HR 712: House Study Committee on Protecting Working Families; create

House Resolution 712

By: Representatives Park of the 107th, Hugley of the 141st, Miller of the 62nd, Frye of the 122nd, Williams of the 168th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Creating the House Study Committee on Protecting Working Families; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia receives approximately $19 billion from the federal government and any federal budget cuts will require the General Assembly to significantly slash funding, which will negatively affect Georgians' salaries, quality of life, access to healthcare, and ability to access essential services; and

WHEREAS, reductions in federal Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

(SNAP) funding will have a significant negative impact on certain vulnerable populations, small businesses, rural communities, veterans, and first responders in this state; and

WHEREAS, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health, nearly 2.5 million Georgians rely on Medicaid, including low-income working families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities, and any reduction in federal Medicaid funding could lead to higher uninsured rates, more expensive health insurance plans for families and employers, and an increased financial strain on hospitals, particularly in rural areas; and

WHEREAS, over 1.4 million Georgians depend on SNAP benefits to afford basic nutrition, with working families, single parents, and low-income seniors being among the largest recipients, and reductions in SNAP funding could result in higher food insecurity rates, increased pressure on food banks, and negative health outcomes for vulnerable populations; and

WHEREAS, food insecurity remains a pressing issue in Georgia, with 13.1 percent of residents (approximately 1 in 8) experiencing food insecurity, including 18.4 percent of children (approximately 1 in 5), and the demand for food assistance has surged due to rising grocery prices and economic challenges; and

WHEREAS, working families in Georgia already face rising healthcare costs, limited access to health insurance, and disparities in maternal health outcomes, disproportionately affecting women, children, and communities of color; and

WHEREAS, Georgia has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country (13.4 percent), and cuts to Medicaid funding could further erode access to affordable healthcare for working families and small business employees; and

WHEREAS, Georgia ranks among the worst states for maternal mortality, with Black mothers facing a mortality rate more than twice that of white mothers, and expanded Medicaid access has been shown to improve maternal health outcomes; and

WHEREAS, over 152,000 women in Georgia live in maternity care deserts, putting them at greater risk of adverse health outcomes due to lack of accessible and equitable maternal care; and

WHEREAS, the loss of SNAP and Medicaid benefits would have cascading economic effects, including reduced consumer spending, financial strain on small businesses and the state, and increased uncompensated care costs for hospitals and healthcare providers; and

WHEREAS, strengthening state based protections, such as emergency Medicaid funds, food security programs, and small business tax incentives, can help mitigate the negative impacts of federal policy changes and ensure that working families, first responders, veterans, and vulnerable populations continue to have access to essential healthcare and nutrition; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia legislature understands that certain state-driven protections may be necessary to ensure that these individuals, businesses, and communities continue to have access to essential healthcare and food security benefits, including, but not limited to, the following protections:

(1) State emergency Medicaid fund. The fund would provide healthcare coverage to individuals who lose Medicaid benefits due to federal policy changes;

(2) State food security fund. The fund would provide grocery assistance benefits to first responders, veterans, and other eligible individuals equivalent to any loss of SNAP benefits due to federal policy changes;

(3) Small business tax credits. Small business employers would receive tax credits for making certain healthcare contributions related to responding to reductions in Medicaid funding;

(4) Affordable insurance pool for small businesses. Individuals affected by reductions in Medicaid funding would have the option to participate in and have access to subsidized healthcare coverage;

(5) State funded food purchase program. The state would purchase and distribute local produce, dairy, and meat to food banks, K-12 schools, senior meal programs, and families with an incarcerated parent or a parent recently released from incarceration;

(6) State funded Medicaid buy-in program. Individuals who lose Medicaid benefits due to federal policy changes would be permitted to purchase state sponsored coverage at subsidized rates;

(7) State funded maternity care grants. Pregnant women from low-income households, children in households that lose access to benefits under Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and low-income mothers denied abortion access due to state restrictions would receive direct financial assistance from the state for maternity healthcare expenses; and

(8) State funded grants to food assistance organizations. Church-run pantries and religious, nonprofit organizations would receive state dollar-for-dollar matching grants to support their existing efforts of providing food assistance; and

WHEREAS, a study is needed to evaluate these protections and others, determine policy goals, and identify appropriate legislative actions to mitigate any adverse impact of federal Medicaid and SNAP funding changes on these individuals, businesses, and communities.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee on Protecting Working Families.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of 11 members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a 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 and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.

(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 and funding. 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. 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 House of Representatives.

(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 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

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

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.