HB 472: Crimes and offenses; add certain facilities of the Geo. L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center Authority to the locations in which the carrying of weapons or long guns is prohibited

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127) already lists specific locations where people are not allowed to carry weapons or long guns, such as certain government buildings and secured areas. This bill adds a new location to that list: facilities of the Geo. L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center Authority that are enclosed by fencing at least 8 feet tall and marked with clear signs about the restriction at every entrance. The ban would only apply to areas that meet those fencing and signage conditions, and specifically excludes any part of the facility where vehicles are allowed to park. The bill makes only this one change to the existing weapons law and repeals any conflicting laws, but does not state a separate effective date beyond the standard process for new Georgia legislation.

• Adds Georgia World Congress Center Authority facilities described in O.C.G.A. § 10-9-14.1 to the list of places where carrying weapons or long guns is illegal.
• Limits the new restriction to areas enclosed by fencing at least 8 feet high with visible warning signs posted at every access point.
• Excludes any part of the facility used for vehicle parking from the new weapons restriction.
• Makes technical wording changes to the existing law's list format (changing punctuation between paragraphs) to fit in the new restricted location.

People who carry firearms or long guns, whether openly or with a weapons carry license, and visitors, employees, and event attendees at Geo. L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center Authority facilities in Atlanta, which host large public events, conventions, and gatherings.

Anyone attending or working at qualifying Georgia World Congress Center facilities would be barred from carrying weapons or long guns into fenced, clearly marked areas, extending Georgia's existing restricted-carry list to a major public event venue while leaving parking areas unaffected.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127(b) by adding paragraph (8), naming Geo. L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center Authority facilities described in O.C.G.A. § 10-9-14.1 as a restricted carry location.
• The restriction applies only where the facility is enclosed by fencing at least 8 feet high and has prominent postings of the restriction at all access points.
• The restriction explicitly does not apply to areas of the facility where vehicles are permitted to park.
• Section 2 repeals any existing laws that conflict with this change.

1. 2025-02-20House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2025-02-19House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2025-02-18House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)Patrocinador principal
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Scott Holcomb (D, HD-101)
• Kimberly New (R, HD-040)
• Marcus Wiedower (R, HD-121)

• gun laws
• weapons carry restrictions
• Georgia World Congress Center
• public venue security