Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB79 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	25 LC 50 1264S
2		-	The Senate Committee on Finance offered the following
3		-	substitute to HB 79:
	1	+	25 LC 50 1085S
	2	+	House Bill 79 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
	3	+	By: Representatives Newton of the 127
	4	+	th
	5	+	, Cooper of the 45
	6	+	th
	7	+	, Reeves of the 99
	8	+	th
	9	+	, Hilton of the
	10	+	48
	11	+	th
	12	+	, Silcox of the 53
	13	+	rd
	14	+	, and others
4	15		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	16		AN ACT
6		-	To amend Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue and1
7		-	taxation, so as to provide for a tax credit for certain eligible expenses incurred for firearm2
8		-	safe handling instructional courses; to provide for an aggregate annual cap; to provide for3
9		-	definitions; to provide for terms and conditions; to provide for credit preapproval by the4
10		-	department; to prohibit the creation of certain lists or databases; to provide for rules and5
11		-	regulations; to exempt sales of firearms, ammunition, gun safes, and related accessories from6
12		-	sales and use taxes during a four-day period each year; to provide for automatic repeals; to7
13		-	provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for effective dates and8
14		-	applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9
15		-	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10
16		-	PART I11
17		-	SECTION 1-1.12
18		-	This part shall be known and may be cited as the "Firearm Safe Handling Tax Credit Act."13
19		-	- 1 - 25 LC 50 1264S
20		-	SECTION 1-2.14
21		-	Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue and taxation, is15
22		-	amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:16
23		-	"48-7-29.11A.17
24		-	(a) As used in this Code section, the term:18
25		-	(1) 'Eligible expenses' means expenses incurred by an individual taxpayer during the19
26		-	taxable year for the cost of a firearm safe handling instructional course.20
27		-	(2) 'Firearm' means any handgun, shotgun, rifle, or other weapon that will be converted21
28		-	or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel single or multiple projectiles by22
29		-	action of an explosion of a combustible material.23
30		-	(3) 'Firearm safe handling instructional course' means an in-person training of at least24
31		-	two hours in duration that includes, but is not limited to, instruction on safe handling, use,25
32		-	and storage of firearms.26
33		-	(b)(1) Under the terms and conditions of this Code section, an individual taxpayer shall27
34		-	be allowed a credit against the tax imposed by Code Section 48-7-20 in the amount of28
35		-	such taxpayer's eligible expenses or $300.00, whichever is less.29
36		-	(2) In no event shall the aggregate limit of tax credits allowed under this Code section30
37		-	for any year exceed $10 million.31
38		-	(c)(1) The department shall develop a procedure to be followed in the preapproval of any32
39		-	tax credit allowed pursuant to this Code section.33
40		-	(2) An individual taxpayer seeking a tax credit pursuant to this Code section shall apply34
41		-	to the department for preapproval of such tax credit. Such taxpayer shall specify the35
42		-	taxable year for which he or she is seeking a tax credit.36
43		-	(3) Individual taxpayers that properly apply for preapproval of such tax credit following37
44		-	the procedure developed by the department shall be approved on a first-come, first served38
45		-	basis until the aggregate limit for such tax credits is reached for that year.39
46		-	- 2 - 25 LC 50 1264S
47		-	(4) The department shall preapprove tax credits for each preapproval application within40
48		-	30 days and in the received order of submitted applications. Such preapproved tax credits41
49		-	shall be in the amount of $300.00 for each preapproval application.42
50		-	(5) In the event that an individual taxpayer applies for preapproval and the amount of tax43
51		-	credits available for the taxable year are not sufficient to fully fund the tax credits44
52		-	requested, the department shall deny such taxpayer's request and shall not accept any45
53		-	additional preapproval applications from taxpayers for the taxable year.46
54		-	(d) For a tax credit allowed pursuant to this Code section, an individual taxpayer shall47
55		-	maintain receipts for purchases or costs relative to the eligible expenses for three years48
56		-	following the submission of the taxpayer's tax return claiming such tax credit. Such receipts49
57		-	shall be made available upon request for review by the commissioner.50
58		-	(e) In no event shall the total amount of any tax credit under this Code section for a taxable51
59		-	year exceed the taxpayer's income tax liability. No unused tax credit shall be allowed to52
60		-	be carried forward to apply to the taxpayer's succeeding years' tax liability. No such tax53
61		-	credit shall be allowed the taxpayer against prior years' tax liability.54
62		-	(f) No person shall create any list of names regarding persons who have applied for or55
63		-	have been allowed a tax credit pursuant to this Code section except for purposes necessary56
64		-	to the administration of such credit.57
65		-	(g) The commissioner shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary for58
66		-	the implementation and administration of the provisions of this Code section.59
67		-	(h) This Code section shall stand repealed and reserved on December 31, 2031."60
68		-	PART II61
69		-	SECTION 2-1.62
70		-	Said title is further amended in Code Section 48-8-3, relating to exemptions from sales and63
71		-	use taxes, by revising paragraph (85) as follows:64
72		-	- 3 - 25 LC 50 1264S
73		-	"(85)(A) For four days beginning on the second Friday of October each year, sales of65
74		-	firearms, ammunition, gun safes, and related accessories, including, but not limited to,66
75		-	stocks, barrels, scopes, and magazines.67
76		-	(B) This paragraph shall stand repealed and reserved on July 1, 2030 Reserved;"68
77		-	PART III69
78		-	SECTION 3-1.70
79		-	(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this Act shall become effective on71
80		-	July 1, 2025, and shall be applicable on and after such date. 72
81		-	(b) Part I of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2026, and shall be applicable to73
82		-	taxable years beginning on or after such date.74
83		-	SECTION 3-2.75
84		-	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.76
	17	+	To amend Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
	18	+	1
	19	+	income taxes, so as to provide for a tax credit for certain eligible expenses incurred for2
	20	+	firearm safe handling instructional courses and firearm secure storage devices; to provide for3
	21	+	an aggregate annual cap; to provide for definitions; to provide for terms and conditions; to4
	22	+	provide for credit preapproval by the department; to prohibit the creation of certain lists or5
	23	+	databases; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for a short title; to provide for6
	24	+	automatic repeal; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related7
	25	+	matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8
	26	+	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9
	27	+	SECTION 1.10
	28	+	This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Firearm Safe Handling and Secure Storage11
	29	+	Tax Credit Act."12
	30	+	SECTION 2.13
	31	+	Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to income taxes,14
	32	+	is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:15
	33	+	H. B. 79 (SUB)
	34	+	- 1 - 25 LC 50 1085S
	35	+	"48-7-29.11A.16
	36	+	(a) As used in this Code section, the term:17
	37	+	(1) 'Eligible expenses' means expenses incurred by an individual taxpayer during the18
	38	+	taxable year for the:19
	39	+	(A) Purchase of one or more firearm secure storage devices for his or her personal use20
	40	+	or donation; and21
	41	+	(B) Cost of a firearm safe handling instructional course.22
	42	+	(2) 'Firearm' means any handgun, shotgun, rifle, or other weapon that will be converted23
	43	+	or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel single or multiple projectiles by24
	44	+	action of an explosion of a combustible material.25
	45	+	(3) 'Firearm safe handling instructional course' means an in-person training of at least26
	46	+	two hours in duration that includes, but is not limited to, instruction on safe handling, use,27
	47	+	and storage of firearms.28
	48	+	(4) 'Firearm secure storage device' means any device originally manufactured to securely29
	49	+	store or disable a firearm and which may only be unlocked by means of a key, a30
	50	+	combination, a fingerprint or other biometric identifier, or other similar means. Such31
	51	+	term shall include, but shall not be limited to, gun safes, trigger locks, chamber locks, and32
	52	+	cable locks.33
	53	+	(b)(1) Under the terms and conditions of this Code section, an individual taxpayer shall34
	54	+	be allowed a credit against the tax imposed by Code Section 48-7-20 in the amount of35
	55	+	such taxpayer's eligible expenses or $300.00, whichever is less.36
	56	+	(2) In no event shall the aggregate limit of tax credits allowed under this Code section37
	57	+	for any year exceed $10 million.38
	58	+	(c)(1) The department shall develop a procedure to be followed in the preapproval of any39
	59	+	tax credit allowed pursuant to this Code section.40
	60	+	H. B. 79 (SUB)
	61	+	- 2 - 25 LC 50 1085S
	62	+	(2) An individual taxpayer seeking a tax credit pursuant to this Code section shall apply41
	63	+	to the department for preapproval of such tax credit. Such taxpayer shall specify the42
	64	+	taxable year for which he or she is seeking a tax credit.43
	65	+	(3) Individual taxpayers that properly apply for preapproval of such tax credit following44
	66	+	the procedure developed by the department shall be approved on a first-come, first served45
	67	+	basis until the aggregate limit for such tax credits is reached for that year.46
	68	+	(4) The department shall preapprove tax credits for each preapproval application within47
	69	+	30 days and in the received order of submitted applications. Such preapproved tax credits48
	70	+	shall be in the amount of $300.00 for each preapproval application.49
	71	+	(5) In the event that an individual taxpayer applies for preapproval and the amount of tax50
	72	+	credits available for the taxable year are not sufficient to fully fund the tax credits51
	73	+	requested, the department shall deny such taxpayer's request and shall not accept any52
	74	+	additional preapproval applications from taxpayers for the taxable year.53
	75	+	(6) No individual taxpayer shall be preapproved for a tax credit pursuant to this Code54
	76	+	section more than once in the lifetime of the taxpayer; provided, however, that nothing55
	77	+	in this Code section shall be construed to prevent an individual taxpayer from applying56
	78	+	for preapproval more than once.57
	79	+	(d)(1) For a tax credit allowed pursuant to this Code section, an individual taxpayer shall58
	80	+	maintain receipts for purchases or costs relative to the eligible expenses for three years59
	81	+	following the submission of the taxpayer's tax return claiming such tax credit. Such60
	82	+	receipts shall be made available upon request for review by the commissioner.61
	83	+	(2) No individual taxpayer shall be allowed credits pursuant to this Code section which62
	84	+	exceed a total of $300.00 in the lifetime of the taxpayer.63
	85	+	(e) In no event shall the total amount of any tax credit under this Code section for a taxable64
	86	+	year exceed the taxpayer's income tax liability. No unused tax credit shall be allowed to65
	87	+	be carried forward to apply to the taxpayer's succeeding years' tax liability. No such tax66
	88	+	credit shall be allowed the taxpayer against prior years' tax liability.67
	89	+	H. B. 79 (SUB)
	90	+	- 3 - 25 LC 50 1085S
	91	+	(f) No person shall create any list of names regarding persons who have applied for or68
	92	+	have been allowed a tax credit pursuant to this Code section except for purposes necessary69
	93	+	to the administration of such credit.70
	94	+	(g) The commissioner shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary for71
	95	+	the implementation and administration of the provisions of this Code section.72
	96	+	(h) This Code section shall stand repealed and reserved on December 31, 2031."73
	97	+	SECTION 3.74
	98	+	This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2026, and shall be applicable to taxable years75
	99	+	beginning on or after January 1, 2026.76
	100	+	SECTION 4.77
	101	+	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.78
	102	+	H. B. 79 (SUB)
85	103		- 4 -