Senate Resolution 800
By: Senators Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th, Echols of the 49th, Sims of the 12th,
Anderson of the 24th and others
ADOPTED SENATE
A RESOLUTION
Creating the Joint Study Committee on the Generational Sustainability of Family Farms; and
for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the agricultural industry is the leading driver of this state's economy and the
family farm is central to the identity of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the agricultural industry contributes $100.4 billion to this state's economy and
contributes 370,400 jobs to the workforce, yet the United States' agricultural trade deficit is
projected to exceed $40 billion this year; and
WHEREAS, despite consumers facing rising food prices, the farmer's share of every dollar
spent by consumers continues to get smaller; and
WHEREAS, farm families have faced unprecedented challenges over the last few years
including natural disasters, global trade wars, disease outbreaks, corporate consolidation, and
a declining workforce, leading to record high input costs and record low commodity prices;
and
WHEREAS, the insurmountable economic challenges facing family farms have caused a
rapid increase in suicides and mental illnesses within the farm community; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned challenges are causing American consumers to be more
reliant on imported food and fiber, leading to the outsourcing of food production to trading
partners overseas; and
WHEREAS, a study is needed to evaluate the challenges family farms are facing and to
explore policies and investments the General Assembly can pursue to support existing
markets, develop new and innovative domestic markets, decrease the cost of inputs,
adequately prepare the next generation of farmers, and address systemic challenges
contributing to the declining farm economy.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
GEORGIA:
(1) Creation of joint study committee. There is created the Joint Study Committee on
the Generational Sustainability of Family Farms.
(2) Members and officers.
(A) The committee shall be composed of 11 members.
(B) The President of the Senate shall appoint five members of the Senate as members
of the committee and shall designate one of such members as cochairperson.
(C) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint five members of the
House of Representatives as members of the committee and shall designate one of such
members as cochairperson.
(D) The committee shall include the Commissioner of Agriculture as an additional
member.
(3) Powers and duties. 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.
(4) Meetings. The cochairpersons shall call all meetings of the committee. The
committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem
necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform
its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.
(5) Allowances and funding.
(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided
for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
(B) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members,
or state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee,
but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as
members of the committee in the same manner as they are reimbursed for expenses in
their capacities as state officials or employees.
(C) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member
of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds
necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds
appropriated to the Senate and the House of Representatives.
(6) Report.
(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that
include suggestions for proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file a report of the
same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.
(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for
proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file the report, subject to
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.
(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of
abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.
A report so approved shall be signed by the cochairpersons of the committee and filed
with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
(D) In the absence of an approved report, the cochairpersons may file with the
Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives copies of the
minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.