2025 Senate Study Committee Appointments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, May 22, 2025

ATLANTA |Today, Lt. Governor Burt Jones announced legislative appointments to seven 2025 Senate Study Committees. 

“I am happy to announce my appointments to this year’s Senate study committees,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “Each Senator will bring their unique experience and knowledge to these study committees, and I look forward to their expertise contributing to the work of the Senate on critical issues facing constituents across Georgia. I also want to thank each of the members who sponsored the resolutions creating these study committees. I look forward to learning more from the committees’ findings and addressing their recommendations during the 2026 Legislative Session.”

Senate Study Committee on Additional Services and Resources for Transition Age Youth in Foster Care. The following members will serve on the five-member committee:

Senator Kay Kirkpatrick, District 32, who shall serve as chair;

Senator Bo Hatchett, District 50;

Senator Derek Mallow, District 2;

Senator Elena Parent, District 44; and

Senator Chuck Payne, District 54.

Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Schools. The following members will serve on the six-member committee: 

Senator John F. Kennedy, District 18, who shall serve as chair;

Senator Clint Dixon, District 45;

Senator Billy Hickman, District 4;

Senator RaShaun Kemp, District 38;

Senator Freddie Powell Sims, District 12; and

Senator Shawn Still, District 48.

Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism. The following members will serve on the five-member committee:

Senator Drew Echols, District 49, who shall serve as chair;

Senator Frank Ginn, District 47;

Senator Russ Goodman, District 8; 

Senator Sonya Halpern, District 39; and 

Senator Emanuel Jones, District 10.

Senate Study Committee on Recovery Residences. The following members will serve on the six-member committee: 

Senator Randy Robertson, District 29, who shall serve as chair;

Senator Kim Jackson, District 41;

Senator Kay Kirkpatrick, District 32;

Senator Josh McLaurin, District 14; and 

Senator Brian Strickland, District 42.

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) Commissioner Kevin Tanner, or his designee, shall also serve as a member of the study committee.  

Senate Impact of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence on Children and Platform Privacy Protection Study Committee. The following members will serve on the five-member committee: 

Senator Sally Harrell, District 40, who shall serve as co-chair;

Senator Shawn Still, District 48, who shall serve as co-chair;

Senator Marty Harbin, District 16;

Senator Ed Setzler, District 37; and 

Senator Sheikh Rahman, District 5.

Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Affordability. The following Senators will serve on the five-member committee: 

Senator Nan Orrock, District 36, who shall serve as chair;

Senator Max Burns, District 23;

Senator Gail Davenport, District 17; 

Senator Steve Gooch, District 51; and 

Senator Rick Williams, District 25.

Senate Study Committee on Improving Family Caregiver Services. The following members will serve on the five-member committee: 

Senator Harold Jones, District 22, who shall serve as chair;

Senator Chuck Hufstetler, District 52;

Senator Larry Walker, District 20; 

Senator Ben Watson, District 1; and 

Senator Kenya Wicks, District 34.

Dates and locations for meetings of each of the study committees will be announced at a later date. 

For all of the information related to this year’s Senate study committees, please follow this page: https://www.senate.ga.gov/committees/en-US/2025StudyCommittees.aspx