Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 63: Crimes and offenses; establish offense of failure to adequately secure a loaded or unloaded firearm
Last action January 17, 2025 · House Second Readers
A Georgia House bill would make it a crime for a firearm owner to leave a gun stored so carelessly that a minor or someone using it in a crime or violent act could get hold of it, punishable by at least a $500 fine.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia law currently does not specifically penalize gun owners for how they store their firearms. This bill would add a new offense to Georgia's firearms code (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-132.1) called failure to adequately secure a firearm. Under the bill, a firearm owner who stores or leaves a loaded or unloaded gun in a way they knew or should have known would let someone else get it could be charged if that gun ends up in the hands of a minor who displays it in public or uses it to threaten violence, or in the hands of anyone who uses it to commit a crime or to injure or kill someone (unless that act was lawful self-defense or defense of property). The offense would be a misdemeanor with a fine of at least $500. The bill defines firearm broadly to include handguns, rifles, shotguns, and similar devices that fire a projectile using an explosive or electrical charge.
What the bill does
- Creates a new misdemeanor offense in Georgia law for owners who store or leave a firearm where another person could reasonably be expected to obtain it.
- Applies the offense when a minor obtains the unsecured firearm and displays it publicly or uses it to threaten violence.
- Applies the offense when any person obtains the unsecured firearm and uses it to commit a crime or cause injury or death, unless the act was lawful self-defense.
- Sets the penalty at a misdemeanor with a fine of not less than $500.
- Defines 'firearm' to include handguns, rifles, shotguns, and similar devices that expel a projectile by explosive or electrical charge.
Who it affects
Firearm owners in Georgia, particularly those who store guns in homes accessible to minors or others, would face new legal exposure. The bill could also affect minors and other individuals who obtain unsecured firearms, as well as prosecutors and courts handling these new misdemeanor cases.
Why it matters
If enacted, gun owners could face criminal charges and a fine if their unsecured firearm is later used by a minor to threaten violence or by anyone to commit a crime or cause injury or death. This creates a new legal responsibility tied directly to how a firearm is stored, not just how it is used.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds new Code section 16-11-132.1 defining 'firearm' broadly to include handguns, rifles, shotguns, and similar projectile weapons.
- Section 1 establishes liability for an owner who knew or should have known another person could obtain an improperly stored firearm.
- Section 1 limits the offense to two scenarios: a minor exhibiting the firearm publicly or using it to threaten violence, or any person using it in a crime or causing injury or death outside lawful self-defense.
- Section 1 sets the penalty as a misdemeanor with a minimum fine of $500.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“Any owner of a firearm who possesses, stores, or leaves the loaded or unloaded firearm in a manner in which he or she knew or should have known that another individual could obtain the firearm shall be guilty of the offense of failure to adequately secure a firearm”
“A violation of this Code section shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $500.00.”
Discussed in meetings (1)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, March 25, 2026
From 0:19:16 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a committee substitute described as offering a transferable tax credit of up to $200 million for construction of a biomass electricity facility using timber. The sponsor said mill closures had left more than eight million tons of wood without a market and threatened loggers and sawmills that could no longer sell their byproducts. One member supported linking timber-generated electricity with data centers' power needs. Asked about recognition of biomass as renewable energy, the sponsor said state lawmakers were working with federal officials on that issue and acknowledged that biomass electricity costs more to produce. Another member suggested shortening the credit deadline from December 31, 2036, to encourage faster action. The sponsor was open to that change, but the chair urged keeping the longer window because approvals and litigation could delay construction. The sponsor estimated construction could not begin for at least three years and said the credit could address financing costs that otherwise made projects unworkable. The chair said stronger timber markets would also support rural businesses, forest health and local tax revenue. No amendment was adopted during the discussion. The committee approved the measure unanimously.
Status timeline
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Mary Margaret Oliver (D, HD-84)
- Michelle Au (D, HD-50)
- Sam Park (D, HD-107)
- Long Tran (D, HD-80)
- Anne Allen Westbrook (D, HD-163)
- Mary Frances Williams (D, HD-37)
Topics
- gun storage laws
- firearm safety
- criminal penalties
- child safety
- gun owner responsibility