HB414: HB414 Elections; "person" to include certain nonresidents; revise definition

Georgia's campaign finance and government transparency law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 5 of Title 21) currently defines 'person' in a way that covers individuals, businesses, and organizations connected to Georgia. This bill expands that definition to explicitly include nonresidents, as defined in Georgia's long-arm statute (O.C.G.A. § 9-10-90), if they commit an act or transact business in Georgia that would otherwise be covered by the chapter. The bill also sets firm deadlines for lawsuits the Attorney General brings to enforce State Ethics Commission orders: a person sued has 30 days to respond or a default judgment is entered automatically, and if they do respond, a court hearing must happen within 30 days after that. It gives the Commission power to seek documents or information from people or records located outside Georgia, including asking a superior court to order compliance. Finally, it changes the venue rule so cases against nonresidents are heard in Fulton County rather than the person's county of residence. The changes take effect once the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law.

• Expands the legal definition of 'person' in Georgia's ethics and campaign finance law to include nonresidents who act or do business in Georgia.
• Sets a strict 30 day deadline for a person sued by the Attorney General to respond, with an automatic default judgment if they miss it.
• Requires a court hearing within 30 days after a response is filed in an Attorney General enforcement action.
• Gives the State Ethics Commission authority to request documents or information from people or records located outside Georgia, with court backup if they refuse.
• Moves the venue for cases against nonresident violators to Fulton County instead of their county of residence.

The change affects nonresidents of Georgia who engage in political spending, lobbying, or other activity covered by the state's campaign finance and ethics law, as well as the State Ethics Commission, the Attorney General's office, and Georgia courts handling these enforcement cases.

Currently, people who live outside Georgia but influence Georgia elections or politics may be harder to hold accountable under state ethics law. This bill closes that gap by letting the state treat certain out-of-state actors like residents, speeding up enforcement lawsuits, and centralizing out-of-state cases in Fulton County courts.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 21-5-3(19) so the definition of 'person' includes nonresidents (as defined in O.C.G.A. § 9-10-90) who act or do business in Georgia in ways covered by the chapter.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 21-5-6 to require a default judgment if a party sued by the Attorney General fails to respond within 30 days, and a hearing within 30 days if they do respond.
• Section 2 also adds a new subsection giving the State Ethics Commission power to request documents or information from people or records outside Georgia, and to ask a superior court to compel compliance if refused.
• Section 3 revises the venue rule in O.C.G.A. § 21-5-8 so cases against non-Georgia residents are heard in Fulton County rather than the person's county of residence.
• Section 4 makes the law effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without the Governor's approval.
• Section 5 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 438
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-02-11House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2026-02-05Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2026-02-05Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2026-02-05Senate Engrossed (Senate)

• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)Primary sponsor
• Buddy DeLoach (R, HD-167)
• Stan Gunter (R, HD-008)
• Mitchell Scoggins (R, HD-014)
• Scott Holcomb (D, HD-101)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 26, 2025

   153 yea, 9 nay (5 not voting, 13 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #97

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 5, 2026

   29 yea, 20 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Motion To Engross: Sb 403, Hb 414: Senate Vote #518

3. PassedSenate voteFebruary 5, 2026

   50 yea, 1 nay (0 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #521

4. PassedHouse voteFebruary 11, 2026

   167 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 5 absent)

   Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #503

• campaign finance
• government ethics
• election law
• State Ethics Commission
• legal venue rules