51 total bills, 12 anti-gun bills,
20 pro-gun bills for this session
Proposed Maryland Firearm Legislation
51 total bills, 12 anti-gun bills,
20 pro-gun bills for this session
2013 Session2014 Session2015 Session2016 Session2017 Session2018 Session2019 Session2020 Session2021 Session2022 Session2023 Session2024 Session
Filter: Click on bill number for details. jump to upper chamber
note: Maryland does not carry over legislation from session to session
Title: Public Safety - Firearm Application
Description: Repealing a requirement that a firearm application contain a copy of the applicant's handgun qualification license; and requiring that a firearm application contain the applicant's handgun qualification license number, with a specified exception.
Last Action: Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Last Action Date: April 7, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Handgun Qualification License - Application Fee
Description: Reducing the maximum application fee that an applicant must pay to the Secretary of State Police for a handgun qualification license from $50 to $25.
Last Action: Unfavorable Report by Judiciary
Last Action Date: March 18, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Renewal of Handgun Permits - Fingerprinting
Description: Specifying that a person who applies for the renewal of a handgun permit is not required to be fingerprinted except under specified circumstances.
Last Action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 618
Last Action Date: May 19, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Assault Weapons - Replacements
Description: Authorizing a person to replace a lost or broken assault weapon that was lawfully possessed in accordance with specified provisions of law if the replacement is registered with the Secretary of State Police.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Regulated Firearms - Disqualifying Crime
Description: Clarifying that the term "disqualifying crime" includes a violation classified as a misdemeanor in the State that carried a statutory penalty of incarceration of more than 2 years at the time of the commission of the crime.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Handgun Permits - Universal Recognition
Description: Specifying that a permit to carry a handgun issued to an individual in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., or West Virginia is valid in Maryland.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Permit to Carry, Wear, or Transport a Handgun - Qualifications
Description: Clarifying that personal protection can qualify as a good and substantial reason to wear, carry, or transport a handgun for purposes of the issuance by the Secretary of State Police of a permit to carry, wear, or transport a handgun.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Honorably Discharged Veterans - Handgun License
Description: Providing that an honorably discharged member of the armed forces of the United States or the National Guard is not required to possess a specified handgun qualification license in order to purchase, rent, or receive a specified handgun under specified circumstances.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Handgun Permits - Qualifications - Former and Retired Law Enforcement Officers
Description: Establishing a presumption that an applicant for a permit to wear, carry, or transport a handgun has a good and substantial reason to wear, carry, or transport a handgun if the applicant is a former or retired law enforcement officer under specified circumstances.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Possession of Loaded Handgun or Regulated Firearm - Enhanced Penalties
Description: Prohibiting a person from wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun loaded with ammunition on or about the person or in a vehicle under specified circumstances; prohibiting a person from possessing a regulated firearm loaded with ammunition under specified circumstances or if the person is under a specified age; establishing penalties for violations of the Act; requiring the State to comply with the procedures set forth in the Maryland Rules for the indictment and trial of a subsequent offender; etc.
Last Action: Unfavorable Report by Judiciary; Withdrawn
Last Action Date: February 15, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Rifles and Shotguns - Transactions
Description: Providing that a person who is not a specified licensee may not complete the transfer of a specified rifle or shotgun as transferor or transferee, except under specified circumstances; requiring, before a specified transfer is conducted, the transferor and transferee to meet jointly with a specified licensee and request that the licensee facilitate the transfer; requiring a licensee to take specified actions when facilitating a transfer; etc.
Last Action: Unfavorable Report by Judiciary; Withdrawn
Last Action Date: March 18, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Firearms Disqualifications - Antique Firearm
Description: Applying specified provisions disqualifying a person from possessing a rifle or shotgun to an antique firearm and altering the definition of "firearm" so as to clarify that the term includes an antique firearm.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Handguns - School Employees - Handgun Permits and Carrying Weapons on School Property
Description: Authorizing a county board to authorize school employees in the county board's school system to carry a handgun on school property under specified circumstances; requiring the Secretary of State Police to issue a handgun permit to a person who is otherwise qualified and who is a school employee in a school system in which the county board has authorized school employees to carry a handgun; etc.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Handgun Qualification License Training Requirement - Exceptions
Description: Providing an exception to the completion of the firearms safety training course requirement for obtaining a handgun qualification license to specified retired out-of-state law enforcement officers under specified circumstances and to specified correctional officers and deputies from Cecil, Carroll, and Harford counties.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Handgun Permit - Temporary Training Waiver
Description: Authorizing the Secretary of State Police, on making a determination that an applicant has demonstrated evidence of imminent danger to the applicant, to temporarily waive a specified requirement to complete a specified firearms training course; and requiring a specified permit to require completion of a specified course within 60 days after the issuance of the permit.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Crime Gun Reporting and Analysis
Description: Requiring a law enforcement agency to report specified information to the Department of State Police within 24 hours after the seizure or recovery of a firearm relating to a crime, with specified exceptions; requiring the Department, on or before January 31 of each year, to submit to the General Assembly a report and statistical analysis on all firearms relating to a crime recovered in the State during the previous calendar year; etc.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Criminal Procedure - Crime of Violence - Definition
Description: Altering definitions of "crime of violence" to conform to a specified other definition of "crime of violence"; providing that a specified definition of "crime of violence" applies to specified uses of the term in specified provisions of law; and altering the list of crimes that are included in the definition of a "crime of violence".
Last Action: Unfavorable Report by Judiciary; Withdrawn
Last Action Date: March 17, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Imitation Firearms - Prohibition
Description: Prohibiting the sale, offer of sale, possession, use, attempt to use, or transfer of an imitation firearm; defining terms; establishing criminal penalties; establishing exceptions; authorizing the Attorney General to file a civil action to enjoin a violation of the Act; and authorizing a circuit court to enjoin a violation of the Act.
Last Action: Unfavorable Report by Judiciary; Withdrawn
Last Action Date: March 14, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Firearms - Terrorist Watchlist
Description: Prohibiting the sale, rental, or transfer of a regulated firearm, rifle, or shotgun to a person who is on the Terrorist Watchlist maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and prohibiting the Secretary of State Police from issuing a permit to carry, wear, or transport a handgun to a person listed on the Terrorist Watchlist.
Last Action: Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: February 26, 2016
Title: Criminal Procedure - Firearms - Transfer
Description: Providing an exception for a specified person from the prohibition against carrying or transporting a specified firearm under specified circumstances; requiring a court to inform a person convicted of a specified offense that the person is prohibited from possessing a firearm under specified provisions of law; requiring the court to advise the person that specified proof must be provided to the court that specified firearms owned by the person or in the person's possession have been transferred from the person's possession; etc.
Last Action: Third Reading Passed with Amendments (46-0)
Last Action Date: April 11, 2016
Title: Weapon-Free Higher Education Zones
Description: Prohibiting the carrying or possession of specified firearms on the property of public institutions of higher education; providing for specified exceptions to the prohibition; and requiring the public institution of higher education to post signs in prominent locations on the property of the public institution of higher education, including at entrances to and exits from the property, designed to provide notice of the prohibition on the possession of firearms.
Last Action: First Reading Judicial Proceedings
Last Action Date: March 16, 2016
Title: Firearms - Handgun Qualification License - Live-Fire Component
Description: Providing that the firearms orientation component of a specified firearms safety training course required to be taken by a person to be issued a specified handgun qualification license need not include a practice component requiring the person to fire rounds of live ammunition.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Handgun Permit - Applicant Qualifications
Description: Repealing the requirement that the Secretary of State Police find that a person has a good and substantial reason to carry, wear, or transport a handgun before issuing a handgun permit to the person.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Possession of Loaded Handgun or Regulated Firearm - Enhanced Penalties
Description: Prohibiting a person from wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun loaded with ammunition on or about the person or in a vehicle under specified circumstances; prohibiting a person from possessing a regulated firearm loaded with ammunition under specified circumstances or if the person is under a specified age; establishing penalties for violations of the Act; requiring the State to comply with the procedures set forth in the Maryland Rules for the indictment and trial of a subsequent offender; etc.
Last Action: Unfavorable Report by Judiciary
Last Action Date: March 18, 2016
Title: Sales and Use Tax - Exemption - Firearm Safety Devices
Description: Providing an exemption under the sales and use tax for the sale of specified firearm safety devices including a firearm safe, firearm lock box, trigger and barrel lock, or any other item designed to enhance home firearm safety.
Last Action: Hearing 3/08 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 8, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Application Report
Description: Requiring the Department of State Police to make a specified report to the General Assembly every 6 months containing the number of permit applications received and processed for permits to carry, wear, or transport a handgun.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Renewal Period for Retired Law Enforcement Officer
Description: Establishing that a handgun permit issued to a retired law enforcement officer of the State or a county or municipal corporation of the State 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 specified circumstances; and providing that a retired officer who applies for a permit renewal is not required to be fingerprinted except under specified circumstances.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Firearms - Applications - Notification and Reporting
Description: Requiring the Secretary of State Police to provide notice of a specified denial of a handgun qualification license application or specified disapproval of a firearm application within a specified amount of time after a denial or disapproval to specified agencies; providing information that must be included in a specified notification; requiring agencies that receive a notification of application denial or disapproval to meet specified annual reporting requirements; etc.
Last Action: Unfavorable Report by Judiciary
Last Action Date: March 19, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Police Profiling - "Right-to-Carry" Permit
Description: Establishing that it is not a legitimate law enforcement purpose to use active or historical plate data captured by an automatic license plate reader system that indicates the owner of the vehicle has been issued a permit to carry, wear, or transport a handgun as the sole basis to stop and question the vehicle's driver.
Last Action: Hearing 3/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Background Check Accountability Act of 2016
Description: Requiring a law enforcement agency to take specified actions before returning a privately owned firearm; requiring each law enforcement agency to develop a notification protocol that allows a petitioner to request to be notified when a law enforcement agency returns a privately owned firearm to a specified individual; requiring a law enforcement agency to take specified actions if a petitioner has requested notification under the Act; etc.
Last Action: Unfavorable Report by Judiciary
Last Action Date: March 19, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Expiration
Description: Authorizing the Secretary of State Police to establish an alternative expiration date for a permit to carry, wear, or transport a handgun that coincides with the expiration of a license, registration, certification, or commission for a specified private detective, a specified security guard, or a special police officer.
Last Action: Hearing 4/06 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: April 6, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Firearms - License Fees
Description: Reducing the application fee from a maximum of $50 to a maximum of $20 for a specified handgun qualification license; and reducing the application fee for the renewal of a handgun qualification license from a maximum of $20 to a maximum of $10.
Last Action: Hearing 3/09 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 9, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Permit to Carry, Wear, or Transport a Handgun - Qualifications
Description: Clarifying that personal protection can qualify as a good and substantial reason to wear, carry, or transport a handgun for purposes of the issuance by the Secretary of State Police of a permit to carry, wear, or transport a handgun.
Last Action: Hearing 3/09 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 9, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Renewal of Handgun Permits - Fingerprinting
Description: Specifying that a person who applies for the renewal of a handgun permit is not required to be fingerprinted unless a set of the person's fingerprints is required to resolve a question of the person's identity.
Last Action: Vetoed by the Governor (Duplicative)
Last Action Date: May 27, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Handgun Permit - Temporary Training Waiver
Description: Authorizing the Secretary of State Police, on making a determination that an applicant has demonstrated evidence of imminent danger to the applicant, to temporarily waive a specified requirement to complete a specified firearms training course; and requiring a specified permit to require completion of a specified course within 60 days after the issuance of the permit.
Last Action: Hearing 3/09 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 9, 2016
Title: Firearms - Handgun Qualification License - Live-Fire Component
Description: Providing that the firearms orientation component of a specified firearms safety training course required to be taken by a person to be issued a specified handgun qualification license need not include a practice component requiring the person to fire rounds of live ammunition.
Last Action: Hearing 3/09 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 9, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Expiration
Description: Authorizing the Secretary of State Police to establish an alternative expiration date for a permit to carry, wear, or transport a handgun to coincide with the expiration date of the holder's handgun qualification license if the holder is licensed, registered, or commissioned as a private detective, security guard, or a special police officer under specified provisions of law.
Last Action: Hearing 4/06 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: April 6, 2016
Title: Sales and Use Tax - Exemption - Firearm Safety Devices
Description: Providing an exemption under the sales and use tax for the sale of specified firearm safety devices including a firearm safe, firearm lock box, trigger and barrel lock, or any other item designed to enhance home firearm safety.
Last Action: Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: February 17, 2016
Title: Birth and Death Certificates - Fee Reduction
Description: Decreasing from $24 to $12 fees for certified copies of specified certificates; and decreasing from $20 to $10 the portion of each fee collected by local health departments required to be transferred to the General Fund.
Last Action: Hearing 4/09 at 9:30 a.m.
Last Action Date: April 9, 2016
Title: Handgun Permits - Universal Recognition
Description: Specifying that a permit to carry a handgun issued to an individual in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., or West Virginia is valid in Maryland.
Last Action: Hearing 3/09 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 9, 2016
Title: Annual Curative Bill
Description: Generally curing previous Acts of the General Assembly with possible title or other defects.
Last Action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 9
Last Action Date: March 14, 2016
Title: Criminal Law - Pretrial Release - Prior Crimes
Description: Prohibiting a District Court commissioner from authorizing the pretrial release of a defendant charged with a crime of violence if the defendant has previously been convicted of a specified crime; and prohibiting a District Court commissioner from authorizing release of a defendant charged with a specified crime if the defendant has previously been convicted of a crime of violence.
Last Action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 567
Last Action Date: May 19, 2016
Title: Criminal Law - Theft of a Firearm
Description: Prohibiting a person from knowingly or willfully removing or taking a firearm from the possession, custody, or control of a lawful owner without permission; prohibiting a person from receiving, possessing, transferring, buying, or concealing a firearm under specified circumstances; establishing penalties for a violation of the Act; requiring a conviction for a violation of the Act to merge for sentencing purposes into a specified conviction for theft under specified circumstances; etc.
Last Action: Hearing 3/09 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 9, 2016
Title: Possession of Loaded Handgun or Regulated Firearm - Enhanced Penalties
Description: Prohibiting a person from wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun loaded with ammunition on or about the person or in a vehicle under specified circumstances; prohibiting a person from possessing a regulated firearm loaded with ammunition under specified circumstances or if the person is under a specified age; establishing penalties for violations of the Act; requiring the State to comply with the procedures set forth in the Maryland Rules for the indictment and trial of a subsequent offender; etc.
Last Action: Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
Last Action Date: March 16, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Permit to Wear, Carry, or Transport a Handgun - Expiration and Renewal
Description: Altering the time period in which a permit to wear, carry, or transport a handgun expires to be 5 years after the issuance; and altering the time period for renewal of a permit to wear, carry, or transport a handgun to 5 years after the last renewal.
Last Action: Hearing 3/09 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 9, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Imitation Firearms - Prohibition
Description: Prohibiting the manufacture, sale, offer of sale, or commercial transfer of an imitation firearm; establishing civil penalties; authorizing the Attorney General to file a civil action to enjoin a violation of the Act; and authorizing a circuit court to enjoin a violation of the Act.
Last Action: Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings; Withdrawn
Last Action Date: March 18, 2016
Title: Weapon-Free Higher Education Zones
Description: Prohibiting the carrying or possession of firearms, knives, or deadly weapons on the property of public institutions of higher education; and providing for exceptions to the prohibition for law enforcement officers, a person hired for the purpose of guarding the institution's property, a person engaged in organized shooting activity for educational purposes, and a person who has a written invitation from the president of the institution to engage in a historical demonstration.
Last Action: Hearing 3/09 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 9, 2016
Title: Firearms - Applications - Notification and Reporting
Description: Requiring the Secretary of State Police to provide notice of a specified denial of a handgun qualification license application or specified disapproval of a firearm application within a specified amount of time after a denial or disapproval to specified agencies; providing information that must be included in a specified notification; requiring agencies that receive a notification of application denial or disapproval to meet specified annual reporting requirements; etc.
Last Action: Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
Last Action Date: March 24, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Rifles and Shotguns - Secondary Transactions
Description: Providing that a person who is not a specified licensee may not complete the transfer of a specified rifle or shotgun as transferor or transferee, except under specified circumstances; requiring, before a specified transfer is conducted, the transferor and transferee to meet jointly with a specified licensee and request that the licensee facilitate the transfer; requiring a licensee to take specified actions when facilitating a transfer; etc.
Last Action: Hearing 3/09 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 9, 2016
Title: Criminal Procedure - Right of Appeal - Unlawful Possession of Regulated Firearm, Rifle, or Shotgun
Description: Authorizing the State, in a criminal case involving the unlawful possession of specified firearms, to appeal from a decision of a trial court that excludes evidence offered by the State or requires the return of property alleged to have been seized in violation of specified constitutional provisions.
Last Action: Unfavorable Report by Judiciary
Last Action Date: April 6, 2016
Title: Public Safety - Firearms - Terrorist Watchlist
Description: Prohibiting the sale, rental, or transfer of a regulated firearm, rifle, or shotgun to a person who is on the Terrorist Watchlist maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and prohibiting the Secretary of State Police from issuing a permit to carry, wear, or transport a handgun to a person listed on the Terrorist Watchlist.
Last Action: Hearing 3/16 at 1:00 p.m.
Last Action Date: March 16, 2016
