--- title: SB 182. "Georgia Music Office and Music Ready Communities Act"; enact collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sb182 cite_as: SB 182, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb182 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb182.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb182/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70375 date: 2026-01-12 status: introduced 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/sb181.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb183.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 322 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb182.md?full=1 bill_number: SB 182 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-02-14 last_action: Senate Recommitted sponsors: - Sonya Halpern - Brandon Beach - Russ Goodman - Harold Jones - Elena Parent - Sam Watson - Derek Mallow text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB182/2025 upstream_id: 1972980 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - music industry - economic development - Department of Community Affairs - local government certification - tourism --- # SB 182. "Georgia Music Office and Music Ready Communities Act"; enact ## Text 25 LC 59 0080 Senate Bill 182 By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Beach of the 21st, Goodman of the 8th, Jones II of the 22nd, Parent of the 44th and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the1 Department of Community Affairs, so as to enact the "Georgia Mu sic Office and Music2 Ready Communities Act"; to provide for definitions; to create the Georgia Music Office; to3 provide for administration of the office; to provide for duties of the office; to provide for the4 adoption and promulgation of rules and regulations; to provide for an appropriations5 contingency; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Music Office and Music Ready9 Communities Act."10 SECTION 2.11 Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department12 of Community Affairs, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:13 S. B. 182 - 1 - 25 LC 59 0080 "ARTICLE 1414 50-8-310.15 As used in this article, the term:16 (1) 'Commissioner' means the commissioner of community affairs.17 (2) 'Coordinate' means to issue rules, policies, standards, definitions, specifications, and18 other guidance.19 (3) 'Department' means the Department of Community Affairs.20 (4) 'Director' means the director of the office.21 (5) 'Implementation' means planning, writing, drafting, design ing, studying, and22 conducting market analysis; soliciting and accepting gifts, contributions, and cooperation;23 contracting, procurement, retention of consultants, and outsourcing; and other activities24 within the ordinary meaning of the term in this context.25 (6) 'Marketing' means promoting, advertising, public relations , press relations, and26 branding; creation, use, and licensing of trademark, copyright, and other intellectual27 property; and other activities of a similar nature or within th e term as it is commonly28 understood.29 (7) 'Office' means the Georgia Music Office.30 50-8-311.31 (a) There is established the Georgia Music Office to facilitat e the growth of Georgia's32 music industry in communities across this state through state-wide support, promotion, and33 cultivation of Georgia's rich music heritage, musicians, and vibrant music industry.34 (b) The commissioner shall select a director to lead the office. In selecting the director,35 consideration shall be given to individuals who possess extensive knowledge of the many36 aspects of the music industry, including, but not limited to, l ive touring, recording, and37 distribution, and who possess at least five years of experience in the music industry. The38 S. B. 182 - 2 - 25 LC 59 0080 commissioner shall appoint personnel within the department to administer functions of the39 office.40 (c) The office shall:41 (1) Promote the growing production of music in this state, the enjoyment and42 appreciation of the Georgia music industry, and the benefits of visiting and viewing the43 diverse music productions in this state;44 (2) Serve as a music business promotion office and information clearing-house for the45 Georgia music industry through the implementation of a strategic business development46 plan to help music industry professionals and businesses reloca te to this state by47 providing resources and acting as a conduit for music related economic and community48 development;49 (3) Coordinate and market specific programs and initiatives to attract music industry50 professionals and to foster the economic and community development of Georgia music51 businesses and musicians;52 (4) Assist in growing Georgia's music industry by providing music industry professionals53 with production contacts in this state; suggesting possible per forming, publishing, and54 recording locations; and other activities as may be required to promote this state as a55 national music center;56 (5) Serve as a liaison between music businesses and governmental offices and agencies,57 including workforce development, education, and tourism;58 (6) Publicize significant developments within the industry;59 (7) Develop and market listings of music festivals, productions, and other music events60 being held throughout this state;61 (8) Publicize and market this state's music heritage and culture;62 (9) Facilitate the expansion of the music industry in this state; and63 (10) Certify cities and counties as Music Friendly Georgia Certified Communities. Each64 city and county seeking such certification shall be required to host a Music Friendly65 S. B. 182 - 3 - 25 LC 59 0080 Georgia workshop to educate local leaders and stakeholders on t he office's functions. 66 Upon being certified, such cities and counties shall form an advisory board of local music67 industry stakeholders to promote music related economic develop ment in their68 communities and appoint a Music Friendly Georgia Certified Liaison to liaise with the69 office.70 (d) The office shall be assigned to the department for adminis trative purposes only, as71 prescribed in Code Section 50-4-3.72 50-8-312.73 (a) Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly or other available funding, the74 department is authorized to adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be75 necessary to carry out this article.76 (b) In its marketing and implementation of marketing for Georg ia's music industry, the77 department may exercise its powers under paragraphs (2) and (6) of subsection (b) of Code78 Section 50-8-8 and may authorize and delegate to the office all or part of such powers for79 its own implementation."80 SECTION 3.81 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.82 S. B. 182 - 4 - ## 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 Georgia Senate bill would create a Georgia Music Office inside the Department of Community Affairs to promote the state's music industry and certify local governments as music-friendly communities. ### Plain-language summary Georgia currently has no 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 the Official Code of Georgia Annotated creating the Georgia Music Office within 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 duties include promoting Georgia's music industry, acting as a business development and information clearinghouse, connecting music professionals with local contacts, publicizing music events and heritage, and liaising with other government agencies on workforce, education, and tourism matters. The bill also lets the office certify cities and counties as 'Music Friendly Georgia Certified Communities' if they host an educational workshop and form a local advisory board. Rulemaking and program implementation are made subject to funding approved by the General Assembly. ### What it does - Creates 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 serve as a business promotion and information clearinghouse, connecting music professionals with contacts, locations, and development resources in Georgia. - Establishes a certification process 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 for the office, but only subject to funding approved by the General Assembly. ### Who it affects The Department of Community Affairs and its commissioner, the new office's future director and staff, Georgia musicians and music businesses, local city and county governments seeking certification, and agencies handling workforce development, education, and tourism that the office would coordinate with. ### Why it matters If enacted, Georgia would gain a dedicated state office to market its music industry, help businesses relocate, and publicize festivals and heritage sites. Local governments could gain a formal certification and advisory structure aimed at attracting music-related economic activity, though the office's actual work depends on future state funding. ### Key provisions - Section 1 names the bill the 'Georgia Music Office and Music Ready Communities Act.' - Section 2 adds Article 14 to Chapter 8 of Title 50, creating O.C.G.A. § 50-8-310 through § 50-8-312. - O.C.G.A. § 50-8-310 defines key terms including 'coordinate,' 'implementation,' 'marketing,' and 'office.' - O.C.G.A. § 50-8-311 establishes the office, requires a director with music industry experience, lists ten specific duties, and creates the Music Friendly Georgia Certified Communities program for 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 makes the department's rulemaking and marketing authority for the office contingent on funding approved by the General Assembly. - Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-02-14) - Last action: Senate Recommitted (2026-01-12) - Sponsors: Sonya Halpern, Brandon Beach, Russ Goodman, Harold Jones, Elena Parent, Sam Watson, Derek Mallow - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70375 > The history, votes, and amendments (322 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb182.md?full=1