A bill moving through the Georgia legislature aims at stop cities from becoming financially dependent on issuing tickets, fines, or forfeitures, a practice some refer to as “policing for profit.”
Cities often collect revenue through criminal fine, civil fines, and asset forfeiture proceeds. HB 140 says municipalities cannot use too much of that money as a budget funding source. The bill would limit how much money Georgia cities can rely on from court fines and forfeitures when building their annual budgets.
HB 140 is sponsored by Paulding County Republican Joseph Gullett with the support of Reps. David Jenkins, Steve Tarvin, Eddie Lumsden, and Matt Barton.
The bill does not apply to counties as fines collected from law enforcement activities of a county PD or Sheriff’s Office already go into the county General Fund and not a municipal police account.
The measure would phase in over time, beginning in 2027. Cities would be required to cap how much of their budget comes from fines and forfeitures.
- 30% beginning January 1, 2027
- 25% beginning January 1, 2028
- 20% beginning January 1, 2029
- 15% beginning January 1, 2030
Any money collected above the cap must be turned over to the state within 30 days of the close of the fiscal year for the city. The State would then deposit the funds into the General Fund.
Because the bill’s language includes civil fines, revenue collected from school zone speed cameras would also be included.
The bill explicitly says this requirement would supersede conflicting local authority, meaning cities cannot opt out through home rule.
HB 140 passed out of the House Committee on Governmental Affairs. It now awaits consideration by the House Rules committee so it can be considered by the House body on the House floor.
