SR 489: Senate Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities; create

This resolution sets up the Senate Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities. The committee will have seven members of the Georgia Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, who will also name a chairperson. The committee's job is to study the benefits, challenges, and data around placing students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms alongside students without disabilities, and to recommend any action or legislation it finds appropriate. The chairperson calls meetings, and members receive standard legislative allowances under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five days unless more are approved, paid from Senate funds. If the committee approves findings, it must file a report before the committee is abolished on December 1, 2025; if it reaches no formal report, the chairperson may file meeting minutes instead.

• Creates a new seven-member Senate Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities, appointed by the President of the Senate.
• Directs the committee to study the conditions, needs, and problems related to inclusive education for students with disabilities and recommend action or legislation.
• Authorizes standard legislative daily allowances (under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for committee members, capped at five days unless more are approved, funded by the Senate.
• Requires the chairperson to file an approved report or, lacking one, meeting minutes with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee ends.
• Sets December 1, 2025 as the date the committee automatically stands abolished.

The resolution directly affects the seven appointed Georgia state senators who will serve on the committee. It also touches students with disabilities and their families, public school educators, and school districts across Georgia, whose practices around inclusive classrooms the committee will study.

The committee itself does not change any law, but its study and possible recommendations could shape future Georgia legislation on how students with disabilities are placed and supported in classrooms, potentially affecting school practices statewide.

• Paragraph (1) creates the Senate Study Committee on Inclusive Educational Settings for Students with Disabilities.
• Paragraph (2) sets the committee at seven Senate members appointed by the President of the Senate, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) gives the committee power to study inclusive education issues and recommend legislation.
• Paragraph (5) authorizes member allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days absent extra authorization, funded through Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires a majority-approved report or, absent one, filed meeting minutes, submitted to the Secretary of the Senate before abolishment.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-03-31Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
3. 2025-03-31Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
4. 2025-03-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
5. 2025-03-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)Primary sponsor
• Drew Echols (R, SD-49)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-40)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)

1. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   52 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 1 excused)

   CONSENT CALENDAR FOR SENATE STUDY COMMITTEES: Senate Vote #380

• special education
• inclusive classrooms
• students with disabilities
• Georgia Senate study committees
• education policy