Firearms Bill Tracker

Criminal Law - Firearm Crimes - Machine Gun Convertible Pistols

Last action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 771 (2026-05-26)

Sponsor: Sara Love D

Prohibiting, on or after January 1, 2027, a person from manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, purchasing, receiving, or transferring a certain machine gun convertible pistol, subject to certain exceptions; requiring the Department of State Police to adopt regulations to implement the requirements of the Act, including publishing a list of prohibited machine gun convertible pistols; etc.

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Public Safety - Gun Buyback Programs - Destruction of Firearms

Last action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 430 (2026-05-12)

Sponsor: William Smith D

Requiring a federal firearms licensee or law enforcement agency operating a gun buyback program to destroy each firearm and all its component parts that are traded in as part of a gun buyback program; authorizing a licensee or agency to contract with a law enforcement agency or a business to destroy certain firearms; requiring a law enforcement agency operating a program to determine if a firearm is a crime firearm or has been reported lost or stolen before destroying the weapon; etc.

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Natural Resources - Hunting - Management

Last action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 421 (2026-05-12)

Sponsor: Regina Boyce D

Providing that the Department of Natural Resources may authorize the reduction of the deer population on certain property with deer damage using certain methods; altering the time restrictions for Sunday deer hunting in certain counties during deer firearms season; repealing certain time restrictions that apply to the hunting of game birds and mammals on certain Sundays on private property in Wicomico County; authorizing the Department to allow a person to hunt deer on each Sunday of the deer bow hunting season in Baltimore City; etc.

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Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Expiration and Renewal Periods for Retired Law Enforcement Officer

Last action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 455 (2026-05-12)

Sponsor: William Folden R

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.

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Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Expiration and Renewal Periods for Retired Law Enforcement Officer

Last action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 454 (2026-05-12)

Sponsor: William Valentine R

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.

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Baltimore City - Natural Resources - Archery Hunting Safety Zones

Last action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 324 (2026-04-28)

Sponsor: Samuel Rosenberg D

Adding Baltimore City to the list of jurisdictions in which the safety zone for archery hunters extends 50 yards from a dwelling house, residence, church, or any other building or camp occupied by human beings.

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Public Safety - Licensed Firearms Dealers - Notification Regarding Compromising Events

Last action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 85 (2026-04-14)

Sponsor: Judiciary

Requiring a certain licensed firearms dealer to notify the Secretary of State Police within 24 hours after the dealer first has knowledge that certain crimes have occurred or certain security features have been compromised; and providing that a person who violates the Act is subject to a civil penalty imposed by the Secretary of up to $250 for a first offense and up to $1000 for a second or subsequent violation.

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Public Safety - Licensed Firearms Dealers - Notification Regarding Compromising Events

Last action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 86 (2026-04-14)

Sponsor: Judicial Proceedings

Requiring a certain licensed firearms dealer to notify the Secretary of State Police within 24 hours after discovering certain crimes have occurred or certain security features have been compromised; providing a civil penalty of up to $250 for a first violation of the Act and up to $1,000 for a second or subsequent violations; and providing that the license of a person who knowingly and willfully violates the Act may be suspended or revoked.

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Natural Resources - Hunting - Management

Last action: Referred Rules and Executive Nominations (2026-04-10)

Sponsor: Jack Bailey R

Providing that the Department of Natural Resources may authorize the reduction of the deer population on certain property with deer damage using certain methods; altering the time restrictions for Sunday deer hunting in certain counties during deer firearms season; repealing certain time restrictions that apply to the hunting of game birds and mammals on certain Sundays on private property in Wicomico County; authorizing the Department to allow a person to hunt deer on each Sunday of the deer bow hunting season in Baltimore City; etc.

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Hunting - Restrictions of Venison Donation

Last action: Referred Rules and Executive Nominations (2026-04-10)

Sponsor: Karen Lewis Young D

Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to prohibit the donation of certain processed venison to certain entities unless the deer was harvested using nonlead ammunition or a bow and arrow; and establishing that a person who violates the Act is subject to a civil fine not exceeding $750.

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Criminal Law - Firearm Crimes - Machine Gun Convertible Pistols

Last action: Rereferred to Judicial Proceedings (2026-04-10)

Sponsor: Nicole Williams D

Prohibiting, on or after January 1, 2027, a person from manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, purchasing, receiving, or transferring a certain machine gun convertible pistol, subject to certain exceptions; and authorizing the Department of State Police to adopt regulations to implement the Act including publishing a list of prohibited machine gun convertible pistols.

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Hunting - Lead and Lead-Based Ammunition - Phase-Out

Last action: Senate Refuses Recede (2026-04-10)

Sponsor: Michele Guyton D

Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to require, through a certain phasing-out process, the use of nonlead ammunition for the hunting of all game species on or before July 1, 2030; and requiring the Department to authorize the use of lead ammunition for muzzleloaders, handguns, rifles, and shotguns if nonlead ammunition is not commercially available for the specific firearm; and establishing a civil penalty for a first violation of the Act of a fine of $750.

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Baltimore City - Natural Resources - Archery Hunting Safety Zones

Last action: Third Reading Passed (129-5) (2026-04-08)

Sponsor: Dalya Attar D

Adding Baltimore City, except legislative district 43A, to the list of jurisdictions in which the safety zone for archery hunters extends 50 yards from a dwelling house, residence, church, or any other building or camp occupied by human beings.

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Criminal Law - Wearing, Carrying, or Transporting a Handgun - Prior Convictions

Last action: Referred Judiciary (2026-03-24)

Sponsor: Ron Watson D

Altering the list of convictions that subject a defendant to enhanced sentencing for wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun to include certain extra-jurisdictional crimes.

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Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act

Last action: Referred Judicial Proceedings (2026-03-23)

Sponsor: Sandy Bartlett D

Altering and establishing provisions relating to the surrender of firearms by a respondent under the domestic violence statutes; and requiring the law enforcement agency that served the order 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.

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Public Safety - Distribution of Literature to Purchasers of Firearms and Ammunition

Last action: Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-03-20)

Sponsor: Gary Simmons D

Requiring the Maryland Department of Health to prepare certain literature relating to firearms and ammunition and to distribute the literature to all county health departments in the State; requiring each county health department to distribute certain literature to all establishments that sell firearms or ammunition within the county; requiring establishments that sell firearms or ammunition in the State to make certain literature visible and available and to distribute the literature to purchasers of firearms and ammunition; etc.

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Public Safety - Gun Violence Victim Relocation Program - Establishment

Last action: Withdrawn by Sponsor (2026-03-16)

Sponsor: Jackie Addison D

Establishing the Gun Violence Victim Relocation Program within the Victim Services Unit of the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to provide certain victims of gun violence certain services and assistance related to relocating for the safety of the victim or the victim's family; establishing the Gun Violence Victim Relocation Program Fund; requiring the Victim Services Unit to establish a certain oversight commission; requiring the Unit to submit a yearly status report on the Program by December 1, beginning in 2028; etc.

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Public Safety - Handgun Permit Requirement - Repeal (Maryland Constitutional Carry Act)

Last action: Hearing 3/11 at 2:00 p.m. (2026-03-11)

Sponsor: Lauren Arikan R

Repealing the requirement that a person have a certain permit before the person carries, wears, or transports a handgun; repealing certain criminal prohibitions against a person who is at least 21 years old wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun; and establishing that a person may not wear, carry, or transport a handgun while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, with a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both on conviction.

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Assisted Outpatient Treatment - Surrender or Seizure of Firearms

Last action: Hearing 3/11 at 2:00 p.m. (Judiciary) (2026-03-11)

Sponsor: Scott Phillips D

Requiring a court, under certain circumstances, to order a respondent who has been ordered to comply with assisted outpatient treatment to surrender to law enforcement any firearm in the respondent's possession and not to purchase or possess any firearm for the duration of the assisted outpatient treatment order; and establishing procedures related to the surrender or seizure of a firearm to law enforcement under the Act.

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Criminal Law - Minor's Access to Firearms - Penalty

Last action: Hearing 3/11 at 2:00 p.m. (2026-03-11)

Sponsor: Sean Stinnett D

Altering the penalty for storing or leaving a loaded firearm in a location where the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor has access to the firearm to include the possibility of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years.

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Public Safety - Firearms - Storage Requirements

Last action: Hearing 3/13 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-03-10)

Sponsor: Sandy Bartlett D

Altering a certain provision of law that prohibits a person from storing or leaving a certain firearm in a location if the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor is likely to gain access to the firearm; requiring an authorized individual to store a firearm in a certain secure storage depository at a certain time; prohibiting a certain individual from violating a certain firearm storage requirement; etc.

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Comprehensive Community Safety Funding Act

Last action: Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-03-09)

Sponsor: Joanne Benson D

Imposing an excise tax on certain gross receipts of certain firearms dealers derived from the sales of firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition in the State and sales of firearms to State residents; and requiring the Comptroller to distribute a certain portion of the tax revenues to the Maryland Violence Intervention Program, the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention, the Coordinated Community Supports Partnership, the Survivors of Homicide Victims Program, the Trauma Physician Services Fund, and the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.

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Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention - Resources, Tools, and Educational Materials

Last action: Withdrawn by Sponsor (2026-02-23)

Sponsor: Lesley Lopez D

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.

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Handgun Roster Reform

Last action: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-16)

Sponsor: Elizabeth Embry D

Altering provisions of law relating to the handgun roster, including requiring the Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee, to conduct a certain legal review of a petition to place a handgun on the handgun roster and to make a certain determination before a handgun is placed on the handgun roster; requiring the Maryland State Police, or a certain accredited laboratory, to conduct certain testing on a handgun; altering the responsibilities of the Handgun Roster Board; etc.

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Assisted Outpatient Treatment - Surrender or Seizure of Firearms

Last action: Hearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m. (Finance) (2026-02-12)

Sponsor: Shaneka Henson D

Requiring a court, under certain circumstances, to order a respondent who has been ordered to comply with assisted outpatient treatment to surrender to law enforcement any firearm in the respondent's possession and not to purchase or possess any firearm for the duration of the assisted outpatient treatment order; and establishing procedures related to the surrender or seizure of a firearm to law enforcement under the Act.

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Firearms Dealers - Firearm Hold Agreements

Last action: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-12)

Sponsor: Justin Ready R

Providing that a certain federally licensed firearms dealer may not be held civilly liable for personal injury to or death of any person after the return of a certain firearm to a certain firearm owner at the termination of a certain agreement, with a certain exception.

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Public Safety – Handgun Permits – Firearms Training Course

Last action: Hearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-12)

Sponsor: William Folden R

Altering the requirements for a certain firearms training course that an applicant for a permit to carry, wear, or transport a handgun must successfully complete.

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Firearms Dealers and Employees - Required Training and Exam

Last action: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-12)

Sponsor: William Smith D

Requiring the Secretary of State Police to approve a certain training course and offer a certain exam for certain individuals licensed as, applying to be licensed as, or employed by, a State-regulated firearms dealer; requiring certain individuals to complete training and satisfactorily pass a certain exam described in the Act; requiring the Secretary to disapprove an application for a dealer's license under certain circumstances; etc.

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Handgun Roster Reform

Last action: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-12)

Sponsor: Jeff Waldstreicher D

Altering provisions of law relating to the handgun roster, including requiring the Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee, to conduct a certain legal review of a petition to place a handgun on the handgun roster and to make a certain determination before a handgun is placed on the handgun roster; requiring the Maryland State Police, or a certain accredited laboratory, to conduct certain testing on a handgun; altering the responsibilities of the Handgun Roster Board; etc.

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Wicomico County - Sunday Hunting Time Restrictions - Repeal

Last action: Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-12)

Repealing certain time restrictions that apply to the hunting of game birds and mammals on certain Sundays on private property and public land designated for Sunday hunting in Wicomico County.

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Criminal Law - Wearing, Carrying, or Transporting a Handgun - Prior Convictions

Last action: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-10)

Sponsor: Nicole Williams D

Altering the list of convictions that subject a defendant to enhanced sentencing for wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun to include certain extra-jurisdictional crimes.

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Wicomico County - Sunday Hunting Time Restrictions - Repeal

Last action: Hearing 3/10 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-10)

Sponsor: Johnny Mautz R

Repealing certain time restrictions that apply to the hunting of game birds and mammals on certain Sundays on private property and public land designated for Sunday hunting in Wicomico County.

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Land Surveyors and Property Line Surveyors - Private Property Access - Prohibition

Last action: Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-10)

Sponsor: Justin Ready R

Prohibiting a land surveyor or a property line surveyor from conducting a survey on private property during deer firearms hunting season without written permission from the property owner.

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Comprehensive Community Safety Funding Act

Last action: Hearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-10)

Sponsor: Bernice Mireku-North D

Imposing an excise tax on certain gross receipts of certain firearms dealers derived from the sales of firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition in the State and sales of firearms to residents of the State; requiring the Comptroller to distribute a portion of the tax revenues to the Maryland Violence Intervention Program, the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention, the Coordinated Community Supports Partnership, the Survivors of Homicide Victims Program, the Trauma Physician Services Fund, and the Cowley Shock Trauma Center; etc.

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Public Schools - School Resource Officers - Firearms Required

Last action: Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m. (2026-02-09)

Sponsor: J.B. Jennings R

Repealing a certain provision of law relating to a certain school police officer's authorization to carry a firearm under certain circumstances; and requiring a school resource officer to carry a firearm while present on the premises of the school to which the officer is assigned.

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Criminal Law - Drug Trafficking Crime - Definition

Last action: Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m. (2026-02-09)

Sponsor: Dawn Gile D

Altering the definition of "drug trafficking crime" applicable to prohibitions against possessing, using, wearing, carrying, or transporting a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

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Criminal Law - Child's Access to Firearms - Penalty (Ny'Kala Strawder Act)

Last action: Hearing 2/11 at 2:00 p.m. (2026-02-09)

Sponsor: Dalya Attar D

Altering the penalty to add imprisonment not exceeding 5 years for storing or leaving a loaded firearm in a location where the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor has access to the firearm.

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Gun Theft Felony Act of 2026

Last action: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-05)

Sponsor: Stuart Schmidt R

Classifying the theft of a firearm as a felony; establishing a penalty for a first conviction for theft of a firearm of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both; and establishing a penalty for subsequent convictions of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $2,500 or both.

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Handgun Permits - Special Endorsement for Security Clearance Holders

Last action: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-05)

Sponsor: Kevin Hornberger R

Requiring that a handgun permit bear a certain endorsement showing that the permit holder has enhanced privileges to wear, carry, or transport a handgun in any location where a law enforcement official is authorized to wear, carry, or transport a handgun, notwithstanding any law or ordinance that prohibits the wearing, carrying, or transporting of a handgun at a place.

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Firearms Dealers and Employees - Required Training and Exam

Last action: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-05)

Sponsor: Kym Taylor D

Requiring the Secretary of State Police to approve a certain training course and offer a certain exam for certain individuals licensed as, applying to be licensed as, or employed by a State-regulated firearms dealer; requiring certain individuals to complete training and satisfactorily pass a certain exam described in the Act; requiring the Secretary to disapprove an application for a dealer's license under certain circumstances; etc.

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Land Surveyors and Property Line Surveyors - Private Property Access - Prohibition

Last action: Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-02-03)

Sponsor: Jesse Pippy R

Prohibiting a land surveyor or a property line surveyor from conducting a survey on private property during deer firearms hunting season without written permission from the property owner.

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Handguns - Wear, Carry, and Transport Laws - Handbook Publication

Last action: Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-01-28)

Sponsor: Robin Grammer R

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.

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Firearms - Right to Purchase, Own, Possess, and Carry

Last action: Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-01-21)

Sponsor: Robin Grammer R

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.

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Natural Resources - Bow Hunting - Sundays

Last action: Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-01-19)

Sponsor: Christopher Bouchat R

Authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to allow statewide a person to hunt deer on Sundays throughout the deer bow hunting season and to hunt turkey using a bow and arrow on Sundays throughout the turkey hunting season.

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Regulated Firearms - Seven-Day Waiting Period - Exceptions

Last action: Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-01-16)

Sponsor: Jesse Pippy R

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.

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Criminal Law - Drug Trafficking Crime - Definition

Last action: Hearing 1/27 at 2:00 p.m. (2026-01-16)

Sponsor: William Valentine R

Altering the definition of "drug trafficking crime" applicable to prohibitions against possessing, using, wearing, carrying, or transporting a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

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Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act

Last action: Hearing 1/20 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-01-13)

Sponsor: Shelly Hettleman D

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.

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Regulated Firearms - Seven-Day Waiting Period - Exceptions

Last action: Hearing 1/27 at 1:00 p.m. (2026-01-13)

Sponsor: William Folden R

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.

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