State Legislatures Impede Gun Safety Efforts by Expanding Statewide Firearm Preemption
As the epidemic of gun violence across the U.S. persists, a number of cities have tried to pass strong firearm regulations tailored to the needs of their communities. Unfortunately, many of these efforts have been unsuccessful due to state preemption. Thanks to an aggressive lobbying effort by the National Rifle Association, more than 40 states have passed sweeping firearm preemption laws that prevent local governments from adopting reasonable gun safety policies.
This legislative session, states that already have firearm preemption laws on the books are doubling down on their anti-gun safety efforts through a variety of proposed legislative mechanisms, including:
Prohibiting the enforcement of “red flag” laws, which allow loved ones or law enforcement to petition a court in order to temporarily prevent someone in crisis from accessing guns.
Restricting local zoning authority over indoor shooting ranges.
Making it more difficult to sue firearms industry organizations for criminal misuse of firearms.
As of mid-March 2026, LSSC is tracking 34 firearm preemption bills across 12 states.
The states with proposed firearm preemption legislation include: Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah and West Virginia.
This list includes bills introduced in 2025 in states that carry over bills from the first year to the second year of a two-year legislative session.
One preemption bill has already been signed into law this year, while one awaits signature on the Governor’s desk.
Of the 12 firearm preemption bills actively moving through state legislatures, eight are located in Missouri.
Below is a short overview of some of the firearm preemption bills that have passed – or are currently moving through – state legislatures:
On March 5, 2026, Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed into law IN SB 176, which prohibits local governments from using zoning or land-use regulations to restrict shooting ranges. The legislation also prohibits any permits or approvals relating to shooting ranges that are more restrictive than existing state law.
On March 3, 2026, UT HB 214 was sent to the governor’s desk. The bill prevents local governments in Utah from imposing civil liability on manufacturers, sellers, or trade associations for criminal misuse of firearms and creates additional barriers for lawsuits against the firearms industry.
In Oklahoma, OK SB 2088 would strengthen Oklahoma's existing firearm preemption law by preventing local governments from regulating firearms, ammunition, and related components. The bill also adds financial penalties for local governments that violate the state’s firearm preemption provision.
In Georgia, GA HB 1454 would prohibit local governments from banning firearm discharge on properties that are ten acres and larger. Georgia law already prohibits government entities from creating or maintaining a multijurisdictional database of all people who have applied for – or been issued – weapons carry licenses. This bill would allow private individuals to sue the government if they are improperly included in such a database or list.
In Kansas, KS HB 2501 would broaden state preemption by removing criminal prohibitions for firearms suppressors and short-barrel shotguns. The bill would also prohibit civil liability for gun dealers who return firearms to owners at the end of a “firearm hold agreement” - when a firearm owner voluntarily and temporarily stores their gun with a licensed dealer.
In Missouri, many of the proposed bills would not only remove local government authority on firearms, but also subject local governments to stiff penalties if they violate state law. Of the eight proposed firearm preemption bills in Missouri:
Four would prohibit local governments from enforcing federal or state “red flag” laws or orders (including court orders) within Missouri (HB 1683, HB 1700, SB 1459, SB 1055).
Three would remove local authority to regulate open carry of firearms (HB 2176, HB 2469, SB 908).
The eighth bill, HB 1665, would prohibit homeowners associations from banning concealed carry on their premises.
LSSC monitors abusive preemption bills in all 50 states and will continue to release trend reports for the duration of the 2026 legislative session. If you have questions about any of the bills in this update, or about any of the broader preemption trends our team is tracking, please contact media@supportdemocracy.org. We’d be happy to get you connected with the right expert.