Committee approves sales-tax exemption for firearm safety devices and adopts clarifying amendment

The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee adopted a clarifying amendment and recommended Senate File 11, which would add a sales-tax exemption for firearm safety devices, to the Senate Taxes Committee.

The bill adds a sales-tax exemption for purchases of firearm safety devices such as trigger locks and safes but explicitly does not apply to the sale of a firearm that already has an embedded safety device at the time of purchase. A clarifying A1 amendment was adopted to specify the statutory reference for the phrase "government entity" used in the bill.

Why it matters: The bill aims to encourage the purchase of standalone firearm-safety products by offering a sales-tax exemption. The measure also addresses how purchase or transfer data for safety devices will be treated under state data-practices law.

During committee discussion, the senator presenting the bill said the A1 amendment clarifies the statutory cross-reference that defines "government entity" and cited a subdivision number in committee debate. The sponsor said the exemption is intended to encourage the purchase of safety devices separately from firearms: "What it does not include is the sale of a firearm that already has embedded in it ... a trigger lock on it. It has to be something that is separate because we're not intending to offer a sales tax exemption to the purchase of a firearm in and of itself." (Senator Rust)

Senator Anderson moved adoption of the A1 amendment; the committee adopted the amendment by voice vote. Later, Senator Pappas moved that "Senate File 11 as amended be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Senate Taxes Committee," and the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

Data practices and privacy: Committee discussion noted that the bill makes information about the purchase or transfer of a firearm safety device private data if that information is collected by a government entity. The sponsor said the change was intended to encourage ownership of trigger locks and gun safes by assuring purchasers that certain purchase data would be private.

Support and materials: The committee packet included a letter of support from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which the sponsor noted on the record.

Votes at a glance: A1 amendment adoption: adopted by voice vote. Senate File 11 (as amended) — recommended to pass and referred to Senate Taxes Committee: adopted by voice vote (tally not specified).