HB980: HB980 Georgia-Ireland Trade Commission; create

Georgia currently has no dedicated body focused on trade and cultural ties with Ireland. This bill would amend Georgia's commissions law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 12 of Title 50) to establish the Georgia-Ireland Trade Commission, made up of 15 members appointed by the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, and the Governor, including state officials, university representatives, business leaders, and members of Georgia's Irish American community. The commission would work to expand trade and investment, encourage joint policy action, and promote business and academic exchanges between Georgia and Ireland. Members would serve staggered four-year terms without pay, though they could be reimbursed for expenses. The bill also creates the Georgia-Ireland Trade Commission Fund in the state treasury to hold appropriations, grants, and donations for the commission's work, and requires annual reports to the Governor and General Assembly starting within one year of the commission's first meeting.

• Establishes a new 15-member Georgia-Ireland Trade Commission within Georgia's commissions law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 12 of Title 50).
• Sets appointment rules: four members chosen by the Speaker of the House, four by the President of the Senate, and seven by the Governor, including state officials and Irish American community representatives.
• Requires all appointments to be made within 90 days of the bill becoming law and sets staggered initial terms ranging from two to four years.
• Creates the Georgia-Ireland Trade Commission Fund in the state treasury to hold appropriations, grants, gifts, and other funding sources for the commission.
• Requires the commission to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly annually by February 1.
• Directs the Governor to designate a chairperson or cochairpersons and allows the commission to form subcommittees.

The commission's appointees, including members of the House and Senate, the Commissioner of Economic Development, the Commissioner of Agriculture, university representatives, Georgia business or trade organizations, and Irish American community members in Georgia, along with the Governor and General Assembly, which receive its reports.

If enacted, Georgia would gain a formal, state-backed body dedicated to expanding trade, investment, and academic ties with Ireland, funded through a dedicated trust fund that can accept both public money and private donations, potentially shaping future economic and cultural cooperation between the state and Ireland.

• Section 1 adds Article 9 to Chapter 12 of Title 50, creating the Georgia-Ireland Trade Commission with 15 members appointed by legislative leaders and the Governor.
• O.C.G.A. § 50-12-140.1(a) lists the specific appointing bodies and required representation, including two university representatives and two Irish American community members.
• Subsection (b) sets staggered initial terms: two years for gubernatorial appointees, three years for Senate appointees, and four years for House appointees.
• Subsection (c) requires all appointments within 90 days of enactment and directs vacancies to be filled the same way as original appointments.
• Subsection (d) provides that members serve without pay but may be reimbursed for expenses from appropriated or available funds.
• Subsection (g) lists the commission's purposes, including advancing bilateral trade, joint policy action, and business and academic exchanges, and requires annual written reports by February 1.
• Subsection (h) creates the Georgia-Ireland Trade Commission Fund in the state treasury, funded by appropriations, grants, and donations, with interest credited back to the fund.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-09Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-06House Passed/Adopted (House)
3. 2026-02-06House Third Readers (House)
4. 2026-02-02House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
5. 2026-01-27House Second Readers (House)
6. 2026-01-16House First Readers (House)
7. 2026-01-15House Hopper (House)

• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)Primary sponsor
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
• Shea Roberts (D, HD-052)
• Long Tran (D, HD-080)
• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 6, 2026

   164 yea, 2 nay (2 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #482

• international trade
• economic development
• state commissions
• Georgia-Ireland relations