SB0080 • 2026

Safe Storage of Firearms and Ammunition in Motor Vehicles and Vessels

Firearms

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Berman
Last action: 2026-03-13
Official status: Senate - Died in Criminal Justice
Effective date: Upon becom

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass the legislature and died in committee, so there is no effective date or further action to be taken.

Safe Storage of Guns and Ammo in Cars and Boats

This bill requires people to keep firearms and ammunition locked when stored in cars or boats.

What This Bill Does

Defines what 'motor vehicle', 'trunk', and 'vessel' mean for this law.
Requires individuals who store firearms or ammunition in their car or boat to lock them inside the trunk, utility box, glove compartment, or a locked container when they are not present.

Who It Names or Affects

People who own guns and leave them in cars or boats.

Terms To Know

trunk: The fully enclosed and locked main storage compartment of a motor vehicle which is not accessible from the passenger compartment. It does not include compartments with windows, pickup truck beds, or rear areas of hatchback, station wagon-type vehicles, or sport utility vehicles.
vessel: A boat or ship used for transportation on water.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass all stages of the legislature and died in committee.
Does not specify what happens if someone breaks this law, but it mentions criminal penalties for violations.

Bill History

2026-03-13 Senate
• Died in Criminal Justice
2026-01-13 Senate
• Introduced
2025-10-06 Senate
• Referred to Criminal Justice; Judiciary; Rules
2025-09-24 Senate
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Safe Storage of Firearms and Ammunition in Motor Vehicles and Vessels; Defining the terms “motor vehicle,” “trunk,” and “vessel”; requiring persons who store or leave firearms or ammunition in motor vehicles or vessels under their control to keep the firearms or ammunition locked inside specified locations within the motor vehicles or vessels while such persons are not in the motor vehicles or vessels, etc.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Florida Senate
-
2026

SB 80

By
Senator Berman

26-00098-26 202680__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to safe storage of firearms and
3 ammunition in motor vehicles and vessels; creating s.
4 790.176, F.S.; defining the terms “motor vehicle,”
5 “trunk,” and “vessel”; requiring persons who store or
6 leave firearms or ammunition in motor vehicles or
7 vessels under their control to keep the firearms or
8 ammunition locked inside specified locations within
9 the motor vehicles or vessels while such persons are
10 not in the motor vehicles or vessels; providing
11 criminal penalties; providing an effective date.
12
13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15 Section 1. Section 790.176, Florida Statutes, is created to
16 read:
17
790.176

Requirements for safe storage of firearms and

18
ammunition in motor vehicles and vessels
.—

19
(1)

As used in this section, the term:

20
(a)

“Motor vehicle” has the same meaning as in s.

21
320.01(1).

22
(b)

“Trunk” means the fully enclosed and locked main

23
storage compartment of a motor vehicle
which
is not accessible

24
from the passenger compartment
. The term
does not include a

25
compartment that has a window, the bed of a pickup truck, or the

26
rear area of a hatchback, station wagon-type motor vehicle, or

27
sport utility motor vehicle
.

28
(c)

“Vessel” has the same meaning as in s. 327.02.

29
(2)

A person who stores or leaves a firearm, whether loaded

30
or unloaded, or ammunition
i
n
a motor
vehicle
or vessel
under

31
his or her control while the person is not
in
the motor vehicle

32
or vessel
must
keep the firearm
or ammunition locked inside
the

33
trunk,
inside a locked
utility or glove box, or
inside
a
locked

34
container securely affixed to the motor vehicle or vessel.

35
(3)

A person who violates subsection (2) commits a

36
misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.

37
775.082 or s. 775.083.

38 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.