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SB0362 • 2026

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

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

Children Firearms
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Senator Attar
Last action
2026-02-09
Official status
In the Senate - Hearing 2/11 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 - Child's Access to Firearms - Penalty (Ny'Kala Strawder Act)

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.

What This Bill Does

  • 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.

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. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Hearing canceled

  2. 2026-02-09 Senate

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

  3. 2026-01-29 Senate

    Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m.

  4. 2026-01-23 Senate

    First Reading Judicial Proceedings

  5. Maryland General Assembly

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

Official Summary Text

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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0362*

SENATE BILL 362
E1 6lr1318
SB 1031/25 – JPR
By: Senator Attar
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Criminal Law – Child’s Access to Firearms – Penalty 2
(Ny’Kala Strawder Act) 3

FOR the purpose of altering the penalty for storing or leaving a loaded firearm in a location 4
where the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor has access 5
to the firearm; and generally relating to firearms offenses. 6

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Criminal Law 8
Section 4–104 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13

Article – Criminal Law 14

4–104. 15

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 16

(2) “Ammunition” means a cartridge, shell , or other device containing 17
explosive or incendiary material designed and intended for use in a firearm. 18

(3) (i) “Firearm” means a handgun, rifle, shotgun, short–barreled rifle, 19
or short–barreled shotgun, as those terms are defined in § 4 –201 of this title, or any other 20
firearm. 21

(ii) “Firearm” does not include an antique firearm as defined in § 22
4–201 of this title. 23
2 SENATE BILL 362

(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