# Georgia HB 794: Clayton County; Board of Commissioners; code of ethics and board of ethics; revise and update provisions Georgia HB 794, Clayton County; Board of Commissioners; code of ethics and board of ethics; revise and update provisions, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Eric Bell (Democrat), Rhonda Burnough (Democrat), Demetrius Douglas (Democrat) and 3 others; status signed, last action 2025-05-13 (House Date Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB794-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Georgia HB 794 - State: Georgia - Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session - Title: Clayton County; Board of Commissioners; code of ethics and board of ethics; revise and update provisions - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-03-18 - Last action: 2025-05-13, House Date Signed by Governor - Sponsors: Eric Bell (Democrat), Rhonda Burnough (Democrat), Demetrius Douglas (Democrat), Robert Flournoy (Democrat), Yasmin Neal (Democrat), Sandra Scott (Democrat) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (213 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Clayton County limits insider business deals: cost, low. Clayton County generally cannot buy services or property from its officials, employees, or businesses in which they hold interests. Exceptions cover bank deposits, borrowing at the lowest available interest rate, a sole available source, and documented emergencies. For emergency contracts, commissi… - Clayton County adds ethics support staff: mixed, low. Clayton County must have an ethics officer and an administrator, each serving as an employee or contractor. The officer needs Georgia Bar membership in good standing and at least five years of legal practice. Appointment requires majority votes from the ethics board and commissioners, for a term of… - Clayton County creates independent ethics oversight: mixed, low. The law creates an eight-member Clayton County ethics board, plus an alternate, with unpaid members and a four-member quorum. The grand jury appoints five members; the tax commissioner appoints three and the alternate. Initial selections were required by August 1, 2025, with service beginning Septe… - Clayton ethics complaints bring hearings and penalties: mixed, low. Residents, resident groups, and the ethics officer can file sworn written complaints with the ethics administrator; anonymous complaints are also accepted. Complaints must identify alleged violations and include supporting facts, documents, and affidavits that meet evidence requirements. A filer ha… - County workers face stronger conflict rules: mixed, low. Clayton County officials and employees cannot use confidential information or their jobs for private gain or unwarranted privileges. The law also bars improper favoritism, incompatible outside work, conflicting private representation, and prohibited interests affected by county action. Gifts that c… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Eric Bell (Democrat), House - Sponsor: Rhonda Burnough (Democrat), House - Sponsor: Demetrius Douglas (Democrat), House - Sponsor: Robert Flournoy (Democrat), House - Sponsor: Yasmin Neal (Democrat), House - Sponsor: Sandra Scott (Democrat), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-03-31 | Senate | LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR | pass | 49 | 0 | 5 | | 2025-03-27 | House | Local Calendar | pass | 164 | 0 | 12 | ## Actions (13) - 2025-05-13: House Date Signed by Governor (House) - 2025-05-13: Act 232 - 2025-05-13: Effective Date - 2025-04-07: House Sent to Governor (House) - 2025-03-31: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-28: Senate Read and Referred (Senate) - 2025-03-27: House Committee Favorably Reported (House) - 2025-03-27: House Third Readers (House) - 2025-03-27: House Passed/Adopted (House) - 2025-03-21: House Second Readers (House) - 2025-03-20: House First Readers (House) - 2025-03-18: House Hopper (House) ## Bill text - HB 794/AP* (v4): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/238124) ## Related bills - SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed) - SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed) - SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed) - SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed) - HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed) - HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed) ## Sources - [HB 794/AP* (v4) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/238124) ## Related - [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026) - [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026) - [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026) - [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026) - [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026) - [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026) - [Georgia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia/bills) - [Georgia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB794-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).