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HB1123 • 2026

Criminal Law - Minor's Access to Firearms - Penalty

Criminal Law - Minor's Access to Firearms - Penalty

Children Firearms
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Delegates Stinnett , Addison , Kaufman , Simmons , and Wims
Last action
2026-03-11
Official status
In the House - Hearing 3/11 at 2:00 p.m.
Effective date
2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Criminal Law - Minor's Access to Firearms - Penalty

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.

What This Bill Does

  • 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.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-11 House

    Hearing canceled

  2. 2026-03-11 House

    Hearing 3/11 at 1:30 p.m.

  3. 2026-03-11 House

    Hearing canceled

  4. 2026-03-11 House

    Hearing 3/11 at 2:00 p.m.

  5. 2026-02-11 House

    First Reading Judiciary

  6. 2026-02-11 House

    Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m.

  7. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - First - Criminal Law - Minor's Access to Firearms - Penalty

Official Summary Text

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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1123*

HOUSE BILL 1123
E1 6lr2744
CF 6lr2747
By: Delegates Stinnett, Addison, Kaufman, Simmons, and Wims
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Criminal Law – Minor’s Access to Firearms – Penalty 2

FOR the purpose of altering the penalty for storing or leaving a loaded firearm in a location 3
where the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor has access 4
to the firearm; and generally relating to firearm offenses. 5

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Criminal Law 7
Section 4–104 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12

Article – Criminal Law 13

4–104. 14

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 15

(2) “Ammunition” means a ca rtridge, shell, or other device containing 16
explosive or incendiary material designed and intended for use in a firearm. 17

(3) (i) “Firearm” means a handgun, rifle, shotgun, short–barreled rifle, 18
or short–barreled shotgun, as those terms are defined in § 4 –201 of this title, or any other 19
firearm. 20

(ii) “Firearm” does not include an antique firearm as defined in § 21
4–201 of this title. 22

2 HOUSE BILL 1123

(b) This section does not apply if: 1

(1) the minor’s access to a firearm is supervised by an individual at least 2
18 years old; 3

(2) the minor’s access to a firearm was obtained as a result of an unlawful 4
entry; 5

(3) the firearm is in the possession or control of a law enforcement officer 6
while the officer is engaged in official duties; or 7

(4) the minor has a certificate of firearm and hunter safety issued under § 8
10–301.1 of the Natural Resources Article. 9

(c) A person may not store or leave a loaded firearm in a location where the person 10
knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor has access to the firearm. 11

(d) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction 12
is subject to IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 5 YEARS OR a fine not exceeding $1,000 13
OR BOTH. 14

(e) (1) A violation of this section may not: 15

(i) be considered evidence of negligence; 16

(ii) be considered evidence of contributory negligence; 17

(iii) limit liability of a party or an insurer; or 18

(iv) diminish recovery for damages arising out of the ownership, 19
maintenance, or operation of a firearm or ammunition. 20

(2) A party, witness, or lawyer may not refer to a violation of this section 21
during a trial of a civil action that involves property damage, personal injury, or death. 22

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 23
October 1, 2026. 24