Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB414 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		25 LC 47 3421S
2		-	House Bill 414 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
3		-	By: Representatives Jones of the 25
4		-	th
5		-	, DeLoach of the 167
6		-	th
7		-	, Gunter of the 8
8		-	th
9		-	, Scoggins of
10		-	the 14
11		-	th
12		-	, and Holcomb of the 101
13		-	st
14		-
	2	+	The House Committee on Governmental Affairs offers the following substitute to HB 414:
15	3		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
16	4		AN ACT
17		-	To amend Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
18		-	1
	5	+	To amend Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1
19	6		government transparency and campaign finance, so as to revise the definition of "person" to2
20	7		include certain nonresidents of the state; to provide the State Ethics Commission with3
21	8		supplementary investigatory powers related to persons, documents, or information located4
22	9		outside of the state; to revise venue provisions to address out-of-state persons; to provide for5
23	10		related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6
24	11		BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7
25	12		SECTION 1.8
26	13		Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to government9
27	14		transparency and campaign finance, is amended in Code Section 21-5-3, relating to10
28	15		definitions, by revising paragraph (19) as follows:11
29	16		"(19) 'Person' means an individual, partnership, committee, association, corporation,12
30	17		limited liability company, limited liability partnership, trust, professional corporation, or13
31		-	other business entity recognized in the State of Georgia
32		-	, labor organization, or any other14
	18	+	other business entity recognized in the State of Georgia, labor organization, or any other14
33	19		organization or group of persons, and shall include a 'nonresident' as that term is defined15
34	20		H. B. 414 (SUB)
35	21		- 1 - 25 LC 47 3421S
36	22		in Code Section 9-10-90 who commits an act or omission or transacts business within the16
37	23		state which if performed by a resident of this state would be subject to this chapter."17
38	24		SECTION 2.18
39	25		Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 21-5-6, relating to powers and duties of the19
40	26		State Ethics Commission, by adding a new subsection to read as follows:20
41	27		"(c)(1) Supplemental to any investigatory or enforcement powers provided to the21
42	28		commission in this chapter, if a matter or person that the commission seeks to obtain22
43	29		documentation or information from is located outside the state, the commission may23
44	30		request the person with such documentation or information to make such documentation24
45	31		or information available to the commission or the commission representative to examine25
46	32		at the location where such person, documentation, or information is located.26
47	33		(2) In the event that a person refuses to comply with a request made pursuant to27
48	34		paragraph (1) of this subsection, the commission may petition that such person be ordered28
49	35		by the superior court to provide the documentation or information sought by the29
50	36		commission. The court shall not order such compliance unless the commission has30
51	37		demonstrated to the satisfaction of the court that the documentation or information under31
52	38		request is pertinent or necessary to further the investigation or enforcement action32
53	39		authorized by this chapter."33
54	40		SECTION 3.34
55	41		Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 21-5-8, relating to venue, as35
56	42		follows:36
57	43		"21-5-8.37
58	44		Venue for prosecution of civil violations of this chapter or for any other action by or on38
59	45		behalf of the commission shall be in the county of the residence of the candidate or public39
60	46		H. B. 414 (SUB)
61	47		- 2 - 25 LC 47 3421S
62	48		officer at the time of the alleged violation or action, unless the person is not a Georgia40
63	49		resident, in which case venue is in Fulton County."41
64	50		SECTION 4.42
65	51		All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.43
66	52		H. B. 414 (SUB)
67	53		- 3 -