SR 800: Joint Study Committee on the Generational Sustainability of Family Farms; create

Georgia's farm economy has faced rising input costs, falling commodity prices, trade disputes, and mental health struggles among farm families, according to the resolution's preamble. This resolution responds by creating a temporary joint legislative study committee rather than by changing any existing law itself. The committee would have 11 members: five senators appointed by the President of the Senate, five House members appointed by the Speaker, and the Commissioner of Agriculture. Two cochairpersons, one from each chamber, would call meetings and lead the study. The committee is directed to examine the challenges facing family farms and recommend legislation or other action. Legislative members can receive standard travel and expense allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 for up to five days unless more are authorized. The committee must file any approved report before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the Joint Study Committee on the Generational Sustainability of Family Farms, made up of 11 members.
• Assigns five Senate appointees and five House appointees, each chamber naming its own cochairperson, plus the Commissioner of Agriculture.
• Directs the committee to study challenges facing family farms and recommend legislation or other action it finds appropriate.
• Allows legislative members to receive standard travel allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 for up to five meeting days unless more days are approved.
• Requires any committee report or recommended legislation to be filed before the committee is abolished, and sets the abolishment date as December 1, 2026.

Georgia farm families and the broader agricultural industry, the state senators and House members appointed to the committee, and the Commissioner of Agriculture, who serves as an additional member studying policy responses to farm economic pressures.

The resolution does not change any law itself, but it sets up a formal process for lawmakers to gather information on farm economic struggles, such as high input costs and low commodity prices, that could shape future legislation affecting farmers, food prices, and rural communities.

• Paragraph (1) formally creates the joint study committee.
• Paragraph (2) sets membership at 11: five senators, five House members, and the Commissioner of Agriculture, with one cochairperson from each chamber.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying farm economy problems and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (5) sets allowances for legislative members under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days unless additional days are authorized, funded from existing Senate and House appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved findings or legislative recommendations to be filed as a report before the committee is abolished.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-16House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-03-06House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-04House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-03-03Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
5. 2026-03-03Senate Third Read (Senate)
6. 2026-02-25Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
7. 2026-02-24Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
8. 2026-02-19Senate Read and Referred (Senate)

• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)Primary sponsor
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Robert Dickey (R, HD-134)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 3, 2026

   47 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 4 absent)

   Adoption: Senate Vote #601

• family farms
• agriculture policy
• legislative study committee
• rural economy