better access to mental health services.

The resolution does not change any law itself, but it sets up a formal process for lawmakers to gather information on Georgia's mental health workforce shortage. Any recommendations the committee makes could shape future legislation on licensure paths and workforce funding.

• Paragraph 1 creates the House Study Committee on Mental Health Workforce Development.
• Paragraph 2 sets the committee at five House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph 3 charges the committee with studying workforce needs and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph 5 ties member pay to O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 and limits it to five days of allowances unless more are authorized, funded from the House's own budget.
• Paragraph 6 outlines how the committee must approve and file any report or recommended legislation with the Clerk of the House.
• Paragraph 7 abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-03-27House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-25House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-21House Hopper (House)

• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)Primary sponsor
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
• Jan Jones (R, HD-47)
• Mary Margaret Oliver (D, HD-84)
• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)

• mental health workforce
• rural health care
• professional licensing
• legislative study committee