2026 Gun Bills updated Tuesday, 20 January at 8:37 PM
The 2026 legislative session started Tuesday 20 January and ends at midnight Friday 6 March.
There are 13 gun related bills so far, and we expect several more, some good, some bad. We are studying each and while our Lobbyist, USSC Chairman Clark Aposhian and his assistants will be able to shepherd some bills with no additional assistance, we will need EVERY USSC member and supporter to weigh in to stop a few of the bad and pass some pro-gun bills.
WATCH FOR USSC ACTION ALERTS!
YOUR texts, phone calls and emails to legislators really made a difference getting things done last year, but every year is a new fight.
BILL DETAILS- Click on the bill number in the first column for full text and status. This opens the official state page with full text of the bill, as well as current status and any pending changes.
Bill Number
Bill Title
Bill Sponsor
USSC Position
USSC Comments/ Status
Firearm Storage Requirements
Rep. Andrew Stoddard (D)
OPPOSE
1- Bill foolishly advocates dangerous act of putting trigger locks on a LOADED firearm.
2- Lines 48-51 offer an "affirmative defense" if the owner followed their "safe storage" demands, instead of forcing proof that their actions did NOT comply with the requirements.
Although well intentioned, this is batter addressed by existing "negligence" statutes.
Imitation Firearm Amendments
Rep. Jake Fitisemanu (D)
OPPOSE
Absurd! Creates "an infraction for a minor, after receiving a previous documented warning from a
law enforcement officer, to possess an altered toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm that
has the appearance of an actual firearm"
Higher Education Dangerous Weapon Amendments
Rep. Walt Brooks (R)
UNDER REVIEW
Prohibits firearms purchase or possession for anyone every found "not guilty by reason of insanity" for ANY OFFENSE, not just the current restrictions for that finding for a FELONY.
Restricted Person Amendments
Rep. Verona Mauga (D)
UNDER REVIEW
Makes a restricted person of anyone found not guilty by reason of insanity for any criminal offense, not just felonies and anyone found mentally incompetent to
stand trial for any criminal offense, not just felonies.
1/20/26- Awaiting action by House Judiciary Committee.
Firearm Background Check Amendments
Rep. Cory Maloy (R)
Clarifying background checks for transfers between FFL licensees and for NFA items where feds have already done the background check.
Wildlife Amendments
Rep. Bridger Bolander (R)
SUPPORT.
Addresses the management of wildlife resources and wildlife habitats
Use of Force Reporting Requirements
Rep. Mike Kohler (R)
OPPOSE
Requires an individual to report using force "as soon as no longer in imminent danger" even if it was lawful, but would jeopardize the person for failure to report something which most people would have no idea they should report, and the time limit is absurd.
A bad policy, and likely violation of the 5th Amendment.
1/20/36- A 1st Substitute bill has been drafted which makes huge improvements. Under review.
Open Carry of a Firearm Amendments
Rep. Verona Mauga (D)
OPPOSE
Creates the offense of prohibited open carry of a firearm within 500 feet of a "large public gathering" but not concealed carry, which Utah residents can do under permitless carry.
People with evil intent will ignore this along with a lot of other laws.
Lot's look at controlling people with evil intent or mental illness.
Dangerous Weapons on Campus Amendments
Rep. Andrew Stoddard (D)
OPPOSE
Bans OPEN carry by people WITH A CWP on ANY SCHOOL GROUNDS from day care thru colleges, even though they can legally carry concealed.
"Goldilocks gun control," where nothing is ever "just right." They used to argue that concealed carry was scary but open carry was okay.
1/20/26- Two substitute bill has been drafted, but neither is any better than the original.
Firearms Liability Amendments
Rep. Jordan Teuscher (R)
SUPPORT
Protects "a manufacturer, seller, or trade association" from harassing lawsuits over marketing and sales as are being pushed by anti-gun activists to drive up legal costs for firearms sellers.
NEED TO ADD PROVISION THAT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY AWARD LEGAL COSTS WHEN CASE IS DISMISSED.
Criminal Offense Modifications
Sen. Calvin Musselman (R)
SUPPORT
Technical corrections regarding certain criminal offenses
1/20/26- passed Senate 28-0-1.
1/20/26- Awaiting action by House.
Evidence Retention Amendments
Sen. Wayne Harper (R)
UNDER REVIEW
Amends provisions related to evidence retention.
1/20/26- Awaiting action by Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee.
Firearm Safe Harbor Amendments
Sen. Chris Wilcox (R)
OPPOSE
Mandates annual reports by law enforcement agencies and CCJJ to the legislature on the Safe Harbor program.
It would be interesting to see the data, but USSC opposes adding another reporting requirement on Law Enforcement when the Legislature takes no action after receiving reports related to firearms purchase attempts by prohibited persons, and those reports are not even complete.
This adds administrative burden and staff busy work with no value added to safety or crime prevention.
1/20/26- Awaiting action by Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee.