House Study Committee on Street Lighting Along State Routes; create
Summary
House Resolution 754 creates a temporary House Study Committee on Street Lighting Along State Routes. The resolution states that street lighting is important for public safety, accident reduction, pedestrian security, and roadway visibility, and it identifies problems such as aging infrastructure, storm damage, missing lights, and inconsistent maintenance along state routes. The committee is tasked with studying these conditions and related issues, including where lights are nonfunctional, outdated, or absent.
The committee will be composed of five House members appointed by the Speaker, with one designated as chair. It may meet as needed, receive legislative allowances under existing Georgia law, and use funds appropriated to the House of Representatives. The committee is authorized to investigate jurisdictional and funding challenges involving local governments, utilities, and the Department of Transportation, and to recommend legislation or other actions if appropriate. The committee is set to expire on December 1, 2025, and must file a report or meeting minutes before that date if it reaches findings or recommendations.
Impact
This resolution does not directly amend the Georgia Code or create a permanent regulatory program; instead, it establishes a temporary legislative study committee to gather information and potentially recommend future legislation. Its practical effect is to authorize House members to examine street lighting conditions along state routes, identify maintenance and reporting problems, and evaluate policy options that could later lead to changes in transportation, public safety, or local-government coordination statutes. It also authorizes use of House funds and legislative per diem/allowances for committee work under existing law.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have a generally supportive, problem-solving tone, emphasizing public safety and infrastructure maintenance rather than controversy. The absence of recorded committee debate or votes suggests there is no documented opposition in the available materials. The resolution’s findings frame the issue as a practical statewide concern needing study and coordination among state and local entities.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or voting history. Based on the text, the most likely areas for debate would be funding responsibility, which agency or level of government should maintain lights along state routes, and how to handle jurisdictional issues between the Department of Transportation, utilities, and local governments. Another possible issue is whether a study committee is the best use of legislative resources versus direct action, but no member is recorded as raising that objection in the available record.