SESSION WATCH
THE BILL ITSELF

SB 256

Storage of Handguns in Private Conveyances and Vessels

VERSION S 256 Filed · BACK TO THE SUMMARY · OFFICIAL RECORD

underlined language is being added; struck language is being deleted. Line numbers are the Legislature's own — the same ones amendments cite.

Florida Senate - 2026 SB 256 By Senator Rouson 16-00399-26 2026256__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to storage of handguns in private
3 conveyances and vessels; amending s. 790.25, F.S.;
4 providing requirements for storage of handguns in
5 private conveyances and vessels; providing
6 definitions; requiring law enforcement agencies to
7 engage in a specified promotional campaign; requiring
8 certain firearms education, safety, and training
9 courses to include instruction on the requirements for
10 storage of handguns in private conveyances and
11 vessels; amending s. 790.175, F.S.; revising required
12 warnings for transfer or sale of firearms; providing
13 criminal penalties; providing a declaration of
14 important state interest; providing effective dates.
16 WHEREAS, on average, at least one gun is stolen from a car
17 every 9 minutes in the United States, and
18 WHEREAS, the rate of gun thefts from cars has tripled in
19 the last decade, showing both consistent increases nearly every
20 year and a marked spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, and
21 WHEREAS, a decade ago, roughly a quarter of gun thefts were
22 from cars, but in 2022, over half of gun thefts were from cars,
23 and
24 WHEREAS, guns are most commonly stolen from cars parked at
25 residences, demonstrating the importance of securely storing
26 guns at all times and locations, and
27 WHEREAS, cities in states with the weakest gun safety laws
28 see nearly 18 times the rate of gun thefts from cars as those in
29 states with the strongest gun laws, and
30 WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that it is the
31 responsibility of parents to supervise their children under 18
32 years of age, NOW, THEREFORE,
34 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
36 Section 1. Effective October 1, 2026, subsection (4) of
37 section 790.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
38 790.25 Lawful ownership, possession, and use of firearms
39 and other weapons.—
40 (4) POSSESSION IN PRIVATE CONVEYANCE.—
41 (a) 1. Except as provided in subparagraph 2. and
42 notwithstanding s. 790.01, a person 18 years of age or older who
43 is in lawful possession of a handgun or other weapon may possess
44 such a handgun or weapon within the interior of a private
45 conveyance if the handgun or weapon is securely encased or
46 otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use. A person who
47 possesses a handgun or other weapon as authorized under this
48 subparagraph paragraph may not carry the handgun or weapon on
49 his or her person.
50 2.a. A person may not store a handgun, whether loaded or
51 unloaded, in an unoccupied, unsecured private conveyance or
52 vessel unless the handgun is kept from ordinary observation and
53 view and secured with a device or mechanism that is securely
54 affixed to the private conveyance or vessel or kept locked
55 within a trunk, utility or glove box, or other locked container.
56 b. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term:
57 (I) “Private conveyance” includes any motor vehicle as
58 defined in s. 790.251(2)(b) other than a public conveyance.
59 (II) “Unsecured” means unlocked or otherwise left open to
60 entry.
61 (III) “Vessel” has the same meaning as in s. 327.02.
62 c. Each law enforcement agency shall engage in a
63 promotional campaign to educate the public and handgun owners
64 regarding the requirements of sub-subparagraph a.
65 d. The curricula of the firearms education, safety, and
66 training courses specified in s. 790.06(2)(h)1.-4. and 7. shall
67 contain instruction on the requirements of sub-subparagraph a.
68 Section 2. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 790.175,
69 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
70 790.175 Transfer or sale of firearms; required warnings;
71 penalties.—
72 (1) Upon the retail commercial sale or retail transfer of
73 any firearm, the seller or transferor shall deliver a written
74 warning to the purchaser or transferee, which warning states, in
75 block letters not less than 1/4 inch in height:
77 “IT IS UNLAWFUL, AND PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT AND FINE, FOR
78 ANY ADULT TO STORE OR LEAVE A FIREARM IN ANY PLACE WITHIN THE
79 REACH OR EASY ACCESS OF A MINOR UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE OR TO
80 KNOWINGLY SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OR POSSESSION OF
81 A FIREARM TO A MINOR OR A PERSON OF UNSOUND MIND. A PERSON MAY
82 NOT STORE A HANDGUN, WHETHER LOADED OR UNLOADED, IN AN
83 UNOCCUPIED, UNSECURED PRIVATE CONVEYANCE OR VESSEL UNLESS THE
84 HANDGUN IS KEPT FROM ORDINARY OBSERVATION AND VIEW AND SECURED
85 WITH A DEVICE OR MECHANISM THAT IS SECURELY AFFIXED TO THE
86 PRIVATE CONVEYANCE OR VESSEL OR KEPT LOCKED WITHIN A TRUNK,
87 UTILITY OR GLOVE BOX, OR OTHER LOCKED CONTAINER. ”
89 (2) Any retail or wholesale store, shop, or sales outlet
90 which sells firearms must conspicuously post at each purchase
91 counter the following warning in block letters not less than 1
92 inch in height:
94 “IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE OR LEAVE A FIREARM IN ANY PLACE WITHIN
95 THE REACH OR EASY ACCESS OF A MINOR UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE OR TO
96 KNOWINGLY SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OR POSSESSION OF
97 A FIREARM TO A MINOR OR A PERSON OF UNSOUND MIND. A PERSON MAY
98 NOT STORE A HANDGUN, WHETHER LOADED OR UNLOADED, IN AN
99 UNOCCUPIED, UNSECURED PRIVATE CONVEYANCE OR VESSEL UNLESS THE
100 HANDGUN IS KEPT FROM ORDINARY OBSERVATION AND VIEW AND SECURED
101 WITH A DEVICE OR MECHANISM THAT IS SECURELY AFFIXED TO THE
102 PRIVATE CONVEYANCE OR VESSEL OR KEPT LOCKED WITHIN A TRUNK,
103 UTILITY OR GLOVE BOX, OR OTHER LOCKED CONTAINER. ”
104 Section 3. It is the intent of the Legislature to provide
105 for the most efficient and effective deterrent to juvenile theft
106 of handguns from vessels and conveyances, tailored to local
107 conditions and resources. Therefore, the Legislature determines
108 and declares that this act fulfills an important state interest.
109 Section 4. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
110 act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.