SB 499 Georgia Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Dangerous Instrumentalities and Practices; prohibition on possessing a silencer; repeal

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to dangerous instrumentalities and practices, so as to repeal the prohibition on possessing a silencer; to provide for conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 11, 2026 Last action Mar 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed Senate → LC 48 1836S/hss · 4 edits

MODERATE

The House Judiciary Committee substituted a new version of SB 499 that significantly modifies how silencers are regulated in Georgia. The original Senate version would have simply repealed the ban on possessing silencers, while the House substitute adds a new specific offense for possessing a silencer when the person is prohibited from owning firearms, creating a separate felony charge distinct from general unlawful possession of weapons.

Scope change

The bill now applies differently to silencer possession based on the owner's firearm eligibility status, rather than treating all silencer possession as a single offense.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new specific offense (subsection b) for possessing a silencer when the person is prohibited from owning firearms under state law, punishable as a felony.

DEFINITION

Changed the definition section to clarify that silencers are now treated as a distinct category with their own possession offense rather than being grouped with other dangerous weapons.

REQUIREMENT

Modified unlawful possession provisions to create two separate offenses: general unlawful possession of firearms/weapons and specific unlawful possession of silencers by prohibited persons.

TECHNICAL

Changed document header from 'As Passed Senate' to 'House Committee Substitute' and updated bill tracking numbers to reflect the new House version.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026

How they voted

28–16

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 48

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic19

1 Yea 16 Nay 2

84% Nay

R Republican29

27 Yea 2

93% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

Senate Read and Referred

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Introduced

Senate Hopper

upper

15 primary · 0 co-sponsors