By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—U.S. Congress: U.S. Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) just introduced S.3589, a bill to amend Title 18, United States Code, to prohibit unauthorized private paramilitary activity, and for other purposes; California: A special report has been issued by CRPA requesting industry support in the Boland v. Bonta case. A worthwhile read to understand what California gun owners have been facing for the past several decades and can continue to face in the implantation of SB452 passed in 2023;; Delaware: SB2 still could get a vote in the House; Georgia: HB1018, a bill to prohibit the use of firearm/ammunition specific merchant category codes by payment processors has been introduced; Idaho: The House State Affairs Committee passed HB415, allowing school employees who hold an enhanced Right-to-Carry Permit to carry concealed at school; Idaho: HB415 passed the House State Affairs Committee; Kentucky: HB357, bans the use of firearm-related Merchant Category Codes for financial institutions, has been introduced; Kansas: HCR5020, a Constitutional Amendment introduced and a hearing was held on January 23; Nebraska: LB925, a bill to stop government discrimination against lawful firearms businesses will have a hearing on Feb. 1 before the Committee on Government, Military and Veterans Affairs; Maryland: HB430, a bill requiring gun owners to purchase liability insurance of at least $300,000 has been introduced; New Mexico: The following bills have been reported out of their first committee: HB27, HB114, HB127, HB129, HB137, SB5; On Jan. 29 the House Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on the following bills: HB27, HB127, HB129, and HB137; South Dakota: 2 pro-gun bills, SB39 and HB1035, pass their respective House and move on; Utah: On Jan. 26 HB406, banning the use of firearm-related Merchant Category Codes for financial institutions, was introduced; Vermont: The Senate Committee on the Judiciary held another hearing on so-called ghost gun legislation: Virginia: House Public Safety Committee reported out 12 anti-gun bills while killing 2 pro-Second Amendment bill; Washington: A public hearing on Jan. 29 for SB5963, requiring mandatory gun insurance policy for all gun owners.
U.S. Congress
U.S. Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) just introduced S. 3589, a bill to amend Title 18, United States Code, to prohibit unauthorized private paramilitary activity, and for other purposes.
Legislation and local communities
States that do NOT hold legislative sessions in 2024: Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas,
States that begin their sessions in January: Arizona, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
California: A special report has been issued by CRPA requesting industry support in the Boland v. Bonta case. A worthwhile read to understand what California gun owners have been facing for the past several decades and can continue to face in the implantation of SB452 passed in 2023.
Delaware: Although SB2 only passed the Senate in 2023 all bills that did not die last year can be brought up for votes. Thus SB2, enabling a “ handgun qualified purchase card” with a handgun registry, may still be voted on in the Delaware House.
Georgia: HB1018, a bill to prohibit the use of firearm/ammunition specific merchant category codes by payment processors has been introduced.
Idaho: The House State Affairs Committee passed HB415, allowing school employees who hold an enhanced Right-to-Carry Permit to carry concealed at school. It now goes to the full House for a vote.
Indiana: The House Judiciary Committee passed HB1235, a bill to prohibit local governments from suing firearms manufacturers frivolously. Additionally the House Financial Institutions Committee held a hearing on HB1084, the Second Amendment Privacy Act, that bans the use of firearm-related Merchant Category Codes. Another hearing on this bill is scheduled for January 25.
Kansas: HCR5020, a constitutional Amendment introduced and scheduled for a hearing on January 23 before the House Committee on Federal and State Affairs. If the legislature passes the amendment it would then go to a vote in November 2024.
Kentucky: HB357, bans the use of firearm-related Merchant Category Codes for financial institutions, has been introduced.
Maine: the Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary voted OUGHT NOT TO PASS on LD1696, a bill designed to circumvent the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. (PLCAA).
Maryland: HB430, a bill requiring gun owners to purchase liability insurance of at least $300,000 has been introduced.
Missouri: HB1708, allowing concealed carry on public transit, in places of worship and lowered the age requirements from 19 to 18 was passed by the House General Rules Committee with an 11-5 vote.
Nebraska: LB1269, a stand your ground bill, has been introduced. LB925, a bill to stop government discrimination against lawful firearms businesses will have a hearing on Feb. 1 before the Committee on Government, Military and Veterans Affairs.
New Mexico: On January 29 the House Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on the following bills: HB27, HB127, HB129, and HB137 (all the bills are discussed below). On January 23 the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee reported out: HB27, an expanded Extreme Risk Protection Act that allow health care professionals and law enforcement to request such orders and immediate seizing of firearms; and HB114, allowing lawsuits against the firearms industry. These two bills will now be considered by the House Judiciary Committee. On January 25 the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee passed HB127, raising the minimum age for purchase of firearms, ammunition and accessories; HB129, a 14 business day waiting period bill (almost 3 weeks); and HB137, which is very similar to the GOSAFE Act that failed in 2023. It is entitled the “Gas-Operated Semiautomatic Firearms Exclusion Act.” HB 137 bans the manufacture, sale, and transfer of gas-operated firearms with detachable magazines; magazines that are capable of holding more than 10 rounds; bans handguns with fixed magazines that can hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition and long guns with fixed magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition; bans parts or combinations of parts from which such firearms can be assembled; and attempts to supersede federal law by banning certain NFA items outright. If any citizen owns any of the listed firearms they will have to register them with the New Mexico Department of Public Safety by Jan. 1, 2025 or face criminal charges. Future transfers could only be done legally to an immediate family member, an FFL or sent out of state. The vote was on a party-line basis: all Democrats voted yea, while Republicans voted nay. In the Senate: on January 24: The Senate Rules Committee voted a Do Pass recommendation on SB5, prohibiting firearms within 100 feet of a polling place. The Senate Health & Public Affairs Committee considered SB69, a companion bill to HB127 on Jan. 26.
New Hampshire: SB360, a red flag law, was before the House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 25.
Pennsylvania: The legislature returned on January 16 and the House Judiciary Committee voted to pass several anti-gun bills. The new bills that passed on 14-11 party line votes were: HB335, banning “accelerated trigger activators”, sometimes called “bump stocks”; HB336, a ban on Semi-automatic firearms; HB777, a ban on making firearms, HB1157, a very poorly written bill dealing with mental health adjudications, and HB1190, a ban on 3D printed firearms, which includes banning software. Two bills that had been on the agenda did not pass: HB483, creating a Gun Violence Task Force, and HB1859, would expand the number of gun ownership prohibitions beyond state and federal law. This committee passed two anti-Second Amendment bills last fall—HB941, which would hold gun owners liable if their firearms and ancillary property were stolen and then used improperly, and HB1629, mandating that gun owners keep all firearms in their homes under lock and key.
South Carolina: HB3594, a constitutional carry bill, was had votes and now there will be further debate on January 30 with a final vote expected by February 1.
South Dakota: 2 pro-gun bills, SB39 and HB1035, pass their respective House and move on. SB39, that will prevent homeowners association from placing restrictions on firearms and ammunition will be heard by the House Commerce Committee on January 22, 2024. HB1035, extending the grace period for the renewal of an enhanced Right-to-Carry Permit from 180 days to a full year will be before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 23, 2024.
Vermont: The Senate Committee on the Judiciary held another day of hearings on S209, a “ghost gun” ban, on Jan. 25 with an NRA representative testifying.
Utah: On Jan. 23, the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee hearing did not include Senate Bill 83, which enacts mandatory firearm storage requirements, and neither did the committee hearing on January 26. On Jan. 26 HB406, banning the use of firearm-related Merchant Category Codes for financial institutions, has been introduced
Virginia: The following bills were reported our by the House Public Safety Committee: HB2, so-called “assault weapons” ban; HB22 ban on auto sears; HB46, a gun owner who is the object of a protective order must turn their guns over to someone living at a different address and at least 21-years-old; HB113, removes right to own a handgun for second misdemeanor DWI; HB158, mandatory firearm locking devices (that incorporated HB12); HB173, prohibits the manufacture of firearms without serial numbers; HB351, mandatory firearm locking device for residence storage; HB454, bans carry in public higher education building; HB466, tightens the current standard for the recognition of out of state Right-to-Carry Permits(passed committee on to full committee); HB585, prohibition on home based firearms dealers; HB791, ban on pneumatic guns; HB1174, age requirement of 21 years of age to purchase “assault weapon
The following bills failed in committee: HB390, allows an individual to carry a concealed firearm for up 45 days before needing a Right-to-Carry Permit if that person has a protective order in place, and HB395, institutes an enhanced Right-to-Carry Permit that allows the holder to carry in locations that are currently prohibited.
Washington: The House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee voted out the following bills: HB1903, requiring gun owners to report missing or stolen firearm within 24 hours; HB2021, expands the required destruction of confiscated firearms by government; HB2118, onerous and burdensome requirement for FFLs. On Jan. 18, the Senate Law and Justice Committee voted out a substitute bill for SB5985, codifying last year’s ban on so-called assault weapons that has been placed on second reading by the Rules Committee.
Wisconsin: SB466 passed both the Senate and the Assembly and now goes to Governor Tony Evers. These bills ban the use of merchant codes by banks and other payment entities.
