Councilmember Lukey introduces expedited bill to align local gun restrictions with Maryland Supreme Court ruling

The Montgomery County Council introduced expedited Bill 23‑26 on May 12, 2026, a corrective measure the lead sponsor said is needed to align the county’s firearms restrictions near minors and places of public assembly with a recent Maryland Supreme Court decision.

Councilmember Don Lukey, the bill’s lead sponsor, told colleagues the legislation is intended to 'bring our local law into conformity with the findings that the Maryland Supreme Court made so that we can then enforce our local law.' He framed the measure as an effort to preserve enforceable local protections, not to reduce them, saying the county must ensure its definition of "public assembly" matches the state’s definition to remain enforceable.

A county attorney’s staff member told the Council the Supreme Court opinion had left many enforceable provisions intact but required technical changes; staff said the county’s authority to regulate guns is limited to areas such as "within 100 yards of places of public assembly" and as to minors. The Council President announced a public hearing on the bill for 1:30 p.m. on June 9, 2026.

Several council members asked to be added as cosponsors during the introduction. The bill was formally introduced on the record; no final vote was taken during the session on May 12.

Why it matters: County leaders said the update is necessary so the law is enforceable after the state high court’s opinion. Supporters described the measure as a targeted fix to sustain local public-safety protections; the Council will consider public testimony and staff legal analysis ahead of the June hearing.

Next steps: A public hearing is scheduled for June 9, 2026; staff and the county attorney’s office will provide follow-up materials to the Council ahead of that date.