AN ACT relating to gun safety for children.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by George Brown and 2 co-sponsors

HB 113 creates a criminal offense for storing a firearm in a way that allows a minor unsupervised access, with penalties up to a year in jail.

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#childrenandminors #correctionsimpact #crimesandpunishments #criminalprocedure #firearmsandweapons #localmandate #publicsafety #shorttitlesandpopularnames

Summary of HB 113 (2026RS) – Kentucky

Purpose and intent

Establishes new criminal liability for unlawful storage of firearms to reduce unsupervised access by minors.

Aims to prevent child-related gun injuries, suicides, and school-related incidents by holding adults accountable for securely storing firearms.

Key provisions

Definitions (Section 1, amended KRS 527.010)

Clarifies terms relevant to the act, including:
Booby trap device, Destructive device, Firearm, Handgun
Securely locked container: a fully enclosed locked container or device (padlock, keylock, combination lock, etc.); does not include an unlocked glove compartment in a vehicle unless it can be manually locked.

New offense: unlawful storage of a firearm (Section 2)

A person commits unlawful storage of a firearm if:
They recklessly store or leave a firearm in a manner that allows a minor to have unsupervised access to a firearm that is not secured by: 1) A securely locked container; 2) A device/mechanism (other than the firearm’s safety) designed to render the firearm temporarily inoperable; or 3) Carrying the firearm on their person.
A minor accesses the firearm without the minor’s parent/guardian permission.
Penalties:
Class B misdemeanor if a minor accesses the firearm and no injury results.
Class A misdemeanor if the minor uses the firearm to cause physical injury, serious physical injury, or death to the minor or another person.
Afformative defense:
An affirmative defense exists if the minor obtained the firearm through unlawful entry of the premises or vehicle where the firearm was stored.

Name and citation

The act is nicknamed the Baby Dre GunSafetyAct.

Who is affected

Individuals who own or store firearms (including at residences and vehicles) and may be responsible for ensuring minor access is supervised or prevented.

Local jails and law enforcement departments, which would handle investigations and potential incarceration under misdemeanor offenses.

Potentially impacted households with minors, gun owners, and those who manage homes or vehicles with firearms.

Procedural and timeline considerations

The bill sets out new criminal liability with defined misdemeanor levels (Class B and Class A depending on injury outcomes).

Incarceration potential:

Class B misdemeanor: up to 90 days in jail.
Class A misdemeanor: up to 12 months in jail.

Fiscal impact (from local government analysis):

Indeterminate negative impact on local jails and law enforcement due to added investigations and potential incarcerations.
Average incarceration cost cited: approximately $47.43 per day.

Additional notes

The bill’s fiscal notes indicate a local government impact rather than state-level funding, with unclear total number of violations making exact cost estimates difficult.

The measure highlights an affirmative defense for minor unlawful entry into premises or a vehicle where the firearm was stored.

Effective context

The act is introduced in the 2026 Regular Session (House Bill HB 113) and has provisions that would take effect upon passage and signature, subject to standard regulatory and enforcement timelines.