Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB508 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 39 4615
2	2	House Bill 508
3	3	By: Representatives Jackson of the 68
4	4	th
5	5	, Schofield of the 63
6	6	rd
7	7	, Davis of the 87
8	8	th
9	9	, Bell of the
10	10	75
11	11	th
12	12	, and Myles of the 126
13	13	th
14	14
15	15	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
16	16	AN ACT
17	17	To amend Part 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia
18	18	1
19	19	Annotated, relating to carrying and possession of firearms, so as to prohibit the sale, transfer,2
20	20	use, possession, importation, or manufacture of certain firearms and magazines; to provide3
21	21	for the continued possession of certain firearms and magazines; to provide for exceptions and4
22	22	exemptions; to provide for definitions; to provide for findings; to provide for related matters;5
23	23	to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6
24	24	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7
25	25	SECTION 1.8
26	26	The General Assembly finds that:9
27	27	(1) Semiautomatic rifles that accept high-capacity magazines pose a significant threat to10
28	28	public safety in that they provide the user of the rifle the ability to fire many rounds of11
29	29	ammunition rapidly and thereby harm many people in a short amount of time;12
30	30	(2) Such semiautomatic rifles have been used in numerous mass shootings around the13
31	31	nation in the recent past, resulting in the death of large numbers of people, many of whom14
32	32	were children; and15
33	33	H. B. 508
34	34	- 1 - 25 LC 39 4615
35	35	(3) There is a need to limit the ownership, possession, use, manufacture, and importation
36	36	16
37	37	of such semiautomatic rifles into this state to reduce the danger to the public from further17
38	38	mass shootings using such rifles.18
39	39	SECTION 2.19
40	40	Part 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,20
41	41	relating to carrying and possession of firearms, is amended by adding a new Code section to21
42	42	read as follows:22
43	43	"16-11-139.
44	44	23
45	45	(a) As used in this Code section, the term:24
46	46	(1) 'Dealer' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 16-11-171.25
47	47	(2) 'Large capacity ammunition feeding device' means any magazine, clip, drum, belt,26
48	48	feed strip, or similar device which is designed to supply or is capable of supplying27
49	49	ammunition to a semiautomatic assault weapon and has a capacity in excess of 20 rounds28
50	50	of ammunition.29
51	51	(3) 'Manufacture' means the construction of the individual components of a30
52	52	semiautomatic assault weapon as well as the assembly of such individual components31
53	53	into a semiautomatic assault weapon capable of firing ammunition.32
54	54	(4) 'Securely stored' means placed in a locked storage container that cannot be readily33
55	55	accessed by those without permission or authorization to do so and is equipped with a34
56	56	functioning trigger lock which is operated with a key or combination lock that prevents35
57	57	the firearm from being discharged while the trigger lock is attached to the firearm.36
58	58	(5)(A) 'Semiautomatic assault weapon' means a rifle:37
59	59	(i) That uses the energy of an explosive in a fixed, center fire, metal cartridge to38
60	60	expel a single projectile through the bore of the rifle for each single pull of the trigger39
61	61	and to extract the fired cartridge case and chamber the next round; and40
62	62	(ii) Is capable of using a large capacity ammunition feeding device in its operation.41
63	63	H. B. 508
64	64	- 2 - 25 LC 39 4615
65	65	(B) Such term shall not include a weapon that uses rimfire ammunition.42
66	66	(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, it shall be unlawful to own, possess,43
67	67	use, sell, import, or manufacture semiautomatic assault weapons in this state.44
68	68	(c) Any semiautomatic assault weapon owned by a person in this state prior to July 1,45
69	69	2025, may be retained by the owner if such semiautomatic assault weapon is securely46
70	70	stored. Such semiautomatic assault weapon may be sold or transferred by the owner of47
71	71	such weapon only if the owner has a criminal background check of the purchaser or48
72	72	transferee conducted by a dealer pursuant to the National Instant Criminal Background49
73	73	Check System created by the federal Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (P.L. No.50
74	74	103-159) and such background check indicates that the person is eligible to purchase or51
75	75	receive such semiautomatic assault weapon under federal law.52
76	76	(d) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, it shall be unlawful to own, possess,53
77	77	use, sell, import, or manufacture a large capacity ammunition feeding device in this state.54
78	78	(e) Any large capacity ammunition feeding devices owned by a person in this state prior55
79	79	to July 1, 2025, may be retained by the owner; provided, however, that the sale or transfer56
80	80	of any such devices shall be prohibited.57
81	81	(f) This Code section shall not apply to semiautomatic assault weapons or large capacity58
82	82	ammunition feeding devices possessed or owned by:59
83	83	(1) A law enforcement agency;60
84	84	(2) A peace officer, as such term is defined in paragraph (11) of Code Section 16-1-3,61
85	85	so long as such peace officer remains certified, whether employed by the state or a62
86	86	political subdivision of the state or by another state or a political subdivision of another63
87	87	state;64
88	88	(3) A security officer employed by a federally licensed nuclear power facility or a65
89	89	licensee of such facility, including a contract security officer, who is trained and qualified66
90	90	under a security plan approved by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission or67
91	91	other federal agency authorized to regulate nuclear facility security; provided, however,68
92	92	H. B. 508
93	93	- 3 - 25 LC 39 4615
94	94	that this exemption shall apply only while such security officer is acting in connection69
95	95	with his or her official duties on the premises of such nuclear power facility or on70
96	96	properties outside the facility property pursuant to a written agreement entered into with71
97	97	the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the facility; and72
98	98	(4) A peace officer, as such term is defined in paragraph (11) of Code Section 16-1-3,73
99	99	who has retired, so long as such retired peace officer remains certified under Chapter 874
100	100	of Title 35.75
101	101	(g) No person exempt from the provisions of this Code section shall be authorized to sell76
102	102	or transfer a semiautomatic assault weapon or large capacity ammunition feeding device77
103	103	to any person other than a person exempt from this Code section.78
104	104	(h)(1) Any person convicted of a first or second violation of this Code section shall be79
105	105	guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of not more than $250.00 for the first80
106	106	offense and not more than $500.00 for the second offense.81
107	107	(2) Any person convicted of a third or subsequent violation of this Code section shall be82
108	108	guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature, and the sentencing court shall83
109	109	be authorized to revoke such person's hunting rights in this state for a length of time84
110	110	deemed appropriate by the court.85
111	111	(3) Upon conviction of a violation of this Code section, any semiautomatic assault86
112	112	weapon or large capacity ammunition feeding device which is the subject of the violation87
113	113	shall be declared contraband. Such property shall be subject to civil forfeiture in88
114	114	accordance with Chapter 16 of Title 9, the 'Georgia Uniform Civil Forfeiture Procedure89
115	115	Act.'"90
116	116	SECTION 3.91
117	117	This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025.92
118	118	H. B. 508
119	119	- 4 - 25 LC 39 4615
120	120	SECTION 4.
121	121	93
122	122	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.94
123	123	H. B. 508
124	124	- 5 -