Imposes an excise tax on the sale of ammunition to be deposited into the gun violence impact fund; establishing the gun violence impact fund

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Latrice Walker and 1 co-sponsor

Imposes a new ammunition excise tax to fund a dedicated Gun Violence Impact Fund that supports gun violence prevention and response programs.

REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS

Summary of Bill A 1290

Overview

Bill A 1290 proposes to impose an excise tax on the sale of ammunition and to dedicate the resulting revenue to a newly established Gun Violence Impact Fund. The bill is currently in committee, having been referred to the Ways and Means committee on January 9, 2025.

Purpose and Intent

Create a dedicated funding stream to support programs and initiatives addressing gun violence through a state Gun Violence Impact Fund.

Generate revenue through a new excise tax on ammunition sales to fund prevention, response, and related services (exact programmatic uses to be defined in the bill or implementing regulations).

Key Provisions (as presented)

Imposes an excise tax on the sale of ammunition.

Revenues collected under the tax are deposited into the Gun Violence Impact Fund.

Establishment of the Gun Violence Impact Fund as a dedicated state financial account to support gun violence-related programs (specific authorized uses and administration to be detailed in the bill text or regulations).

Note: The provided information does not specify the tax rate, eligible exemptions, administration/collection mechanics, or the precise eligible uses of the Fund.

Administration, Timing, and Procedural Details

Status: Referred to Ways and Means (fiscal/Revenue committee), indicating a focus on revenue impacts and budgetary implications.

Introduced: January 9, 2025.

Legislative actions recorded: two entries on 2025-01-09 showing referral to Ways and Means.

Effective date, sunset provisions, and enforcement mechanisms are not provided in the summary.

Sponsors and Related Legislation

Primary sponsor: Latrice Walker

Co-sponsor: John Zaccaro Jr.

Related bills: A 10513 and A 1089 (prior-session proposals); S 6395 (companion, listed twice).

The existence of companion and prior-session bills suggests ongoing legislative interest in diversification of funding for gun violence prevention efforts.

Who Would Be Affected

Ammunition retailers and sellers (new tax collection at point of sale).

Purchasers of ammunition (price impact from the excise tax).

The Gun Violence Impact Fund and, by extension, state programs funded by the tax revenue (specific programs to be determined).

Potential Impacts and Questions for Consideration

Revenue impact: Amount of revenue depends on the tax rate and sale volumes; the fiscal effect will be assessed by Ways and Means.

Programmatic use: Nature of funded programs (prevention, outreach, intervention, research) will be defined in statute or regulatory guidance.

Economic and practical effects: Potential changes in ammunition pricing, cross-border shopping, and enforcement considerations.

Exemptions and exceptions: Any exemptions for law enforcement, public agencies, or certain sales are not specified here.

Next Steps for Readers

Monitor committee hearings in Ways and Means for the tax rate, exemptions, administration details, and funded program descriptions.

Review the full bill text for explicit provisions on rate, collection mechanism, fund administration, eligible uses, and any sunset or renewal language.

Track related bills (A 10513, A 1089, S 6395) for context and potential amendments.