HB 414: Elections; "person" to include certain nonresidents; revise definition

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Discussed in meetings (5)

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. Senate Ethics Committee, February 2, 2026

   From 0:18:16 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would let the State Ethics Commission reach out-of-state actors who influence Georgia elections but avoid requests for information. The sponsor described a substitute providing for a default judgment after 30 days without a response, requiring superior court action within another 30 days, and making the bill effective upon the governor’s signature. The commission’s executive director said faster enforcement could address undisclosed election spending before voters cast ballots. A witness for the Georgia National Organization for Women opposed the bill, citing unclear definitions, due process concerns, insufficient safeguards and possible discouragement of lawful civic activity. In response to members’ questions, the director said the bill extended the reach of existing powers rather than creating new ones, covered spending to elect or defeat candidates rather than issue advocacy, and remained subject to court review. The director said participating groups would need to register and disclose political fundraising and spending; separate Georgia accounts could limit disclosure to Georgia activity. The director acknowledged gaps involving ads without explicit election language, described repeated difficulties obtaining out-of-state records, and declined to identify cases because of professional restrictions. The sponsor and director said many outside groups already register and discussed notifying organizations through ethics-law networks. The committee approved the substitute, with two members recorded as opposed.

2. Senate Rules Committee, February 4, 2026

   From 0:16:41 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute to HB 414, saying it would allow election oversight to reach out-of-state participants in Georgia elections. The sponsor said those participants would face the same registration, filing and disclosure requirements as in-state participants. According to the sponsor, the Ethics Commission currently cannot investigate outside Georgia to determine whether someone is violating the state's election rules. The sponsor said the substitute would enable those investigations without expanding the commission's scope or power. No members asked substantive questions. Later, a committee member requested the bill for the floor calendar, and the committee unanimously approved sending it to the floor along with two other bills.

3. Senate floor session, February 5, 2026 (legislative day 13)

   From 1:55:51 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Engrossed)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate approved a joint motion covering HB 414 and SB 403 to prevent floor amendments, 29-20. Later, the floor presenter said HB 414 would let the State Ethics Commission investigate and subpoena out-of-state contributors and groups under the same campaign-finance standards as Georgians, with 30 days to respond and cases heard in Fulton County. The committee substitute's reading also described response deadlines for Attorney General civil actions and judgments when defendants fail to respond. One senator questioned why existing donor-address disclosures were insufficient. The presenter said subpoenas were needed to examine incomplete information and concealed identities. Other senators asked how wrongdoing would be identified, whether leadership PAC rules were affected, and what protected groups from politically motivated investigations or false complaints. A second supporter said the bill changed enforcement reach, not existing rules, and cited complaint procedures, hearings and court review. Another supporter described difficulty obtaining out-of-state consultants' bank records. A further supporter called it a jurisdictional change and said constitutional due-process limits remained. Supporters said it predated current campaigns and could protect either party. The Senate adopted the substitute without objection and passed it, 50-1.

4. House floor session, February 11, 2026 (legislative day 17)

   From 2:36:54 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The clerk described HB 414 as revising the campaign finance law's definition of a person to include certain nonresidents. The sponsor said the Senate substitute's primary change adds a defined due-process procedure for both in-state and out-of-state parties. No questions were asked. The House agreed to the Senate substitute, 169 to 0.

• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 3, 2026 (legislative day 11), 0:30:52

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