State Representative Jason Ridley (R-Chatsworth) has introduced House Bill (HB) 1362, which would make anyone with a financial interest in the State of Georgia ineligible to hold public office.
“For too long, wealthy insiders have used profits from massive state contracts to bankroll their political ambitions,” said Rep. Ridley. “This bill ensures that no one can use your tax dollars to buy their way into the governor’s mansion.”
Rep. Ridley has taken a hard-line stance on this issue and views this bill as a necessary step in ‘draining the swamp’ in Georgia. He argues that the bill is meant to send a powerful message to the donor class about how the state will be managed.
“We are ending the cycle of pay-to-play once and for all. This is a ‘drain the swamp’ measure for Georgia,” Ridley expressed. “It tells the donor class and the contractor class that the state government is not a private ATM for their political playbooks.”
HB 1362
HB 1362 would make certain public officials ineligible to hold office if they, a family member, or their agency conduct business with a state agency or have a financial interest in a state contract.
If such a conflict exists, it would be a sufficient reason to vacate their office, though any official actions taken while in office would remain legally valid.
This rule would apply to the public offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state school superintendent, and the commissioners of agriculture, labor, and insurance.
To enforce this rule, public officials will be required to submit a disclosure statement to the State Ethics Commission by January 31 of each year. These statements will need to include an itemized list of the previous year’s transactions, along with the corresponding dollar amounts.
All disclosure statements will be made public, and individual transactions under $250.00 will be generally exempt. Failure to file these statements will result in penalties prescribed under state law.
Rep. Jason Ridley Introduces Legislation to Bar Public Officials with State Financial Ties. Read more here: https://t.co/w9VKJT78AZ #gapol #gahouse
— Georgia House of Representatives (@GaHouseHub) February 19, 2026
