SB 182: "Georgia Music Office and Music Ready Communities Act"; enact

Georgia does not currently have a dedicated state office focused on growing the music industry. This bill, called the 'Georgia Music Office and Music Ready Communities Act,' would add a new article to Georgia's community affairs law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 8 of Title 50) creating the Georgia Music Office inside the Department of Community Affairs. 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 job would be to promote Georgia's music production and heritage, help music businesses relocate to the state, connect musicians with local resources, publicize music events, and act as a go-between for music businesses and government agencies. It would also certify cities and counties as 'Music Friendly Georgia Certified Communities' if they host an educational workshop and form a local advisory board. The department could adopt rules to carry out the law, subject to funding from the General Assembly.

• Creates the Georgia Music Office within the Department of Community Affairs to support and promote the state's music industry.
• Requires the commissioner of community affairs to select a director with at least five years of music industry experience to lead the office.
• Directs the office to serve as a liaison connecting music businesses with government agencies covering workforce development, education, and tourism.
• Establishes a certification program letting cities and counties 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 office's work, subject to available funding.

Musicians and music industry professionals in Georgia, music businesses considering relocating to the state, local governments seeking Music Friendly certification, and the Department of Community Affairs, which would staff and administer the new office.

Georgia communities and music businesses would gain a dedicated state contact point for industry promotion, relocation assistance, and event publicity. Certified cities and counties would need to form advisory boards and appoint liaisons, adding new local coordination responsibilities tied to any state support they receive.

• Section 2 adds Article 14 to Chapter 8 of Title 50, defining terms like 'director,' 'implementation,' and 'marketing' used throughout the new law (O.C.G.A. § 50-8-310).
• O.C.G.A. § 50-8-311 establishes the Georgia Music Office and lists ten specific duties, including promoting the industry, acting as a business clearinghouse, and certifying communities.
• The director must have at least five years of music industry experience, and the commissioner appoints personnel to run the office's daily functions.
• Certified cities and counties must host a Music Friendly Georgia workshop, form a local advisory board, and appoint a certified liaison to work with the office.
• O.C.G.A. § 50-8-312 lets the Department of Community Affairs adopt rules to implement the article, subject to funding approved by the General Assembly.
• Section 3 repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new article.

1. 2026-01-12Senate Recommitted (Senate)
2. 2026-01-12Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
3. 2025-03-06Senate Tabled (Senate)
4. 2025-02-27Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
5. 2025-02-26Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
6. 2025-02-18Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
7. 2025-02-14Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-39)Primary sponsor
• Brandon Beach (R, SD-21)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-8)
• Harold Jones II (D, SD-22)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-44)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-11)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-2)

• music industry
• economic development
• Department of Community Affairs
• local government certification
• tourism