SR 890: Senate Study Committee on Protecting Free and Fair Markets in Georgia; create

Senate Resolution 890

By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Goodman of the 8th, Orrock of the 36th, Parent of the 44th, Hufstetler of the 52nd and others

ADOPTED SENATE

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Senate Study Committee on Protecting Free and Fair Markets in Georgia; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, markets operating under fair and free competition without the undue influence of highly concentrated economic power is necessary for affordability; and

WHEREAS, over the last half-century, economic power has become concentrated in the hands of the world's wealthiest individuals and corporations; and

WHEREAS, small businesses power Georgia's economy, drive innovation, create jobs, and help new generations achieve the American Dream; and

WHEREAS, the agriculture industry generates over $100 billion for Georgia; however, concentration among agricultural companies and corporate farms has slowly eroded the business of family farms and threatens to make such businesses extinct; and

WHEREAS, increased concentration of economic power among a few individuals and corporations threatens small businesses and the ability of new generations to achieve economic opportunity and upward mobility; and

WHEREAS, such concentration of economic power threatens consumers by limiting competition, reducing choice, stifling innovation, and driving up prices across numerous sectors of the economy; and

WHEREAS, ownership of single-family homes, the bedrock of middle-class wealth, has increasingly shifted toward large corporate entities and institutional investors, reducing housing availability and affordability for Georgia families; and

WHEREAS, technology corporations have rapidly expanded over the last 30 years and increasingly dominate digital platforms used by Georgians for communication, commerce, and civic engagement, raising concerns about market dominance and the effects of private corporate control over spaces that function as modern public squares; and

WHEREAS, states have recently enhanced their own antitrust enforcement mechanisms, merger review processes, and competition policies to address rising economic concentration and protect consumers and small businesses; and

WHEREAS, Georgia has an opportunity to evaluate and strengthen its own antitrust enforcement mechanisms in order to protect competition, consumers, home ownership, free enterprise, and the fundamental rights of Georgians; and

WHEREAS, a study committee is needed to determine how antitrust enforcement and competition policy have evolved in other states and any legislative or policy changes Georgia may adopt to better safeguard its citizens from monopolistic behavior and unfair methods of competition.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:

(1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee on Protecting Free and Fair Markets in Georgia.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The President shall designate a legislative member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.

(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto, including but not limited to:

(A) The current scope and effectiveness of Georgia's antitrust statutes and enforcement authority;

(B) The degree of economic concentration in key sectors affecting Georgians, including housing, technology platforms, agriculture, healthcare, and retail markets;

(C) The impact of institutional ownership of single-family homes on housing affordability and availability in this state;

(D) Antitrust enforcement and merger review processes adopted by other states;

(E) Potential legislative, regulatory, or enforcement mechanisms that could enhance competition and protect consumers, small businesses, and home ownership in Georgia; and

(F) Any constitutional or statutory considerations implicated by proposed reforms.

(4) Meetings. The chairperson 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, expenses, 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) 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.

(6) Report.

(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson 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 chairperson 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 chairperson of the committee and filed with the Secretary of the Senate.

(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.