---
title: HB 1068. Georgia Constituent Services Improvement and Accountability Act; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1068
cite_as: HB 1068, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1068
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1068.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1068/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72519
date: 2026-02-02
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1067.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1069.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1068.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1068
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-01-28
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
  - Viola Davis
  - Kim Schofield
  - Sandra Scott
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1068/2025
upstream_id: 2100600
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - legislative funding
  - constituent services
  - government transparency
  - state ethics oversight
  - legislative offices
---

# HB 1068. Georgia Constituent Services Improvement and Accountability Act; enact

## Text

House Bill 1068
By: Representatives Davis of the 87th, Schofield of the 63rd, and Scott of the 76th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapters 1 and 4 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to general provisions regarding the General Assembly and legislative services, respectively,
so as to provide for additional office expense funding; to provide for additional funding for
constituent services for members of the General Assembly; to provide for the creation,
staffing, funding, duties, and procedures for the Office of Constituent Services; to provide
for a short title; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for related matters;
to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Constituent Services Improvement
and Accountability Act."
SECTION 2.
The General Assembly finds and expresses as the intent of this Act that:
(1) There is a need for a framework for constituent services offices for the General
Assembly as well as caucuses and delegations;
(2) Constituent services management needs to be modernized through the adoption and
implementation of technology and funding increases; and
(3) There is a need to promote transparency, accountability, and equitable access with
regard to constituent services through the year.
SECTION 3.
Chapter 1 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general
provisions regarding the General Assembly, is amended by revising subsection (a) of Code
Section 28-1-8, relating to salary and allowances of members and officers, as follows:
"(a)(1) Each member of the General Assembly shall receive an annual salary, as provided
for in Code Section 45-7-4, to be paid in equal monthly installments. Upon complying
with the requirements of paragraph (22) of subsection (a) of Code Section 45-7-4, each
member shall also be reimbursed for those actual expenses incurred in the performance
of duties for which reimbursement is provided in paragraph (22) of subsection (a) of
Code Section 45-7-4. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Speaker Pro
Tempore of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate
shall receive an additional amount per annum as provided for in Code Section 45-7-4.
The majority leader, the minority leader, the administration floor leader, and the assistant
administration floor leaders of the House of Representatives and the majority leader, the
minority leader, the administration floor leader, and the assistant administration floor
leaders of the Senate shall each receive such additional amount per annum as shall be
provided by resolution of the respective houses; but such amount for each shall not be
greater than the additional amount provided by law for the Speaker Pro Tempore of the
House of Representatives. All of such additional amounts shall also be paid in equal
monthly installments.
<ins>(2) In addition to the reimbursements for expenses for the performance of duties
provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section and paragraph (22) of subsection (a)
</ins>
<ins>of Code Section 45-7-4, each member shall receive at the beginning of such member's
term of office an additional expense allowance of $7,000.00. Such funds shall be used
by the member only for those purposes for which expense reimbursement is provided for
in paragraph (22) of subsection (a) of Code Section 45-7-4. Each member shall maintain
records documenting the use of such funds and shall make such records available to the
State Ethics Commission for review and audit at all times. The State Ethics Commission
shall provide forms and procedures for the maintenance of such records and shall conduct
annual audits of such records and may conduct random audits in the discretion of the
State Ethics Commission of such records regarding the use of such funds. Not later than
January 31 of each calendar year, each member of the General Assembly shall submit a
report, which shall be public record, to the Legislative Services Committee and such
report shall detail how the funds provided for in this paragraph were used in the
preceding calendar year and shall provide specific examples of constituent services
improvements accomplished, in whole or in part, with such funds.
(3) In addition to the funds specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, each
member shall be authorized to direct an additional amount not to exceed $1,000.00 each
calendar year for the purpose of funding, in whole or in part, the establishment and
operation of delegation-wide constituent services offices. Such amounts may be pooled
by delegations to maximize impact and efficiency. The State Ethics Commission shall
provide forms and procedures for the maintenance of records regarding the use of such
funds and shall conduct annual audits of such records and may conduct random audits in
the discretion of the State Ethics Commission of such records regarding the use of such
funds."
</ins>
SECTION 4.
Chapter 4 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general
provisions regarding legislative services, is amended by revising Code Section 28-4-8, which
is reserved, as follows:
"28-4-8.
<ins>(a) There is hereby created the Office of Constituent Services which shall exist for the
purpose of providing centralized resources and support for caucuses and delegations in the
General Assembly. Such office shall be established and constituted in such form and
manner as the Legislative Services Committee shall direct and shall be funded by annual
appropriation by the General Assembly sufficient to fund its operations, including staffing,
technology, and training programs. Such office shall operate on a year-round basis to
ensure consistent constituent engagement and assistance.
(b) The Office of Constituent Services shall be headed by a director selected at the
beginning of each odd-numbered year by the Legislative Services Committee. The office
shall have such number of staff members as shall be determined by the Legislative Services
Committee.
(c) The Office of Constituent Services shall, subject to appropriation, select, obtain, and
implement computer programs and software for the purpose of modernizing constituent
services, including, but not limited to, correspondence, case management, and data
analytics. The Office of Constituent Services shall develop and conduct training programs
in the use of such computer programs and software for members and members' staffs and
regarding best practices for constituent engagement.
(d) The Office of Constituent Services shall develop standardized procedures and best
practices for constituent case management, communication, and event coordination. The
Office of Constituent Services shall develop and conduct training programs regarding such
best practices for constituent case management, communication, and event coordination.
</ins>
<ins>(e) The Office of Constituent Services shall develop guidelines for the use of the funds
under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Code Section 28-1-8 which shall include, but not
be limited to, approved activities, reporting requirements, and accountability measures.
(f) The Office of Constituent Services shall coordinate the setup and management of
delegation-wide constituent services offices throughout the state and shall assist members
in the planning and execution of constituent services programs.
(g) The Office of Constituent Services shall publish an annual report not later than
January 31 of each calendar year, which shall be a public record, summarizing the activities
of the office for the immediately preceding calendar year, including, but not limited to,
support provided to delegations, training outcomes, and constituent impact metrics.
(h) The Office of Constituent Services shall be fully operational as soon as possible, but
not later than July 1, 2027.</ins> <del>Reserved."
</del> SECTION 5.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law
without such approval.
SECTION 6.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.

House Bill 1068 would give each Georgia legislator a new $7,000 expense allowance for constituent services, add up to $1,000 a year for delegation offices, and create a new Office of Constituent Services to support lawmakers statewide.

### Plain-language summary

Currently Georgia law provides members of the General Assembly with salary and expense reimbursements but has no dedicated funding stream or centralized support for constituent services. This bill, called the Georgia Constituent Services Improvement and Accountability Act, changes that by amending O.C.G.A. §§ 28-1-8 and 28-4-8.
Each member would get a $7,000 expense allowance at the start of their term for constituent services purposes, tracked through records reviewed by the State Ethics Commission and reported annually to the Legislative Services Committee. Members could also direct up to $1,000 per year toward delegation-wide constituent services offices, which delegations could pool together. The bill also creates a new Office of Constituent Services, run by a director chosen every odd year by the Legislative Services Committee, to provide technology, training, standardized procedures, and coordination support for caucuses and delegations. The office must be fully operational by July 1, 2027, and the law would take effect once the Governor signs it or it otherwise becomes law.

### What it does

- Gives each member of the General Assembly a $7,000 expense allowance at the start of their term specifically for constituent services activities.
- Requires members to keep records of how the $7,000 allowance is spent and submit an annual public report to the Legislative Services Committee by January 31.
- Allows members to direct up to $1,000 per year toward delegation-wide constituent services offices, which can be pooled across a delegation.
- Creates a new Office of Constituent Services to provide staffing, technology, training, and standardized case management practices for legislative caucuses and delegations.
- Requires the State Ethics Commission to create forms, conduct annual audits, and may conduct random audits of how these new funds are used.
- Sets a deadline of July 1, 2027 for the Office of Constituent Services to be fully operational.

### Who it affects

Members of the Georgia House and Senate, legislative caucuses and delegations, the Legislative Services Committee, and the State Ethics Commission, which would oversee new record-keeping and audits. Georgia constituents who interact with legislative offices would also be affected through changes to how those offices are staffed and run.

### Why it matters

Lawmakers would have new dedicated money and staff support for handling constituent requests, which could change how quickly and consistently residents get help from their legislators. The added reporting and audit requirements would create a public paper trail showing how these new funds are actually used.

### Key provisions

- Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 to add a $7,000 per-term expense allowance for each member, limited to constituent services purposes and subject to State Ethics Commission audit.
- Section 3 also creates a separate $1,000 annual allowance members can direct toward delegation-wide constituent services offices, which delegations may pool.
- Members must submit a public report each year by January 31 detailing how the $7,000 allowance was used and citing specific constituent services improvements.
- Section 4 amends O.C.G.A. § 28-4-8 (previously reserved) to create the Office of Constituent Services under the Legislative Services Committee, headed by a director chosen every odd-numbered year.
- The Office of Constituent Services must select technology for case management and correspondence, develop training programs, and set guidelines for use of the $1,000 delegation funds.
- The office must coordinate delegation-wide constituent services offices statewide and publish an annual public report by January 31 on its activities and outcomes.
- The office must be fully operational no later than July 1, 2027.
- Section 5 makes the law effective as soon as the Governor signs it or it otherwise becomes law without approval.

## Status

- Status: Introduced (2026-01-28)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-02)
- Sponsors: Viola Davis, Kim Schofield, Sandra Scott
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72519

> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1068.md?full=1