---
title: HB 1462. Columbus Music Commission Act; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1462
cite_as: HB 1462, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1462
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1462.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1462/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73665
date: 2026-03-19
status: engrossed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1463.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 473
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1462.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1462
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-03-18
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
  - Teddy Reese
  - Carolyn Hugley
  - Debbie Buckner
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1462/2025
upstream_id: 2124816
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - music industry
  - Columbus Georgia
  - economic development
  - local government commissions
  - tax exemptions
---

# HB 1462. Columbus Music Commission Act; enact

## Text

House Bill 1462
By: Representatives Reese of the 140th, Hugley of the 141st, and Buckner of the 137th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To provide for the creation of the Columbus Music Commission; to provide for a short title;
to provide for findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for membership, terms of office,
and vacancies; to confer powers and impose duties on the commission; to provide for bylaws;
to provide for a quorum; to provide for audits; to provide for venue; to provide for tax
exemptions from levy and sale; to provide for liberal construction; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Short title.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Columbus Music Commission Act."
SECTION 2.
Findings.
It is found and determined that:
(1) The music and recording industry is a complex ecosystem comprising various
components that work together to create, promote, distribute, and consume music;
(2) The Columbus area is poised to become a destination hub for the music industry;
(3) Artists, producers, labels, marketers, and many others all play critical roles in bringing
music to life and ensuring it reaches audiences globally. Understanding these components
is essential for a successful blueprint for the Columbus area's music industry; and
(4) It will be the mandate of the Columbus Music Commission to promote the music
industry in the Columbus area.
SECTION 3.
Definitions.
As used in this Act, the following words and terms shall have the meaning specified unless
the context or use clearly indicates a different meaning or intent:
(1) "Board" means the board of directors of the Columbus Music Commission.
(2) "Commission" means the Columbus Music Commission.
SECTION 4.
Columbus Music Commission created.
There is created a body corporate and politic to be known as the "Columbus Music
Commission" which shall be deemed to be a public corporation. Such corporation shall be
separate and distinct from any public corporation or other entity heretofore created by the
General Assembly and shall be an instrumentality of the State of Georgia exercising
governmental and proprietary powers. The commission is created for the purpose of
promoting the Columbus area as a music destination; recruiting and organizing music
festivals and concerts; partnering with local businesses, schools, and organizations to create
diverse music programs; working with local government and businesses to secure funding
and sponsorships for music initiatives; advocating for music education and resources in local
schools; and otherwise promoting the music industry in the Columbus area. In connection
with the exercise of any of its powers, the members of the commission may make findings
or determinations that the exercise of its powers will support the purposes for which the
commission is created.
SECTION 5.
Board of directors.
(a) The commission shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of nine members
appointed by the members of the Georgia General Assembly House of Representatives and
the members of the Georgia General Assembly Senate who represent any portion of
Columbus, Georgia.
(b) The board of directors shall consist of:
(1) Three members who shall be music producers, recording artists, or managers;
(2) Two members who shall be local music venue owners or business leaders in music
related industries;
(3) Two members who shall be representatives from local arts organizations or cultural
affairs departments; and
(4) Two members who shall be city commission members or tourism officials.
(c) Appointed members of the commission shall serve three-year terms. Members appointed
to fill a vacancy shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term. No member appointed to
the commission shall serve more than two consecutive complete terms. A member becomes
eligible to serve again one year after his or her second consecutive complete term ended.
(d) The board shall establish bylaws that elect officers, set election dates, outline nomination
processes, and sets forth the rules and regulations of the commission. Once approved by the
board, the bylaws shall be voted on by the general membership of the commission.
(e) A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.
SECTION 6.
Powers and duties.
The commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To have a seal and alter the same at its pleasure;
(2) To contract for services necessary to carry out its mission;
(3) To adopt and alter its own bylaws;
(4) To receive and utilize gifts, donations, and contributions of money and property and
services as necessary to carry out its mission;
(5) To exercise the powers conferred upon a "public corporation" by Article IX, Section
III, Paragraph I of the Constitution of Georgia, such corporation being expressly declared
to be a public corporation within the meaning of such provision of the Constitution of
Georgia;
(6) To appoint, select, and employ, with or without bidding as the commission may
choose, officers, agents, and employees;
(7) To acquire, construct, purchase, hold, own, lease as lessee, expand, improve,
renovate, repair, maintain, and operate real and personal property or interests therein;
(8) To sell, lease as lessor, or otherwise transfer, pledge, or dispose of any real and
personal property interests therein. In connection with any such sale, lease, transfer
assignment, or other disposition, the commission need not comply with any other
provision of law requiring public bidding or notice to the public of such sale, lease,
transfer, assignment, or other disposition;
(9) To acquire projects and other property in its own name by gift or by purchase on such
terms and conditions and in such manner as it may deem proper. If the commission shall
deem it expedient to construct any project on real property or any interest therein or
usufruct therein which is subject to the control of any other public body, then such other
public body is hereby authorized to convey or lease such real property or interest therein
to the commission for no consideration or for such consideration as may be agreed upon
by the commission and such other public body, taking into consideration the public
benefit to be derived from such conveyance, lease, or usufruct. Any public body may
transfer such real property or interest therein without regard to any determination as to
whether or not such property or interest therein is surplus;
(10) To make and execute with one or more public bodies and private persons contracts,
lease agreements, rental agreements, installment sale agreements, and other instruments
relating to the property of the commission and incident to the exercise of the powers of
the commission, including contracts for constructing, leasing, renting, and selling its
projects for the benefit of other public bodies and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, authority is specifically granted to the commission and to other public bodies
to enter into contracts, lease agreements, rental agreements, installment sale agreements,
and related agreements with each other relating to the provision of any project or services
for a term not exceeding 50 years, as provided in Article IX, Section III, Paragraph I(a)
of the Constitution of Georgia;
(11) To be a co-owner, along with other public bodies, or to the extent allowed by the
Constitution of Georgia, private persons of any property, if the commission finds and
determines that such co-ownership is in the best interests of the commission and will
serve the public purposes of the commission;
(12) To purchase policies of insurance as may be deemed appropriate for its corporate
purposes;
(13) To operate, lease, sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any property, real or
personal, or assets of the commission, or to assign its rights under its contracts, lease
agreements, or installment sale agreements or its right to receive payments thereunder,
either directly or through trust or custodial arrangements whereby interests are created
in such contracts, lease agreements, or installment sale agreements or the payments to be
received thereunder through the issuance of trust certificates, certificates of participation,
custodial receipts, or other similar instruments. In connection with any such lease, sale,
transfer, assignment, or other disposition, the commission need not comply with any
other provision of law requiring public bidding or any notice to the public of such lease,
sale, transfer, assignment, or other disposition;
(14) To accept loans and grants of money or property of any kind from the United States
or any public body or private person, and all public bodies are authorized to make grants
to the commission, subject to any limitations in the Constitution of Georgia;
(15) To make such rules and regulations governing its employees and property as it may
in its discretion deem proper;
(16) To be sued the same as any private corporation on any contractual obligation of the
commission. The commission shall have the same rights to sue any other person or entity
as any private corporation; and
(17) To have and exercise the usual powers of private corporations, except such as are
inconsistent with this Act, and to do any and all things necessary and convenient to
accomplish the purposes and powers of the commission as stated in this Act.
SECTION 7.
The board as trustees.
The board shall be held accountable in all respects as trustees. The commission or its fiscal
agent shall keep suitable records of all receipts, income, and expenditures of every kind.
There shall be an independent audit of the commission if the commission received or spent
money in a taxable year without the use of a fiscal agent.
SECTION 8.
Charitable and public functions.
The creation of the commission and the carrying out of its corporate purposes is in all
respects for the benefit of the people of the state. The commission is an institution of purely
public charity and will be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of
the power conferred upon it by this Act. The commission shall not be required to pay any
taxes or assessments upon any of the property acquired or leased by it or under its
jurisdiction, control, possession, or supervision or upon its activities in the operation or any
rates, fees, tolls, or other charges for the use of such projects or other income received by the
commission.
SECTION 9.
Actions.
Any action brought against the commission shall be brought in the Superior Court of
Muscogee County and such court shall have exclusive, original jurisdiction of such question.
SECTION 10.
Liberal construction.
Being for the welfare of the state and its inhabitants, this Act shall be liberally construed to
effect the purposes of the Act.
SECTION 11.
Repealer.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.

A House bill would create the Columbus Music Commission, a public corporation governed by a nine-member board, to promote the music industry, festivals, and music education in the Columbus, Georgia area.

### Plain-language summary

This bill sets up a new public corporation called the Columbus Music Commission to promote Columbus, Georgia as a music destination. The commission would recruit music festivals and concerts, partner with schools and local businesses on music programs, seek funding and sponsorships, and push for music education resources in local schools.
The commission would be run by a nine-member board appointed by state legislators who represent Columbus, split among music industry professionals, venue owners or business leaders, arts organization representatives, and city or tourism officials. Members serve three-year terms with a two-term limit. The board must adopt bylaws, and the commission must keep financial records and get an independent audit in years it spends money without a fiscal agent. The commission would not have to pay taxes on its property or activities, and lawsuits against it must be filed in Muscogee County Superior Court.

### What it does

- Creates the Columbus Music Commission as a public corporation of the state, separate from any other existing public entity, to promote the music industry in the Columbus area.
- Establishes a nine-member board of directors appointed by Columbus-area state legislators, split among music professionals, venue owners, arts representatives, and city or tourism officials.
- Sets three-year terms for board members with a limit of two consecutive full terms before a one-year break is required.
- Grants the commission broad powers including contracting, owning and leasing property, accepting gifts and grants, hiring staff, and suing or being sued like a private corporation.
- Exempts the commission's property, activities, and income from state and local taxes and assessments.
- Requires an independent audit if the commission handles money in a year without using a fiscal agent, and sets Muscogee County Superior Court as the required venue for lawsuits against it.

### Who it affects

Columbus-area musicians, producers, and music venue owners; local arts organizations and cultural affairs departments; city commission members and tourism officials in Columbus; local schools involved in music education; and Georgia General Assembly members representing Columbus, who appoint the board.

### Why it matters

If enacted, Columbus would gain a dedicated public body with legal powers to organize music festivals, seek sponsorships, and push music education, potentially reshaping how the city supports its music scene. The tax exemption and litigation venue rule also set concrete legal and financial terms for how the commission operates.

### Key provisions

- Section 4 creates the commission as a body corporate and politic, an instrumentality of the state, dedicated to promoting Columbus as a music destination and organizing festivals and concerts.
- Section 5 sets the nine-member board composition (music professionals, venue owners/business leaders, arts representatives, and city/tourism officials), three-year terms, and a two-term limit.
- Section 6 lists the commission's powers, including contracting, owning and disposing of property without standard public bidding requirements, accepting gifts and grants, and hiring staff.
- Section 7 requires the board to act as trustees, keep financial records, and undergo an independent audit if funds are handled without a fiscal agent.
- Section 8 exempts the commission from paying taxes or assessments on its property, activities, or income, describing it as a public charity performing a governmental function.
- Section 9 sets Muscogee County Superior Court as the exclusive venue for lawsuits against the commission.
- Section 10 directs that the Act be liberally construed to carry out its purposes.

## Status

- Status: Engrossed (2026-03-18)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-03-19)
- Sponsors: Teddy Reese, Carolyn Hugley, Debbie Buckner
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73665

> The history, votes, and amendments (473 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1462.md?full=1