HB 1400: Georgia Artist-Promoter Fair Practices Act; enact

Currently Georgia has no specific law governing how promoters and venues must disclose fees or terms to performing artists before booking them. This bill creates the Georgia Artist-Promoter Fair Practices Act, adding a new article to the state's trade practices law (O.C.G.A. Title 10, Chapter 1). It requires promoters and venues to tell artists in writing whether a performance is paid, a showcase, an audition, or unpaid, and to disclose any performance related fees (like opening act fees or marketing buy-ins) before collecting payment. The bill also gives artists a right to cancel and get a refund on fees paid more than 14 days in advance, bars retaliation against artists who ask for disclosures, and limits venue liability to cases where the venue actually knew about a deceptive fee and benefited from it. Enforcement runs through the state's existing Fair Business Practices Act, handled by the Attorney General, with private lawsuits limited to actual and punitive damages. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, and would apply to fees paid on or after that date.

• Requires promoters and venues to give artists written disclosure of a performance's classification (paid, showcase, audition, or unpaid) before accepting payment or confirming a booking.
• Requires written disclosure of any performance related fee's amount, purpose, refundability, and effect on placement, and creates a rebuttable presumption of deceptive practice if this disclosure is skipped.
• Gives artists the right to rescind fee payments made more than 14 days ahead of a show, within 48 hours, with refunds due within ten business days.
• Bars promoters and venues from retaliating against artists who request disclosures or decline undisclosed fees.
• Limits venue liability to situations involving actual knowledge of a deceptive fee and direct benefit from it, and creates a safe harbor for venues reasonably relying on a promoter's compliance representations.
• Directs enforcement through the state's Fair Business Practices Act via the Attorney General, exempts licensed talent agencies and certain nonprofit or educational events, and sets a July 1, 2026 effective date.

Musicians and other live performers booked in Georgia, concert promoters, music venues, and licensed talent agencies (which are exempted). The Attorney General's office would also be involved through enforcement under the state's existing consumer protection law.

Artists, especially those with less bargaining power, would gain a clearer paper trail on fees and terms and a short window to back out of prepaid arrangements. Venues and promoters would face new disclosure paperwork and potential liability, though the bill limits venue exposure to cases of actual knowledge and direct benefit.

• Section 1 lists legislative findings, including that Georgia is a major live music hub and that emerging artists often lack equal bargaining power.
• Section 2 states legislative intent to rely on disclosure rather than price regulation, compensation mandates, or licensing requirements.
• New Code Section 10-1-972 requires written disclosure of a performance's classification (paid, showcase, audition, unpaid) before payment or booking confirmation.
• New Code Section 10-1-973 requires disclosure of performance related fees and creates a rebuttable presumption of deceptive practice for undisclosed fees.
• New Code Section 10-1-977 creates a 48-hour rescission right for fees paid more than 14 days in advance, with refunds due within 10 business days.
• New Code Section 10-1-980 limits venue liability to cases of actual knowledge of a deceptive fee plus direct collection or benefit, and creates a safe harbor for reliance on a promoter's representations.
• New Code Section 10-1-981 ties enforcement to the Fair Business Practices Act of 1975, assigns enforcement to the Attorney General, and limits private suits to actual and punitive damages with no criminal liability.
• Section 4 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, applying to performance related fees paid on or after that date.

1. 2026-02-24House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-20House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-19House Hopper (House)

• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)Primary sponsor
• Long Tran (D, HD-080)
• Segun Adeyina (D, HD-110)

• live music industry
• artist protections
• consumer disclosure law
• entertainment venues
• fair business practices