Public Safety – Handgun Permits – Firearms Training Course

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0677*

SENATE BILL 677
E4 6lr3024

By: Senator Folden
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Public Safety – Handgun Permits – Firearms Training Course 2

FOR the purpose of altering the requirements for a certain firearms training course that 3
an applicant for a permit to wear, carry, or transport a handgun must successfully 4
complete; and generally relating to permits to wear, carry, and transport handguns. 5

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – Public Safety 7
Section 5–306(a) 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Public Safety 12
Section 5–306(a–1) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17

Article – Public Safety 18

5–306. 19

(a) Subject to subsections (c) and (d) of this section, the Secretary shall issue a 20
permit within a reasonable time to a person who the Secretary finds: 21

(1) (i) is at least 21 years old; or 22

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(ii) is a p erson who is a member of the uniformed services or the 1
National Guard; 2

(2) (i) has not been convicted of a felony or of a misdemeanor for which 3
a sentence of imprisonment for more than 1 year has been imposed; or 4

(ii) if convicted of a crime described in item (i) of this item, has been 5
pardoned or has been granted relief under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c); 6

(3) has not been convicted of a crime involving the possession, use, or 7
distribution of a controlled dangerous substance; 8

(4) is not on supervised probation for: 9

(i) conviction of a crime punishable by imprisonment for 1 year or 10
more; 11

(ii) a violation of § 21–902(b) or (c) of the Transportation Article; or 12

(iii) violating a protective order under § 4 –509 of the Family Law 13
Article; 14

(5) is not presently an alcoholic, addict, or habitual user of a controlled 15
dangerous substance unless the habitual use of the controlled dangerous substance is under 16
legitimate medical direction; 17

(6) does not suffer from a mental disorder as defined in § 10–101(i)(2) of 18
the Health – General Article and have a history of violent behavior against the person or 19
another; 20

(7) has not been involuntarily admitted for more than 30 consecutive days 21
to a facility as defined in § 10–101 of the Health – General Article; 22

(8) is not a respondent against whom: 23

(i) a current non ex parte civil protective order has been entered 24
under § 4–506 of the Family Law Article; 25

(ii) a current extreme risk protective order has been entered under § 26
5–601 of this title; or 27

(iii) any other type of current court order has been entered 28
prohibiting the person from purchasing or possessing firearms; 29

(9) except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, has successfully 30
completed prior to application and each renewal, a firearms training course approved by 31
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the Secretary that meets the minimum criteria specified in subsection (a–1) of this section; 1
and 2

(10) based on an investigation: 3

(i) has not exhibited a propensity for violence or instability that may 4
reasonably render the person’s possession of a handgun a danger to the person or to 5
another; and 6

(ii) is not otherwise prohibited by State or federal law from 7
purchasing or possessing a handgun. 8

(a–1) The firearms training course required under subsection (a) of this section shall 9
include: 10

(1) (i) for an initial application, a minimum of 16 hours of in –person 11
instruction by a qualified handgun instructor; or 12

(ii) for a renewal application, 8 hours of in –person instruction by a 13
qualified handgun instructor; 14

(2) classroom instruction on: 15

(i) State and federal firearm laws, including laws relating to: 16

1. self–defense; 17

2. defense of others; 18

3. defense of property; 19

4. [the safe storage of firearms; 20

5. the circumstances under which an individual becomes 21
prohibited from possessing a firearm under State and federal law, including becoming a 22
respondent against whom: 23

A. a current non ex parte civil protective order has been 24
entered under § 4–506 of the Family Law Article; 25

B. an order for protection, as defined in § 4 –508.1 of the 26
Family Law Article, has been issued by a court of another state or a Native American tribe 27
and is in effect; or 28

C. a current extreme risk protective order has been entered 29
under Subtitle 6 of this title; 30

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6. the requirements and options for surrendering, 1
transferring, or otherwise disposing of a firearm after becoming prohibited from possessing 2
a firearm under State or federal law; 3

7. the requirements for reporting a loss or theft of a firearm 4
to a law enforcement agency as required by § 5–146 of this title; 5

8. the firearms and firearm accessories which are banned 6
under State and federal law; 7

9. the types of firearms that require a special permit or 8
registration to acquire or possess under State or federal law; 9

10. the law prohibiting straw purchases; 10

11.] the law concerning armed trespass under § 6 –411 of the 11
Criminal Law Article; and 12

[12.] 5. the locations where a person is prohibited from 13
possessing a firearm regardless of whether the person possesses a permit issued under this 14
subtitle; 15

[(ii) home firearm safety; 16

(iii) handgun mechanisms and operations;] 17

(II) FIREARM TRAINING, INCLUDING: 18

1. HANDGUN NOMENCLATURE AND SEL ECTING A 19
HANDGUN FOR SELF–DEFENSE; 20

2. AMMUNITION KNOWLEDGE AND DEFENS IVE 21
AMMUNITION SELECTION; 22

3. BASIC DEFENSIVE HANDGUN SKILLS; 23

4. DRAWING A HANDGUN FROM CONCEALMENT; 24

5. LOADING AND STOPPAGE REMEDIATION; 25

6. MINDSET, INCLUDING RESPONDING TO A N ATTACK 26
AND THE AFTERMATH OF AN ATTACK; 27

7. HANDGUN CONCEALMENT AND CARRY MODES; 28

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8. HOME FIREARM SAFETY; AND 1

9. SAFE FIREARM STORAGE , CLEANING, AND 2
MAINTENANCE; 3

[(iv)] (III) conflict de–escalation and resolution; 4

[(v)] (IV) anger management; and 5

[(vi)] (V) suicide prevention; and 6

(3) a firearm qualification component that includes live –fire shooting 7
exercise on a firing range and requires the applicant to demonstrate: 8

(i) safe handling of a handgun; and 9

(ii) shooting proficiency with a handgun. 10

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 11
October 1, 2026. 12