By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—Louisiana: On Feb. 22 the Senate passed SB1, a constitutional carry bill. The bill now goes to the House; California: SB1160, an annual gun registration law with fees, has been introduced.
Colorado: SB 24-066, Legislation Requiring the Use of Firearm/Ammunition Merchant Category Codes passed the Senate; It now goes to the House; Idaho: SB1317, allowing Gadsden flag license plates, passed the Senate and advances to the House; New Hampshire: On February 22 the House passed HB1186, prohibiting the use of firearm-specific merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components. Also on Feb. 22, the House voted down HB1050, a bill allowing citizens to waive their Second Amendment right, 205-175; South Dakota: On Feb. 21, Senate Bill 203 was passed in the Senate with a vote of 31-3 and will be the subject of a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee today. HB1228, allowing hunters to wear fluorescent pink as an alternative to hunter orange had a hearing on Feb. 22 and was passed 7-0. Tennessee: On Feb. 27, the House Banking & Consumer Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on HB2762; Utah: HB406, banning the use of firearm-related Merchant Category Codes for financial institutions, was passed by the House 51-49 on Feb. 2. On Feb. 20 it passed the Senate Courts of Justice Committee; Vermont: On Feb. 27 the Senate put SB209, requiring serialization of firearms parts and other ghost gun bans, on its Action Calendar allowing votes by the Senate; Virginia: The following bills have passed both Houses and are on their way to Governor Youngkin: HB498, requiring school boards to develop and implement policies to inform parents about firearms safety and storage; SB100, prohibits so-called plastic firearms; SB273, 5-day waiting period; SB368, in a home with children under 18-years-of-age must keep firearms locked; SB491, allows lawsuits against firearms industry; More bills are still being considered; Washington: Three more anti-gun owner bills have been report from the Senate Law and Justice Committee;
Legislation and local communities
States that do NOT hold legislative sessions in 2024: Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas,
States that are in session: Arizona, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, 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: SB1160, an annual gun registration law with fees, has been introduced.
Colorado: SB 24-066, Legislation Requiring the Use of Firearm/Ammunition Merchant Category Codes passed the Senate.
Idaho: SB1317, allowing Gadsden flag license plates, passed the Senate and advances to the House. SB1374, prohibits the restriction on lawful carry concealed firearms on public property when a private group has contracted to use the property subject to two different restrictions, and SB1291, prohibits public contracts with individuals or companies that are boycotting certain industries, including the firearms industry have been introduced. HB415, allowing school employees who hold an enhanced Right-to-Carry Permit to carry concealed at school, which passed the House, is before the Senate State Affairs Committee.
Louisiana: A Special Session on Crime began on Feb. 19 and SB1, constitutional carry, passed the Senate on Feb. 22. It now proceeds to the House where it is schedule for a hearing before the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee on Feb. 26. Final Adjournment of this Special Session will be no later than 6:00 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. The 2024 Regular Legislative Session will convene at noon on Monday, March 11, 2024, with the final Adjournment no later than 6 pm on Monday, June 3.
Minnesota: HF3570 has been referred to the House Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy. This bill is a bill that bans anti-semiautomatic “military assault weapons”.Three more anti-gun bills have been introduced: HF3672, repealing state preemption, HF3628, banning the possession, sale, and transfer of most commonly owned semi-automatic rifles, many shotguns, and some pistols as well as “high capacity” magazines, and SF3477, prohibiting carry of firearms in libraries, currently before the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. The following bills are currently re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee: HF0014, background checks required for all firearms transfers, HF0015, law enforcement, and family members added to the list of persons enabled to petition a court for disarmament,and HF396, a safe storage bill. The following bill is currently before the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee: HB601, requiring lost or stolen firearms to be reported to law enforcement,
New Hampshire: On Feb. 22 the House passed HB1186, prohibiting the use of firearm-specific merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components. Also on Feb. 22, the House voted down HB1050, a bill allowing citizens to waive their Second Amendment right, 205-175.. On Feb. 15, the Senate failed to pass the following bills: SB360, a red flag law, SB571, requiring state background checks, and SB577, imposing a three-day waiting period.
Nebraska: A hearing was held on LB883, repealing the current Permit-to-Purchase law before the Judiciary Committee.
New Jersey: The anti-gun politicians are back with a bill similar to one in 2023 that is aimed at so-called “gun traffickers,” although present law is already being used to halt gun trafficking. S1425 is before the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on Feb. 8.
New Mexico: The legislature has finished its 30-day session. Firearms bill that passed: HB129, changing the waiting period from 14 to 7 days for all firearms purchasers even those with Right-to-Carry Permits; and SB5, prohibiting firearms within 100 feet of a polling place. All the remaining gun bills were “left pending on the calendar.”
New York: A bill, S.138A, which requires any firearms safety instructor to be relicensed by the state after Dec. 31, 2026, is a clever way to de-license NRA instructors. This bill passed the Senate in 2023 and is being promoted again. It was scheduled for Feb.5 when the Senate Codes Committee voted it out. It is currently before the Senate Finance Committee.
Oklahoma: The legislative session has convened.
Oregon: The legislative session has convened.
Pennsylvania: The House Judiciary Committee considered the following bills: Laid on Table (tabled, not moving forward): HB335, a ban on multi-burst trigger activators; HB336, Banning future sales of “assault weapons;” HB777, Banning “Ghost Guns” parts; HB1157, Mental Health Reporting; and HB1190; banning 3-D printed firearms.
South Dakota: On Feb. 21, Senate Bill 203 was passed in the Senate with a vote of 31-3 and will be the subject of a hearing in the House Judiciary Committeetoday. The bill allows gun owners with enhanced concealed carry permits and written permission by the school’s principal, to conceal carry on public school grounds. HB1228, allowing hunters to wear fluorescent pink as an alternative to hunter orange had a hearing on Feb. 22 and was passed 7-0. It now goes to the full House for a vote.
Tennessee: SB2223/HB2762 were introduced with the full support of Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson. This bill would prohibit the use of firearm-specific merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components. On Feb. 27, 2024, the House Banking & Consumer Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on this HB2762.
Utah: HB406, banning the use of firearm-related Merchant Category Codes for financial institutions, was passed by the House 51-49 on Feb. 2. On Feb. 20 it passed the Courts of Justice Committee and went to the full House for a vote.
Virginia: The following bills have passed both Houses and are on their way to Governor Glenn Youngkin: HB498, requiring school boards to develop and implement policies to inform parents about firearms safety and storage; SB100, prohibits so-called plastic firearms; SB273, 5-day waiting period; SB368, in a home with children under 18-years-of-age must keep firearms locked; SB491, allows lawsuits against firearms industry. Other bills still awaiting action: House: Bills that have passed the House of Delegates: HB2, so-called “ assault weapons” ban; HB22 ban on auto sears; HB35, firearm safety device tax credit; 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; HB158, mandatory firearm locking devices (incorporates HB12); HB173, prohibits the manufacture of firearms without serial numbers; HB175, prohibits the open carry of “assault weapons” in public areas; HB183, requires all firearms in home to be locked up if a person under 17 years-of-age lives in the home; HB318, allows frivolous lawsuits against firearms industry; HB362, adds a “dating relationship” to the misdemeanor domestic violence category; HB454, bans carry in public higher education building; HB466, tightens the current standard for the recognition of out of state Right-to-Carry Permits. HB585, prohibition on home-based firearms dealers; HB637, creates a Substantial Risk Order training program for law enforcement; HB791, ban on pneumatic guns; HB797, requires live fire training and incorporates HB318 as well; HB798, those with stalking violations prohibited from purchasing, transporting or possessing a firearm; HB799, fingerprints required by local governments for Right-to-Carry applications; HB861, bans guns in hospitals; HB939, prohibits firearms withing 100 feet of election venues; HB1174, age requirement of 21 years of age to purchase “assault weapon and HB1462, penalty for leaving firearm in an unattended vehicle.
Senate: The following bills have passed the Senate: SB2, so-called “ assault weapons” ban; SB44, holding firearms owners liable for unlawful use by minors; SB47, prohibits transfers from a prohibited person; SB57, prohibits carrying firearms onto restaurant premises; SB99, prohibits carry of assault weapons in public areas; SB258, expands what judge may consider when issuing a red flag order; SB327, prohibits young adults (age 18-21) from purchasing a firearm; SB373, bans guns in higher education buildings; SB447, civil fine with car towing if a handgun is visible in unattended vehicle; SB515, prohibits the carrying of a firearm in a medical facility; SB522, training requirement prior to purchase of a firearm;and SB642, expands the types of misdemeanor convictions as precursors to losing Second Amendment rights.
Vermont: On February 27 the Senate put SB209, requiring serialization of firearms parts and other ghost gun bans, on its Action Calendar allowing votes by the Senate..
Washington: Three bills, HB1903, penalizes law abiding gun owners if they fail to report missing or stolen firearms within 24 hours; HB2021, expands required firearms’ destruction by state and local governments, and HB2118, puts costly requirements on FFLs.
