SR622: SR622 Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia's Foster Care System; create

The Georgia Department of Human Services, through its Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), oversees nearly 10,000 foster children. The resolution notes that spending on out-of-home care, including transportation and behavioral aides, rose to $141.3 million in FY25 and is projected to top $164.7 million in FY26, a 159 percent increase since 2022. This resolution creates the Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia's Foster Care System. The committee will have 20 members, including legislators appointed by the Senate President and House Speaker, a gubernatorial appointee, several state agency commissioners or their designees, judicial council presidents, and a representative from Together Georgia, an alliance of child welfare providers. The committee will study the current system for delivering out-of-home and wrap-around services and related costs, and may recommend legislation. It must file any report before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia's Foster Care System, made up of 20 members.
• Assigns appointment power for committee seats to the Governor, the Senate President, and the House Speaker, including specific provider-representative seats.
• Adds several state officials as members, including commissioners of Human Services, Community Health, Juvenile Justice, and Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, or their designees.
• Directs the committee to study the current framework for out-of-home and wrap-around foster care services and their costs.
• Authorizes the committee to recommend legislation and sets rules for reimbursing member expenses under existing state allowance laws.
• Sets the committee's abolishment date as December 1, 2026, after which it must have filed any approved report.

The bill affects the Georgia Department of Human Services and its Division of Family and Children Services, foster children in state custody, child placing agencies and child caring institutions, juvenile and superior court judges, and state legislators and officials appointed to the study committee.

With out-of-home foster care spending up 159 percent since 2022 and projected to exceed $164 million in FY26, the committee's findings could shape future state funding decisions and possible legislation affecting how foster care services are delivered and paid for in Georgia.

• Paragraph (1) creates the Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia's Foster Care System.
• Paragraph (2) sets the committee at 20 members, with six Senate and six House appointees, one gubernatorial appointee, and seven additional agency and organization representatives.
• Paragraph (3) directs the committee to study the conditions and issues behind rising costs and recommend action or legislation.
• Paragraph (4) lets the cochairpersons call meetings at times and places needed to carry out the committee's work.
• Paragraph (5) sets allowances for legislative members under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 and expense reimbursement rules for other members, capped at five days unless extended.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved findings or recommendations to be filed as a report with the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House before abolishment.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-25House Passed/Adopted (House)
2. 2026-03-25House Third Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
4. 2026-02-10House Second Readers (House)
5. 2026-02-09House First Readers (House)
6. 2026-02-06Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
7. 2026-02-06Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2026-02-05Senate Read Second Time (Senate)

• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)Primary sponsor
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 6, 2026

   49 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 5 absent)

   Adoption: Senate Vote #526

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 25, 2026

   165 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 7 absent)

   Adopt: House Vote #759

• foster care
• child welfare
• state budget
• DFCS
• legislative study committee