SB632: SB632 Weapons Carry Licenses; certain Code sections regarding the carry of weapons; provide an exception

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-130) lists groups of people who are exempt from the state's general restrictions on carrying weapons in certain places, restrictions found in O.C.G.A. §§ 16-11-126 through 16-11-127.2. Currently that exemption list includes groups like clerks of superior court and constables employed by magistrate courts. This bill adds a new category to that exemption list: any individual who qualifies for, has been issued, and currently holds a valid weapons carry license under O.C.G.A. § 16-11-129. In practice this means licensed carry permit holders would be added to the same exemption paragraph as certain court personnel, so they would not be subject to the carry restrictions that the exemption list overrides. The bill repeals any conflicting laws and does not state a specific effective date beyond the standard process.

• Adds weapons carry license holders as a new exempt category under Georgia's weapons carry exemption law (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-130).
• Places license holders alongside clerks of superior courts and magistrate court constables in the list of people exempt from certain carry restrictions.
• Requires that the person qualify for, have been issued, and currently possess a valid license under O.C.G.A. § 16-11-129 to claim the exemption.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this new exemption.

Georgians who hold or seek a weapons carry license, law enforcement officers who enforce carry restrictions, clerks of superior courts and magistrate court constables already listed in the exemption statute, and anyone present in locations covered by the underlying carry restriction laws.

By adding licensed carry holders to the exemption list in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-130, the bill would let more people legally carry weapons in situations or locations currently limited by O.C.G.A. §§ 16-11-126 through 16-11-127.2, changing where a licensed individual can lawfully carry a firearm.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 16-11-130 by revising paragraphs (15) and (16) and adding new paragraph (17), which exempts anyone who qualifies for, has been issued, and currently holds a valid weapons carry license under O.C.G.A. § 16-11-129.
• The exemption applies specifically to the restrictions found in O.C.G.A. §§ 16-11-126 through 16-11-127.2, the code sections governing weapons carry limits.
• Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the Act, a standard clean-up provision.

1. 2026-03-27Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-03-26Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)Primary sponsor

• gun rights
• weapons carry license
• concealed carry law
• firearms regulation