Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 789: Senate Study Committee on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence; create
Last action March 31, 2026 · Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
A Senate resolution would create a five-member Senate Study Committee on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Creative Industries, tasked with examining how AI affects Georgia's film, television, and writing sectors.
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 creates a temporary Senate study committee to look at how artificial intelligence is affecting Georgia's creative industries, particularly film, television, and creative writing. The resolution notes that AI is increasingly used to automate tasks and alter audience experiences, raising concerns about job losses and confusion between human-made and AI-generated work. The committee would have five members appointed by the President of the Senate, including one cochairperson from the majority party and one from the minority party. It can meet as needed, study the issues, and recommend legislation. Legislative members get standard allowances under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8), while non-legislator members get a daily expense allowance and mileage reimbursement. The committee must file any findings before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.
What the bill does
- Creates a five-member Senate Study Committee on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Creative Industries, appointed by the Senate President.
- Directs the committee to study how AI affects creative writers, filmmakers, and the television industry in Georgia and to recommend possible legislation.
- Sets pay and expense rules: legislative members get standard allowances, state employee members get expense reimbursement only, and other members get a daily allowance plus mileage.
- Limits allowances to five days of committee work unless additional days are approved, funded through the Senate's budget or members' home agencies.
- Requires the committee to file an approved report or, if none is approved, the meeting minutes with the Secretary of the Senate.
- Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2026.
Who it affects
Members of the Georgia Senate who may be appointed to the committee, and more broadly Georgia's film, television, and creative writing industries, including filmmakers, actors, producers, and creative writers whose work may be affected by the committee's eventual recommendations.
Why it matters
The resolution does not change any law itself, but it sets up a formal process for state lawmakers to examine how AI is reshaping Georgia's film and television industry, which could lead to future legislation on AI disclosure, job protections, or industry regulation.
Key provisions
- Paragraph 1 creates the Senate Study Committee on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Creative Industries.
- Paragraph 2 sets the committee at five Senate members, with one majority party and one minority party cochairperson.
- Paragraph 3 charges the committee with studying AI's effects on creative industries and recommending legislation if needed.
- Paragraph 5 details allowances: legislative members get standard travel and expense reimbursement, state employees get reimbursement only, and other members get a daily allowance capped at five days of service.
- Paragraph 6 requires a report or meeting minutes to be filed with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee is abolished.
- Paragraph 7 abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.
From the bill
“There is created the Senate Study Committee on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Creative Industries.”
“undisclosed use of artificial intelligence intensifies fears of losing human creativity”
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.
Senate Science and Technology Committee, March 11, 2026
From 0:24:52 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SR 789 would create an eight-member committee to study AI’s impact on film, including protection for writers’ creations. An amendment changed membership to five senators, with bipartisan co-chairs, and focused the study on creative industries. The sponsor agreed that agency and Georgia Film Academy representatives could participate without voting. The chair said meetings would be limited to five days. A technology and entertainment witness supported protecting original ideas and, answering the chair’s questions, suggested starting with existing copyright rules. An entrepreneur supported the study to retain Georgia startups and expand small-business access to AI. Asked about equipment and workforce needs, the witness advocated local computing facilities for security and customization, plus training. A film union president supported further study but said AI was already reducing jobs, particularly in conceptual art. The committee voted to recommend passage as amended to the Rules Committee; no vote count was stated. Two witnesses then testified. A production-company and workforce-program founder said training storytellers and production teams mattered more than equipment costs, while acknowledging current technical limits. Asked whether individuals could make films alone, the witness said some could, but teamwork remained important. A recording artist described AI as useful but sometimes unnatural and urged copyright protection. The chair said Senate approval was still required.
Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026
From 0:27:55 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair included SR 789 in a group of 12 study committee resolutions. The chair said Capitol study committee meetings during the interim would need to use the legislative office building because other meeting rooms would be under renovation. The committee unanimously moved the group to the consent calendar.
Senate Urban Affairs Committee, October 6, 2026
From 0:37:26 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair said SR 789 prompted the forum series and that Urban Affairs would conduct the work rather than a separately appointed study committee. The chair planned public feedback and December findings for the 2027 session, later explaining that concerns about AI’s effects on film workers, creativity and unauthorized use of images and voices helped prompt the resolution. A parent urged protections for artists and children learning with AI. Georgia Municipal Association witnesses described preliminary survey findings: 61% reported informal employee AI use, compared with 20% reporting formal adoption. They urged human review and training. Asked about job cuts, one association witness said none had come to their attention. An ACCG witness urged privacy rules, approved tools and training. A member suggested funding secure systems for smaller counties, and the witness agreed to provide costs. Georgia Technology Authority witnesses described tool reviews, protected AI services, security monitoring and employee education. An economic development witness described investment and workforce shifts and training programs. A nonprofit trainer described seniors’ privacy and fraud concerns. A technology business witness sought support for senior training and described campus safety tools. The chair requested follow-up information and research on other states’ laws. No vote occurred.
Status timeline
- Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Donzella James (D, SD-28)
- RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-38)
- Kenya Wicks (D, SD-34)
- Michael 'Doc' Rhett (D, SD-33)
- Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-5)
- Tonya Anderson (D, SD-43)
- Gail Davenport (D, SD-17)
- Jaha Howard (D, SD-35)
- Nan Orrock (D, SD-36)
- Randal Mangham (D, SD-55)
- Kim Jackson (D, SD-41)
- Ed Harbison (D, SD-15)
Votes
- Senate voteMarch 31, 2026
48 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 excused)
Topics
- artificial intelligence
- film industry
- creative writing
- Georgia Senate
- entertainment industry regulation