HB1379: HB1379 Foreign Funding Transparency and Accountability Act; enact

Georgia previously had a narrower reporting rule for university system funding from foreign sources. This bill, called the Foreign Funding Transparency and Accountability Act, replaces that approach with a broader requirement covering the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and local school systems and other public schools. Starting July 31, 2027, and every year after, these institutions must report to the Attorney General and the Department of Audits and Accounts any funding of $10,000 or more received from a 'foreign source of concern,' a category covering certain foreign governments, entities, and individuals defined in the bill. Reports must describe the funding's source, purpose, any related contracts, and any influence the source has over curriculum or personnel. Institutions with no such funding must still file a report saying so. Reports go on the Department of Audits and Accounts website, with sensitive information redacted. The main reporting requirement takes effect July 1, 2026, while the repeal of the old university system reporting law takes effect January 1, 2027.

• Creates a new annual reporting requirement (O.C.G.A. § 20-1-13) for public schools, the University System of Georgia, and technical colleges regarding funding of $10,000 or more from designated foreign sources of concern.
• Defines 'foreign country of concern,' 'foreign entity of concern,' and 'foreign individual of concern' using specific federal designations, such as countries labeled foreign adversaries or countries of particular concern for religious freedom violations.
• Requires reports to include the funding amount, type, source details, related contracts, funding purpose, and any foreign influence over curriculum, research, or personnel decisions.
• Requires the Department of Audits and Accounts to post the reports publicly, with personal, security, or legally protected information redacted.
• Sets a penalty process: after a 30-day correction period following an Attorney General notice, a governing authority may withhold state funding equal to $5,000 or three times the undisclosed funding amount, whichever is greater.
• Repeals the prior, narrower foreign funding reporting law for the university system (O.C.G.A. § 20-3-84) effective January 1, 2027.

University System of Georgia institutions, Technical College System of Georgia units, and local school systems and other public schools, along with their governing boards (the Board of Regents, the State Board of the Technical College System, and the State Board of Education), the Attorney General, and the Department of Audits and Accounts.

Georgia schools, colleges, and technical institutions would face new paperwork obligations and public disclosure of significant foreign funding, and could lose state money if they fail to report. The law is meant to give the public and lawmakers visibility into foreign money flowing into Georgia education.

• Section 1 gives the Act its short title, the 'Foreign Funding Transparency and Accountability Act.'
• Section 2 adds O.C.G.A. § 20-1-13, defining key terms like 'foreign country of concern' and 'reportable funding' (funding of $10,000 or more from a single foreign source of concern in a fiscal year).
• Subsection (c) lists seven required elements of each annual report, including funding amount, source description, contracts, purpose, and any foreign influence over the institution.
• Subsection (d) requires institutions with no reportable funding to still file a statement confirming that.
• Subsection (e) requires public posting of reports on the Department of Audits and Accounts website, with sensitive information redacted, and distribution to four legislative education committees.
• Subsection (f) exempts individual or family tuition payments from the reporting requirement.
• Subsection (g) sets the enforcement process, including a 30-day correction window and a funding withholding penalty of $5,000 or three times the undisclosed amount.
• Section 3 repeals the prior university system foreign funding reporting law (O.C.G.A. § 20-3-84), effective January 1, 2027, while the rest of the Act takes effect July 1, 2026.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-12Act 632
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-18Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-18Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-16Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2026-03-12Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)Primary sponsor
• Esther Panitch (D, HD-051)
• John Carson (R, HD-046)
• Brent Cox (R, HD-028)
• Tim Fleming (R, HD-114)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2026

   139 yea, 16 nay (5 not voting, 17 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #648

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 18, 2026

   31 yea, 20 nay (0 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #737

• foreign funding disclosure
• higher education oversight
• public school reporting
• research security
• education funding transparency