HR 428: House Study Committee on the Affordability and Accessibility of Georgia's Legitimation Process; create

In Georgia, a biological father who was not married to the child's mother at birth has no automatic legal parental rights. He must file a separate court petition, called legitimation, to gain those rights. This resolution creates the House Study Committee on the Affordability and Accessibility of Georgia's Legitimation Process to look into whether that process discourages fathers, especially those with limited money, from pursuing legal rights to their children. The committee would have five House members, chosen with a chairperson designated by the Speaker of the House. It can hold meetings as needed, study the issue, and recommend legislation. Members get standard legislative allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five days unless more are approved, funded through the House's existing budget. The committee must file any approved findings or recommendations with the Clerk of the House before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Establishes a five-member House study committee focused on the cost and accessibility of Georgia's legitimation process for unmarried fathers.
• Directs the Speaker of the House to name a chairperson who will call and organize the committee's meetings.
• Authorizes the committee to study the issue and recommend legislation or other action it finds appropriate.
• Sets legislative daily allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 for members, capped at five days unless additional days are approved, paid from House funds.
• Requires any approved findings or recommendations to be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives before the committee ends.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

The resolution primarily affects members of the Georgia House of Representatives who would serve on the committee, and indirectly affects unmarried biological fathers in Georgia seeking legal parental rights, since the study could lead to future legislation changing the legitimation process.

The study committee itself changes no law, but its findings could shape future legislation making it easier or cheaper for unmarried fathers to gain legal parental rights, which currently requires a separate court petition that some fathers avoid due to cost or lack of awareness.

• Paragraph 1 creates the House Study Committee on the Affordability and Accessibility of Georgia's Legitimation Process.
• Paragraph 2 sets the committee at five House members with a chairperson designated by the Speaker.
• Paragraph 3 charges the committee with studying the issue and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph 5 sets member allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days unless extended, funded through House appropriations.
• Paragraph 6 lays out reporting requirements, including filing approved findings with the Clerk of the House before abolishment.
• Paragraph 7 abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-03-03House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2025-02-28House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2025-02-27House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Teddy Reese (D, HD-140)Patrocinador principal
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
• Vance Smith (R, HD-138)
• Carmen Rice (R, HD-139)

• legitimation process
• parental rights
• family law
• unmarried fathers
• legislative study committees