All Roll Calls
Yes: 213 • No: 0
GeorgiaHB 7942025-2026 Regular SessionHouse
Clayton County; Board of Commissioners; code of ethics and board of ethics; revise and update provisions
Sponsored By: Eric Bell (Democrat), Rhonda Burnough (Democrat), Demetrius Douglas (Democrat), Robert Flournoy (Democrat), Yasmin Neal (Democrat), Sandra Scott (Democrat)
Signed by Governor
Intragovernmental CoordinationState and Local Governmental OperationsLocal Bill
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Independent Clayton County Board of Ethics
The law creates an eight‑member Clayton County Board of Ethics. Members must be county residents for at least one year. Anyone seeking appointment must file a public application with education and work history at the clerk of superior court. Members must meet strict rules: no county job or contract interests in the past two years, no public candidacy or office in the past three years, expertise in ethics, finance, governance, or law, pass background checks, and have no felony or unpaid tax debts. The initial board is selected by August 1, 2025, and takes office on September 1, 2025.
New ethics administrator and duties
The law creates an ethics administrator chosen by the Board of Ethics. The administrator may be a county employee or a contractor and may not engage in county politics. The administrator must keep the board’s records as Georgia law requires, notify in writing anyone who is the subject of an alleged violation, report complaints to the board, and do other duties the board assigns.
Stronger gift and conflict rules for county staff
The law creates a county ethics code for all Clayton County officials and employees. You may not ask for or accept gifts, loans, or favors tied to your duties. Small non-money gifts under $100, public service awards, and normal bank loans are allowed. Purchasing staff may not take gifts from anyone with business before the department; only true family or friendship gifts with no business ties are allowed. You may not use confidential information for private gain or represent yourself or others in county matters. If you have an interest that may be affected by your work, you must file a sworn disclosure, ask the ethics board for an opinion, and recuse. Disclosures are public (the value is not). You must also step aside from any action that affects a business in which you have any interest.
Tighter contracting and post-job limits for officials
Officials and employees may not take a financial interest in contracts they believe their official acts could affect. Clayton County may not contract with a county official, employee, or a business they have an interest in. Limited exceptions apply for a depository bank, the lowest-rate loans, a sole-source, or documented emergencies sent to the ethics board. For two years after leaving county service, the county may not contract with you or favor a business you represent.
How ethics complaints and penalties work
Anyone can file a written, sworn complaint. Anonymous complaints are allowed if specific, in good faith, and the administrator may set a form. The ethics administrator must notify the subject in writing by the next business day. The Ethics Officer reviews first and reports on probable cause. The board can subpoena records, hold public hearings under oath, use Georgia rules of evidence, and dismiss complaints lacking jurisdiction within 30 days. Sanctions can include a public reprimand and fines up to $1,000; suspected crimes go to law enforcement, and contractors can be suspended, disqualified, or debarred. Decisions are final but can be reviewed in superior court. Conflicting laws are repealed, so these rules control.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Eric Bell
Democrat • House
Rhonda Burnough
Democrat • House
Demetrius Douglas
Democrat • House
Robert Flournoy
Democrat • House
Yasmin Neal
Democrat • House
Sandra Scott
Democrat • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/31/2025
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR
Yes: 49 • No: 0
House vote • 3/27/2025
Local Calendar
Yes: 164 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
House Date Signed by Governor
5/13/2025HouseAct 232
5/13/2025Effective Date
5/13/2025House Sent to Governor
4/7/2025HouseSenate Committee Favorably Reported
3/31/2025SenateSenate Passed/Adopted
3/31/2025SenateSenate Read and Referred
3/28/2025SenateHouse Committee Favorably Reported
3/27/2025HouseHouse Third Readers
3/27/2025HouseHouse Passed/Adopted
3/27/2025HouseHouse Second Readers
3/21/2025HouseHouse First Readers
3/20/2025HouseHouse Hopper
3/18/2025House
Bill Text
HB 794/AP* (v4)
Related Bills
HB 90 — Revenue and taxation; increase maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property
HB 739 — Lawrenceville, City of; annexation of certain territory; provide
HB 579 — Professions and businesses; licensure to engage in trade; provisions
SB 566 — Ad Valorem Taxation of Property; the acceptance of tax digests in the event of a publication error made by a newspaper; provide
SB 284 — "Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008,"; issuance of orders by the Commissioner of Securities directing persons who have violated certain securities provisions to return; authorize
HB 413 — Agriculture; prohibit local ordinances that prohibit operation of mobile sawmills on agricultural land