VermontCourts would tighten third-party firearm relinquishment and storage rules
Courts could approve third-party firearm storage only after a safety hearing, background check, and signed responsibility statement.
What it does
Courts could allow firearms to go to a third party only after a hearing and safety finding. The recipient would need a background check and signed responsibility statement.
Law enforcement and firearms dealers would use set procedures to store, release, or sell relinquished firearms. Agencies or dealers could keep sale proceeds, and participating dealers would receive specified liability protection.
Public safety officials would create a statewide model policy on firearm access by prohibited people. Agencies without their own policy by June 30, 2027, would be treated as adopting that model.
Argument forA required hearing, safety finding, and background check could reduce the risk that surrendered firearms reach someone who should not possess them.
Argument againstRequiring hearings, background checks, and affidavits could make third-party storage harder for families when firearms must be surrendered quickly.
More detail
A court would have to hold a hearing before allowing firearms to be given to a third party instead of law enforcement or a firearms dealer. The rule applies to people under court orders to relinquish or surrender firearms and to proposed third-party recipients. The court would have to find that third-party relinquishment adequately protects the parties' safety. The third party would have to pass a National Instant Criminal Background Check System check. The third party would have to sign an affidavit confirming receipt and accepting responsibility for the firearms. The provision is stated to take effect on July 1, 2026.
Law enforcement agencies and participating firearms dealers would follow specified procedures for storing, releasing, and selling relinquished firearms. The provisions cover firearms held after a surrender or relinquishment order and the agencies or dealers handling them. The agency or dealer could retain all money from selling a relinquished firearm. Participating firearms dealers would have the same civil and criminal liability protection for storage that law enforcement agencies have under current law. These provisions are stated to take effect on July 1, 2026.
The Department of Public Safety would direct the Law Enforcement Advisory Board to adopt a statewide model policy on firearm access by people barred from possessing firearms. The policy would guide state and local law enforcement agencies dealing with people prohibited from possessing firearms. A state or local agency that does not adopt its own policy by June 30, 2027, would be treated as having adopted the board's model policy. The act is stated to take effect on July 1, 2026, and the agency-policy deadline is June 30, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29House message: Governor approved bill on June 15, 2026Latest
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 15, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 9, 2026To Governor
- May 28House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 26Senate proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 26Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 22Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 21Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 20Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 20New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- May 193rd reading ordered
- May 19Proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary agreed toMinor
- May 19Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Hashim for Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- May 19Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- May 19Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 15Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- May 15Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 14Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- May 14Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 13Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- May 13Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 12Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- May 12New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 8Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- May 8Second ReadingMinor
- May 8Entered on Notice Calendar
- Mar 24Read 1st time & referred to Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 19Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 19Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 18Third Reading orderedMinor
- Mar 18Second division of amendment agreed to
- Mar 18First division of amendment agreed to
- Mar 18Rep. LaLonde of South Burlington asked that the question be divided
- Mar 18Rep. Arsenault of Williston reported for the Committee on Judiciary
- Mar 18Read second timeMinor
- Mar 18Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 17Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Jan 8Read first time and referred to the Committee on JudiciaryIntroduced
Public SafetyCriminal JusticeGun Policy