Bill > HB1369

This bill revises Georgia law regarding the enforcement of foreign laws, meaning laws from outside the United States, by stating that no court, arbitration panel, administrative agency, or other tribunal (collectively referred to as a "tribunal") can enforce a foreign law if doing so would violate rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution or the Georgia Constitution. The bill defines "foreign law" broadly to include legal systems of jurisdictions outside the U.S. but excludes laws of Native American tribes in Georgia. It also clarifies that any tribunal ruling based on foreign law that denies these constitutional rights is void and unenforceable, with specific exceptions for international arbitration, certain business entities that contractually agree to foreign law (except for family law matters), and requires tribunals to provide written findings if they deny these protections. Furthermore, the bill modifies the doctrine of *forum non conveniens*, which allows courts to dismiss a case if it can be more appropriately heard elsewhere, by requiring courts to dismiss a case to a foreign jurisdiction only if they find by clear and convincing evidence that the foreign jurisdiction's laws would not violate U.S. or Georgia constitutional rights, and it adds a cross-reference to the new provisions concerning foreign law enforcement when considering *forum non conveniens* motions.

Justice

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73349