ATLANTA – Today, House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) announced appointments to the Georgia House of Representatives’ 2025 study committees. These committees will meet throughout the interim, hear from experts, stakeholders and the public and compile a report of specific findings or legislative recommendations ahead of the 2026 legislative session.
“During this past legislative session, the Georgia House considered a number of measures aimed at improving policy areas that impact Georgians and their families,” said Speaker Jon Burns. “On issues ranging from insurance rates to medical marijuana, from election administration to healthcare coverage, these study committees will gather the facts, hear input from all sides and find ways to put forward smart policy that continues to make Georgia the best place to live, work and raise a family. I want to thank each of these members for their willingness to serve on these study committees and look forward to seeing their results.”
Appointments to 2025 House study committees are as follows:
Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Election Procedures: The Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Election Procedures will study and evaluate Georgia’s current laws, policies and procedures for administering Georgia elections. The committee will also analyze the statewide and local elected officials and boards that oversee the administration of our elections.
Rep. Tim Fleming (R-Covington) – Chairman
Rep. Victor Anderson (R-Cornelia) – Vice Chairman
Rep. Martin Momtahan (R-Dallas)
Rep. Trey Kelley (R-Cedartown)
Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton)
Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones (R-Milton)
Rep. Saira Draper (D-Atlanta)
Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Insurance Rates: The Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Insurance Rates will conduct a thorough examination of the insurance industry’s rate-setting practices, profit margins, claims processing and regulatory compliance to ensure that Georgia’s businesses, citizens and consumers are not being subjected to unjustified rate hikes.
Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) – Chairman
Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R- Armuchee) – Vice Chairman
Rep. Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire)
Rep. James Burchett (R-Waycross)
Rep. Noel Williams, Jr. (R-Cordele)
Rep. Todd Jones (R-South Forsyth)
Rep. Emory Dunahoo (R-Gillsville)
Rep. Michelle Au (D-Johns Creek)
Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe)
Rep. Trey Kelley (R-Cedartown)
Rep. Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus)
Rep. Jaclyn Ford (R-Tifton)
Rep. Karen Mathiak (R-Griffin)
Rep. Chuck Efstration (R-Mulberry)
Rep. Joseph Gullett (R-Dallas)
Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Georgia’s Medical Marijuana Policies: The Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Georgia’s Medical Marijuana and Hemp Policies will study and evaluate Georgia’s current laws, policies and procedures surrounding medical marijuana and other cannabis-derived drugs and hemp products to ensure that there is a level playing field that protects Georgia’s families and consumers alike.
Rep. Mark Newton (R-Augusta) – Chairman
Rep. Jordan Ridley (R-Woodstock)
Rep. Robert Dickey (R-Musella)
Rep. David Clark (R-Buford)
Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell)
Rep. Spencer Frye (D-Athens)
Rep. Al Williams (D-Midway)
Rep. Michael Smith (D-Marietta)
Rep. Brent Cox (R-Dawsonville)
Non-Legislative Members:
Robyn Fowler
Wesley Dunn
House Study Committee on Reinsurance for Essential Industries: This study committee will examine the cost of the property and casualty reinsurance market and conditions necessary for public-private partnerships in Georgia’s commercial property and casualty reinsurance market.
Rep. Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasville) – Co-Chair
Rep. Noel Williams, Jr. (R-Cordele) – Co-Chair
Rep. Demetrius Douglas (D-Stockbridge)
Rep. Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus)
Rep. Matthew Gambill (R-Cartersville)
House Study Committee on Cancer Care Access: This study committee will study the lack of access to quality cancer care and the need to evaluate and make recommendations for such care.
Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) – Chairman
Rep. Gerald Greene (R-Cuthbert)
Rep. Karen Mathiak (R-Griffin)
Rep. Deborah Silcox (R-Sandy Springs)
Rep. Jasmine Clark (D-Lilburn)
Non-Legislative Members:
Two Georgia Medical School Representatives:
Dr. Jorge Cortes (Director, Georgia Cancer Center – Augusta University
Health)
Dr. Suresh Ramalingam (Director, Winship Cancer Institute)
One Primary Care Physician:
Dr. Chris Kiker (Physician – Northeast Georgia Physicians)
One Community Oncologist:
Kristin Higgins (Chief Clinical Officer at City of Hope)
One FQHC:
Jennie Wren Denmark (East Georgia Health Care)
House Study Committee on the Costs & Effects of Smoking: This study committee will examine the cost of smoking, including short-term and long-term health care costs, the impact on Medicaid and Medicare, childhood health costs resulting from secondhand smoke exposure and the loss of worker productivity attributed to smoking.
Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) – Chair
Rep. Michelle Au (D-Johns Creek) – Vice Chair
Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville)
Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah)
Rep. Debbie Buckner (D-Junction City)
House Study Committee on Funding for Next Generation 9-1-1: This study committee will conduct a comprehensive review of the state’s current 9-1-1 funding provisions and study and identify any reforms necessary to provide adequate funding to support the transition from legacy 9-1-1 centers to modern Next Generation 9-1-1 centers in a manner that will ensure that their current and future operations can be fully realized in Georgia.
Rep. Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) – Chairman
Rep. Beth Camp (R-Concord)
Rep. Lauren McDonald III (R-Cumming)
Rep. Clint Crowe (R-Jackson)
Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe)
House Study Committee on Georgia’s Investment Funds: This study committee will study ways to attract more investment capital and examine conditions for potential enhancement of growth capital investments.
Rep. Todd Jones (R-South Forsyth) – Chairman
Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia) – Vice Chair
Rep. Lehman Franklin (R-Statesboro)
Rep. Stacey Evans (D-Atlanta)
Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah)
House Study Committee on the State Board of Registration of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers & Used Motor Vehicle Parts Dealers: This study committee will study whether regulation of the used motor vehicle industry would be best suited within the same agency that is responsible for issuing license plates that are essential for the operation of such business.
Rep. John Corbett (R-Lake Park) – Chairman
Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell)
Rep. Jason Ridley (R-Chatsworth)
Rep. Danny Mathis (R-Cochran)
Non-Legislative Members:
SOS or Designee
DOR or Designee
Derrick Corbett
House Study Committee on Abandoned Child Placement Following Hospital Discharge: This study committee will provide gap analysis of community services and resources provided by the public, nonprofit and private sectors to better support minors being discharged from psychiatric hospitalization and acute hospital emergency rooms.
Rep. Katie Dempsey (R-Rome) – Chair
Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta)
Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville)
Rep. Omari Crawford (D-Decatur)
Rep. Mike Cameron (R-Rossville)
House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education: This study committee will provide a comprehensive review of student attendance in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 to examine the root causes of chronic absenteeism, evaluate best practices for improving student attendance and engagement and recommend legislative and policy initiatives to improve student attendance and engagement.
Rep. Chris Erwin (R-Homer) – Chairman
Rep. Matt Dubnik (R-Gainesville)
Rep. Rick Townsend (R-Brunswick)
Rep. Sandy Donatucci (R-Buford)
Rep. Will Wade (R-Dawsonville)
Lydia Glaize (D-Fairburn)
House Study Committee on Improving Access to Internal Medicine in Underserved Areas: This study committee will evaluate the most prudent and cost-effective ways to increase access to internal medicine in rural Georgia communities, with particular focus on those rural communities experiencing health transportation shortages.
Rep. Sandy Donatucci (R-Buford) – Chair
Rep. Angie O’Steen (R-Ambrose)
Rep. Leesa Hagan (R-Vidalia)
Rep. Carmen Rice (R-Columbus)
Rep. Gary Richardson (R-Evans)
Non-Legislative Members:
Dr. Jean Sumner (Mercer)
Dr. John Odum (MCG – AU)
Dr. Angela Gerguis (GSU)
Rep. Carter Barrett (R-Cumming) – Chairman
Rep. Teddy Reese (D-Columbus) – Vice Chairman
Rep. Lynn Heffner (D-Augusta)
Rep. Rob Clifton (R-Evans)
Rep. Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain)
Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-Watkinsville) – Chairman
Rep. Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire)
Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah)
Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell)
Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin)
Rep. Yasmin Neal (D-Jonesboro)
Rep. Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta)
House Study Committee on Evaluating Funding for Public Health: This study committee will study how Georgia’s public health system is structured and funded and evaluate what services such system currently provides to determine whether action by the state is necessary.
Rep. Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasville) – Chair
Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin)
Rep. Butch Parrish (R-Swainsboro)
Rep. Dexter Sharper (D-Valdosta)
Rep. Angie O’Steen (R-Ambrose)
House Study Committee on Reducing and Prioritizing Mandates for Public School Administration: This study committee will conduct a review of existing mandates relating to public school administration and evaluate best practices for reducing and prioritizing mandates for public school administrators and recommend legislative and policy initiatives to that end.
Rep. Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) – Chairman
Rep. Mitchell Horner (R-Ringgold)
Rep. Chris Erwin (R-Homer)
Rep. Holt Persinger (R-Winder)
Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins)
Rep. Robert Dawson (D-Atlanta)
Additional information regarding the 2025 House study committees can be found at legis.ga.gov.
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