HR 859: House Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities; create

This resolution creates the House Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities. It does not change any existing law itself; instead it sets up a temporary group of seven House members, appointed by the Speaker of the House, to study how educating students with disabilities alongside their non-disabled peers affects outcomes like school performance, attendance, and independence as adults. The committee's chairperson, also picked by the Speaker, would call meetings and can hold them wherever needed. Members would receive standard legislative allowances under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8), paid from funds already appropriated to the House, capped at five days unless more are approved. If the committee approves findings or recommendations, including possible future legislation, the chairperson must file a report with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates a temporary seven-member House study committee focused on inclusive education for students with disabilities, appointed by the Speaker of the House.
• Directs the committee to study the benefits and challenges of educating students with disabilities in inclusive classroom settings.
• Allows the committee to recommend future legislation based on its findings.
• Sets standard legislative pay allowances for members, capped at five days unless additional days are authorized, funded through the House's existing budget.
• Requires a report to be filed with the Clerk of the House if the committee approves findings, or meeting minutes if it does not.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

The seven House members appointed to the committee, the Speaker of the House who appoints them, and indirectly students with disabilities, their families, and Georgia's public school educators and administrators whose practices the study would examine.

The resolution itself makes no policy changes to schools, but it sets up a formal process for lawmakers to gather evidence on inclusive classrooms, which could shape future legislation affecting how Georgia schools serve students with disabilities and their classmates.

• Paragraph (1) formally creates the House Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at seven House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) tasks the committee with studying inclusive education issues and recommending action or legislation as needed.
• Paragraph (5) sets member pay allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days absent additional authorization, funded from the House's budget.
• Paragraph (6) lays out reporting requirements, including filing an approved report or, absent one, meeting minutes with the Clerk of the House.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-02House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-31House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-28House Hopper (House)

• Marvin Lim (D, HD-98)Primary sponsor
• Karen Lupton (D, HD-83)

• special education
• inclusive classrooms
• students with disabilities
• legislative study committees
• education policy