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Senate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SR 771: Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability; create

Last action March 10, 2026 · Senate Passed/Adopted

A Georgia Senate resolution creates a study committee to examine why adoption costs so much in Georgia and whether state laws or regulations could be changed to make adoption more affordable.

Read the full resolution text

These buttons carry the resolution's own text, not the summaries below. Copy for LLM, View as markdown, and Send to AI use the Markdown version: the text as filed, then the summaries under a heading that names them as ours. View raw is the text alone.

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 Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.

In plain language

This resolution sets up the Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability. It does not change any adoption laws itself. Instead, it directs at least five senators, appointed by the President of the Senate, to study the costs and barriers involved in adopting a child in Georgia, from home studies and agency fees to legal costs and post-placement supervision. The committee will look at whether state regulations, fees, or licensing requirements add unnecessary costs, how well existing tax credits and incentives work, and the specific challenges facing middle-income families and families adopting children with special needs. Members get standard legislative allowances for up to five meeting days, paid from Senate funds. Any findings or recommended legislation must be filed as a report before the committee is abolished on December 1, 2026.

What the bill does

  • Creates the Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability, made up of at least five senators appointed by the President of the Senate.
  • Directs the committee to study cost drivers, regulatory burdens, tax incentives, and barriers facing middle-income and special-needs adoptive families in Georgia.
  • Authorizes the committee to hold meetings called by its chairperson and to recommend legislation or administrative action.
  • Provides legislative members standard per diem allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days unless more are approved, funded through Senate appropriations.
  • Requires a report with any findings or proposed legislation to be filed with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee's abolishment.
  • Sets the committee to automatically dissolve on December 1, 2026.

Who it affects

Georgia senators appointed to the committee, prospective and current adoptive parents, child welfare professionals, adoption agencies (including faith based and nonprofit providers), legal practitioners, and children awaiting adoptive placement, especially those with special needs.

Why it matters

No adoption law changes yet, but the committee's findings could shape future legislation on adoption fees, licensing rules, and tax incentives. Families considering adoption, agencies handling placements, and lawmakers weighing reforms would all be watching what the committee recommends before it disbands at the end of 2026.

Key provisions

  • Paragraph 1 creates the Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability.
  • Paragraph 2 sets membership at a minimum of five senators appointed by the President of the Senate, who also names the chairperson.
  • Paragraph 3 charges the committee with studying adoption-related conditions and problems and recommending legislation if needed.
  • Paragraph 5 sets per diem allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, limited to five paid days unless more are authorized, funded from Senate appropriations.
  • Paragraph 6 requires any approved findings or legislative recommendations to be filed as a report with the Secretary of the Senate before abolishment.
  • Paragraph 7 abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

From the bill

“There is created the Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability.”

This is the resolution's core action, formally establishing the study committee.

“The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.”

Sets the deadline by which the committee must finish its work and dissolve.

Discussed in meetings (6)

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.

  1. Senate Children and Families Committee, February 24, 2026

    From 0:57:49 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the resolution would create a study committee focused specifically on adoption, which the sponsor said often gets overshadowed when considered alongside foster care. The sponsor wanted the committee to examine ways to make adoption easier and more affordable for both birth parents and adoptive parents. A Frontline Policy witness supported the resolution, saying home studies, agency fees, legal expenses and ongoing requirements can discourage otherwise qualified families. The witness said a study could identify cost drivers and barriers without compromising child safety. No substantive questions were asked, and the committee approved the resolution unanimously.

  2. Senate Rules Committee, March 9, 2026

    From 0:20:11 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the resolution would create a study committee to examine how Georgia could build an adoption system that better serves children and families seeking to adopt. Members asked no substantive questions. The committee unanimously included the resolution on the next day's calendar.

  3. Senate floor session, March 10, 2026 (legislative day 30)

    From 4:31:04 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented SR 771 to create a Senate study committee on adoption and permanency affordability. The sponsor said Georgia needs an adoption process that is affordable and transparent, with clearer information for prospective adoptive families. The sponsor hoped the committee would examine adoption costs and responsibilities and help children find permanent homes. No other senator spoke for or against the resolution. The Senate adopted it, 50-0.

Status timeline

  1. 2026-03-10Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
  2. 2026-03-10Senate Third Read (Senate)
  3. 2026-02-26Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
  4. 2026-02-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
  5. 2026-02-17Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
  6. 2026-02-12Senate Hopper (Senate)

Sponsors

  • Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)Primary sponsor
  • Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)
  • Blake Tillery (R, SD-19)
  • Ed Setzler (R, SD-37)
  • Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-31)
  • Matt Brass (R, SD-6)
  • Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
  • Shawn Still (R, SD-48)
  • Mike Hodges (R, SD-3)
  • Sam Watson (R, SD-11)
  • Russ Goodman (R, SD-8)
  • Ben Watson (R, SD-1)
  • Max Burns (R, SD-23)
  • Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
  • Frank Ginn (R, SD-47)
  • Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)
  • Marty Harbin (R, SD-16)

Votes

  1. PassedSenate voteMarch 10, 2026

    50 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 3 excused)

    ADOPTION: Senate Vote #703

Topics

  • adoption
  • child welfare
  • family law
  • state study committees
  • adoption costs

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SR771: Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability; create | Georgia Commons