SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 256

Storage of Handguns in Private Conveyances and Vessels
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SPONSOR
Rouson
FILED BY
Darryl Ervin Rouson — District 16, Democrat
EFFECTIVE
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law
DIED IN
Criminal Justice

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Storage of Handguns in Private Conveyances and Vessels; Providing requirements for storage of handguns in private conveyances and vessels; requiring law enforcement agencies to engage in a specified promotional campaign; requiring certain firearms education, safety, and training courses to include instruction on the requirements for storage of handguns in private conveyances and vessels; revising required warnings for transfer or sale of firearms, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Bans leaving unlocked handguns in unoccupied vehicles and boats.

The bill prohibits storing a handgun in an unoccupied, unsecured private conveyance or vessel unless it is hidden from view and locked in a trunk, glove box, or other container.

Law enforcement agencies must run public education campaigns about these new storage rules, and firearms safety courses must include instruction on them.

Retail firearm sellers must add the new storage prohibition to the written warnings they hand to buyers and post at purchase counters.

The new rules take effect on October 1, 2026, and apply to all handguns, whether loaded or unloaded.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 New Storage Requirement for Unoccupied Vehicles and Boats majors. 790.25(4)(a)

AICreates a new legal duty requiring specific security measures for handguns left in unoccupied private conveyances or vessels.

“A person may not store a handgun, whether loaded or unloaded, in an unoccupied, unsecured private conveyance or vessel unless the handgun is kept from ordinary observation and view” bill text, line 50 →
§ 2 Mandatory Law Enforcement Public Education moderates. 790.25(4)(a)

AIRequires every law enforcement agency to conduct a promotional campaign to educate the public about the new storage rules.

“Each law enforcement agency shall engage in a promotional campaign to educate the public and handgun owners regarding the requirements of sub-subparagraph a.” bill text, line 62 →
§ 3 Mandatory Firearms Training Curriculum Update moderates. 790.25(4)(a)

AIRequires specific firearms education and safety courses to include instruction on the new handgun storage requirements.

“The curricula of the firearms education, safety, and training courses specified in s. 790.06(2)(h)1.-4. and 7. shall contain instruction on the requirements of sub-subparagraph a.” bill text, line 65 →
§ 4 Updated Retail and Transfer Warnings moderates. 790.175(1)

AIAdds the new storage prohibition to the written warnings required for retail sales and the posted warnings required at firearm purchase counters.

“A PERSON MAY NOT STORE A HANDGUN, WHETHER LOADED OR UNLOADED, IN AN UNOCCUPIED, UNSECURED PRIVATE CONVEYANCE OR VESSEL UNLESS THE HANDGUN IS KEPT FROM ORDINARY OBSERVATION AND VIEW” bill text, line 50 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Criminal Justice
1/13/2026
Introduced
11/3/2025
Referred to Criminal Justice; Judiciary; Rules
10/21/2025
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 790.25
+165 / −1
s. 790.175
+120 / −0