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Senate advances H606 to clarify firearm relinquishment, storage and return procedures
Summary
Senate ordered third reading of H606 after a committee report that the bill standardizes post-relinquishment procedures: court hearings for third-party storage, background checks for third parties, notice and return rules, expanded immunity for FFLs, and a DPS role for statewide guidance.
The Senate on May 18 advanced H606, a bill that consolidates and clarifies procedures after a court orders a person to relinquish firearms, ordering the measure for third reading.
Senator Hashim (Wyndham), reporting for the Judiciary Committee, said H606 focuses narrowly on what happens after relinquishment orders are issued and does not change the circumstances under which firearms can be relinquished. "H606 is a bill related to firearm relinquishment procedures," Hashim said, describing the measure as addressing "notice, storage, liability, and other administrative aspects of storing firearms." (Senator Hashim)
The bill preserves the current options for storage—law enforcement, a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL), or a third party—but adds procedural protections. A court must now hold a hearing and find third-party storage will adequately protect safety before approving it; third parties would be subject to background checks and must sign affidavits acknowledging receipt and responsibility. The bill also requires a written acknowledgment form documenting who will store surrendered firearms and where that record is filed.
H606 clarifies return and sale processes: agencies or FFLs must make firearms available to an owner within 72 hours after any federally required background check; if an owner fails to retrieve firearms within 90 days, the law provides notice steps and then allows sale with retention of proceeds as prescribed. The bill extends civil and criminal immunity to participating FFLs consistent with existing protections for law enforcement and permits destruction fees in limited circumstances.
The measure directs the Department of Public Safety to adopt statewide guidelines and standards for the relinquishment process and to encourage FFL participation in storage. Hashim said many provisions reflect unanimous recommendations produced by the firearm surrender order compliance working group created under Act 64 of 2025 and reported that the Judiciary Committee voted 4–1–0 to report the bill as recommended.
The Senate approved the committee’s recommendation to propose the committee’s amendment to the House and ordered third reading of H606; no floor amendments were adopted during the session.
What happens next: H606 will return for third reading in the Senate; the committee-recommended amendments have been formally proposed to the House as part of the legislative process.
