HB 1229: Alcoholic beverages; authorize a local governing authority to allow certain museums within its jurisdiction to sell alcoholic beverages at the same times on Sundays as other retailers

Under current Georgia law, local governments can hold a referendum to let restaurants and other retailers sell alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption on Sundays, but the times allowed for other kinds of venues, including museums, are governed separately. This bill adds a new provision to Georgia's alcohol law (O.C.G.A. § 3-3-7) that lets a county or city government, by passing a resolution or ordinance, extend those same Sunday sale hours to certain museums. The museum must be located primarily in a building or district listed on the Georgia Register of Historic Places and must already hold a license to sell alcohol for on-premises consumption. This option is only available in places where voters have already approved Sunday alcohol sales through a referendum. The bill defines 'museum' as a public institution that stores and exhibits objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it becomes law without his signature.

• Adds a new subsection to Georgia's alcohol law (O.C.G.A. § 3-3-7) letting local governments authorize qualifying museums to sell alcohol on Sundays during the same hours as other retailers.
• Limits eligibility to museums located primarily in a building or district on the Georgia Register of Historic Places that already hold an on-premises alcohol license.
• Requires that the county or municipality has already approved Sunday alcohol sales for other retailers through a local referendum before this option applies.
• Defines 'museum' for purposes of this provision as a public institution that stores and exhibits historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural objects.
• Lets the local governing authority act by resolution or ordinance rather than requiring a new public vote specific to museums.

Museums housed in historic buildings or districts that hold on-premises alcohol licenses, county and city governing authorities that would decide whether to extend the hours, and residents and visitors in counties or cities that have already approved Sunday alcohol sales.

Museums in historic buildings that already serve alcohol could gain extra Sunday selling hours matching other retailers, potentially supporting events, tours, or receptions. The change only applies where local voters already approved Sunday sales, and only local officials, not voters directly, decide whether to extend it to museums.

• Section 1 adds subsection (t) to O.C.G.A. § 3-3-7, defining 'museum' as a public institution exhibiting objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest.
• Section 1 requires the museum be located primarily in a building or district on the Georgia Register of Historic Places and licensed for on-premises alcohol sales.
• Section 1 requires that the county or municipality has already held a referendum authorizing Sunday alcohol sales before local officials may extend hours to museums.
• Section 1 allows the local governing authority to act by resolution or ordinance to match museum Sunday sale hours to those of other retailers.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without his signature.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-09House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-06House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-05House Hopper (House)

• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)Primary sponsor
• Kasey Carpenter (R, HD-004)
• Dale Washburn (R, HD-144)
• Buddy DeLoach (R, HD-167)
• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)
• Al Williams (D, HD-168)

• alcohol sales
• Sunday alcohol sales
• museums
• local government authority
• historic preservation