SB 550: Torts; manufacturers of firearms relative to absence or inclusion of safety features in certain instances; limit liability

Currently, people injured by a firearm can sometimes sue the manufacturer by arguing the gun was defectively designed because it lacked a safety feature. This bill would add a new section to Georgia's tort law (O.C.G.A. Title 51) that blocks those claims when the missing feature is not required by federal law. The bill lists four specific safety technologies covered by this protection: magazine disconnect mechanisms, loaded chamber indicators, authorized user recognition technology (like fingerprint locks), and external manual safeties. Manufacturers could not be sued for a defective product, failure to warn, or negligence based on the absence or presence of these features, or any other design feature not federally mandated. The protection would not apply if a person can show the firearm had an actual manufacturing defect or did not perform as the manufacturer promised in its warranties or representations.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 51-1-58) that bars lawsuits against firearm manufacturers over the absence of safety features not required by federal law.
• Defines four specific safety technologies covered by the shield: magazine disconnect mechanisms, loaded chamber indicators, authorized user recognition technology, and external manual safeties.
• Blocks three types of legal claims against manufacturers: product defect claims, failure to warn claims, and negligence claims tied to missing safety features.
• Preserves the right to sue if a firearm had an actual manufacturing defect or failed to match the manufacturer's own express warranties or representations.
• Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with this new liability shield.

Firearm manufacturers, who would gain new legal protection from certain lawsuits, and people injured by firearms or their estates, who would lose the ability to sue manufacturers solely over the absence of non-federally-required safety features like fingerprint locks or loaded chamber indicators.

People hurt by a gun that lacked a safety feature such as a magazine disconnect or loaded chamber indicator would no longer be able to sue the manufacturer for that reason alone, unless federal law required the feature or the gun had an actual manufacturing flaw or broken warranty promise.

• Section 1 adds new O.C.G.A. § 51-1-58, defining terms including 'authorized user recognition technology,' 'external manual safety,' 'firearm,' 'loaded chamber indicator,' and 'magazine disconnect mechanism.'
• Subsection (b) bars liability claims against firearm manufacturers based on the absence or presence of any design feature, safety mechanism, or performance standard not required by federal law.
• Subsection (b) specifically lists four protected categories: magazine disconnect mechanisms, loaded chamber indicators, authorized user recognition technology, and external manual safeties.
• Subsection (c) carves out an exception: manufacturers remain liable if a plaintiff proves an actual manufacturing defect or a failure to meet the manufacturer's own express warranties or representations.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting Georgia laws.

1. 2026-02-24Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-23Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)Primary sponsor
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)

• firearms law
• product liability
• gun safety features
• tort law