HB 353: Georgia Music Office and Music Ready Communities Act; enact

Georgia currently has no dedicated state office focused on supporting the music industry. This bill, called the Georgia Music Office and Music Ready Communities Act, would add a new article to the state law governing the Department of Community Affairs (O.C.G.A. Chapter 8 of Title 50) to create such an office. The office would be led by a director chosen by the commissioner of community affairs, who must have at least five years of music industry experience. The office's duties include promoting Georgia's music production and heritage, acting as a business development and relocation resource for music professionals, coordinating with other government agencies, publicizing music events, and certifying cities and counties as 'Music Friendly Georgia Certified Communities.' Certified communities must host an educational workshop, form a local advisory board, and appoint a liaison to the office. The department may adopt rules to carry out the article, subject to funding from the General Assembly.

• Establishes the Georgia Music Office within the Department of Community Affairs to promote and grow the state's music industry.
• Requires the commissioner of community affairs to appoint a director with at least five years of music industry experience to lead the office.
• Directs the office to act as a business promotion and relocation resource, liaison, and marketing hub for Georgia's music industry.
• Creates a certification program allowing cities and counties to become 'Music Friendly Georgia Certified Communities' after hosting a workshop and forming a local advisory board.
• Authorizes the Department of Community Affairs to adopt rules and regulations needed to carry out the new law, subject to available funding.

Music industry professionals, musicians, and businesses in Georgia; the Department of Community Affairs and its commissioner, who must appoint a director and staff; and local city and county governments that seek Music Friendly certification and must form advisory boards and appoint liaisons.

If enacted, Georgia would have a formal state office dedicated to attracting and supporting music businesses, connecting them with local governments, and marketing the state's music scene, potentially shaping which communities get resources and recognition for music-related economic development.

• Section 2 adds Article 14 to Chapter 8 of Title 50, creating O.C.G.A. §§ 50-8-310 through 50-8-312 and defining terms like 'commissioner,' 'director,' 'implementation,' and 'marketing.'
• O.C.G.A. § 50-8-311(b) requires the commissioner to select a director with music industry knowledge and at least five years of experience.
• O.C.G.A. § 50-8-311(c) lists ten duties of the office, including promotion, business development, publicizing events, and serving as a liaison between music businesses and government agencies.
• O.C.G.A. § 50-8-311(c)(10) creates the Music Friendly Georgia Certified Communities program, requiring a workshop, an advisory board, and a designated liaison for certified cities and counties.
• O.C.G.A. § 50-8-311(d) assigns the office to the Department of Community Affairs for administrative purposes only.
• O.C.G.A. § 50-8-312 authorizes the department to adopt rules and regulations to implement the article, contingent on funding from the General Assembly.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-02-18House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
3. 2025-02-12House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-11House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-02-10House Hopper (House)

• Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-34)Primary sponsor
• Kasey Carpenter (R, HD-4)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Josh Bonner (R, HD-73)
• Anne Allen Westbrook (D, HD-163)
• Tangie Herring (D, HD-145)

• music industry
• economic development
• Department of Community Affairs
• local government certification
• arts and culture