Bill
SB 121
The bill bars state and local enforcement of certain federal firearms measures (taxes, registration, bans, confiscation) and imposes fines and private remedies for violations.
Status & procedural posture
- Introduced: January 23, 2025.
- Current referral: Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety.
- Creates a new state act addressing enforcement of specified federal rules concerning firearms, firearm accessories, ammunition, and owners.
Purpose and intent
- To bar state and local enforcement of certain federal laws, rules, regulations, executive orders, or administrative orders that the bill characterizes as imposing taxes/fees unique to firearms, requiring registration/tracking of firearms or owners, prohibiting possession/transfer of firearms or accessories, or ordering confiscation.
- To create civil and monetary remedies and employment consequences for state actors or political subdivisions that enforce such federal measures.
Key provisions
- Scope — Definitions: “Person” is broadly defined to include individuals, businesses, associations and governmental entities. The bill makes any federal law, rule, regulation, executive order, or administrative order unenforceable in the state if it does any of the following:
- Imposes a tax, levy, fee, or stamp on firearms, accessories, or ammunition that is not common to other goods/services and could inhibit purchase or ownership.
- Requires registration or tracking of firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition.
- Requires registration or tracking of owners of firearms, accessories, or ammunition.
- Prohibits possession, ownership, use, or transfer of firearms, accessories, or ammunition.
- Orders confiscation of firearms, accessories, or ammunition.
- Prohibition on enforcement by state/local employees: State employees and employees of political subdivisions are barred from enforcing or attempting to enforce federal actions described above.
- Monetary penalties:
- An individual who knowingly enforces or attempts to enforce such a federal action in the state is subject to a civil fine of $10,000 per violation.
- A political subdivision that knowingly employs an individual who enforced or tried to enforce such a federal action is subject to a $10,000 fine per violation.
- Private remedies:
- Any person injured by a violation may seek injunctive relief in the county circuit court where the violation occurred. The court must hold a hearing within 30 days of service of the petition.
- In such suits, the prevailing private party (but not the state or a political subdivision) may recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs.
Who would be affected
- State and local law enforcement officers and other state or local employees (barred from enforcing specified federal measures).
- Political subdivisions (counties, cities) — potential employment and liability consequences.
- Firearms owners, sellers, and manufacturers — the bill seeks to immunize certain activities from state enforcement of specified federal mandates and creates private avenues to challenge enforcement attempts.
- Federal agencies — the bill attempts to limit state/local cooperation with certain federal firearms directives (potentially raising intergovernmental conflict).
Potential legal and practical considerations
- The bill directly confronts federal statutes, regulations, and executive actions; such state-level noncooperation measures have been subject to legal challenge under the Supremacy Clause. The summary does not opine on constitutionality but notes that conflicts with federal law may prompt litigation.
- Implementation questions include how “knowing” enforcement is proved, how courts interpret the statutory categories (taxes/registration/confiscation), and interaction with federal cooperation programs (e.g., task forces, grants).
Contact / next steps
- The bill is currently in committee (Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety). Interested parties should monitor committee hearings and amendments for changes to scope, penalties, or remedies.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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