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Lawmakers hear bill to expand disclosure of foreign funding in Georgia schools
Summary
Representative Houston Gaines presented HB 13‑79 to expand disclosure of foreign funding to cover all countries and K–12, USG and TCSG institutions; supporters cited Qatar Foundation International grants as examples and Representative Esther Panitch said she faced diplomatic pushback and harassment after publicizing a report. The committee took no vote and asked the sponsor to work on amendments.
Representative Houston Gaines told the House Higher Education Committee HB 13‑79 would broaden last year’s law by applying disclosure requirements to all foreign sources and by extending coverage to K–12 and the Technical College System, while requiring semi‑annual reporting to the Department of Audits.
Gaines cited examples of grants and scholarships—$100,000 and smaller awards from Qatar Foundation International to Georgia institutions and student exchanges—to illustrate money the bill would bring into public view. "This doesn't ban the funding. It simply requires transparency so that people across the state understand what's occurring," Gaines said.
Jeremy Berry (working with the sponsor) described Open Records Act work that uncovered QFI grants to Amana Academy, Georgia State University funding for the Arabic Teachers Council of the South, and other awards. Berry said the proposal aims to close a disclosure gap in federal law because some funders (for example, Qatar Foundation International) are not covered by the federal list of countries requiring disclosure.
Representative Esther Panitch offered a personal account. She cited a Foundation for Defense of Democracies report and said she received sustained diplomatic pushback after posting it, including social‑media responses from Qatari diplomatic staff that she characterized as attacks on the messenger rather than factual disputes; she told the committee she referred the matter to the FBI. "They did not dispute the dollar amounts... They attacked the messenger," Panitch said.
Public commenters Ally Bedoff and Robert Rothberg urged passage, saying parents deserve to know whether foreign actors influence curriculum. Committee members pressed the sponsor on scope—whether the bill should cover private schools and charters receiving public funds, whether to preserve a threshold (last year’s $1,000‑minimum) to limit administrative burden, and whether foreign exchange programs or research partnerships at institutions like Georgia Tech would be swept in. The sponsor said he was open to language changes and was discussing operational concerns with USG and TCSG.
The committee did not vote; the chair asked the sponsor to meet with members about possible amendments, including adding reporting for private and charter schools that receive public funds, and to supply a substitute for the next hearing.
Next steps: sponsor will work with stakeholders on definitions, thresholds and reporting recipients and return with substitute language.
