HR1831: HR1831 House Study Committee on Local Government Financial Audits; create

Georgia law requires local governments to audit their finances every year or two and send reports to the state auditor. This resolution notes that a significant number of local governments are not meeting that requirement, either missing the deadline or not submitting reports at all, which may be hiding financial trouble that isn't otherwise visible. The resolution creates the House Study Committee on Local Government Financial Audits, made up of seven House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson. The committee would study the causes of noncompliance and the financial conditions behind it, and could recommend legislation. It can hold meetings as needed, members get standard legislative allowances for up to five days unless more are approved, and any report must be adopted by majority vote before the committee's abolishment date and filed with the Clerk of the House.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Local Government Financial Audits, made up of seven House members appointed by the Speaker of the House.
• Directs the committee to study why local governments fall out of compliance with state audit and reporting requirements and what financial strain may underlie that.
• Authorizes the committee to recommend legislation or other action based on its findings.
• Allows legislative members to receive standard travel and per diem allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 for up to five days of committee work, unless more days are approved.
• Funds the committee's work from money already appropriated to the House of Representatives.
• Requires any committee report or recommendation to be approved by majority vote before the committee's abolishment date and filed with the Clerk of the House.

This mainly affects Georgia local governments (cities, counties, and other local bodies) that must file financial audits, the state auditor's office that receives those reports, and the seven House members who will serve on the new study committee.

If local governments skip or delay required audits, financial problems can go unnoticed until they become harder to fix. The study committee's findings could lead to new state rules or assistance programs aimed at helping local governments meet audit requirements and manage financial strain.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Local Government Financial Audits.
• Paragraph (2) sets the committee at seven House members appointed by the Speaker, who also designates the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying local government audit compliance problems and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (4) lets the chairperson call meetings at any time or place needed to carry out the study.
• Paragraph (5) grants members standard legislative allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five paid days unless more are authorized, funded through the House's existing budget.
• Paragraph (6) requires committee reports to be approved by majority vote before the committee is abolished and filed with the Clerk of the House, or minutes filed if no report is approved.

1. 2026-03-27House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-03-25House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-23House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-03-20House Hopper (House)

• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)Primary sponsor
• Victor Anderson (R, HD-010)
• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)
• Bill Yearta (R, HD-152)
• Johnny Chastain (R, HD-007)

• local government finance
• government audits
• study committee
• government accountability