25 LC 50 1264S
The Senate Committee on Finance offered the following
substitute to HB 79:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue and1
taxation, so as to provide for a tax credit for certain eligible expenses incurred for firearm2
safe handling instructional courses; to provide for an aggregate annual cap; to provide for3
definitions; to provide for terms and conditions; to provide for credit preapproval by the4
department; to prohibit the creation of certain lists or databases; to provide for rules and5
regulations; to exempt sales of firearms, ammunition, gun safes, and related accessories from6
sales and use taxes during a four-day period each year; to provide for automatic repeals; to7
provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for effective dates and8
applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10
PART I11
SECTION 1-1.12
This part shall be known and may be cited as the "Firearm Safe Handling Tax Credit Act."13
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SECTION 1-2.14
Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue and taxation, is15
amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:16
"48-7-29.11A.17
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:18
(1) 'Eligible expenses' means expenses incurred by an individual taxpayer during the19
taxable year for the cost of a firearm safe handling instructional course.20
(2) 'Firearm' means any handgun, shotgun, rifle, or other weapon that will be converted21
or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel single or multiple projectiles by22
action of an explosion of a combustible material.23
(3) 'Firearm safe handling instructional course' means an in-person training of at least24
two hours in duration that includes, but is not limited to, instruction on safe handling, use,25
and storage of firearms.26
(b)(1) Under the terms and conditions of this Code section, an individual taxpayer shall27
be allowed a credit against the tax imposed by Code Section 48-7-20 in the amount of28
such taxpayer's eligible expenses or $300.00, whichever is less.29
(2) In no event shall the aggregate limit of tax credits allowed under this Code section30
for any year exceed $10 million.31
(c)(1) The department shall develop a procedure to be followed in the preapproval of any32
tax credit allowed pursuant to this Code section.33
(2) An individual taxpayer seeking a tax credit pursuant to this Code section shall apply34
to the department for preapproval of such tax credit. Such taxpayer shall specify the35
taxable year for which he or she is seeking a tax credit.36
(3) Individual taxpayers that properly apply for preapproval of such tax credit following37
the procedure developed by the department shall be approved on a first-come, first served38
basis until the aggregate limit for such tax credits is reached for that year.39
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(4) The department shall preapprove tax credits for each preapproval application within40
30 days and in the received order of submitted applications. Such preapproved tax credits41
shall be in the amount of $300.00 for each preapproval application.42
(5) In the event that an individual taxpayer applies for preapproval and the amount of tax43
credits available for the taxable year are not sufficient to fully fund the tax credits44
requested, the department shall deny such taxpayer's request and shall not accept any45
additional preapproval applications from taxpayers for the taxable year.46
(d) For a tax credit allowed pursuant to this Code section, an individual taxpayer shall47
maintain receipts for purchases or costs relative to the eligible expenses for three years48
following the submission of the taxpayer's tax return claiming such tax credit. Such receipts49
shall be made available upon request for review by the commissioner.50
(e) In no event shall the total amount of any tax credit under this Code section for a taxable51
year exceed the taxpayer's income tax liability. No unused tax credit shall be allowed to52
be carried forward to apply to the taxpayer's succeeding years' tax liability. No such tax53
credit shall be allowed the taxpayer against prior years' tax liability.54
(f) No person shall create any list of names regarding persons who have applied for or55
have been allowed a tax credit pursuant to this Code section except for purposes necessary56
to the administration of such credit.57
(g) The commissioner shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary for58
the implementation and administration of the provisions of this Code section.59
(h) This Code section shall stand repealed and reserved on December 31, 2031."60
PART II61
SECTION 2-1.62
Said title is further amended in Code Section 48-8-3, relating to exemptions from sales and63
use taxes, by revising paragraph (85) as follows:64
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"(85)(A) For four days beginning on the second Friday of October each year, sales of65
firearms, ammunition, gun safes, and related accessories, including, but not limited to,66
stocks, barrels, scopes, and magazines.67
(B) This paragraph shall stand repealed and reserved on July 1, 2030 Reserved;"68
PART III69
SECTION 3-1.70
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this Act shall become effective on71
July 1, 2025, and shall be applicable on and after such date. 72
(b) Part I of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2026, and shall be applicable to73
taxable years beginning on or after such date.74
SECTION 3-2.75
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.76
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