2026 Gun Violence Priorities
The bills we're focused on this coming legislative session would address gun industry accountability, provide a dependable funding source for gun violence prevention initiatives, as well as clarify firearm relinquishment procedures pertaining to domestic violence.
These 3 bills are similar to ones we supported in 2025, which failed to pass:
"Do It Yourself" (DIY) Machine Gun Bill - This bill would prohibit the sale of all pistols that can be turned into a machine gun with a small piece of plastic called a Glock switch or auto sear. Glock has recently announced that they are discontinuing their model that can be converted into a rapid fire weapon, but we are asking legislators to also prohibit the sale of similar pistols in MD. In 2023, the Morgan State mass shooter used an auto sear. About half of those arrested by police for an auto sear-related offense were too young to qualify for a handgun. This type of legislation recently passed in California. In addition to Maryland, Illinois and New York will focus on this bill.
Priority Partners: Maryland Moms Demand Action/Everytown For Gun Safety.
Learn More: Baltimore Banner article: Maryland Has a Machine Gun Problem
Everytown Law, MD Glock Complaint February 2025: Complaint and Demand for a Jury Trial
Comprehensive Community Safety Funding Act (aka Safety Funding Act) - This bill would establish a dedicated, long-term funding source for community violence intervention, trauma care, and prevention initiatives, without adding new pressure to the state's General Fund. It would create a modest excise tax on the firearm industry--ensures that those who profit from the sale of firearms also help offset the measurable public costs of gun violence. This article, A Trace Analysis of 150 U.S. Cities Shows One of the Greatest Drops in Gun Violence — Ever, talks about how people, and specifically programs focused on violence intervention, have recently helped gun violence drop across the country and why state and local entities must now replace the funding lost by Federal cuts. The UULM-MD recently signed a letter in support of the Comprehensive Community Safety Funding Act.
Priority Partners: Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence.
Family & Law Enforcement Protection Act (aka Law Enforcement Protection Act) SB 20 / HB 83 - Firearms are used in over half of all intimate partner homicides. States that restrict gun access among individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders have seen a 13% reduction in firearm intimate partner homicides. This bill would make sure firearms are kept out of the hands of domestic abusers starting at the time survivors seek protection from the court. Maryland consistently earns an A- rating from Giffords for the strength of its gun laws. However, that "minus" specifically reflects the state's failure to establish a clear and effective firearms relinquishment process.
Here are the talking points from last year's bill: MDGPV Talking Points
Priority Partners: Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence.
OPPORTUNITIES to get involved
The GVP Issue Lead welcomes individuals to join the GVP team. Individuals can follow one of
the priority issues in order to monitor: (a) committee hearings, (b) monitor monitor amendments proposed to chang the initial text of a bill, and (c) UULM-MD communications and discussions on the issue.
The GVP welcomes support for outreach to interfaith partners. We are more successful when
we have common purpose with other partners.
Subject | Bill Number | XFile Bill Number | Sponsor | Title | Status | Current Location | Priority | Position | Action | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Family and Law Enforcement Protection | HB0083 | SB0020 | Delegate Bartlett | Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act | Hearing 1/29 at 2:00 p.m. | Judiciary | x | Support | Altering and establishing provisions relating to the surrender of firearms by a respondent under the domestic violence statutes; and requiring a local law enforcement authority to take certain actions within 3 business days after service of an order against a respondent who is not in compliance with an order to surrender certain firearms. | |
Family and Law Enforcement Protection | SB0020 | HB0083 | Senator Hettleman | Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act | Hearing 1/20 at 1:00 p.m. | Judicial Proceedings | x | Support | Altering and establishing provisions relating to the surrender of firearms by a respondent under the domestic violence statutes; and requiring a local law enforcement authority to take certain actions within 3 business days after service of an order against a respondent who is not in compliance with an order to surrender certain firearms. | |
Center for Firearm Violence Prevention | HB0223 | Delegate Lopez | Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention - Resources, Tools, and Educational Materials | Hearing 1/28 at 1:00 p.m. | Judiciary | Altering the powers of the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention to include the creation of certain resources, tools, and educational materials related to firearms; and authorizing the Center to consult with State and local agencies and third-party organizations in carrying out those powers. | ||||
Firearms-Waiting Period Exceptions | SB0027 | HB0126 | Senator Folden | Regulated Firearms - Seven-Day Waiting Period - Exceptions | Hearing 1/27 at 1:00 p.m. | Judicial Proceedings | Oppose | Exempting a sale, rental, or transfer of a regulated firearm from the seven-day waiting period requirement if the purchaser, renter, or receiver of the firearm is a law enforcement officer, a retired law enforcement officer who retired in good standing, or an individual with a permit to wear, carry, or transport a handgun; etc. | ||
Firearms-Waiting Period Exceptions | HB0126 | SB0027 | Delegate Pippy | Regulated Firearms - Seven-Day Waiting Period - Exceptions | Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. | Judiciary | Oppose | Exempting a sale, rental, or transfer of a regulated firearm from the seven-day waiting period requirement if the purchaser, renter, or receiver of the firearm is a law enforcement officer, a retired law enforcement officer who retired in good standing, or an individual with a permit to wear, carry, or transport a handgun. | ||
Handbook on Handgun Wear/Carry Laws | HB0303 | Delegate Grammer | Handguns - Wear, Carry, and Transport Laws - Handbook Publication | First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections | Government, Labor, and Elections | Requiring, by October 1, 2026, and each October 1 thereafter, the Office of the Attorney General to publish a handbook summarizing State law, federal law, and case law related to wearing, carrying, and transporting a handgun in public in Maryland; and requiring the handbook to be drafted in plain language so it can be easily understood without special knowledge of relevant law and in a format that can be easily used to teach certain required firearms courses. | ||||
Permit Renewal - Retired Police | HB0094 | Delegate Valentine | Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Expiration and Renewal Periods for Retired Law Enforcement Officer | Hearing 1/28 at 1:00 p.m. | Judiciary | Establishing alternative expiration and renewal periods for a handgun permit issued to a retired law enforcement officer who retired in good standing from service with a law enforcement agency of the State or a county or municipal corporation of the State; and providing that a handgun permit issued to a law enforcement officer who retired in good standing expires on the last day of the holder's birth month following 5 years after the date the permit is issued and may be renewed for successive periods of 5 years under certain circumstances. | ||||
Potential Compromise of Security Features | SB0160 | HB0284 | Chair, Judicial Proceedings Committee | Public Safety - Licensed Firearms Dealers - Notification Regarding Potential Compromise of Security Features | Hearing 1/21 at 11:00 a.m. | Judicial Proceedings | Support | Requiring a certain licensed firearms dealer to notify the Secretary of State Police within 24 hours after discovering that certain security features may have been compromised. | ||
Potential Compromise of Security Features | HB0284 | SB0160 | Chair, Judiciary Committee | Public Safety - Licensed Firearms Dealers - Notification Regarding Potential Compromise of Security Features | Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. | Judiciary | Support | Requiring a certain licensed firearms dealer to notify the Secretary of State Police within 24 hours after discovering that certain security features may have been compromised. | ||
Right to Carry | HB0365 | Delegate Grammer | Firearms - Right to Purchase, Own, Possess, and Carry | First Reading Judiciary | Judiciary | Oppose | Providing that a person may not be denied the right to purchase, own, possess, or carry a firearm solely on the basis that the person is authorized to use medical cannabis. |