Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HR 952: House Study Committee on Risks Associated with Hair Straightening Products; create
Last action February 24, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
A Georgia House resolution would create a study committee to examine health risks linked to hair straightening products, including a possible connection to breast cancer, and consider whether the state should act.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This resolution creates the House Study Committee on Risks Associated with Hair Straightening Products. The preamble cites studies, including one from the University of Texas' MD Anderson Cancer Center and one from the International Journal of Cancer, that found links between chemicals in hair straightening or relaxing products and increased breast cancer risk in women who use them regularly. The committee would have five members appointed by the Speaker of the House, with one designated as chairperson. Its job is to study the health risks and whether consumer warnings or other state action are needed, and to recommend legislation if it finds any is warranted. Members can be reimbursed for expenses under existing rules (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five days unless more are approved, paid from House funds. The committee must file any report before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.
What the bill does
- Creates a five member House Study Committee on Risks Associated with Hair Straightening Products, with members appointed by the Speaker of the House.
- Directs the committee to study health risks tied to hair straightening product chemicals and whether consumer warnings or new laws are needed.
- Allows the chairperson to call and schedule meetings needed to carry out the study.
- Sets reimbursement for legislative members under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days unless more are authorized, funded through House appropriations.
- 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, 2026.
Who it affects
The five House members appointed to serve on the committee, Georgia women who use hair straightening or relaxing products, manufacturers and sellers of those products, and the Clerk of the House, who would receive any final report.
Why it matters
If created, the committee could gather evidence on whether hair straightening products pose a cancer risk to Georgia women and recommend consumer warnings or new laws. The resolution itself makes no binding rules; it only sets up a study process that could lead to future legislation.
Key provisions
- Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Risks Associated with Hair Straightening Products.
- Paragraph (2) sets membership at five House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
- Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying the issue and recommending action or legislation it finds necessary.
- Paragraph (5) sets member allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, limited to five days of reimbursement unless more days are authorized, funded through House appropriations.
- Paragraph (6) requires any adopted findings or recommendations to be filed as a signed report with the Clerk of the House before abolishment.
- Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.
From the bill
“a recent study by the University of Texas' MD Anderson Cancer Center found a link between chemicals in hair straightening products and breast cancer, demonstrating a 60 percent increase in risk for some women who use them”
“The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.”
Discussed in meetings (5)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Regulated Industries Committee, February 23, 2026
From 0:37:06 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: With the sponsor absent, the chair described HR 952 as creating a House study committee on risks associated with hair straightening products. Members did not discuss particular products or health risks. A committee member proposed reducing membership from eight to five House members and updating the committee's end date to December 1, 2026. The committee adopted those changes and approved the resolution as a committee substitute by voice vote.
House Rules Committee, February 25, 2026
From 0:39:59 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HR 952 would create a House study committee on health risks and outcomes associated with hair straightening products. No questions or scheduling decision followed.
House Rules Committee, March 23, 2026
From 0:21:55 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said HR 952 would create a House study committee on risks associated with hair-straightening products and health outcomes. No questions or calendar decision followed.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Inga Willis (D, HD-55)
- Omari Crawford (D, HD-89)
Topics
- hair straightening products
- breast cancer risk
- consumer safety
- study committee
- women's health