Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HR655 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 28 0695
2	2	House Resolution 655
3	3	By: Representatives Powell of the 33
4	4	rd
5	5	, Blackmon of the 146
6	6	th
7	7	, and Stephens of the 164
8	8	th
9	9
10	10	A RESOLUTION
11	11	Creating the House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia; and for other
12	12	1
13	13	purposes.2
14	14	WHEREAS, the Georgia General Assembly has long considered multiple legislative3
15	15	measures to permit the voters of Georgia to decide whether or not to allow the state and its4
16	16	counties to decide whether or not to authorize or opt in to land based destination resort5
17	17	casinos, pari-mutuel and fixed-odds horse racing, and whether or not to permit digital, retail,6
18	18	and on-premise sports betting; and7
19	19	WHEREAS, the General Assembly needs to determine how legalization of gaming in this8
20	20	state if approved by the people and enabled by the General Assembly would contribute to the9
21	21	economy and workforce development of this state as to revenue expectations and quality of10
22	22	jobs being available when weighed against what social and societal ills may come to Georgia11
23	23	if gaming is approved by the citizens of this state; and12
24	24	WHEREAS, the General Assembly needs to determine if the legalization of gaming would13
25	25	also increase tax revenues for Georgia and aid in meeting the budgetary demands of14
26	26	government; and15
27	27	H. R. 655
28	28	- 1 - 25 LC 28 0695
29	29	WHEREAS, many of our citizens travel substantial distances to engage in gaming activities
30	30	16
31	31	and enjoy the resort atmosphere in states such as Nevada, Mississippi, Alabama, North17
32	32	Carolina, and Massachusetts; and18
33	33	WHEREAS, if gaming was expanded in this state, the money spent in other states might19
34	34	remain with the industries and tax revenues of this state; and20
35	35	WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has a large agricultural industry that contributes21
36	36	significantly to the economy of this state and a portion of that industry is involved with the22
37	37	breeding, raising, and training of horses; and23
38	38	WHEREAS, the legalization of horse racing and pari-mutuel betting in this state could aid24
39	39	in the further development and expansion of Georgia's horse breeding and raising industry25
40	40	and foster its contribution to the economy of this state; and26
41	41	WHEREAS, the financial implications for the state of such potential legalization as well as27
42	42	previously considered measures by the General Assembly to improve Georgia's economy28
43	43	deserve to be further considered and studied along with the social, fiscal, and economic29
44	44	impacts and the financial viability of such endeavors.30
45	45	NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:31
46	46	(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee32
47	47	on Gaming in the State of Georgia.33
48	48	(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of seven members. The 34
49	49	members of the committee shall be the chairpersons of the House Committee on Ways35
50	50	and Means, the House Committee on Regulated Industries, and the House Committee on36
51	51	Economic Development and four other members of the House of Representatives37
52	52	H. R. 655
53	53	- 2 - 25 LC 28 0695
54	54	appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be
55	55	38
56	56	designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to serve as chairperson of the39
57	57	committee.40
58	58	(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,41
59	59	issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or42
60	60	legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.43
61	61	(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee44
62	62	shall hold at least four public hearings at various locations throughout this state and at45
63	63	least one meeting to discuss and finalize findings. Such hearings and meeting shall be46
64	64	conducted at such places and at such times as deemed necessary or convenient to enable47
65	65	the committee to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and48
66	66	accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.49
67	67	(5) Allowances and funding.50
68	68	(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided51
69	69	for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.52
70	70	(B) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member53
71	71	of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds54
72	72	necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds55
73	73	appropriated to the House of Representatives.56
74	74	(6) Report. The committee shall adopt specific findings or recommendations that57
75	75	include proposed legislation, and the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to58
76	76	the date of abolishment specified in this resolution.59
77	77	(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.60
78	78	H. R. 655
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