---
title: SB 550. Torts; manufacturers of firearms relative to absence or inclusion of safety features in certain instances; limit liability
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb550
cite_as: SB 550, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb550
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb550.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb550/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73516
date: 2026-02-24
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 95
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bill_number: SB 550
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-23
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
- Carden Summers
- Steve Gooch
- Russ Goodman
- Jason T. Dickerson
- Frank Ginn
- Jason Anavitarte
- Chuck Hufstetler
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB550/2025
upstream_id: 2122695
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- firearms law
- product liability
- gun safety features
- tort law
---
# SB 550. Torts; manufacturers of firearms relative to absence or inclusion of safety features in certain instances; limit liability
## Text
Senate Bill 550
By: Senators Summers of the 13th, Gooch of the 51st, Goodman of the 8th, Dickerson of the
21st, Ginn of the 47th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 1 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
general provisions relative to torts, so as to limit liability for manufacturers of firearms
relative to absence or inclusion of safety features in certain instances; to provide for
definitions; to provide for construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 1 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general
provisions relative to torts, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"51-1-58.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Authorized user recognition technology' means a mechanism, device, or technology
applied to a firearm designed and manufactured to prevent the firing of a firearm by any
individual other than an individual authorized to use such firearm.
(2) 'External manual safety' means a manually operated mechanism that, when engaged,
blocks the firearm trigger from functioning, including, but not limited to, a hinged,
pivoting, or tabbed trigger safety.
(3) 'Firearm' means any handgun, rifle, shotgun, or other weapon which will or can be
converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive.
(4) 'Loaded chamber indicator' means a mechanism or feature intended to indicate to the
user of a firearm that a cartridge is in the firing chamber.
(5) 'Magazine disconnect mechanism' means a mechanism that prevents a firearm from
firing when the detachable magazine is not fully inserted in the firearm.
(b) A manufacturer of firearms shall not be held liable for the manufacture of a product
alleged to be defective, for failure to warn, or for negligence based upon the absence or
presence of any design feature, functionality, safety mechanism, or performance standard
that is not required by federal law as a condition for the lawful manufacture, sale, import,
or possession of the firearm, including, but not limited to:
(1) A magazine disconnect mechanism;
(2) A loaded chamber indicator;
(3) Authorized user recognition technology; or
(4) An external manual safety.
(c) This Code section shall not be construed to limit liability for a firearm manufacturer
in cases in which a person, including a decedent's estate, who seeks recovery of damages
establishes that a firearm contained an actual manufacturing defect or failed to operate in
a manner consistent with the manufacturer's express warranties or representations."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia Senate bill would shield firearm manufacturers from lawsuits over the absence of safety features, like magazine disconnects or loaded chamber indicators, that federal law does not require.
### Plain-language summary
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.
### What it does
- 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.
### Who it affects
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.
### Why it matters
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.
### Key provisions
- 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.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-23)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-02-24)
- Sponsors: Carden Summers, Steve Gooch, Russ Goodman, Jason T. Dickerson, Frank Ginn, Jason Anavitarte, Chuck Hufstetler
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73516
> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb550.md?full=1