In contrast to recent years of sweeping reforms, the Georgia General Assembly took a lighter legislative approach to election law in 2025. Ambitious proposals like HB 397 and SB 175 stalled after passing just one chamber and are now shelved until at least the 2026 session. A House Study Committee may revisit the topic later this year.
For now, however, only two bills amending Title 21 reached the Governor’s desk: HB 426 and SB 199. Yesterday, both were signed into law.
Of the two, SB 199 stands out for its broad implications. The bill significantly updates the Georgia Ethics in Government Act, introducing changes that will affect campaign finance and disclosure practices across the state. These updates are set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
What is inside SB 199?
Section 1 prohibits the State Ethics Commission from accepting, rejecting, or issuing a complaint against a candidate for 60 days immediately preceding that candidate’s election. This new provision doubles the quiet period established by Commission rule and enshrines it in statutory law.
Section 2 and Section 5 make several changes to the disclosure report filing:
- Most importantly for practitioners, reports are now due four times per year, once per quarter. Georgia’s reporting system had long set different schedules depending on the kind of election for which the filer stood or the time of year, among other factors. Starting in 2026, however, all candidates and political committees will file quarterly on January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 20. This change does not change the requirement that candidates file “six-day” reports before any runoff or “two-business-day” reports for $1,000+ contributions close to an election. Neither does SB 199 change grace periods provided to filers under O.C.G.A. § 21-5-34(c).
- County and municipal office candidates will continue to file disclosure reports with the county or municipal election superintendent or clerk. These local election officials are now required, however, to make those reports available under the Open Records Act and to transmit those reports to the Commission within thirty days of receipt. Starting in 2027, all reports will be filed with the Commission.
- A political action committee (“PAC”) must now open a bank account in its own name prior to registering as a PAC with the Commission, and therefore prior to making contributions or expenditures. The PAC must also maintain that bank account through termination, and file disclosure reports each quarter, until the “zeroing out” of the bank account and the PAC’s termination.
- Lobbyist disclosure report deadlines will become simplified—reports are now due by the fifth day of each month, rather than twice monthly during session and on a differential basis for certain kinds of lobbyists and during certain times of year.
Section 3 addresses personal financial disclosure statements (“PFDS”). The statute sets an April 1 deadline for officeholders, candidates, and members of the State Transportation Board. The exceptions are for municipal officeholders and candidates, who, due to their later qualification period, need not file their PFDS until September 1, and special election candidates, who will continue to file PFDS within fifteen days of qualifying. As with disclosure reporting deadlines, county and municipal candidates will continue to make PFDS filings with the county or municipal election superintendent or clerk through 2026. Starting in 2027, they will file PFDS directly with the Commission. Such candidates must also now affirm the requirement to receive certain training under Title 36.
Section 4, citing public safety and doxxing concerns, provides that the Commission will “redact any identifiable home addresses from any records the commission discloses, posts, or releases to the public.” This change could complicate future challenges to a qualifying candidate based on improper claims of residency and pose an interesting challenge to practitioners and the Office of the Secretary of State. Starting in 2027, these challenges could expand to county boards of registration and elections faced with such residency challenges.
Actionable Insights
- Political and affected policy practitioners should prepare for the new filing and reporting requirements, ensuring compliance with these newly regularized deadlines each year.
- PACs must establish bank accounts before registering and engaging in contribution or expenditure activity and adhere to their own changed disclosure requirements and schedules.
- County and municipal officeholders or candidates should work with their local election officials to ensure a smooth transition in reporting and compliance requirements over the next few years.
- Regulators and lawyers should familiarize themselves with the revised procedures for handling complaints and composing and filing required disclosures to advise their clients accurately.
1 HB 426 will convert magistrate judge elections to nonpartisan elections beginning this year. With the passage of a subsequently ratified constitutional amendment, elections for probate judges will also become nonpartisan in 2027.
