HB1490: HB1490 Education; transfer responsibility for operation of Georgia Capitol Museum from Board of Regents to Georgia Building Authority

Right now the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia is legally responsible for operating the Georgia Capitol Museum under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 20-3-40). This bill repeals that section and instead gives the job to the Georgia Building Authority, the state agency that manages state buildings and grounds. The bill spells out how the handoff would work: on July 1, 2026, the Georgia Building Authority would take over all the Board of Regents' powers, duties, contracts, leases, and agreements related to the museum. Museum employees working for the Board of Regents would become Georgia Building Authority employees in similar roles, and custody of related state property would transfer as well. The bill also updates a related law about the Georgia Capitol Agricultural History Museum areas to reflect the new agency in charge, and confirms the Georgia Building Authority can keep running exhibits, tours, and publications and can accept donations for the museum.

• Repeals O.C.G.A. § 20-3-40, ending the Board of Regents' legal authority over the Georgia Capitol Museum.
• Transfers all of the Board of Regents' museum-related powers, duties, and obligations to the Georgia Building Authority starting July 1, 2026.
• Moves museum employees from the Board of Regents to the Georgia Building Authority in similar job roles on that same date.
• Transfers custody of state-owned property tied to the museum, and continuity of existing contracts and leases, to the Georgia Building Authority.
• Updates O.C.G.A. § 45-13-72 so the Georgia Building Authority, not the Board of Regents, works with the Capitol Art Standards Commission on the Georgia Capitol Agricultural History Museum areas.
• Authorizes the Georgia Building Authority to run museum operations, accept donations, and receive transferred funds for the museum.

The change directly affects the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, the Georgia Building Authority, museum staff whose employer would change, the Capitol Art Standards Commission, and visitors to the Georgia Capitol Museum and its Agricultural History Museum areas.

Day-to-day museum operations, staffing, and property management would shift from a higher education agency to the state's building management agency. Museum employees would become Georgia Building Authority staff, and existing contracts, leases, and donor agreements would continue under the new agency without interruption.

• Section 1 repeals O.C.G.A. § 20-3-40, removing the Board of Regents' statutory role in operating the Georgia Capitol Museum.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 45-13-72(b) to name the Georgia Building Authority, instead of the Board of Regents, as the agency that designates the Georgia Capitol Agricultural History Museum areas.
• Section 3 adds new O.C.G.A. § 50-9-18, transferring all Board of Regents' museum powers, policies, contracts, employees, and property custody to the Georgia Building Authority effective July 1, 2026.
• Section 3 also adds new O.C.G.A. § 50-9-19, authorizing the Georgia Building Authority to maintain exhibits, publish museum materials, conduct tours, accept donations, and receive transferred appropriated funds.
• Section 4 repeals all laws in conflict with the Act.

1. 2026-03-06House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-04House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-03House Hopper (House)

• Matthew Gambill (R, HD-015)Primary sponsor
• Will Wade (R, HD-009)
• Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)
• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)
• Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-034)

• Georgia Capitol Museum
• state government reorganization
• Board of Regents
• Georgia Building Authority
• museum operations