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HB878 • 2026

The Mississippi Houston/Hunter Act; create to provide limited liability for federal firearm licensees with hold agreements.

AN ACT TO CREATE THE "MISSISSIPPI HOUSTON/HUNTER ACT" TO REGULATE FIREARM HOLD AGREEMENTS; TO PROVIDE IMMUNITY FOR SUCH HOLD IF THE HOLD IS OTHERWISE LAWFUL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Firearms
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
McLean
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so it has no effective date or legal impact.

Mississippi Houston/Hunter Act

This bill creates the Mississippi Houston/Hunter Act to provide limited liability for federal firearm licensees who hold firearms for others under lawful conditions.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a new act called the 'Mississippi Houston/Hunter Act'.
  • Defines terms like 'Federal Firearms Licensee', 'Firearm', and 'Firearm Hold Agreement'.
  • Provides immunity from civil liability for federal firearm licensees who return firearms to owners under lawful conditions.
  • Does not provide immunity if the licensee's actions are unlawful.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Federal firearm licensees who hold firearms for others.
  • People who give their firearms to a licensee to hold temporarily.

Terms To Know

Firearm Hold Agreement
An agreement between a federal firearm licensee and an individual where the licensee holds the person's firearm for a set period of time.
Federal Firearms Licensee
A person who is licensed to sell or deal in firearms under federal law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was never signed into law.
  • It only applies if the licensee follows all laws when holding a firearm.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/16 (H) Referred To Judiciary A

Official Summary Text

The Mississippi Houston/Hunter Act; create to provide limited liability for federal firearm licensees with hold agreements.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 878 *HR43/R1347* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1347
PAGE 1 (GT\KP)

To: Judiciary A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative McLean

HOUSE BILL NO. 878

AN ACT TO CREATE THE "MISSISSIPPI HOUSTON/HUNTER ACT" TO 1
REGULATE FIREARM HOLD AGREEMENTS; TO PROVIDE IMMUNITY FOR SUCH 2
HOLD IF THE HOLD IS OTHERWISE LAWFUL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 4
SECTION 1. (1) This act shall be known as and may be cited 5
as "The Mississippi Houston/Hunter Act". 6
(2) For the purposes of this act, the following terms have 7
the following meanings: 8
(a) "Federal Firearms Licensee" means any person who is 9
licensed pursuant to 18 USC Chapter 44. 10
(b) "Firearm" has the same meaning as provided in 18 11
USC Section 921. 12
(c) "Firearm Hold Agreement" means a private 13
transaction between a federal firearm licensee and an individual 14
firearm owner where the licensee agrees to: (i) take physical 15
possession of the owner's lawfully possessed firearm at the 16
owner's request; (ii) hold the firearm for an agreed period of 17
time; and (iii) return the firearm to the owner. 18
H. B. No. 878 *HR43/R1347* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1347
PAGE 2 (GT\KP)
ST: The Mississippi Houston/Hunter Act; create
to provide limited liability for federal firearm
licensees with hold agreements.
(3) (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of 19
this subsection, no person shall have a private cause of action 20
against a federal firearm licensee operating lawfully in this 21
state for returning a firearm to the firearm owner at the 22
termination of a firearm hold agreement. 23
(b) The immunity from civil liability provided in 24
paragraph (a) shall not apply to any action arising from a firearm 25
hold agreement if that action is the result of unlawful conduct on 26
the part of the federal firearm licensee. 27
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 28
and after July 1, 2026. 29