Committee approves sales‑tax exemption for firearm storage devices, sponsors say it encourages safe storage
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Summary
House Bill 2635, exempting sales tax on firearm storage devices, passed the Senate committee 6–1. Supporters argued the exemption encourages safe storage and cited evidence from other states; some members asked for stronger evidence and public education to accompany the tax change.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted 6–1 on March 7 to return House Bill 2635 with a do‑pass recommendation. The bill would exempt purchases of firearm storage devices from the state transaction privilege and use tax.
Representative Matt Gress, sponsor, told the committee the measure is intended to encourage firearm owners to buy storage devices and cited national statistics about unsecured guns and suicide and theft. "We send signals through our tax code, and I think this is one worth sending," Gress said, adding proponents see the fiscal cost — JLBC estimated roughly $500,000 — as an investment in public safety.
Maya Zuckerberg, president of Arizona for Gun Safety, testified in support and cited a Tennessee tax holiday and action in other states that removed sales tax on storage devices. She told the committee costs can range from inexpensive trigger locks to larger safes, and that even modest exemptions can reduce financial reluctance to purchase safety devices.
Senator Epstein and other members asked for empirical evidence that a sales‑tax exemption would materially increase purchases. Several committee members said they supported the policy in principle but that a public education campaign could improve effectiveness. The committee adopted the bill and recommended it for further consideration with a 6–1 vote.
