HB 1379: Foreign Funding Transparency and Accountability Act; enact

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Discussed in meetings (14)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. House Higher Education Committee, February 26, 2026

   From 0:27:18 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would require twice-yearly reports to the Department of Audits on foreign funding, covering all countries and adding public K-12 schools and technical colleges to existing requirements. The sponsor emphasized disclosure, not a funding ban. Supporting presenters cited Qatar Foundation International grants and Chinese funding as reasons for greater scrutiny. A supporting legislator cited a Foundation for Defense of Democracies report alleging more than $280,000 for Georgia public K-12 schools and more than $200,000 for Georgia State University, and alleged influence on teaching materials. Two public witnesses supported parents' access to funding information. Members questioned coverage of private schools, research partnerships, exchange programs, foundations and small donations. The sponsor said private schools were excluded, university-foundation donations were covered, exchange funding likely qualified, and disclosure should not hinder research. The sponsor was open to adding private schools, a $1,000 threshold, annual rather than twice-yearly reporting, and reports to legislative committee chairs. One member cautioned against treating Qatar's government and the foundation as identical. A supporting presenter described the foundation's funding relationship with Qatar's royal family. The sponsor said language covering such entities and university-system concerns remained under review. A member proposed expanding coverage to private schools, but no amendment or vote occurred. The chair held the bill for another hearing.

2. House Higher Education Committee, March 2, 2026

   From 0:26:58 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the substitute would limit foreign-funding reporting to foreign adversaries, countries on specified federal concern or watch lists, and countries with sovereign wealth funds, rather than every country. The sponsor said reporting would cover annual totals above $10,000, including multiple payments that together exceed that amount, and would be annual rather than semiannual, with reports provided to the House and Senate. Asked how this differed from legislation passed the previous year, the sponsor said it added countries and covered K-12 schools and the technical college system. One committee member questioned duplication and administrative burdens and requested clear feedback from affected education organizations. The sponsor said conversations with the university system had informed the changes but did not report those organizations' positions. Another member requested a clear country list. The sponsor suggested the Department of Audits could compile one, but no such amendment was adopted during the meeting. After holding the bill temporarily, the committee approved the substitute with a do-pass recommendation, 11-3.

3. House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026

   From 1:28:37 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1929

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1379 would increase transparency about foreign funding of educational institutions. A member asked whether the University System of Georgia and other institutions supported the added reporting. The sponsor said no opposition had been brought directly to the sponsor and that discussions had produced changes. Another member described university system concerns about reporting amounts down to zero and the range of countries covered. The sponsor confirmed that a substitute raised the threshold to $10,000 and changed the countries included, arguing that the revisions addressed those concerns. No decision was recorded.

4. House floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27, PM, part 2)

   From 2:33:20 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1992

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1379 would expand foreign funding disclosures for public universities, technical colleges and K–12 schools, including reporting of $10,000 or more from additional covered countries. The sponsor argued disclosure would expose possible foreign influence over curriculum without necessarily banning funding. Asked about legitimate academic partnerships, the sponsor pointed to countries such as China, Iran and Cuba and cited a $65,000 Arabic teacher grant as an example deserving scrutiny. Another member supported the goal but warned that definitions could also capture allies such as Norway and organizations with indirect foreign connections, discouraging legitimate research partnerships. That member said they would vote yes while seeking narrower language in the Senate. A further member asked why all foreign funding was not covered. Another responded that an earlier version did cover all countries but the university system considered that too burdensome. The House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 139–15.

5. House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026

   From 0:27:21 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1929

   Summary by Georgia Commons: A motion to place HB 1379 on the supplemental calendar received a second and an objection. After a voice vote, the chair declared that the motion carried. No vote count or reasons for the objection were stated, and members did not discuss the bill's substance.

6. Senate Higher Education Committee, March 10, 2026

   From 0:16:04 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the substitute would expand foreign-funding disclosures to K-12 public schools, technical colleges and additional countries, with a $10,000 reporting threshold for the expanded requirements. The sponsor said it sought transparency about curriculum influence, not a funding ban, and cited a $46,600 Qatar Foundation International grant for an Amana Academy exchange program. Another state representative supported disclosure, alleging that Qatar-funded teacher training influenced classroom maps. Members questioned the country-selection criteria, including a monarchy and sovereign-wealth-fund provision. The sponsor said that provision covered Qatar and other countries, but not England. After conflicting comments about whether federal list changes would automatically apply, the chair and sponsor clarified that designations were fixed as of January 1, 2026, and updating them would require legislation. One member favored disclosure from all countries; the sponsor said the narrower scope was more workable. Another member questioned school reporting burdens and withholding state funds. The chair and sponsor said withholding would apply only for failing to disclose. A member raised risks from unclear funding sources and asked about consultation. The sponsor acknowledged not consulting principals, but said school boards and superintendents had been consulted. The committee recommended passage of the substitute, 4-3.

7. Senate Rules Committee, March 16, 2026

   From 0:06:46 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1379 would require public disclosure of money from certain foreign countries given to K-12 schools, technical colleges and University System of Georgia schools, building on legislation passed the previous year. There were no questions. The committee later unanimously included the bill on the next day's floor calendar.

8. Senate floor session, March 18, 2026 (legislative day 33)

   From 4:12:34 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1379 would require public schools, technical colleges, and university system institutions to report contributions exceeding $10,000 from specified foreign sources. The sponsor described public reporting of the amount, type, and purpose, exemptions for student tuition and fees, and penalties for noncompliance. The sponsor said the federal threshold is $250,000 and defended the lower state threshold as a negotiated transparency measure. Asked about research partnerships, cryptocurrency, and confidence in education leaders, the sponsor said donations would remain permitted and expressed trust in institutional leadership. One opponent argued the bill had been insufficiently examined and could cast suspicion on Arabic-language teaching and student exchanges. That senator described a 30-day correction period followed by possible withholding of state funds equal to $5,000 or three times undisclosed funding, whichever is greater. Another opponent called the reporting requirements added bureaucracy and questioned selective concern about foreign influence. Supporters argued families should know whether foreign adversaries fund education, with one citing a 139-16 House vote. Debate broadened into disputes over national politics, foreign policy, and state priorities. The Senate passed the bill 31-20.

• Read aloud: House floor session, February 19, 2026 (legislative day 21), 0:32:14
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 20, 2026 (legislative day 22), 0:43:01
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 3, 2026 (legislative day 26, AM), 0:50:00
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, part 1), 0:41:04
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 12, 2026 (legislative day 31), 0:26:06
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 16, 2026 (legislative day 32), 0:31:03

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