HB 1003: Public officers and employees; daily expense accounts of members of the General Assembly; revise provisions

Under current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 45-7-4), members of the General Assembly can be reimbursed up to $7,000 per year for expenses like lodging, meals, postage, supplies, and equipment tied to their legislative duties. House Bill 1003 raises that cap to $10,000 per year. The bill also creates a brand new allowance, separate from the existing one, letting each member be reimbursed up to $10,000 per year for security-related expenses such as home security improvements, monitoring services, or security services while traveling for legislative duties. Members must submit vouchers with supporting documentation to the legislative fiscal office and certify the expenses are accurate, under penalty of Georgia's false statements law (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20). Security equipment that isn't a permanent fixture and retains value over $100 must be returned to the state when a member leaves office.

• Increases the existing annual expense reimbursement cap for General Assembly members from $7,000 to $10,000.
• Creates a new, separate annual allowance of up to $10,000 per member for security-related expenses like home security systems and monitoring services.
• Requires members to submit vouchers with supporting documents and a signed certification of accuracy to claim security expense reimbursements.
• Requires return of security equipment to the state if it isn't a fixed part of real property and still has depreciated value over $100 when a member leaves office.
• Applies Georgia's false swearing law (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20) to anyone submitting certified vouchers for the new security allowance, treating false claims the same as lying to a state agency.

This bill directly affects the 236 members of the Georgia General Assembly, who would receive higher expense reimbursements and a new security allowance. It also affects the legislative fiscal office and Legislative Services Committee, which process and set rules for these expense vouchers.

Legislators would have more state money available each year, both for general duties and now specifically for security at their homes or while traveling. The change reflects rising costs and security concerns, and adds oversight requirements like vouchers and certifications to guard against misuse of the new funds.

• Section 1 revises subparagraph (a)(22)(C) of O.C.G.A. § 45-7-4, raising the general annual expense reimbursement cap from $7,000 to $10,000.
• Section 1 adds new subparagraph (C.1) creating a separate $10,000 annual security expense allowance covering home security improvements, monitoring, and security services during legislative travel.
• The security allowance requires vouchers with supporting documentation and a signed certification of truthfulness, submitted to the legislative fiscal office under rules set by the Legislative Services Committee.
• Security equipment that is not a permanent fixture and has depreciated value over $100 must be returned to the state when a member leaves office.
• Section 2 repeals all conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-28House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-16House Hopper (House)

• David Wilkerson (D, HD-038)Primary sponsor
• Karen Lupton (D, HD-083)
• Esther Panitch (D, HD-051)
• Dar'shun Kendrick (D, HD-095)
• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)
• Shea Roberts (D, HD-052)

• legislative expenses
• state officials pay
• government spending
• legislator security