HB 963: Elections; prohibit foreign nationals from contributing to or participating in any campaign

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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 Governmental Affairs Committee, February 18, 2026

   From 0:59:29 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 963 would prohibit foreign-national money and participation in campaigns over state referendums and local ballot questions, including bond issues. The sponsor described the bill as extending federal candidate-election restrictions to an area where federal law was unclear, while preserving lawful permanent residents’ ability to contribute financially. Asked whether the restriction would apply to spending by a particular advocacy organization, the sponsor said it would if the money came from foreign nationals. Asked for documented examples of foreign interference in Georgia referendums, the sponsor said the activity was not monitored because there was no clear prohibition, so the sponsor could not say whether it had occurred. The sponsor also clarified that the bill was not itself a constitutional amendment, but would cover campaigns seeking to influence constitutional amendments. The committee approved the bill by voice vote, with opposition heard and no count stated.

2. House Rules Committee, March 3, 2026

   From 0:37:00 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said HB 963 would extend restrictions modeled on federal law concerning foreign-national campaign contributions and participation to Georgia ballot referendums and constitutional amendments. One committee member expressed general support but asked whether every donor would need a separate form. The presenter said committees would use existing reporting procedures, identify prohibited foreign-national donations and return them, and disclose whether foreign nationals directed preliminary committee activities. Asked about local sales-tax and other local referendums, the presenter said all ballot referendums would be covered. A second member asked what would happen if a campaign mistakenly accepted a foreign-national donation, noting that smaller campaigns have fewer staff and resources. The presenter said allegations would be investigated by the State Ethics Commission. In follow-up questions about certification, the presenter said each donation would require an affirmation of whether it came from a foreign source, possibly through a checkbox, but said the reporting form's design was not yet known. No vote was recorded.

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

   From 0:33:23 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1927

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 963 would extend restrictions on foreign nationals’ campaign contributions and participation to state and local ballot questions. The sponsor said campaigns would need to verify funding sources and that covered organizations would need to check donors. Asked about foreign students participating in advocacy projects, the sponsor said activity covered by the bill would violate it. The sponsor later said foreign students would not be excluded from the Governor’s Honors Program or governor’s internships. One opposing member argued the definition went beyond federal law by covering U.S.-organized businesses wholly or majority owned by foreign nationals, potentially affecting longtime residents and immigrant-led organizations. Other members questioned the breadth of indirect participation, including a visa-holding business owner hosting campaign events. A supporting member said the measure would close a gap in protections against foreign influence. The House passed the bill 140–24.

4. House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026

   From 0:34:15 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1881

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee considered adding HB 963 to the day's supplemental calendar under modified structured rules. After a motion and second, an objection prompted a voice vote. Members voiced support and opposition, and the chair declared the motion carried. No vote count was stated, and no provisions were discussed.

5. Senate Ethics Committee, March 19, 2026

   From 1:15:56 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would bar foreign nationals from financing, soliciting funds for, or directing ballot-question campaigns, and require campaign committees to certify funding sources. The sponsor said voting rights and personal speech would remain unchanged, and qualifying businesses could participate using U.S.-generated money directed by citizens or lawful permanent residents. Members questioned business and nonprofit participation, religious advocacy, enforcement, and indirect funding. The sponsor said the Georgia Ethics Commission would enforce existing penalties without added administrative costs and acknowledged having no specific Georgia examples. The vice chair challenged a $100,000, four-year indirect-funding threshold as allowing money to pass through intermediary groups. The sponsor said direct foreign contributions remained prohibited. A Common Cause Georgia witness warned of burdens on grassroots campaigns, difficult donor verification and effects on speech. A self-represented witness raised concerns about Jewish civic participation. A Voter GA witness supported the bill. An Honest Elections Project Action witness cited research alleging $130 million in foreign-linked spending on ballot issues in 26 states and said a Kansas court had upheld similar provisions. That witness declined to identify donors and denied receiving foreign money. The vice chair proposed lowering the threshold to $15,000. The sponsor and several members opposed changing a threshold they said had survived court review. After disputed counts, the amendment failed, four to six. The committee approved the unchanged bill, six to four.

6. Senate Rules Committee, March 23, 2026

   From 0:14:28 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 963 would apply restrictions on foreign participation in candidate elections to ballot referendums, local ballot questions and constitutional amendments. The sponsor described the bill as extending the same standard already used for federal and state elected offices. No questions or vote followed.

7. Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026

   From 1:29:17 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: A member selected HB 963 for the floor calendar. No substantive explanation or debate followed. The committee unanimously approved the calendar containing it.

8. Senate floor session, March 31, 2026 (legislative day 39, part 1)

   From 1:31:02 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Engrossed)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The Senate first included HB 963 in a ten-bill motion to prevent floor amendments, approved 33-15. The clerk described restrictions on foreign nationals contributing to or participating in campaigns on ballot questions. Later, the clerk also read provisions concerning campaign committee certifications, protected donor information and penalties. The majority leader moved to set the bill aside, and the Senate tabled it without objection. No substantive debate occurred.

• Read aloud: House floor session, January 15, 2026 (legislative day 4), 0:41:23
• Read aloud: House floor session, January 16, 2026 (legislative day 5), 0:57:30
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 19, 2026 (legislative day 21), 1:05:20
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, part 1), 0:38:23
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 20, 2026 (legislative day 35), 0:34:16
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 23, 2026 (legislative day 36), 0:33:35

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