---
title: HB 762. Savannah Music Commission Act; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb762
cite_as: HB 762, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb762
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb762.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb762/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71310
date: 2025-05-01
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28
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.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb761.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb763.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 883
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb762.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 762
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-05-01
last_action: Effective Date 2025-05-01
sponsors:
  - Carl Gilliard
  - Jesse Petrea
  - Bill Hitchens
  - Ron Stephens
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB762/2025
upstream_id: 2000279
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - music industry
  - Savannah
  - Chatham County
  - public corporations
  - tax exemptions
---

# HB 762. Savannah Music Commission Act; enact

## Text

25 LC 44 3090/AP
House Bill 762 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Gilliard of the 162 nd, Petrea of the 166 th, Hitchens of the 161 st, and
Stephens of the 164th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To provide for the creation of the Savannah Music Commission; to provide for a short title;1
to provide for findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for membership, terms of office,2
and vacancies; to confer powers and impose duties on the commission; to provide for bylaws;3
to provide for a quorum; to provide for audits; to provide for venue; to provide for tax4
exemptions from levy and sale; to provide for liberal construct ion; to provide for related5
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7
SECTION 1.8
Short title.9
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Savannah Music Commission Act."10
SECTION 2.11
Findings.12
It is found and determined that:13
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(1) The music and recording industry is a complex ecosystem co mprising various14
components that work together to create, promote, distribute, and consume music;15
(2) The Savannah area is poised to become a destination hub for the music industry;16
(3) Artists, producers, labels, marketers, and many others all play critical roles in17
bringing music to life and ensuring it reaches audiences globally. Understanding these18
components is essential for a successful blueprint for the Savannah area's music industry;19
and20
(4) It will be the mandate of the Savannah Music Commission to promote the music21
industry in the Savannah area.22
SECTION 3.23
Definitions.24
As used in this Act, the following words and terms shall have the meaning specified unless25
the context or use clearly indicates a different meaning or intent:26
(1) "Board" means the board of directors of the Savannah Music Commission.27
(2) "Commission" means the Savannah Music Commission.28
SECTION 4.29
Savannah Music Commission created.30
There is created a body corporate and politic to be known as th e "Savannah Music31
Commission" which shall be deemed to be a public corporation. Such corporation shall be32
separate and distinct from any public corporation or other enti ty heretofore created by the33
General Assembly and shall be an instrumentality of the State o f Georgia exercising34
governmental and proprietary powers. The commission is created for the purpose of35
promoting the Savannah area as a music destination; recruiting and organizing music36
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festivals and concerts; partnering with local businesses, schools, and organizations to create37
diverse music programs; working with local government and businesses to secure funding38
and sponsorships for music initiatives; advocating for music education and resources in local39
schools; and otherwise promoting the music industry in the Savannah area. In connection40
with the exercise of any of its powers, the members of the commission may make findings41
or determinations that the exercise of its powers will support the purposes for which the42
commission is created.43
SECTION 5.44
Board of directors.45
(a) The commission shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of nine members46
appointed by the members of the Georgia General Assembly House of Representatives and47
the members of the Georgia General Assembly Senate who represen t any portion of48
Chatham County.49
(b) The board of directors shall consist of:50
(1) Three members who shall be music producers, recording artists, or managers;51
(2) Two members who shall be local music venue owners or business leaders in music52
related industries;53
(3) Two members who shall be representatives from local arts organizations or cultural54
affairs departments; and55
(4) Two members who shall be city commission members or tourism officials.56
(c) Appointed members of the commission shall serve three-year t e r m s . M e m b e r s57
appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term. No member58
appointed to the commission shall serve more than two consecuti ve complete terms. A59
member becomes eligible to serve again one year after his or he r second consecutive60
complete term ended.61
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(d) The board shall establish bylaws that elect officers, set election dates, outline62
nomination processes, and sets forth the rules and regulations of the commission. Once63
approved by the board, the bylaws shall be voted on by the gene ral membership of the64
commission.65
(e) A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.66
SECTION 6.67
Powers and duties.68
The commission shall have the following powers and duties:69
(1) To have a seal and alter the same at its pleasure;70
(2) To contract for services necessary to carry out its mission;71
(3) To adopt and alter its own bylaws;72
(4) To receive and utilize gifts, donations, and contributions of money and property and73
services as necessary to carry out its mission;74
(5) To exercise the powers conferred upon a "public corporation" by Article IX, Section75
III, Paragraph I of the Constitution of Georgia, such corporation being expressly declared76
to be a public corporation within the meaning of such provision of the Constitution of77
Georgia;78
(6) To appoint, select, and employ, with or without bidding as the commission may79
choose, officers, agents, and employees;80
(7) To acquire, construct, purchase, hold, own, lease as lesse e, expand, improve,81
renovate, repair, maintain, and operate real and personal property or interests therein;82
(8) To sell, lease as lessor, or otherwise transfer, pledge, o r dispose of any real and83
personal property interests therein. In connection with any su ch sale, lease, transfer84
assignment, or other disposition, the commission need not compl y with any other85
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provision of law requiring public bidding or notice to the publ ic of such sale, lease,86
transfer, assignment, or other disposition;87
(9) To acquire projects and other property in its own name by gift or by purchase on such88
terms and conditions and in such manner as it may deem proper. If the commission shall89
deem it expedient to construct any project on real property or any interest therein or90
usufruct therein which is subject to the control of any other public body, then such other91
public body is hereby authorized to convey or lease such real property or interest therein92
to the commission for no consideration or for such consideration as may be agreed upon93
by the commission and such other public body, taking into consi deration the public94
benefit to be derived from such conveyance, lease, or usufruct. Any public body may95
transfer such real property or interest therein without regard to any determination as to96
whether or not such property or interest therein is surplus;97
(10) To make and execute with one or more public bodies and private persons contracts,98
lease agreements, rental agreements, installment sale agreements, and other instruments99
relating to the property of the commission and incident to the exercise of the powers of100
the commission, including contracts for constructing, leasing, renting, and selling its101
projects for the benefit of other public bodies and, without limiting the generality of the102
foregoing, authority is specifically granted to the commission and to other public bodies103
to enter into contracts, lease agreements, rental agreements, installment sale agreements,104
and related agreements with each other relating to the provision of any project or services105
for a term not exceeding 50 years, as provided in Article IX, Section III, Paragraph I(a)106
of the Constitution of Georgia;107
(11) To be a co-owner, along with other public bodies, or to t he extent allowed by the108
Constitution of Georgia, private persons of any property, if th e commission finds and109
determines that such co-ownership is in the best interests of t he commission and will110
serve the public purposes of the commission;111
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(12) To purchase policies of insurance as may be deemed appropriate for its corporate112
purposes;113
(13) To operate, lease, sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose o f any property, real or114
personal, or assets of the commission, or to assign its rights under its contracts, lease115
agreements, or installment sale agreements or its right to receive payments thereunder,116
either directly or through trust or custodial arrangements wher eby interests are created117
in such contracts, lease agreements, or installment sale agreements or the payments to be118
received thereunder through the issuance of trust certificates, certificates of participation,119
custodial receipts, or other similar instruments. In connection with any such lease, sale,120
transfer, assignment, or other disposition, the commission need not comply with any121
other provision of law requiring public bidding or any notice to the public of such lease,122
sale, transfer, assignment, or other disposition;123
(14) To accept loans and grants of money or property of any kind from the United States124
or any public body or private person, and all public bodies are authorized to make grants125
to the commission, subject to any limitations in the Constitution of Georgia;126
(15) To make such rules and regulations governing its employees and property as it may127
in its discretion deem proper;128
(16) To be sued the same as any private corporation on any contractual obligation of the129
commission. The commission shall have the same rights to sue any other person or entity130
as any private corporation; and131
(17) To have and exercise the usual powers of private corporations, except such as are132
inconsistent with this Act, and to do any and all things necess ary and convenient to133
accomplish the purposes and powers of the commission as stated in this Act.134
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SECTION 7.135
The board as trustees.136
The board shall be held accountable in all respects as trustees. The commission or its fiscal137
agent shall keep suitable records of all receipts, income, and expenditures of every kind.138
There shall be an independent audit of the commission if the commission received or spent139
money in a taxable year without the use of a fiscal agent.140
SECTION 8.141
Charitable and public functions.142
The creation of the commission and the carrying out of its corp orate purposes is in all143
respects for the benefit of the people of the state. The commission is an institution of purely144
public charity and will be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of145
the power conferred upon it by this Act. The commission shall not be required to pay any146
taxes or assessments upon any of the property acquired or lease d by it or under its147
jurisdiction, control, possession, or supervision or upon its activities in the operation or any148
rates, fees, tolls, or other charges for the use of such projects or other income received by the149
commission.150
SECTION 9.151
Actions.152
Any action brought against the commission shall be brought in t he Superior Court of153
Chatham County and such court shall have exclusive, original jurisdiction of such question.154
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SECTION 10.155
Liberal construction.156
Being for the welfare of the state and its inhabitants, this Act shall be liberally construed to157
effect the purposes of the Act.158
SECTION 11.159
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.160
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## 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.

HB762 creates the Savannah Music Commission, a state public corporation charged with promoting Chatham County's music industry through festivals, education partnerships, and funding efforts.

### Plain-language summary

Georgia lawmakers created a new public body, the Savannah Music Commission, to help build the Savannah area into a hub for the music industry. The commission is set up as a 'body corporate and politic,' a legal structure similar to other special-purpose public authorities in Georgia, and is treated as a state instrumentality separate from any other existing public entity.
The bill lays out how the nine-member board of directors is appointed by state lawmakers who represent Chatham County, what kinds of professionals must fill those seats, and how long members serve. It gives the commission broad corporate powers such as owning property, signing contracts, accepting grants and donations, and suing or being sued. The commission is also declared a public charity and exempted from property taxes and other assessments on its property and activities. Lawsuits against it must be filed in Chatham County Superior Court.

### What it does

- Establishes the Savannah Music Commission as a public corporation and state instrumentality dedicated to promoting the Savannah area's music industry.
- Creates a nine-member board of directors appointed by state legislators from Chatham County, with set seats for music professionals, venue owners, arts representatives, and city or tourism officials.
- Limits board members to three-year terms and no more than two consecutive full terms before a one-year waiting period to serve again.
- Grants the commission wide corporate powers, including owning and selling property, signing contracts up to 50 years, accepting grants, and hiring staff, often without normal public bidding requirements.
- Exempts the commission's property and activities from state and local taxes and assessments as a public charity performing a governmental function.
- Requires an independent audit if the commission handles money in a given year without using a fiscal agent, and sets Chatham County Superior Court as the venue for lawsuits against it.

### Who it affects

The bill directly affects Chatham County's music industry professionals, venue owners, arts organizations, and tourism officials who may serve on the new board. It also affects Chatham County's state legislators, who make the appointments, and local schools and businesses the commission is meant to partner with.

### Why it matters

By creating a government-backed body with corporate powers and tax exemptions, the bill gives Savannah a dedicated organization to recruit music festivals, pursue funding and sponsorships, and push music education programs, potentially reshaping how the local music scene is promoted and financed.

### Key provisions

- Section 4 creates the commission as a public corporation and state instrumentality with the mission of promoting Savannah as a music destination and organizing festivals and concerts.
- Section 5 sets board composition at nine members, including three music producers or artists, two venue owners or industry leaders, two arts representatives, and two city or tourism officials, each serving three-year terms.
- Section 6 grants the commission powers including contracting, property ownership and sale, accepting gifts and grants, hiring employees, and suing or being sued, often bypassing normal public bidding rules.
- Section 7 requires the board to act as trustees, keep financial records, and undergo an independent audit if it spends money without a fiscal agent in a given year.
- Section 8 declares the commission a public charity performing a governmental function and exempts its property and activities from taxes and assessments.
- Section 9 designates the Superior Court of Chatham County as the exclusive venue for lawsuits against the commission.
- Section 10 directs that the Act be liberally construed to fulfill its stated purposes.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-05-01)
- Last action: Effective Date 2025-05-01 (2025-05-01)
- Sponsors: Carl Gilliard, Jesse Petrea, Bill Hitchens, Ron Stephens
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71310

> The history, votes, and amendments (883 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb762.md?full=1