Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HR 1948: State and local authorities; transfer operation of Georgia Capitol Museum from University System of Georgia to Georgia Building Authority; urge
Last action March 31, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported
A Georgia House resolution urges state and local officials to move operation of the Georgia Capitol Museum from the University System of Georgia to the Georgia Building Authority.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
The Georgia Capitol Museum, which preserves artifacts and history related to the Georgia State Capitol, is currently operated under the University System of Georgia. This resolution states that the Georgia Building Authority, which already manages the Capitol Hill Complex including the Capitol building itself, is better equipped to fund, manage, maintain, and staff the museum. The resolution does not itself transfer control of the museum. Instead, it urges the appropriate state and local authorities to make that transfer happen. It also directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and the press.
What the bill does
- Urges state and local authorities to transfer operation of the Georgia Capitol Museum from the University System of Georgia to the Georgia Building Authority.
- States the Georgia Building Authority already manages the Capitol Hill Complex, including the Georgia State Capitol building itself.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
- Does not itself change any law or force the transfer; it only expresses the House's position on the issue.
Who it affects
The University System of Georgia, which currently operates the museum, and the Georgia Building Authority, which would potentially take over management. It also touches museum staff, visitors, school groups on educational tours, and anyone involved in preserving the Capitol's historic artifacts and flags.
Why it matters
If state and local authorities act on this resolution, oversight of the museum's funding, staffing, and daily operations would shift to a different state agency. Because it is only a resolution, it carries no legal force on its own and would require separate action to actually move the museum.
Key provisions
- The resolution's whereas clauses describe the museum's history, its collection of artifacts, flags and art, and its educational tours.
- The resolved clause urges state and local authorities to transfer museum operations from the University System of Georgia to the Georgia Building Authority.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press.
From the bill
“the members of this body urge the appropriate state and local authorities to transfer operation of the Georgia Capitol Museum from the University System of Georgia to the Georgia Building Authority”
Discussed in meetings (4)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Special Rules Committee, March 31, 2026
From 0:27:18 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HR 1948 urges future legislation transferring operation of the Georgia Capitol Museum from the Board of Regents to the Georgia Building Authority. The sponsor said the proposal came on behalf of the governor and became an urging resolution because legislation was not ready before the crossover deadline. According to the sponsor, both agencies supported the transfer. The sponsor described the museum’s funding through the university system as inconsistent and said the Building Authority could fund it through rental revenue and use employees already on site. The committee approved the resolution and sent it to Rules, with one opposing vote recorded.
House Rules Committee, April 2, 2026
From 0:28:49 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HR 1948 would urge moving authority and supervision of the Georgia Capitol Museum from the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents to the Georgia Building Authority. The sponsor said both entities and the chancellor supported the move, and that the governor had requested the resolution. The sponsor explained that legislation to carry out the transfer would need consideration in a future session. No questions were asked. Later, the committee placed the resolution on the day's supplemental calendar after a motion and second, with no opposition recorded.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Matthew Gambill (R, HD-15)
- Will Wade (R, HD-9)
- Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-34)
- Soo Hong (R, HD-103)
Topics
- Georgia Capitol Museum
- state agencies
- University System of Georgia
- Georgia Building Authority
- historic preservation