[{"_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",6647767,"mediaKeyId","3845851-cd017da66bd6a341b17056c74cd3979c","parentId",3845851,"title","Commission finds reasonable grounds in Jacqueline Walls campaign-reporting case","audioSeconds",326,"startMs",2036000,"endMs",2362000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3845851-cd017da66bd6a341b17056c74cd3979c&start=2036&end=2362","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3845851-cd017da66bd6a341b17056c74cd3979c/thumbnail_2036000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6647767/Georgia/Commission-finds-reasonable-grounds-in-Jacqueline-Walls-campaign-reporting-case","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6647767-4109e7762bd3d26fef08016654c5f471/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156209&Signature=nWr75eEVyyFP3fcjO4M3dnm~CWT3HITzVIJGSgH-q-wNc8InJyn2oq33JU8P-6IAmLqXMW7ZPs6xbjGmKMVURFg5tOveb3BtNmQ24hPssDt9v6HnghVT8gVRCcVfWCre7ba2e7BctuaHRZMAW8heJeum7n~K8Q-hxPQXT-BgTT8J45mm2QPPeiIyBr5OxTqy4NKZh-7DYxksc9MY1vLk4fokcGOh~1QH0hgnY9XbTyyKWNzCE-8A0SYzzQuCeHBDqG1fLEcPQqN8P2K6nSN~502xdxx-yEQ3gb1RWItLoeDDhVjmQbh0A6tVsNZB0SgZTGCLCWWTxMEqibjt~U7R7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-06-13T16:30:13Z","article","The Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission voted June 12 that there is reasonable grounds to believe Jacqueline Walls violated campaign finance reporting requirements by failing to file required campaign contribution disclosure reports tied to a special election and the 2024 year-end report.

Staff attorney presented the case as part of the preliminary hearings. The commission voted first that reasonable grounds exist for failure to file the required 15-day (special-election) CCDR for the Nov. 5, 2024 special election and then voted that reasonable grounds exist for failure to file the Dec. 31, 2024 CCDR. The motions passed on voice votes with no recorded opposition.

Authorities cited by staff included OCGA 21-5-34 c(4) for special-election report timing and an OCGA provision and state regulation for the 12/31 CCDR requirement. Staff said certified mail and subpoena efforts returned no responsive bank records; the commission’s finding of reasonable grounds does not preclude staff from pursuing additional allegations if new evidence arrives.

Why it matters: The commission’s reasonable-grounds finding triggers the next phase of enforcement and gives staff the option to pursue formal charges or other remedies. Staff said the respondent did not appear at the hearing and no records were returned to the commission by the subpoena.

Ending
The commission’s finding was unanimous; staff will proceed with the next enforcement steps and may return to the commission with proposed formal action or other recommendations if additional records become available.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","GA State Ethics Board Quarterly Meeting on June 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff alleged Jacqueline Walls failed to file required special-election and year-end campaign disclosure reports; the commission voted that reasonable grounds exist on both counts and will proceed to the next enforcement step.","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},6647772,"Commission approves slate of consent orders for late filings and disclosure errors; one case pulled for revision",2202,2359000,4561000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3845851-cd017da66bd6a341b17056c74cd3979c&start=2359&end=4561","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3845851-cd017da66bd6a341b17056c74cd3979c/thumbnail_2359000.jpg","/articles/6647772/Georgia/Commission-approves-slate-of-consent-orders-for-late-filings-and-disclosure-errors-one-case-pulled-for-revision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6647772-f9ab3c1e2312831ab9cb0f638d510a78/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156209&Signature=huFIHXhhh8sM~6jnrgxOnAdod0mP4xEUC~nI4ZDu9m67FkN2NFQDGIKkAILN-F7QaxPYbPokSvL0i~9uiAcDZnW-yu7bHH3-NECrWxX3yFpdKlmsfyk8KKf89UVtMej58N16sfCViYCSwuSnBPm6lQWeofDC~ULeIf4h1o2nZHVXtrZO0gmP9BmpE0vvcEkjRwoHtt7s6rmvDvfSOiO8ttYdg6FgnioNOyXLd~JwHzbkQ-gJ7svX-g8WDMbN1LU7hDk8oQ9V3Zunu9QNJYWAzeO9MHLPdC2NjyptlVU3PnuYnTRVi1dERKdTqSlxXGBrpwZaw1fHUtHVfPMJ9wzsuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the June 12 meeting, the Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission voted to accept numerous consent orders resolving campaign finance and disclosure violations; commissioners approved the package by a single vote after one commissioner asked to remove one item for separate consideration.

The orders cover candidates and entities that missed campaign contribution disclosure reports (CCDRs), personal financial disclosure statements (PFDS), and other technical reporting requirements. Staff described the cases and recommended penalties; commissioners discussed consistency across similar \"insufficient detail\" violations and directed staff to include more factual detail in future consent orders to clarify how penalties were determined.

Votes at a glance (approved as a group unless noted)
- 24-0064-C, Clarence & Glenn Cook — insufficient detail on campaign expenditures; amended CCDR filed; penalty: $125 late fee (approved, paid).
- 25-0023-C, Carlotta Harrell (Henry County Board of Commissioners chair) — failed to file Oct. 25 and Dec. 31, 2024 CCDRs; penalty: $250 late fees (approved).
- 24-0102-C, John Redlinger — failed to file multiple CCDRs and PFDS; penalty: $1,000 total ($875 late fees + $125 civil penalty) (approved).
- 25-0009-C, Colton Moore (state senator) — PFDS and CCDR failures; agreed late fees $3,375 and civil penalty $125; commission packet arithmetic was corrected to a $3,500 total penalty (approved).
- 25-0011-C, Freddie Powell Sims (state senator) — two CCDRs and PFDS late; penalty: $375 total (approved).
- 24-0108-C, Anna McCoy (city council) — failure to terminate a campaign account and a late PFDS; penalty: $750 paid in full (approved).
- 24-0038-C, Georgia Whistleblower's PAC — failed to register as an independent committee; penalty: $250 paid (approved).
- 25-0016-C, Therese Johnson Morgan (Gwinnett County Board of Education) — late PFDS filings for 2021 and 2023; penalty: $500 paid (approved).
- 25-0018-C, April Stone (Gwinnett County Board of Education) — late 2023 PFDS; penalty: $250 paid (approved).
- 25-0034-C, Marion Leon Jones (Macon-Bibb coroner) — multiple late PFDS and failure to terminate campaign account; penalty: $500 (approved).
- 24-0119-C, Natalie Hall (former Fulton County commissioner) — multiple PFDS and CCDR violations; penalty: $5,000 total (commission noted and will correct a scrivener’s error in the order) (approved).
- 25-0029-C, Chelsea Thompson (registered lobbyist) — three lobbyist disclosure misses (Jan. 15, Feb. 1, Feb. 15); penalty: $825 (approved).

Pulled for separate action
- 25-0010-C, Derek Mallow — staff and a commissioner asked that one sentence in the proposed consent order be revised to avoid implying the commission’s website was incorrect; the order was pulled for renegotiation and re-signing.

Why this matters: The commission resolved a high volume of technical filing failures and used civil penalties and late fees to settle cases where filers cooperated and provided records. Commissioners emphasized the need for clearer factual statements in consent orders to ensure consistent penalty precedent.

What commissioners directed staff to do: Include more factual detail in consent orders that explain the difference in penalty amounts for similar-sounding violations; correct scrivener errors before signing; and return the Mallow consent order for renegotiation.","The commission approved multiple consent orders resolving campaign finance and disclosure violations, imposing late fees and civil penalties that range from $125 to $5,000; staff pulled the Derek Mallow agreement for renegotiation and the commission approved the remaining consent orders in a single vote.",{"_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},6647777,"State ethics agency outlines major rule and filing changes under new law, seeks staff and budget increases",910,5323000,6233000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3845851-cd017da66bd6a341b17056c74cd3979c&start=5323&end=6233","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3845851-cd017da66bd6a341b17056c74cd3979c/thumbnail_5323000.jpg","/articles/6647777/Georgia/State-ethics-agency-outlines-major-rule-and-filing-changes-under-new-law-seeks-staff-and-budget-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6647777-c4592f53c7979139c72703aa0d60af7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156209&Signature=ic1eeBT-19cJmqUNMlJxiOLtvNy~MKZsPv9KCF1X~5LpBi2d0JPNsGQSBrsuuBcIk3dX6mBWseke4fKb1gFAW4LMC6zGl3cxq8E0Iv1bzXREpY3gWr5UtA~xxERpiiXjZ3JSnDCYpSAsTeuqg76zUmydQzgREq5iEQ6TV1jhFe9DzD9ZQa0IAIAJlfTIF9YteLEoFhe2QloofAjeVFG4M0Vh7eB7p2l1mievXiI3Aqmt-vvdjK1N1hbAQanDLSDfTD680mmvSBEJvZll1MJ7y29wbw0vwWILE-SqAdAby2bvlzEcYhFSTlFpvpqhcO2lIPKfMIkIi7fqTzVBHpJ8zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission’s executive director summarized a package of statutory changes and internal budget and staffing moves at the commission’s June 12 meeting, saying the changes are intended to simplify disclosure schedules and boost public safety by limiting public display of officials’ home addresses.

Executive Director Abadi told commissioners the legislature signed SB199 and that many changes will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, with a delayed transfer of local filings back to the state beginning Jan. 1, 2027. \"This is SB199 as signed by the governor,\" Abadi said, describing the bill as a multi-year effort to standardize reporting and reduce last-minute election filings.

Abadi said the commission agreed to a roughly $150,000 increase in its budget for higher IT costs tied to a new filing system, bringing the agency’s annual budget to roughly $3.4 million. He said the agency will request additional staffing to handle the workload after local filing authority returns to the state in 2027: \"I'm gonna be asking for additional staff,\" Abadi said.

Why it matters: The package changes the rhythm of campaign and disclosure compliance across offices and lobbying, shifting many staggered deadlines to a uniform schedule and adding new scrutiny and administrative work for the commission. Commissioners said the uniform dates should improve transparency, but asked staff to plan for more enforcement and training needs.

Key details
- Filing schedules: Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, campaign disclosure reports will be due January 31, April 30, July 31 and Oct. 20 each year; financial disclosure statements will be due April 1 for most offices (Sept. 1 for municipal offices). Abadi said the dates were chosen to ensure financial information is available before primaries and general elections.
- Local filers: Local candidate and committee filings will be moved back to the state commission on Jan. 1, 2027, after a transition period intended to allow time for training and system deployment.
- PACs and banks: Political action committees that exceed $25,000 will remain registered and filing until they formally wind down; PACs must maintain separate bank accounts.
- Lobbyists: Lobbyist reporting was consolidated and standardized so the public can find a lobbyist’s filings on a single form rather than scattered reports.
- Residential address redaction: For public safety, the law will allow the commission to redact home addresses on public-facing financial disclosure records; commissioners discussed coordination with other agencies on broader redaction work.
- Budget and staff: The legislature approved a roughly $150,000 increase for IT implementation; Abadi said he will request additional staff in future budget cycles to handle local filer intake, education and enforcement.

Implementation and next steps
Abadi said staff will bring rule proposals to the commission this fall, with anticipated technical and training demands that will require additional clerical and outreach resources. He asked commissioners to expect a September rules package and to weigh requests for additional budget authority ahead of the 2026 fiscal year.

Ending
Commissioners praised the uniformity and transparency goals of the bill while repeatedly stressing that implementation will require additional staff time and clear public guidance. The commission’s next steps include rule drafting, outreach to local governments and a September update on staffing and IT timeline.","The Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission reviewed sweeping changes from SB199 — including new filing schedules, bringing local filers back to the state system, quarterly PAC requirements, redaction of home addresses and a $150,000 budget increase — and told commissioners it will seek additional staff to implement the changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission finds reasonable grounds in Jacqueline Walls campaign-reporting case

Commission approves slate of consent orders for late filings and disclosure errors; one case pulled for revision

State ethics agency outlines major rule and filing changes under new law, seeks staff and budget increases