HB 414 Georgia House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

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

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to government transparency and campaign finance, so as to revise the definition of "person" to include certain nonresidents of the state; to provide the State Ethics Commission with supplementary investigatory powers related to persons, documents, or information located outside of the state; to revise venue provisions to address out-of-state persons; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Signed May 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

LC 47 3421S/hcs → HB 414/AP* · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from a committee substitute version to the final version passed by both the House and Senate. The primary substantive change is the addition of specific time periods for responding to civil actions, default judgment rules, and hearing schedules, which were missing in the previous draft. The bill also clarifies the State Ethics Commission's power to issue compliance orders and imposes new civil penalties for violations.

Scope change

The bill's scope of applicability remains focused on government transparency and campaign finance in Georgia, but the enforcement mechanisms have been expanded to include specific procedural timelines and penalty structures.

TIMELINE

Added specific time periods for responding to civil actions brought by the Attorney General, setting deadlines for hearings, and establishing rules for default judgments.

ENFORCEMENT

Expanded the State Ethics Commission's powers to issue orders directing compliance or prohibiting violations, including requirements to cease and desist and make public corrected statements.

REQUIREMENT

Established a tiered civil penalty system for violations, with fines up to $1,000 for a first offense, $10,000 for a second, and $25,000 for third or subsequent occurrences of the same violation.

DEFINITION

Updated the bill title and status from 'Committee Substitute' to 'As Passed House and Senate,' reflecting that the text has been finalized by both legislative chambers.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 5, 2026 · House Feb 26, 2025

How they voted

47–1

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 51

Feb 5, 2026

D Democratic20

17 Yea 1 Nay 2

85% Yea

R Republican31

30 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 11, 2026

Signed into law

Act 438

upper

May 11, 2026

Signed into law

House Date Signed by Governor

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Introduced

House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Engrossed

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

upper

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Senate Recommitted

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Committee

Senate Read and Referred

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Introduced

House Hopper

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors