HR 712: House Study Committee on Protecting Working Families; create

This resolution does not change any Georgia law on its own. Instead, it creates the House Study Committee on Protecting Working Families, made up of 11 House members appointed by the Speaker, to study how federal budget cuts to Medicaid and SNAP (food assistance) could affect Georgians and what the state might do about it. The resolution's preamble lists ideas the committee could look at, such as a state emergency Medicaid fund, a state food security fund, small business tax credits, an affordable insurance pool, a state food purchase program, a Medicaid buy-in program, maternity care grants, and matching grants to food pantries. The committee can meet as needed, members get standard legislative allowances for up to five days, and funding comes from the House's existing budget. The committee must file any findings or recommended legislation before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Protecting Working Families, made up of 11 House members chosen by the Speaker.
• Directs the committee to study the potential effects of federal Medicaid and SNAP funding cuts on Georgia families, businesses, and communities.
• Authorizes the committee to recommend legislation or other action based on its findings.
• Sets legislative allowances for committee members under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days unless more are approved, funded from the House's existing budget.
• Requires the committee to file a report with the Clerk of the House if it approves findings or recommendations before it is abolished.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

The 11 House members appointed to the committee; and, through the study's subject matter, Georgians who rely on Medicaid or SNAP, including low-income families, seniors, veterans, first responders, rural hospitals, small businesses, and food pantries and religious nonprofits that provide food assistance.

The resolution itself creates no new benefits or funding; it only sets up a committee to study the issue. Any concrete state protections, such as an emergency Medicaid fund or food assistance grants, would require separate legislation based on what the committee recommends before Georgians would see any actual change.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Protecting Working Families.
• Paragraph (2) sets the committee at 11 House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) directs the committee to study the issues described in the preamble and recommend action or legislation it deems necessary.
• Paragraph (5) sets member allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, limited to five days absent additional authorization, funded from the House of Representatives' appropriated funds.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved findings or legislative recommendations to be filed as a report with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-03-28House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-25House Hopper (House)

• Sam Park (D, HD-107)Primary sponsor
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Tanya F. Miller (D, HD-62)
• Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)
• Al Williams (D, HD-168)
• Park Cannon (D, HD-58)

• Medicaid funding
• SNAP benefits
• food insecurity
• maternal health
• legislative study committee