SB224: SB224 "Donna's Law"; enact

Georgia currently has no formal system for someone who is worried about their own safety, such as during a mental health crisis, to voluntarily block themselves from buying a gun. This bill creates that system by adding a new section to Georgia's firearms law (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-174). An adult could register for the do not sell list in person with a healthcare provider or a probate judge, listing two contacts to be notified if they later ask to be removed. The Georgia Crime Information Center would forward the name to the national background check system (NICS) within 24 hours. Selling a gun to someone on the list would be a felony, and a listed person caught knowingly possessing a firearm would face a $25 civil fine. Removal requests take effect no sooner than seven days after registration and must be processed within 21 days, after which the center destroys the related records. The bill also limits how registration or removal can be used against a person in court, employment, insurance, or benefits decisions.

• Creates a voluntary statewide 'do not sell list' that lets an adult ask to be barred from buying firearms, administered by the Georgia Crime Information Center.
• Requires registration in person with a healthcare provider or a probate court judge, using a state-prescribed form listing two emergency contacts.
• Makes it a felony to sell or offer to sell a firearm to someone known to be on the list, and sets a $25 civil fine for a listed person who knowingly possesses a firearm.
• Sets a process for removal: a request can be filed no sooner than seven days after registration, and the center must act within 21 days and then destroy the related records.
• Bars use of a person's registration or removal from the list in court cases, employment decisions, insurance decisions, housing discrimination claims, government benefit decisions, or by healthcare providers to deny service.
• Exempts records of registration or removal from Georgia's Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70) and directs the center to write rules and required forms.

Adults in Georgia who want to voluntarily restrict their own access to firearms, healthcare providers and probate judges who process registrations, gun sellers and dealers who must check the list, the Georgia Crime Information Center, employers, insurers, and government agencies that are barred from using list status against a person.

People concerned about their own risk of harming themselves or others could use the list as a self-imposed safeguard, similar to programs in some other states. Gun sellers would face felony charges for knowingly selling to someone on the list, and listed individuals get legal protections against being penalized in jobs, insurance, or benefits because of their listing.

• Section 1 names the bill 'Donna's Law.'
• Section 2 adds new Code Section 16-11-174 to Georgia's Brady Law regulations, defining the 'do not sell list' and 'healthcare provider' in subsection (a).
• Subsection (b) sets registration procedure: in person with a healthcare provider or probate judge, with the center notifying NICS within 24 hours of receiving a registration.
• Subsection (c) makes selling to a listed person a felony and sets a $25 civil penalty for a listed person who knowingly possesses a firearm.
• Subsection (d) governs removal: requests allowed no sooner than 7 days after registration, contacts notified, and the center must act within 21 days and destroy related records.
• Subsection (e) makes knowingly providing false information on the forms a false swearing offense under O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71.
• Subsection (f) restricts use of registration or removal records in court, employment, insurance, housing, benefits, and healthcare service decisions.
• Subsection (g) exempts these records from Georgia's Open Records Act, and subsection (h) directs the center to adopt implementing rules and forms.

1. 2025-02-21Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-20Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)Primary sponsor
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)

• gun laws
• firearm background checks
• suicide prevention
• gun sales regulation
• voluntary self-restriction lists