Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SB378 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 47 3720
2	2	Senate Bill 378
3	3	By: Senator Moore of the 53rd
4	4	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	5	AN ACT
6	6	To amend Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
7	7	1
8	8	government transparency and campaign finance, so as to prohibit leadership committees; to2
9	9	prohibit lobbying activities by any organization that is the beneficiary of public funds; to3
10	10	provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal4
11	11	conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5
12	12	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
13	13	SECTION 1.7
14	14	This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Anti-Corruption Act."8
15	15	SECTION 2.9
16	16	Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to government10
17	17	transparency and campaign finance, is amended by revising Code Section 21-5-34.2, relating11
18	18	to leadership committee defined, operation, and separate from campaign committees, as12
19	19	follows:13
20	20	S. B. 378
21	21	- 1 - 25 LC 47 3720
22	22	"21-5-34.2.
23	23	14
24	24	(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'leadership committee' means a committee,15
25	25	corporation, or organization chaired by the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the16
26	26	nominee of a political party for Governor selected in a primary election in the year in17
27	27	which he or she is nominated, or the nominee of a political party for Lieutenant Governor18
28	28	selected in a primary election in the year in which he or she is nominated. Such term shall19
29	29	also mean up to two political action committees designated by the majority caucus of the20
30	30	House of Representatives, the minority caucus of the House of Representatives, the21
31	31	majority caucus of the Senate, and the minority caucus of the Senate. No person may chair22
32	32	more than one leadership committee.23
33	33	(b) Leadership committees shall be prohibited, and any leadership committee in existence
34	34	24
35	35	on July 1, 2026, shall be prohibited from making further expenditures, return all25
36	36	contributions to the persons who made such contributions, and upon disposing of all assets26
37	37	dissolve its legal existence. A leadership committee may receive contributions from27
38	38	persons who are members or supporters of the leadership committee and expend such funds28
39	39	as permitted by this Code section.29
40	40	(c) If a person chairing a leadership committee ceases to hold the office or the status as a30
41	41	nominee of a political party as described in subsection (a) of this Code section, such person31
42	42	shall transfer the remaining assets of the leadership committee, if any, to another leadership32
43	43	committee within 60 days, name an eligible person as the new chairperson of the leadership33
44	44	committee within 60 days, or dispose of the leadership committee's assets as provided by34
45	45	Code Section 21-5-33.35
46	46	(d) A leadership committee may accept contributions or make expenditures for the purpose36
47	47	of affecting the outcome of any election or advocating for the election or defeat of any37
48	48	candidate, may defray ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in connection with any38
49	49	candidate's campaign for elective office, and may defray ordinary and necessary expenses39
50	50	incurred in connection with a public officer's fulfillment or retention of such office.40
51	51	S. B. 378
52	52	- 2 - 25 LC 47 3720
53	53	(e) A leadership committee which accepts contributions or makes expenditures in excess41
54	54	of $500.00 shall register with the commission within ten days of such accepted contribution42
55	55	or such expenditure and, thereafter, shall file disclosure reports pursuant to the schedule43
56	56	defined for candidates and campaign committees in subsection (c) of Code44
57	57	Section 21-5-34. Such disclosure reports shall be made pursuant to subsection (b) of Code45
58	58	Section 21-5-34. The contribution limits in Code Section 21-5-41 shall not apply to46
59	59	contributions to a leadership committee or expenditures made by a leadership committee47
60	60	in support of a candidate or a group of named candidates. All communications paid for by48
61	61	expenditures of the leadership committee shall contain a disclaimer, either audibly or in49
62	62	writing, that the communication is paid for by the leadership committee, unless such50
63	63	disclaimer is impractical.51
64	64	(f) A leadership committee shall be a separate legal entity from a candidate's campaign52
65	65	committee and shall not be considered an independent committee."53
66	66	SECTION 3.54
67	67	Said chapter is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:55
68	68	"21-5-77.56
69	69	On and after July 1, 2026, no organization of which the majority of the members are57
70	70	political subdivisions of this state, elected or appointed officers or officials of this state, or58
71	71	a county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision and which is the59
72	72	beneficiary of public funds appropriated by the state or any county, municipality,60
73	73	consolidated government, school system, or other political subdivision shall engage in61
74	74	lobbying or make any lobbying expenditures."62
75	75	SECTION 4.63
76	76	This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026.64
77	77	S. B. 378
78	78	- 3 - 25 LC 47 3720
79	79	SECTION 5.
80	80	65
81	81	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.66
82	82	S. B. 378
83	83	- 4 -