HB 1334: Georgia-Africa and Caribbean Trade Commission; create

Georgia currently has no formal state structure dedicated to building trade and investment ties with African and Caribbean nations, even though the bill's findings describe those regions as fast-growing markets. HB1334 would add a new article to Georgia's laws on state commissions and agencies (O.C.G.A. Title 50, Chapter 12) establishing the Georgia-Africa and Caribbean Trade Commission. The commission would have 19 members, including state economic and agriculture officials, lawmakers appointed by the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President, a University System of Georgia representative, and five members with business or trade experience in African or Caribbean markets. Members would serve without pay but could be reimbursed for expenses. The commission must meet at least twice a year, report to the Governor and General Assembly within a year of its first meeting and then every February 1, and would have its own state trust fund for grants, donations, and appropriated money to cover its work.

• Establishes a new 19-member Georgia-Africa and Caribbean Trade Commission within Title 50 of Georgia law to coordinate trade and investment with African and Caribbean nations.
• Sets the commission's membership, including state commissioners, four House members, four Senate members, a University System of Georgia representative, and five business or trade representatives.
• Requires the commission to meet at least twice a year and submit a written report with recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly annually by February 1.
• Creates a dedicated Georgia-Africa and Caribbean Trade Commission Fund in the state treasury to hold appropriations, grants, donations, and other funds for the commission's work.
• Directs the Governor to appoint a chairperson or cochairpersons and requires all initial appointments within 90 days of the article taking effect.

State officials such as the commissioners of economic development, agriculture, and community affairs; members of the General Assembly appointed to the commission; University System of Georgia representatives; Georgia businesses and trade organizations with ties to African or Caribbean markets; and the state treasurer's office, which would manage the new fund.

If enacted, Georgia would gain a formal, ongoing state body focused on expanding exports, attracting foreign investment, and supporting small and minority owned businesses in trade with Africa and the Caribbean, with its own funding source and yearly public reporting to state leaders.

• Section 1 lays out legislative findings on the economic importance of trade with Africa and the Caribbean and the lack of a coordinated state structure for it.
• Section 2 adds new Article 9 to Chapter 12 of Title 50, creating the commission and specifying its 19 members, including agency heads, legislators, a university representative, and business representatives (O.C.G.A. § 50-12-140).
• Subsection (b)-(c) sets two-year terms for legislative members and requires all appointments within 90 days of the article's effective date.
• Subsection (e)-(f) requires at least two annual hearings and gives the Governor authority to name a chairperson or cochairpersons.
• Subsection (g) defines the commission's purposes, including promoting exports, attracting investment, supporting small and minority owned businesses, and identifying trade barriers, plus annual reporting requirements.
• Subsection (h) creates the Georgia-Africa and Caribbean Trade Commission Fund to hold appropriations, grants, and donations for the commission's expenses.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-19House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-18House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-17House Hopper (House)

• Gabe Okoye (D, HD-102)Primary sponsor
• Segun Adeyina (D, HD-110)
• El-Mahdi Holly (D, HD-116)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)
• Solomon Adesanya (D, HD-043)

• international trade
• economic development
• state commissions
• Africa and Caribbean relations
• Georgia exports