HR 883: House Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism; create

House Resolution 883

By: Representatives Stephens of the 164th, Gambill of the 15th, Seabaugh of the 34th, Clark of the 100th, Sainz of the 180th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Creating the House Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Georgia offers diverse tourism experiences from coastal retreats and mountain escapes to small town charm and vibrant metro areas featuring a wide selection of hotels, shopping centers, and dining experiences; and

WHEREAS, Georgia attracts visitors through local celebrations, family vacations, business conferences, and sporting events; and

WHEREAS, Georgia is home to several major sports teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta United, University of Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and Savannah Bananas, further enhancing tourism appeal; and

WHEREAS, Georgia's beaches, mountains, waterfalls, lakes, and scenic trails are natural attractions that draw outdoors enthusiasts to this state; and

WHEREAS, Georgia boasts historic landmarks, museums, entertainment venues, and business conferences, welcoming millions of visitors annually; and

WHEREAS, increasing hotel stays boosts local economies, supports businesses, generates tax revenue, and creates hospitality jobs; and

WHEREAS, encouraging in-state travel, including weekend getaways and staycations, further stimulates economic activity; and

WHEREAS, Atlanta will host eight FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, and each match in Atlanta is expected to generate $4.6 million in global media exposure, enhancing Georgia's reputation as a premier travel destination; and

WHEREAS, despite ranking last in tourism marketing funding, Georgia has an opportunity to elevate its profile during the 2026 FIFA World Cup; and

WHEREAS, this state has over 2,298 hotels, providing significant potential for economic growth; and

WHEREAS, in 2023, Georgia's tourism industry generated a $79.7 billion state-wide economic impact and over $5 billion in state and local tax revenue, supporting 463,000 jobs; and

WHEREAS, youth sports represents a growing sector in tourism, attracting visitors and creating new opportunities for economic growth for Georgia; and

WHEREAS, a study committee is necessary to identify tourism growth opportunities across all regions, ensuring benefits for both small towns and large cities.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of ten members to be appointed as follows:

(A) Five members from the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, three of whom shall be selected from the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism. The remaining two members shall be selected from the House body based on their interest and expertise in tourism;

(B) One representative each from the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association, Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, Georgia Restaurant Association, Georgia Sports Tourism Council, and Explore Georgia; and

(C) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a legislative member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.

(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall assess tourism related challenges and opportunities and recommend actions or legislation to support industry growth, with a particular focus on increasing overnight hotel stays.

(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.

(5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.

(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.

(B) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members, or who are state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee, but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as members of the committee in the same manner as they are reimbursed for expenses in their capacities as state officials or employees.

(C) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state officials, or state employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state employees.

(D) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives; except that funds for the reimbursement of the expenses of state officials, other than legislative members, and for the reimbursement of the expenses of state employees shall come from funds appropriated to or otherwise available to their respective agencies.

(6) Report.

(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson shall file with the Clerk of the House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.