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GeorgiaHB 4142025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Elections; "person" to include certain nonresidents; revise definition

Sponsored By: Buddy DeLoach (Republican), Stan Gunter (Republican), Scott Holcomb (Democrat), Todd Jones (Republican), Mitchell Scoggins (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

Georgia campaign rules now cover nonresidents

Georgia’s campaign finance law covers qualifying people and organizations based outside the state. Coverage applies when their actions, failures to act, or business in Georgia fall under rules that cover Georgia residents. This includes campaign finance reporting and related duties. Prosecutions and enforcement actions involving nonresidents take place in Fulton County. For candidates and public officers, venue otherwise follows their county of residence at the time of the alleged violation or action. The law takes effect upon the Governor’s approval or upon becoming law without that approval.

Stronger enforcement of campaign finance rules

The Georgia State Ethics Commission can order compliance, stop violations, and require corrected public statements containing required information. Civil fines are capped at $1,000 per first violation, $10,000 for a second occurrence, and $25,000 for each later occurrence. Fines require notice and a hearing under state administrative law. The commission can waive or suspend fines for undue hardship or when there is nothing to report. It can also request records held outside Georgia and require access where those records are located. After a refusal, it can seek a superior court order; the court must find the records relevant or necessary to an authorized investigation or enforcement action. The Attorney General can seek court orders to stop violations and recover civil penalties for the commission. Commission enforcement actions generally go to superior court in the party’s home county, with service allowed within Georgia. After proper notice and a hearing, the court enforces commission orders and fines without reconsidering the violations. Failure to respond within 30 days of service can lead to a default judgment. A timely response requires a hearing on the case within 30 days afterward, with further hearings allowed as needed. Judgments include the commission’s costs and reasonable attorney fees, and collected money goes to the state treasury. The commission must publicly post all orders issued since January 9, 2006, and all earlier advisory orders, which serve as precedent.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Buddy DeLoach

    Republican • House

  • Stan Gunter

    Republican • House

  • Scott Holcomb

    Democrat • House

  • Todd Jones

    Republican • House

  • Mitchell Scoggins

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Randy Robertson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 401 • No: 30

House vote • 2/11/2026

Agree to Senate Substitute

Yes: 169 • No: 0 • Other: 6

Senate vote • 2/5/2026

MOTION TO ENGROSS: SB 403, HB 414

Yes: 29 • No: 20 • Other: 3

Senate vote • 2/5/2026

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 50 • No: 1 • Other: 2

House vote • 2/26/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 153 • No: 9 • Other: 5

Actions Timeline

  1. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/11/2026House

  2. Act 438

    5/11/2026

  3. Effective Date

    5/11/2026

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/6/2026House

  5. House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub

    2/11/2026House

  6. Senate Engrossed

    2/5/2026Senate

  7. Senate Third Read

    2/5/2026Senate

  8. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    2/5/2026Senate

  9. Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    2/3/2026Senate

  10. Senate Recommitted

    1/12/2026Senate

  11. Senate Read Second Time

    3/18/2025Senate

  12. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    3/13/2025Senate

  13. Senate Read and Referred

    2/27/2025Senate

  14. House Third Readers

    2/26/2025House

  15. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    2/26/2025House

  16. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    2/20/2025House

  17. House Second Readers

    2/18/2025House

  18. House First Readers

    2/13/2025House

  19. House Hopper

    2/12/2025House

Bill Text

  • HB 414/AP* (v8)

    PDF

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