[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6624538,"mediaKeyId","2765676-1b7f78e1e1e531b95bda670466decf7f","parentId",2765676,"title","Executive director outlines bill to centralize filings, other legislation and federal inquiries; AG reports progress on litigation","audioSeconds",817,"startMs",2958000,"endMs",3775000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765676-1b7f78e1e1e531b95bda670466decf7f&start=2958&end=3775","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765676-1b7f78e1e1e531b95bda670466decf7f/thumbnail_2958000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6624538/Georgia/Executive-director-outlines-bill-to-centralize-filings-other-legislation-and-federal-inquiries-AG-reports-progress-on-litigation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624538-60be1cdffd35f3a2155432823e7b8387/orig.mp4?Expires=1770818424&Signature=BMtzIjNauZ5zhnNBtpjN0ByXeThDGW1sUEzkHB3AvTS1ykEuG8ytTvIOGdqtB9QBUMW9RdtqW-3rTXdCipOjh~Ya6YF8b0TV~M37dG57h~7WUg0TBS8hxhSUnEqhwgEKEmVK2qbn6~~fR30DySf0QCYEeTiRvVqHXhjZ8xDOBOPE0Jg5KsvdjINeIAAJP-ZqK7CqltEex7TZESapWkTxicSqgLgMvY0YWY~UBNjFo1eyYinc8oErWrc3d4E-v5zj4O25pLK8HHGbEp2qbhP36gmutayvANZmNSh9HLQgOiWXoPSadaIngvMlD3QA1~CV7~IHsB~3qWXnpeYfWYg0ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-03-25T19:12:13.08Z","article","The State Ethics Commission received an extended report on legislation, investigations and litigation at its March 24, 2025 meeting.

Executive Director Amaya (identified in the meeting as the commission’s executive director) described SB199, the commission’s agency-priority bill. Amaya said SB199 would centralize filing of campaign and disclosure reports at the state level effective Jan. 1, 2027, unify reporting schedules so filers provide consistent quarterly reports each year (with special accommodation for municipal offices), and move financial disclosure filings to an annual April 1 date with a September 1 date for municipal officeholders in election years. Amaya said the proposal has support from local-government associations (ACCG, GMA) and the association Gabriel (described as a Georgia elections association during remarks).

Amaya also described additional changes included in SB199 and related legislative work: collapsing multiple lobbyist registrations into a single, monthly report (fifth day of each month) to improve public access; redacting home addresses of public officials and candidates from public-facing records to reduce risks such as swatting while retaining addresses in the commission’s records; and extending the pre-election complaint window from 30 to 60 days before an election to limit last-minute complaint filings that may be weaponized.

Amaya reported the bill had passed the state Senate and was reported favorably out of the House Governmental Affairs Committee and was then in House Rules; he expected a House floor vote within days. He also noted related measures tracked by the commission:

- HB414: A bill aimed at obtaining information from out-of-state vendors used to place communications or dark-money activity in Georgia, giving the commission stronger tools to obtain records when vendors are outside state jurisdiction; Amaya said the bill would allow the commission to seek a Fulton County Superior Court order if an out-of-state entity refuses to comply.

- SB177 (referred to as a foreign-agent–style registration measure): a proposal to require registration for lobbying or political activity on behalf of foreign entities similar to federal FARA provisions; Amaya said it had been refined after stakeholder feedback and was in House Rules.

Amaya updated the commission on an ongoing enforcement and referral matter: the New Georgia Project matter (previously closed by the commission) had been referred to the Department of Justice’s tax/IRS division for review over potential federal tax issues; Amaya said Justice had received an overview and evidence and the commission had complied with statutory referral requirements. Amaya said the commission had also received an inquiry from the U.S. House Committee on Administration’s Subcommittee on Elections seeking the full case file related to dark-money inquiries; he expected the commission to be called to provide records and potentially to testify.

Budget and staffing: Amaya said the agency was in budget negotiations with the legislature and expected the Senate to release its proposed budget soon; he said the commission hoped for favorable news in June. He also reported that staff are tracking additional Title 21-related proposals that could be added before sine die and noted an AI-related measure that had reappeared in a different bill this session.

The attorney general’s office attorney (identified as Miss Yoo in the meeting) reported a decline in active campaign-related litigation and an active federal case in the Northern District of Georgia concerning leadership committee fundraising statutes; the office planned a renewed motion to dismiss in that case. Yoo said her office had reallocated attorneys to advance administrative enforcement matters while litigation levels are lower and had seven administrative cases ready to set for hearings.

Staff also said they expect to respond to state senate resolution requests for the New Georgia Project-related materials and to Congress’s request for case files. The executive director concluded the report by reiterating that the commission would continue to track Title 21 bills and other items of interest for possible late-session amendments.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","GA Ethics Commission Meeting: March 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission’s executive director told the March 24 meeting that SB199 would centralize filings at the state level, standardize reporting dates and redact home addresses from public view; staff also reported federal inquiries and related legislation under consideration.","taxTitle","Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission, Executive Agencies, Executive, Georgia","taxId",36738,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6624543,"State Ethics Commission approves multiple consent orders resolving late-filing cases",1333,1611000,2944000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765676-1b7f78e1e1e531b95bda670466decf7f&start=1611&end=2944","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765676-1b7f78e1e1e531b95bda670466decf7f/thumbnail_1611000.jpg","/articles/6624543/Georgia/State-Ethics-Commission-approves-multiple-consent-orders-resolving-late-filing-cases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624543-7c1d62fd86cf55bc916643e6a920eb9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770818424&Signature=X5Rt7BtxTocK-YUwygYcZgPsyzobmZlIVR49CWLnMXZgc84a9TMTZzFUDnztjIUyzYwFMr-LxnWik4S5tQyDRECfuVhC7LefC7O6u8I~9BuyZuS~SRW5gBRfzIHynA9mm0ZKcw1OyR~YKPrsUZXpj5H4SUj9jmUHU2S1jMs-zbp~f9oGii~ThbVZa0ig-2bMLtdXF5NkmwFzj1Akbw2JUMXDpPrVWQEcdJFBpB~yLSdckymhk6CcNHWqRn1fs7LPTlR41KgoS~MIrfi0nnZbxnJmiIVOj6B6QcncqMZwvjG1paj1mMqGgSM9JxHiC~Qcu8e0ZtT5eGeacvNAlL7moQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Ethics Commission voted on March 24, 2025 to approve a series of consent orders resolving a number of campaign disclosure and personal financial disclosure deficiencies. Commissioners approved the package on a single voice vote after staff presented each negotiated resolution and offered respondents an opportunity to speak.

Commission staff presented consent orders for candidates or former officeholders with case numbers and agreed penalties as follows (as presented by staff):

- Case 24-0115-C, Stephanie Warmoth (Villa Rica City Council Ward 3, 2023 cycle): 1 violation for failing to timely file a termination statement; agreed penalty $250 ($125 late fees, $125 civil penalty).

- Case 24-0112-C, Leslie McPherson (Villa Rica council, later mayor, 2023 cycle): 5 CCDR violations plus failure to timely file a termination statement; agreed penalty $1,000 ($750 late fees, $250 civil penalty listed in staff presentation then described as $500 civil penalty in summary—staff explanation: $750 late fees and $500 civil penalty for total $1,000 per staff summary). (Note: staff presented the penalty as $750 late fees and $500 civil penalty totaling $1,000.)

- Case 24-0036-C, Vivian Thomas (Henry County Commissioner, multiple cycles): PFDS and CCDR deficiencies and reporting omissions; staff presented an agreed resolution of $3,000 ($1,750 late fees; $1,250 civil penalties) after staff said some late filings predated the complaint.

- Case 24-0100-C, Carmelithic (listed as \"Miss Gums\" in staff remarks; South Fulton City Council District 2, 2021 cycle): three PFDS violations, six CCDR violations, and omitted expenditures totaling $12,686.23; agreed penalty $2,500 ($1,125 late fees; $1,375 civil penalties).

- Case 24-0110-C, Gil McDougall (candidate, 2019 and 2023 cycles): six CCDR violations; agreed penalty $1,000 ($750 late fees; $250 civil penalty).

- Case 25-0017-C, Adrian Simmons (Gwinnett County Board of Education District 4, 2022 cycle): two PFDS violations (2022 and 2023); agreed penalty $375 ($250 late fees; $125 civil penalty per staff presentation summary).

- Case 24-0024-C / 204-0081-C, Elena Reeves (Clayton County Commissioner, District 1, 2024 cycle): five violations (two PFDS, three CCDRs); staff reported the respondent cooperated, filed missing reports, and agreed to a $750 civil penalty; Reeves addressed the commission to note local technical difficulties with the Clayton County Elections Office’s uploads during the relevant period.

- Case 24-0093-C, Benny Crane (South Fulton City Council candidate): three CCDR violations; agreed civil penalty reported as $454.

After presentation and brief public comment on some items, the chair moved to approve the consent orders listed in item 4 of the agenda (staff identified the included letters during the motion). The commission approved the batch motion by voice vote; the chair called for “aye” and none were voiced in opposition.

Staff and commissioners asked questions about signature protocols and practices: some consent orders carried electronic signatures. Staff said they accept electronic signatures when the filer has authenticated the signature and there is evidence the individual intended the signature; commissioners asked whether internal rules require wet signatures, and staff reported no internal rule prohibiting acceptance of electronic signatures for consent orders.

Commission staff also explained their typical approach to calculating late fees and civil penalties: late fees are statutory ($125 each) and civil penalties are negotiated based on campaign size and cooperation; staff sometimes consolidates late fees and civil penalties into one block amount in escalated attorney-handled settlements.

The commission then moved to administrative dismissals and other agenda items.

","At its March 24 meeting the commission approved a package of consent orders resolving cases involving late campaign disclosure and financial disclosure filings; penalties ranged from $250 to $3,000 and staff reported some respondents cooperated and filed missing reports.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6624549,"State ethics commission finds reasonable grounds in Anna McCoy preliminary hearing on multiple reporting violations",1321,204000,1525000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765676-1b7f78e1e1e531b95bda670466decf7f&start=204&end=1525","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765676-1b7f78e1e1e531b95bda670466decf7f/thumbnail_204000.jpg","/articles/6624549/Georgia/State-ethics-commission-finds-reasonable-grounds-in-Anna-McCoy-preliminary-hearing-on-multiple-reporting-violations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624549-8d68e33a31a4f1fd2a00210c4d4fb054/orig.mp4?Expires=1770818424&Signature=MuM-T9JmWi6IuCTluaGBmAXtOblKoQCPy-6WKJiDLmdIie-CFfcwoWPezZhzW~bnT2REk8XgB5Bv5EcBpEcycKq3SJsEGh8lHzRRio3b3JdtjuSs3kLIgaQCDw5FlHmAEGsIDTrqkuroT1LwJceAQiGmN9-1Umgo3E5yXMLr0eU1K4~k4NxTtD3cztR0Q5T~JqzMfJcZFfZcCAb4UwbsXzkL2T2lprUJEWttfCbAYFTDOhAisOtCZrkqHX7JutxqpHEbAjzlD87ifPho7yYMJnKiX9y0qKGzDV2mmCz71ZOqWM4FcN7AxTHJltIhAwCBf3wN1kQxLRyI57nUlZAxKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Ethics Commission on March 24, 2025 voted that there are reasonable grounds to believe Anna McCoy violated multiple campaign finance and disclosure statutes, after staff presented an audit and a record of attempted resolution.

The determination followed a preliminary hearing for case number 24-0108C. Commission staff attorney Baywell told commissioners the office notified McCoy at the address she used to register with the commission and described six alleged missed campaign contribution disclosure reports (CCDRs) covering non-election filing periods and one late personal financial disclosure statement (PFDS). Baywell said staff had discussed a consent agreement with McCoy in late 2024 and sent a draft consent agreement for signature but had not received a signed document or other contact after early January 2025.

The commission’s finding matters because a preliminary hearing determines whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a formal enforcement stage. If probable cause is later established following the commission’s procedures, the matter could be resolved by consent order or scheduled for a hearing.

Baywell told the commission the staff’s analysis identified the following alleged violations by statutory citation: failure to file the 12/31/2021 election-year CCDR (OCGA 21-5-34(c)(2)(A)); failure to file non-election-year CCDRs for 6/30/2022, 12/31/2022, 6/30/2023 and 12/31/2023 and 6/30/2024 (OCGA 21-5-34(c)(1)(B) as presented); and a late PFDS for calendar year 2021 (OCGA 21-5-50(a)). Baywell said the initial complaint followed an internal audit and an addendum filed Feb. 20, 2025 corrected a statutory citation error in the original complaint.

Commissioners debated whether the apparent pattern reflected misunderstanding of the $2,500 affidavit rule. Commissioner Thompson and others noted that a $2,500 affidavit applies only to the election cycle in which it is filed and that candidates sometimes misunderstand whether that affidavit carries filings forward; staff said the commission’s statutory scheme requires the reports that were missed. Baywell told the commission McCoy had reported no post-2021 campaign receipts or expenditures in discussions with staff and said the campaign account reportedly still held $50.

Richard Dawson made seven separate motions — one for each alleged violation — to find there were reasonable grounds to believe McCoy violated the cited sections. Each motion drew a second and carried on voice vote; the chair called the question on each motion and commissioners answered “aye.”

The motions recorded by the commission: find reasonable grounds for (1) failing to file the 12/31/2021 election-year CCDR (OCGA 21-5-34(c)(2)(A)); (2) failing to file the 6/30/2022 CCDR (OCGA 21-5-34(c)(1)(B)); (3) failing to file the 12/31/2022 CCDR (OCGA 21-5-34(c)(1)(B)); (4) failing to file the 6/30/2023 CCDR (OCGA 21-5-34(c)(1)(B)); (5) failing to file the 12/31/2023 CCDR (OCGA 21-5-34(c)(1)(B)); (6) failing to file the 6/30/2024 CCDR (OCGA 21-5-34(c)(1)(B)); and (7) failing to timely file the calendar-year 2021 PFDS (OCGA 21-5-50(a)). All seven motions carried.

Commission staff and some commissioners noted the commission can consider misunderstandings about affidavit timing as mitigation when penalties are set, but that does not remove the commission’s obligation to determine whether reporting statutes were violated at the time alleged.

The commission recorded that the preliminary-hearing phase for case 24-0108C concluded with the seven reasonable-grounds findings; the record now proceeds under the commission’s enforcement process.

The meeting then moved on to other agenda items.

","At a March 24, 2025 meeting the State Ethics Commission voted that there are reasonable grounds to believe candidate Anna McCoy committed seven reporting and disclosure violations under OCGA Title 21; commissioners approved seven separate motions finding reasonable grounds.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Executive director outlines bill to centralize filings, other legislation and federal inquiries; AG reports progress on litigation

State Ethics Commission approves multiple consent orders resolving late-filing cases

State ethics commission finds reasonable grounds in Anna McCoy preliminary hearing on multiple reporting violations