A new bill introduced by Rep. Omari Crawford seeks to establish a formal mechanism for young people to provide input on youth-related issues to state leaders, the Georgia State House reports.
Labeled HB1608, the measure was filed Friday, March 27, during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, and is officially titled: ’Georgia Youth Advisory Council; create’.
The summary below is derived from the actual bill text and includes clarifying interpretations.
The bill would set up the Georgia Youth Advisory Council as a 15-member advisory group of youths between ages 14 and 21, representing every congressional district plus one at-large member chosen by the governor. The governor’s office would organize the application process. Members would serve two-year terms, meet quarterly, and be reimbursed for expenses without additional compensation. Duties include advising the governor on youth issues, reviewing youth needs, proposing policy and program changes, assembling committees on specific topics, and facilitating dialogue between youth and state officials. An annual report would be required by Nov. 30 each year.
Rep. Imani Barnes (Democrat-86th) and Rep. Bryce Berry (Democrat-56th) are co-sponsors, in addition to two others.
Crawford has sponsored 12 additional bills this session, with one earning passage so far.
He graduated from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University with a BA in 2008 and received his JD from North Carolina Central University in 2013.
Crawford, a Democrat, began serving the 84th House District in 2025, succeeding Becky Evans in the Georgia State House.
In Georgia, the legislative process starts when a legislator—sometimes after a constituent request—works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to prepare a bill. It is then filed with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, read for the first time, and referred to a committee for deliberation and research. If passed by the committee, it goes to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must be approved by both chambers, occasionally reconciling differences through a conference committee, before heading to the governor. The governor has six days during the session—or 40 days following adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or let the bill become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly convenes annually for a 40-day session starting the second Monday in January.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB1504 | 03/03/2026 | Dekalb County; State Court; authorize the charge and collection of technology fees |
| HB1241 | 02/06/2026 | Decatur, City of; city commission and public school system; revise provisions |
| HB1160 | 02/02/2026 | Civil practice; tolling of limitations; provide for surviving relatives in wrongful death actions |
| HB1127 | 02/02/2026 | Crimes; offense of unlawful possession of parts of a machine gun; provide |
| HB865 | 03/25/2025 | Elections; superintendents post notices whenever their offices are closed due to a declared state of emergency; provide |
| HB774 | 03/13/2025 | Dekalb County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee |
| HB688 | 02/28/2025 | Appeal and error; service of process; provide by certified mail and statutory overnight delivery, return receipt requested |
| HB687 | 02/28/2025 | Property; landlord and tenant; security deposits; provisions |
| HB336 | 02/06/2025 | Education; local school systems to provide certain information to parents and guardians of students in grades six through twelve on sickle cell disease; require |
| HB335 | 02/06/2025 | Quality Basic Education Act; address mental health risks for student athletes |
| HB334 | 02/06/2025 | Sickle Cell Disease Protection Act; enact |
| HB207 | 01/30/2025 | Firearms; storage within a motor vehicle or vessel; provide |
Details for this article were sourced from the Georgia State House. Source information is available here.
