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Committee advances landlord-tenant firearms bill after testimony from a grandmother
Summary
The House Commerce Committee amended and forwarded HB 4-69, which would generally bar landlords from prohibiting lawful possession or storage of firearms inside leased residential premises while listing exclusions and a 2027 effective date; supporters and opponents debated property-rights and safety concerns after public testimony from a Brentwood grandmother.
The House Commerce Committee on Wednesday advanced HB 4-69, a bill that would prohibit landlords from forbidding lawful possession, carrying, transportation or storage of firearms inside a tenant’s leased residential premises, with several specified exclusions and a prospective effective date of Jan. 1, 2027. Representative Reeves, the sponsor, told members the measure is a narrow change to the residential landlord-tenant law that treats a leased dwelling as someone’s home and preserves explicit exclusions for hospitals, nursing homes, assisted-care facilities, certain independent-living facilities, and school property.
The committee went out of session for public comment. Valerie Williams of Brentwood testified that as a grandmother and carry-permit holder she fears losing the ability to keep firearms in a future apartment to protect children in remote parks and other situations. "I am a law abiding citizen...to be able to have that ability, I would need to have the ability to have those guns in my home," Williams said. After returning to the committee, members considered two floor amendments. One amendment adopted by voice vote narrowed guest language and clarified transport between vehicle and residence. A second amendment proposing a broader exclusion for all independent-living senior communities prompted extended debate.
Opponents of the exclusion argued a broader carve‑out was needed because seniors in independent-living communities may experience temporary impairments that raise risk; supporters of the bill and its sponsor countered that ordinary 55+ communities function like standard apartments and that the bill already excludes facilities physically connected to nursing or assisted‑care operations. Members raised concerns about property-owner rights and potential landlord liability if the statute limited lease terms. The committee ultimately moved the bill forward after adopting at least one amendment and voting the measure to the next referral (calendar/rules).
