HB1003: HB1003 Public officers and employees; daily expense accounts of members of the General Assembly; revise provisions

Under current Georgia law, members of the General Assembly can be reimbursed up to $7,000 per year for expenses like lodging, meals, postage, and equipment tied to their legislative duties (O.C.G.A. § 45-7-4). This bill raises that cap to $10,000 per year. The bill also adds a brand new allowance, separate from the expense reimbursement, letting each member claim up to $10,000 per year for security related costs. This covers things like home security system installation, monitoring fees, or security services while traveling for legislative business. Members must submit vouchers with supporting documents to the legislative fiscal office, and false certifications are subject to the same penalties as with state agency reimbursements. If security equipment is not built into the property and still has value over $100 when a member leaves office, it must be returned to the state.

• Raises the annual cap on general expense reimbursements for members of the General Assembly from $7,000 to $10,000 (O.C.G.A. § 45-7-4).
• Creates a new annual allowance of up to $10,000 for security related expenses, separate from the general expense reimbursement.
• Covers security improvements to a member's residence, monitoring fees, and security services during travel or duties as a lawmaker.
• Requires members to submit vouchers with supporting documentation and a signed certification of accuracy to claim security expenses.
• Requires return of security equipment worth more than $100 (and not permanently attached to real property) when a member leaves office.
• Applies the same false statement penalties under O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20 to security expense vouchers as already apply to general expense vouchers.

Members of the Georgia General Assembly, both House and Senate, who would see their expense reimbursement cap raised and gain access to a new security expense allowance. The Legislative Services Committee and the legislative fiscal office, which process and set rules for these reimbursement claims, are also affected.

Lawmakers would be able to claim more money each year for expenses tied to their legislative work and could now also get reimbursed for home security upgrades or protective services, funded through state expense accounts rather than out of pocket.

• Section 1 revises subparagraph (a)(22)(C) of O.C.G.A. § 45-7-4 to raise the general expense reimbursement cap from $7,000 to $10,000 per year.
• Section 1 adds new subparagraph (a)(22)(C.1) creating a separate $10,000 annual security expense allowance for members.
• The security allowance covers residence security improvements, monitoring, and security services connected to legislative duties or travel.
• Security equipment not affixed to real property with a depreciated value over $100 must be returned to the state when a member leaves office.
• Security expense claims require vouchers with supporting documentation and a signed certification, submitted to the legislative fiscal office under rules set by the Legislative Services Committee.
• False certifications on security vouchers are subject to O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20, the same false statements law that applies to general expense vouchers.
• Section 2 repeals all conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-28House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-16House Hopper (House)

• David Wilkerson (D, HD-038)Primary sponsor
• Karen Lupton (D, HD-083)
• Esther Panitch (D, HD-051)
• Dar'shun Kendrick (D, HD-095)
• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)
• Shea Roberts (D, HD-052)

• legislative expenses
• state lawmaker pay
• government accountability
• legislative security