Georgia CommonsHB 414: Elections; "person" to include certain nonresidents; revise definition
Last action May 11, 2026 · Effective Date 2026-05-11
House Bill 414 would let Georgia's ethics law reach people outside the state who violate campaign finance rules, and it would speed up lawsuits the Attorney General brings to enforce those rules.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Georgia's campaign finance and ethics law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 5 of Title 21) currently defines 'person' in a way tied to entities recognized in Georgia. This bill expands that definition to include nonresidents, using the same definition of 'nonresident' already used in Georgia's long-arm statute (O.C.G.A. 9-10-90), so that someone outside Georgia who commits an act or does business in the state that would violate the ethics law can be held to the same rules a resident would face. The bill also changes how the Attorney General's enforcement lawsuits work: if a person sued does not respond within 30 days, the court must enter a default judgment against them, and if they do respond, a hearing must happen within 30 days of that response. It gives the State Ethics Commission new power to request documents or information from people located out of state, with court backup if they refuse. It also moves the case's location (venue) to Fulton County when the person involved is not a Georgia resident. The changes take effect once the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without a signature.
What the bill does
- Expands the legal definition of 'person' in Georgia's campaign finance and ethics law to include certain nonresidents who act or do business in the state.
- Requires a default judgment against anyone sued by the Attorney General for an ethics violation who fails to respond within 30 days of being served.
- Sets a 30 day deadline for holding a hearing once a person sued does respond.
- Gives the State Ethics Commission authority to request documents or information from people or records located outside Georgia, with court enforcement if they refuse.
- Changes venue (the court where a case is filed) to Fulton County when the person involved is not a Georgia resident.
Who it affects
Out-of-state individuals, businesses, or organizations that engage in political activity or business affecting Georgia elections, the Attorney General's office, the State Ethics Commission, and anyone facing a civil enforcement action under Georgia's campaign finance law.
Why it matters
The change closes a gap that previously let out-of-state actors avoid Georgia's ethics rules simply by not being Georgia residents. It also speeds up enforcement cases with firm deadlines and gives investigators a clearer path to get evidence located outside the state.
Key provisions
- Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. 21-5-3(19) to include nonresidents (as defined in O.C.G.A. 9-10-90) in the definition of 'person' if they act or do business in Georgia in a way that would violate the chapter.
- Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. 21-5-6 to require default judgment if a party sued by the Attorney General does not respond within 30 days, and a hearing within 30 days if they do respond.
- Section 2 also adds a new subsection letting the State Ethics Commission request documents or information located outside Georgia and petition a superior court to compel compliance if refused.
- Section 3 revises the venue rule in O.C.G.A. 21-5-8 so cases against nonresidents are filed in Fulton County instead of the person's county of residence.
- Section 4 makes the law effective as soon as the Governor signs it or it becomes law without a signature.
From the bill
“shall include a 'nonresident' as that term is defined in Code Section 9-10-90 who commits an act or omission or transacts business within the state which if performed by a resident of this state would be subject to this chapter”
“a default judgement shall be entered against the party against whom relief is sought”
“unless the person is not a Georgia resident, in which case venue is in Fulton County”
Status timeline
- Effective Date 2026-05-11
- Act 438
- House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- House Sent to Governor (House)
- House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Engrossed (Senate)
Show full history (19 actions)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Recommitted (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Todd Jones (R, HD-025)
- Buddy DeLoach (R, HD-167)
- Stan Gunter (R, HD-008)
- Mitchell Scoggins (R, HD-014)
- Scott Holcomb (D, HD-101)
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
Votes
- House voteFebruary 26, 2025
153 yea, 9 nay (5 not voting, 13 absent)
- Senate voteFebruary 5, 2026
29 yea, 20 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)
- Senate voteFebruary 5, 2026
50 yea, 1 nay (0 not voting, 3 absent)
- House voteFebruary 11, 2026
167 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 5 absent)
Topics
- campaign finance
- state ethics commission
- election law
- government transparency
- out-of-state enforcement