Proposed Kentucky Firearm Legislation
2013 Session2014 Session2015 Session2016 Session2017 Session2018 Session2019 Session2020 Session2021 Session2022 Session2023 Session2024 Session2025 Session2026 Session
Filter: Click on bill number for details. jump to upper chamber
note: Kentucky does not carry over legislation from session to session
Title: AN ACT relating to the safe ownership of firearms.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 237 to define "ammunition" and "firearm"; require an owner or other person lawfully in possession of a firearm or any person who sells ammunition to report the loss or theft of the firearm or ammunition to a law enforcement agency; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to establish civil liability against a person who fails to report the loss or theft of a firearm if knowingly another person is injured by the use of the lost or stolen firearm; establish civil liability against a person who furnishes a firearm to a minor if the minor causes the injury or death of another by the use of the firearm; amend KRS 411.155 to conform.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 6, 2026
Title: AN ACT relating to ex parte orders.
Description: Create a new section of KRS 237.060 to 237.090 to prohibit ex parte orders that restrict the ability of a person to possess firearms and ammunition, firearm accessories, holsters, or firearm storage devices; amend KRS 403.730 and KRS 456.040 to prohibit emergency protective orders and temporary interpersonal protective orders that restrict the ability of a person to possess firearms and ammunition, firearm accessories, holsters, or firearm storage devices; provide that the Act may be cited as the Red Flag Repeal Act of 2026.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 7, 2026
Title: AN ACT relating to firearms liability protections and declaring an emergency.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to define terms; establish liability protections for manufacturers and sellers of firearms against specified legal actions arising from criminal or unlawful use of firearms or ammunition; establish criteria for proceedings including timelines and burden of proof; establish a civil cause of action for violation of the extended protections for manufacturers and sellers and delineate available damages; provide the Attorney General with enforcement authority; provide that the Act may be cited as the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms (PLCAA) Clarification Act of 2026; EMERGENCY.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 7, 2026
Title: AN ACT relating to sales and use tax exemptions for firearm-related items.
Description: Amend KRS 139.010, relating to sales and use taxes, to define "ammunition," "antique firearm," "body armor," firearm," "firearm muffler or silencer," "firearm-related accessory," "firearm safety course," "firearm safety device," and "firearm storage device"; amend KRS 139.480 to exempt ammunition, antique firearms, body armor, firearms, firearm-related accessories, firearm safety courses, firearm safety devices, firearm storage devices, noise cancelling ear protection, and admissions or program fees related to certain firearm-related activities; EFFECTIVE August 1, 2026.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 7, 2026
Title: AN ACT relating to federal firearm restrictions.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 237 to declare legislative intent; define "federal firearm restriction"; provide that if a federal firearm restriction is repealed or declared unconstitutional, the Commonwealth shall not enact or enforce a law, rule, or regulation that mirrors, replaces, or imposes a restriction similar to that federal firearm restriction; prohibit prosecutions, fines, or other penalties for activities that were regulated or prohibited by a federal firearm restriction that is repealed or declared unconstitutional; prohibit specified persons and organizations from enforcing repealed or unconstitutional federal firearm restrictions; create a civil cause of action against a person or organization that violates the prohibitions; waive sovereign, governmental, and qualified immunity; provide penalties for any person who violates the prohibition on enforcing a repealed or unconstitutional federal firearm restriction; allow manufacturers of firearms or federally licensed firearms dealers to manufacture, sell, or possess firearms and accessories no longer restricted under federal law.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 7, 2026
Title: AN ACT relating to misconduct in schools and at school-sponsored activities.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to prohibit a public school district or public charter school from entering into a nondisclosure agreement relating to misconduct involving a minor or student; amend KRS 160.380 to define "abusive conduct"; require school district applicants to disclose being the subject of any disciplinary actions in the previous 12 months relating to abusive conduct and consent to a reference check; require school districts to conduct reference checks; require nonpublic schools and public school districts to disclose any disciplinary actions related to abusive conduct of applicants; provide immunity for disclosures made about school employee conduct; require school districts to request all related information from public and nonpublic schools and the Education Professional Standards Board (ESPB); require schools and EPSB to provide the records; require requests for information to be satisfied in 10 working days; require EPSB to create and implement procedures for information requests; require all school district applicants to list all schools of previous and current employment on the application; require a school district to internally report and investigate to completion all allegations of abusive conduct; require all records relating to an allegation of abusive conduct to be retained in an employee's personnel file unless the allegation is proven false; provide that certain requirements apply to public charter schools; amend KRS 156.160 to direct the Kentucky Board of Education to include employment standards in the voluntary certification standards for private schools; make technical corrections; amend KRS 160.151 to define "certified nonpublic school"; require employees of certified nonpublic schools to submit to a national and state criminal background check and a CA/N check; require certified nonpublic school personnel to have a state criminal background check every 5 years; prohibit a certified nonpublic school from hiring a violent or felony sex crime offender; require a certified nonpublic school to conduct reference checks on all applicants; prohibit a certified nonpublic school from entering into a nondisclosure agreement related to misconduct involving a minor or student; make technical corrections; amend KRS 156.095 to require the Kentucky Department of Education to develop a training related to sexual misconduct and inappropriate relationships for employees to undergo every 5 years; make technical corrections; amend KRS 161.151 to conform; require that an allegation of abusive conduct be reported pursuant to KRS 620.030; amend KRS 158.4431, 156.492, and 158.200 to conform.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 7, 2026
Title: AN ACT relating to gun safety for children.
Description: Amend KRS 527.010, relating to firearms, to define "securely locked container" and make technical corrections; create a new section of KRS Chapter 527 to prohibit unlawful storage of a firearm; establish elements of the crime as recklessly allowing access to an unsecured firearm by a minor; establish the crime as a Class B misdemeanor unless a physical injury or death results, in which case it is a Class A misdemeanor; provide that an affirmative defense exists if a minor obtained the firearm through the minor's unlawful entry; provide that the Act may be cited as the Baby Dre Gun Safety Act.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 7, 2026
Title: AN ACT relating to firearms and declaring an emergency.
Description: Create new sections of KRS Chapter 237 to define "assault weapon," "large capacity ammunition feeding device," and "seller of ammunition"; require background checks for private firearms sales; require reporting to law enforcement of firearm and ammunition thefts and losses; require the safe storage of firearms; require the Department of Kentucky State Police to promulgate administrative regulations relating to the licensing of persons to possess handguns and assault weapons, the registration of handguns and assault weapons, and the logging of firearms and ammunition sales effective January 1, 2027; amend KRS 237.990 to establish penalties; create a new section of KRS Chapter 527 to establish the offense of criminal purchase or transfer of a weapon as a Class D felony; amend KRS 395.250 to require an estate's inventory to list each firearm; amend KRS 403.735 to require judges, when issuing an order of protection, to consider whether a person against whom the order is entered should be prohibited from possessing a firearm; amend KRS 456.050 to require judges, when issuing an interpersonal protective order, to consider whether a person against whom the order is entered should be prohibited from possessing a firearm; amend KRS 504.030 to require judges in criminal cases where a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity to demand the surrender of the defendant's firearms; amend KRS 506.080 to add that the offense of facilitation includes assistance in providing firearms; amend KRS 508.020 to include physical injury to a minor by virtue of the intentional discharge of a firearm within the offense of assault in the second degree; amend KRS 527.040 to require that the sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm be served consecutively to any other felony sentence; amend KRS 527.070 to include postsecondary education facilities within the existing ban on firearms in schools; amend KRS 532.030 to require the judge pronouncing a defendant guilty but mentally ill to demand the surrender of the person's firearms; amend KRS 65.1591, 237.104, 237.115, and 532.025 to conform; repeal KRS 65.870, relating to the prohibition of local firearm control ordinances; EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2027; EMERGENCY.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 7, 2026
Title: AN ACT relating to the destruction of confiscated firearms.
Description: Amend KRS 16.220 to require the destruction of confiscated firearms; amend KRS 45.777, 147A.002, 500.090, 500.093, and 514.065 to conform.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 7, 2026
Title: AN ACT relating to firearms possession by domestic abusers.
Description: Amend KRS 527.010 to define "domestic abuse offense," "domestic violence protective order," and "physical force"; create new sections of KRS Chapter 527 to create the crimes of possession of a firearm by a convicted domestic abuser and possession of a firearm by the subject of a domestic violence protective order; require the surrender of firearm by individuals subject to protective orders or convicted of specified crimes; amend KRS 403.740 and 456.060 to require courts to inform the subject of a domestic violence order or an interpersonal protective order of the firearm possession prohibition.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 7, 2026
Title: AN ACT relating to background checks on the sale or transfer of firearms.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 237 to require background checks for private firearms sales and transfers; amend KRS 237.990 to establish a penalty for violations.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 7, 2026
Title: AN ACT relating to machine gun conversion devices.
Description: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 527 to define "machine gun"; establish the offense of possession of a machine gun conversion device as a Class C felony.
Last Action: to Committee on Committees (H)
Last Action Date: January 9, 2026
