By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—Constitutional Carry: Nebraska: Gov. Jim Pillen signed LB77 making Nebraska the 27th state with constitutional carry; Alaska: HB61, passed the House 26-12 on May 3; Colorado: HB23-1165, giving counties the ability to ban shooting on private property has been defeated; SB279 banning custom firearms, so called “ghost guns” and is awaiting was passed in the House Judiciary Committee and it now goes to a vote in the House; Delaware: SB2 passed the Senate and then a substitute was added and it is now before the House Judiciary again; Florida: On April 28 the House passed HB1543, a bill lowering the minimum age for firearm purchase or transfer to 18 years of age; Hawaii: SB1230, a post-Bruen bill that expands gun-free zones and requires mandatory insurance coverage, was passed and now goes to Gov. Josh Green; Louisiana: SB212, a red flag bill had a hearing on May 2; Maine: LD1255, prohibiting the carrying of firearms at polling places, received aUnanimous Ought Not to Pass Report. The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee is holding a hearing on May 8 at 9:00 AM EDT. On May 9, the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety is holding a hearing on LD1560, strengthening Maine’s “Stand Your Ground Law;” Massachusetts: Today, May 8, there is a “Gun Listening Tour” held by the MA House of Representatives coming to Brockton. Information can be found here; Michigan: Gov. Whitmer has signed seven bills and more are awaiting her signature; Missouri: The House passed HB282, allowing the carrying of firearms on public transit, and on May 4 was passed by the Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee. Montana: Gov. Gianforte signed HB356, barring government contracts with firearm-discrimination companies and HB228, shielding Montana’s $26B in assets from ESG consequences; Nevada: AB355 and AB354, were heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 5 and have been given a Do Pass; SB171, expanding the prohibited persons categories, passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee on May 5. Oklahoma: Governor Kevin Stitt signed both SB978, the boat carry act, and HB1789, a bill to clean up the a constitutional carry law; Oregon: HB 2005 A has now become HB 2005-B passed the House 35-24; Vermont: H230, “an act relating to implementing mechanisms to reduce suicide,” has passed both the House and Senate and now goes to Gov. Phil Scott;
U.S. Congress
House of Representatives
The House Judiciary Committee: Under the Chairmanship of Rep. Jim Jordan the House Judiciary Committee voted to advance H.J. Res. 44, a resolution to disapprove of the BATFE’s rule on pistol braces. A hearing was held on April 26 where BATFE Director Steve Dettelbach testified before Congress and when asked about the pistol brace rule, he stated that the rule actually “clarifies” the intent of the agency. If H.J. Res 44 does not pass gun owners should expect ruthless enforcement by the agency.
State Legislatures/Local communities
The Louisiana legislature has begun.
Alabama: The House Judiciary Committee passed HB234, a bill to make the possession of “trigger activators” a felony.
Alaska: HB61, passed the House 26-12 on May 3. HB61 and its companion bill SB63 were introduced in a bipartisan effort to get this concept passed into law. The bills prevent the prohibition, regulation, or seizure of citizens’ Second Amendment rights during a declared State of Emergency unless all forms of commerce are effected. HB61 passed the Community and Regional Affairs Committees and was referred to the State Affairs Committee. In the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committees there was no recommendation for SB63 but it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
California—New Gun bills keep being introduced in California and three committees are holding hearings this week. All bills have not been voted upon as of May 1. Monday-the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee is hearing AB28, adding an excise tax of 11% on all firearms, firearms precursor parts and ammunition. Tuesday—the Assembly Public Safety Committee is hearing AB36, increasing the time a person subjected to a protective orders from possessing a gun to three years “after” the order has expired; AB732, expands current federal law regarding the relinquishing of firearms upon conviction of a prohibiting offense; AB733, prevents state and local government selling surplus firearms, ammunition and body armor; and AB1420, adds a requirement for firearms purchasers to list email address on state DROS forms and increases inspections of firearms dealers. Wednesday—Senate Insurance Committee will be hearing SB8, firearms liability insurance. A hearing was held before the Assembly Public Safety Committee on AB574, an over-the-top bill aimed at ensuring that whenever a person purchases a firearm that they certify, subject to a felony conviction, that they know where all their firearms are stored.
Colorado: HB23-1165, giving counties the ability to ban shooting on private property has been postponed indefinitely, thereby killing it in this session. SB279 banning custom firearms, so called “ghost guns” and is awaiting was passed in the House Judiciary Committee and it now goes to a vote in the House.
Connecticut: Three gun bills were heard by the House Judiciary Committee and they had substitute language added: HB6667, Gov. Ned Lamont’s gun ban bill is a comprehensive anti-gun bill that includes one gun a month, safe storage, prohibits open carry, ghost guns, carrying a loaded gun in a vehicle, and large capacity magazines, increases training requirements, and more, HB6816, microstamping ammunition, age to purchase raised to 21, and bans body armor, and HB6817, clarifying a person’s right to own, possess or carry a firearm.
Delaware: SB2, the permit to purchase bill that includes a state-mandated training course, have a background check and be approved by the federal Homeland Security Department, and submit to fingerprinting, was introduced on April 19 and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 26. It was then passed by the Senate 15-6. It was then substituted with Senate Substitute 1 for SB2 that extended the time a handgun qualified purchaser permit was valid from 180 days to 1 year, changed the scheduling of a Superior Court hearing within 15 days rather than 21 days, and extended the implementation timeline from 6 months from date of enactment to a maximum of 18 months. The bill now returns to the House Judiciary Committee which has 12 legislative days from May 3 to hear the bill again.
Florida: On April 28 the House passed HB1543, a bill lowering the minimum age for firearm purchase or transfer to 18 years of age. The Senate passed SB214, that would stop the use of the gun store MCC and even fine the credit card companies $10,000 per violation. It is now on the May 1 Special Order calendar.
Hawaii: The Hawaii legislature has adjourned.SB1230, a post-Bruen bill that expands gun-free zones and requires mandatory insurance coverage, was passed and now goes to Gov. Josh Green.
Illinois:HB3238, possession, sales, transfer of armor plate, body armor or military helmet would be illegal, and HB1231, requiring banks, pawn shots, grocery stores and gas station in cities of more than 2 million to have an armed security guard during hours of operation, have been introduced.
Iowa: The legislature has adjourned.
Kansas: The Kansas legislature has adjourned.
Louisiana: SB212, a red flag bill had a hearing on May 2.
Maine: LD1255, prohibiting the carrying of firearms at polling places, received aUnanimous Ought Not to Pass Report. The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee is holding a hearing on May 8 at 9:00 AM EDT. The following bills will be under consideration: LD624, strengthening Maine law concerning the creation of a gun registry; LD1011, require gun owners to report a stolen or lost firearm within 72 hours of knowing or should have known the gun was missing; LD1340, ban “rapid fire modification devices” which includes many more than just bump stocks. On May 9 the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety is holding a hearing on May 9 on LD1560, strengthening Maine’s “Stand Your Ground Law.”
Massachusetts: Today, May 8, there is a “Gun Listening Tour” held by the MA House of Representatives coming to Brockton. Information can be found here. HB2334, sets up an illegal firearm tracking and tracing task force and a Mass firearms ID card would be required to go to a gun show, is before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Maryland: Although the legislature has adjourned they passedSB1, very restrictive legislation in response to the Bruen decision, HB824, increasing application fees for carry permits, and SB858, increases the age of a minor from 16 to 18 years of age for requiring firearms’ storage.
Michigan: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed: the package of storage requirement bills: SB79-Update weapons sentencing guidelines reference; SB80-the penalties for improper storage; SB81-Sales tax exemptions for firearm safety devices; SB82-Use tax exemptions for firearm safety devices with amendments; HB4138-Require license or background check for purchase of firearms; HB4142-Update firearms references to pistol in penal code; and HB4143-Update firearms references in sentencing guidelines. Awaiting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s pen: SB83, a bill toenact extreme risk protection orders—April 19the Senate concurred with House amendments 20-17;
The following bills were passed in the Senate and the House Committee on Judiciary sent them to the House floor without amendments; SB84-Prohibit purchase of firearms if individual has an extreme risk protection order; SB85-Guidelines for making a false statement in support of an extreme risk protection order; and SB86-Service of process for extreme risk protection order actions includes waiving court fees. The following bills were passed in the Senate and are currently awaiting action in the House Committee on Judiciary: SB76-Update references to pistol in penal code; SB77-Weapons; firearms; update references in sentencing guidelines; SB78-Adding penalties for storing or leaving a firearm accessible to a minor. The Senate passed 3 extreme risk protection acts and they are currently referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Minnesota: SB2909, the omnibus gun control bill that contains both red flag gun confiscations and universal background checks, has now passed both Houses and goes to Gov. Tim Walz, who is expected to sign it. The City of St. Paul—A proposed Ordinance 23-33 mandating safe storage with a locking device or in a safe, has been introduced. The Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee adopted the following bills and re-referred them to House Ways & Means: HF396, a safe storage bill requiring locking devices to be included in every firearm transfer, HF14, a background check bill, HF15, a “red flag” bill, and HF601, requiring the reporting of stolen or lost firearms within 48 hours.
Missouri: The House passed HB282, allowing the carrying of firearms on public transit, and on May 4 it passed the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee.
Montana: The Montana legislature has adjourned. The Senate passedHB659, give Right-to-Carry permittees a 30-day grace period in renewing permits, on April 13 and then on April 14 it also passed HB674, creates an optional, enhanced concealed carry permit that will recognize Montanans’ concealed carry permits in five additional states, both by a 45-5 vote. The bills now go to Gov. Greg Gianforte.
Nebraska: Gov. Jim Pillen signed the constitutional carry bill and Nebraska is the 27th state to pass a constitutional carry bill.
New Jersey: Bills introduced: A4557 will be upgrading the crime of manufacturing firearms from second to first degree. A4717, requiring psychological evaluation and in-home inspection as prerequisite to purchase firearms. S3003/A4502, expands sensitive places and S2847/A4369 prohibits possession of body armor.
Nevada: The Assembly passed AB355, prohibiting anyone less than 21 years of age from possessing a firearm on and AB354, prohibiting the possession of a firearm on the grounds of any educational institution and in a car parked on such grounds. Both were heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 5 and have been given a Do Pass. SB171, expanding the prohibited persons categories, passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee on May 5.
New York: Another anti-gun bill has been introduced—S5902, requiring proof of liability insurance prior to issuing a carry permit. More gun bills: A5199, excise tax on ammo; AB1892, requiring the posting of signage when the rate of “gun violence” in a particular area exceeds the national rate was introduced;SB430, prohibiting live ammo on a film production set and SB929 that would limit the sale “ammunition for assault weapons” to “two times the capacity” of the owner’s gun within a 120-day time frame.
New Jersey: After a recent shooting incident AG Matthew J. Platkin, announced, “I remain committed to getting guns out of homes and off our streets.” NJ’s top cop couldn’t be clear in his anti-gun position.
North Dakota: The North Dakota legislature has adjourned.
Oklahoma: Governor Kevin Stitt signed both SB978, the boat carry act, and HB1789, a bill to clean up the constitutional carry law. SB721, clarifies the training requirements, has passed the Senate and the House Public Safety Committee has recommended DO PASS.The following bills are in the Senate Public Safety Committee: HB1404, removing prohibition of transport of firearms on a boat; HB2051, recognizes self-defense on private property, HB2645, clarifies the carry exemption for certain areas, and HB2737, removes the prohibition against 45-caliber firearms on Right-to-Carry permits; HB2139, authorizes school boards to allow Right-to-Carry permittees to carry on school property, is currently before the Senate Education Committee;the following bills are in the Senate Judiciary Committee: HB2155, allows appeals in cases of self-defense, HB2644, allows persons to carry, transport and store firearms in locked vehicles;and HB 2646, clarifies showing of licenses to law enforcement; HB2647, prohibits civil actions against the firearms industry in currently before the Rules Committee.
Oregon: HB 2005 A has now become HB 2005-B, the bill promoted by Gov. Tina Kotek and Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, now includes the old HB2006, prohibiting citizens 18-21 years of age from possessing semi-automatic firearms, and the old HB2007, and was passed 35-24 on the House floor on May 2 and now goes directly to the Senate floor for a vote. SB348, a bill that makes it almost impossible to purchase a firearm and is liable to become a felon, if they own a magazine for a firearm, has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB393, that most of the members of the committee do not know what it does, appears to be a shell bill that Senator Prozanski can put any anti-gun proposal into and is in Senate Judiciary Committee. Bills awaiting action: SB551, requiring schools to provide information on “secure storage of firearms”. The Judiciary Committee without recommendation referred HB2572 to the Rules Committee per the order of the Speaker—HB2572, creates a new definition for civil disorder which is defined as unlawful paramilitary activity and allows for civil action against persons engaging in the paramilitary activity
Pennsylvania: Another bill, HB465, banning the carrying of of any weapon including baseball bats to a public demonstration has been added to the following introduced bills: HB335, making an “accelerated trigger activator” a prohibited weapon; HB336, banning the sale or “assault weapon” and exempting current owners; HB337, requiring a 72-hour waiting period for firearms purchases; HB338, requiring the reporting of lost or stolen firearms within 72 hours; HB355, requiring the destruction of any recovered firearms that cannot be returned to their lawful owners within 120 days; HB226, concerning sale or transfer of firearms, introduced by 10 Democrats. HB001 was recommitted to the Judiciary Committee.
Rhode Island: On April 17 the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on approximately 30 anti-gun bills. No action has been taken to date.
South Carolina: Constitutional carry, HB3594, has passed the House and is currently inthe subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee which held a hearing on April 5 and amended it with more gun owner friendly amendments, however the Chairman of the Committee has held this bill over and it is possible that the legislature will adjourn before the Judiciary Committee acts;
Tennessee: The regular legislature adjourned Sine Die. A Special Session on Guns is likely after July 4. SB494/HB395 was signed by Gov. Bill Lee.
Texas: The House Select Committee on Community Safety held a hearing on gun bills and passed several favorable to gun owners. HB2837, a bill to prevent the use of a firearm specific banking code, has been placed on the General Calendar of the House.
Vermont: H230, “an act relating to implementing mechanisms to reduce suicide,” has passed both the House and Senate and now goes to Gov. Phil Scott. The bill enables an extreme risk protection order to be issued against a firearms owner as well as a waiting period for the transfer of a firearm between 72 hours and 7 business days.
Washington: On April 25 Gov. Inslee signed SB5078, a bill to bankrupt the firearms industry in Washington, HB1143, a bill requiring proof of training prior to firearms’ purchase, and HB1240, an assault gun ban bill, which became law immediately once it is signed.
