SR771: SR771 Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability; create

This resolution creates the Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability. It does not change any adoption law itself. Instead, it directs at least five senators, appointed by the President of the Senate, to study the costs and barriers involved in adopting a child in Georgia, including home studies, agency fees, legal costs, and licensing requirements found across Title 19 and Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The committee will look at cost drivers, state and federal regulations, existing tax credits and incentives, barriers for middle-income families, outcomes for children with special needs, and the role of private and faith based adoption agencies. It can hold meetings, hear from stakeholders, and recommend legislation. Legislative members get standard daily allowances funded through the Senate's budget, capped at five days unless extended. The committee must stand abolished on December 1, 2026, after filing a report or meeting minutes.

• Creates the Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability, made up of at least five senators appointed by the Senate President.
• Directs the committee to study cost drivers, regulatory barriers, tax incentives, and outcomes related to adoption in Georgia.
• Authorizes the committee to hold meetings and recommend legislation or administrative changes based on its findings.
• Sets daily allowances for legislative members under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days unless more are approved, paid from Senate funds.
• Requires the committee to file a report or, if none is approved, committee meeting minutes with the Secretary of the Senate.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2026.

Georgia senators appointed to the committee, prospective and current adoptive parents, children awaiting adoption (including those with special needs), adoption agencies (both private and state licensed), faith based and nonprofit child-placing organizations, and legal practitioners involved in adoption cases.

No adoption law changes immediately, but the committee's findings could shape future bills affecting adoption fees, licensing rules, tax credits, and support for families adopting children with special needs, potentially altering how accessible and costly adoption is in Georgia going forward.

• Paragraph (1) formally creates the Senate Study Committee on Adoption and Permanency Affordability.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee size at a minimum of five senators, appointed by the President of the Senate, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying adoption-related conditions and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (5) sets member allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, limited to five paid days unless extended, funded through Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires a report (with or without proposed legislation) or committee minutes to be filed with the Secretary of the Senate before abolishment.
• Paragraph (7) sets the committee's abolishment date as December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-10Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
2. 2026-03-10Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2026-02-26Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2026-02-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
5. 2026-02-17Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2026-02-12Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)Primary sponsor
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 10, 2026

   50 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 3 absent)

   Adoption: Senate Vote #703

• adoption
• child welfare
• family law
• legislative study committee
• tax incentives