HB 762: Savannah Music Commission Act; enact

Savannah currently has no dedicated public body focused on building up its music industry. This bill creates the Savannah Music Commission, a public corporation set up by the Georgia General Assembly, to promote the Savannah area as a music destination. The commission would recruit music festivals and concerts, partner with local schools and businesses, seek funding and sponsorships, and advocate for music education. The commission is governed by a nine-member board appointed by Chatham County's legislative delegation, drawn from music professionals, venue owners, arts organization representatives, and city or tourism officials. Members serve three-year terms with a two-term limit. The bill gives the commission broad corporate powers, such as owning property, entering contracts, and accepting donations, and exempts it from paying taxes on its property and income. Lawsuits against the commission must be filed in Chatham County Superior Court.

• Creates the Savannah Music Commission as a public corporation and instrumentality of the State of Georgia, separate from any other existing public body.
• Establishes a nine-member board of directors appointed by Chatham County's state legislators, with seats reserved for music professionals, venue owners, arts representatives, and tourism officials.
• Sets three-year board terms with a two-consecutive-term limit and a one-year waiting period before a member can serve again.
• Grants the commission broad powers including owning and leasing property, entering long-term contracts up to 50 years, suing and being sued, and accepting gifts and government grants.
• Exempts the commission's property, activities, and income from state and local taxes and assessments.
• Requires an independent audit if the commission handles money without using a fiscal agent, and sends lawsuits against it to Chatham County Superior Court.

Chatham County's state legislators, who appoint the board; music producers, artists, venue owners, and arts and tourism officials who may serve on the commission; and Savannah-area schools, businesses, and residents who could be involved in music festivals, concerts, and education programs the commission organizes.

Savannah would gain a formal public entity dedicated to growing its music scene, with legal powers to raise money, own property, and strike long-term deals with businesses and schools. Because it is tax-exempt and government-created, its finances and activities would carry public accountability requirements like audits.

• Section 4 creates the commission as a body corporate and politic, an instrumentality of Georgia with both governmental and proprietary powers.
• Section 5 sets board composition (three music industry members, two venue owners or business leaders, two arts representatives, two city or tourism officials) and three-year term limits.
• Section 6 lists the commission's powers, including contracting without public bidding in many cases, owning property, and entering agreements up to 50 years under the Georgia Constitution's Article IX provisions.
• Section 7 requires the board to act as trustees and mandates an independent audit if the commission spends money without a fiscal agent.
• Section 8 declares the commission a purely public charity and exempts it from taxes and assessments on its property, income, and activities.
• Section 9 requires any lawsuit against the commission to be filed in the Superior Court of Chatham County.

1. 2025-05-01Effective Date 2025-05-01
2. 2025-05-01Act 48
3. 2025-05-01House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2025-04-10House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2025-03-28Senate Passed/Adopted (Senado)
6. 2025-03-28Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
7. 2025-03-27Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
8. 2025-03-25House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)

• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)Patrocinador principal
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes25 de marzo de 2025

   170 a favor, 0 en contra (6 sin votar, 4 ausentes)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #302

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado28 de marzo de 2025

   53 a favor, 0 en contra (1 sin votar, 2 ausentes)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #313

• Savannah
• music industry
• economic development
• Chatham County
• public corporations