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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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SENATE BILL 27
E4 6lr1370
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 126
By: Senators Folden and McKay
Requested: October 28, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Regulated Firearms – Seven–Day Waiting Period – Exceptions 2
FOR the purpose of excepting a sale, rental, or transfer of a regulated firearm from a certain 3
waiting period requirement if the purchaser, renter, or receiver of the firearm is a 4
law enforcement officer, a retired law enforcement officer who retired in good 5
standing, or an individual with a certain permit ; and generally relating to 6
purchasing, renting, or transferring a regulated firearm. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Public Safety 9
Section 5–123 and 5–124 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Public Safety 15
5–123. 16
(a) (1) [A] SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, A licensee 17
may not sell, rent, or transfer a regulated firearm until after 7 days following the time a 18
firearm application is executed by the firearm applicant, in triplicate, and the original is 19
forwarded by the prospective seller or transferor to the Secretary. 20
(2) THE REQUIREMENT UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 21
THAT THE SALE, RENTAL, OR TRANSFER OF A REGULATED FIREARM MAY NOT OCCUR 22
UNTIL AFTER 7 DAYS FOLLOWING THE T IME AN APPLICATION I S EXECUTED DOES 23
2 SENATE BILL 27
NOT APPLY TO A SALE , RENTAL, OR TRANSFER OF A REG ULATED FIREARM IF THE 1
INDIVIDUAL WHO PURCHASES, RENTS, OR RECEIVES THE REGULATED FIREARM IS: 2
(I) A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; 3
(II) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS RETIRED AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT 4
OFFICER IN GOOD STANDING FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY; OR 5
(III) AN INDIVIDUAL TO WHOM A PERMIT TO WEAR, CARRY, OR 6
TRANSPORT A HANDGUN HAS BEEN ISS UED UNDER TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 3 OF THIS 7
ARTICLE. 8
(b) A licensee shall complete the sale, rental, or transfer of a regulated firearm 9
within 90 days after the firearm application was stamped by the Secretary as not being 10
disapproved. 11
(c) (1) If the sale, rental, or transfer of a regulated firearm is not completed 12
within 90 days after the firearm application was stamped by the Secretary as not being 13
disapproved, a licensee shall return the firearm application to the Secretary within 7 days. 14
(2) The Secretary shall void a firearm application returned under 15
paragraph (1) of this subsection as an incomplete sale, rental, or transfer. 16
(d) (1) (i) A licensee who sells, rents, or transfers a regulated firearm in 17
compliance with this subtitle shall forward a copy of the written notification of the 18
completed transaction to the Secretary within 7 days after delivery of the regulated firearm. 19
(ii) The notification shall contain an identifying description of the 20
regulated firearm, including its caliber, make, model, any manufact urer’s serial number, 21
and any other special or peculiar characteristic or marking by which the regulated firearm 22
may be identified. 23
(2) The Secretary shall maintain a permanent record of all notifications 24
received of completed sales, rentals, and transfers of regulated firearms in the State. 25
5–124. 26
(a) (1) (I) [A] SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, 27
A person who is not a licensee may not sell, rent, transfer, or purchase a regulated firearm 28
until after 7 days following the time a firearm a pplication is executed by the firearm 29
applicant, in triplicate, and the original is forwarded by a licensee to the Secretary. 30
(II) THE REQUIREMENT UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS 31
PARAGRAPH THAT A PERSON MAY NO T SELL , RENT, TRANSFER, OR PURCHASE A 32
REGULATED FIREARM UNTIL 7 DAYS AFTER AN APPLIC ATION IS EXECUTED DOES 33
SENATE BILL 27 3
NOT APPLY TO A SALE , RENTAL, OR TRANSFER OF A REGULATED FIREARM IF THE 1
INDIVIDUAL WHO PURCHASES, RENTS, OR RECEIVES THE REGULATED FIREARM IS: 2
1. A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; 3
2. AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS R ETIRED AS A LAW 4
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN GOOD STANDING FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY; 5
OR 6
3. AN INDIVIDUAL TO WHOM A PERMIT TO WEAR, CARRY, 7
OR TRANSPORT A HANDGUN HAS BEEN ISSUED UNDER TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 3 OF THIS 8
ARTICLE. 9
(2) As an alternative to completing a secondary sale of a regulated firearm 10
through a licensee, a prospective seller, lessor, or transferor and a prospective purchaser, 11
lessee, or transferee may complete the transaction through a designated law enforcement 12
agency. 13
(b) A firearm applicant for a secondary sale of a regulated firearm through a 14
licensee shall pay to the licensee a processing fee not exceeding $20. 15
(c) A person shall complete the sale, rental, or transfer of a regulated firearm 16
within 90 days after the firearm application was stamped by the Secretary as not being 17
disapproved. 18
(d) (1) If the sale, rental, or transfer of a regulated firearm is not completed 19
within 90 days after the firearm application was stamped by the Secretary as not being 20
disapproved, a person shall return the firearm application to the Secretary within 7 days. 21
(2) The Secretary shall void a firearm application returned under 22
paragraph (1) of this subsection as an incomplete sale, rental, or transfer. 23
(e) (1) (i) A per son who sells, rents, or transfers a regulated firearm in 24
compliance with this subtitle shall forward a copy of the written notification of the 25
completed transaction to the Secretary within 7 days after delivery of the regulated firearm. 26
(ii) The notification shall contain an identifying description of the 27
regulated firearm, including its caliber, make, model, any manufacturer’s serial number, 28
and any other special or peculiar characteristic or marking by which the regulated firearm 29
may be identified. 30
(2) The Secretary shall maintain a permanent record of all notifications 31
received of completed sales, rentals, and transfers of regulated firearms in the State. 32
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 33
October 1, 2026. 34