House Study Committee on Evaluating Funding for Public Health; create

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Katie Dempsey and 5 co-sponsors

Establishes a temporary Georgia House study committee to assess public health funding and structure, and to recommend actions or legislation for future funding.

House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

#generalassembly #health

Summary — H.R. 847 (House Study Committee on Evaluating Funding for Public Health)

Status: House Passed/Adopted by Substitute (Adopted 05/23/2025)
Introduced: 01/31/2025 (Referred to House Committee on Education and Workforce)
Type: House resolution (study committee)
Alternate short title in text: "Building Lasting Opportunities for Community K–12 Act" (BLOCK Act) — note: the resolution’s substantive text creates a public‑health funding study committee.

Purpose

H.R. 847 creates a temporary House Study Committee to review how Georgia’s public health system is structured and funded, evaluate the services it provides, and recommend any actions or legislation the committee deems appropriate. The resolution is motivated by concerns that public health has been historically underfunded (citing that less than 1 in 10 state general fund dollars spent among Georgia’s three primary health agencies goes to the Department of Public Health).

Key provisions

Creates the House Study Committee on Evaluating Funding for Public Health.

Composition: five members of the Georgia House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker; the Speaker designates the chair.

Charge: study conditions, needs, issues, and problems related to the state and local public health system and recommend actions or legislation as appropriate.

Meetings: convened and called by the chair; may meet at times/places necessary to carry out duties.

Compensation/funding:

Legislative members receive allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28‑1‑8.
Allowances not payable for more than five days per member unless additional days are authorized.
Committee expenses funded from House appropriations; state officials’ and employees’ travel/reimbursement come from their respective agencies.

Reporting:

If specific findings or recommendations include suggested legislation, the chair must file a report before the committee is abolished.
Reports must be approved by a majority of a quorum and filed with the Clerk of the House.
If no approved report, the chair may file meeting minutes in lieu of a report.

Abolishment: the committee is abolished on December 1, 2025.

Who is affected

Primary: the five House members on the committee and staff supporting the study.

State agencies (e.g., Department of Public Health) and state employees may be asked to provide information or incur reimbursable expenses.

Indirectly: local public health authorities and Georgians if the committee’s recommendations prompt future legislation or budget changes.

Procedural history & sponsors (selected)

Introduced 01/31/2025; referred to committee same day.

Favorably reported and passed/adopted by substitute in the House on 04/04/2025; adopted 05/23/2025.

Sponsors include Representatives Tim Burchett (primary), Lee Hawkins, Butch Parrish, Ron Stephens, Katie Dempsey, Matt Hatchett, Darlene Taylor; Andy Harris is listed as cosponsor.

Impact and limitations

H.R. 847 does not change funding or policy directly — it establishes a short‑term legislative study. The primary impact will be research, findings, and potential legislative recommendations that could inform future appropriations or statutory changes to Georgia’s public health funding and structure. Costs are limited to committee allowances and any agency reimbursements for participation.