ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A Maryland Senate bill that would expand firearm surrender requirements in domestic violence cases is scheduled for its first hearing later this month, marking the opening step in what is expected to be a closely watched debate.
Senate Bill 20, known as the Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act, is set for a 1 p.m. hearing on January 20, 2026, before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.
The legislation proposes sweeping changes to how courts, respondents, and law enforcement agencies handle firearms when a protective order is issued under Maryland’s domestic violence statutes. Under the bill, respondents subject to interim, temporary, or final protective orders would be required to surrender all firearms, along with any handgun qualification licenses or carry permits, within 24 hours of being served by law enforcement.
If a respondent does not possess a firearm, the bill would require a sworn affidavit to be filed within two business days, stating that no firearms are owned or possessed. Respondents who have sold or transferred firearms within the previous 30 days would be required to submit transfer documentation to the court and law enforcement within the same timeframe.
SB20 also places new obligations on local law enforcement agencies. Within three business days of service of a protective order, police would be required to determine whether a respondent has complied with firearm surrender requirements. If noncompliance is found, law enforcement must notify the local State’s Attorney’s Office and take steps to locate and remove firearms, including seeking a search warrant when probable cause exists.
The bill further expands the information a petitioner may provide when seeking a protective order, including known details about firearm ownership, locations where weapons may be stored, and whether a respondent keeps firearms in a vehicle. Some provisions of the legislation reorganize or clarify existing statutes, while others introduce new enforcement timelines, reporting requirements, and verification duties for both respondents and law enforcement agencies.
Under the proposed law, firearms surrendered to law enforcement would be documented, securely stored, and could be reclaimed only after a protective order expires, provided the respondent is legally eligible to possess a firearm at that time. Respondents who do not wish to recover their firearms would be permitted to sell, transfer, or request destruction of the weapons.
Similar firearm-related proposals in previous legislative sessions have drawn debate over due process protections and the potential workload placed on local law enforcement agencies, while supporters argue the bill is intended to close enforcement gaps in cases involving domestic violence.
If enacted, the measure would take effect October 1, 2026. The January 20 hearing will allow for public testimony and committee consideration before any vote to advance the bill to the full Senate.
Read Senate Bill 20 below:
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That seems like the first step in eliminating 2A. Domestic violence needs to be addressed with the individual. They will use any means necessary to control their victim. Choking, stabbing, beating etc. are accomplished without a firearm.
Sounds like a lot of violating of rights going to be occuring. all it takes is an unsubstantiated he said she said and bingo, your rights have been violated without due process. in the instance that there is a legitmate threat to life and safety, that violent individual should be out free in the first place. that sounds like we need to lock them up if they are indeed a danger to others. buuuuuut its the gun’s fault. yeah ok. its all the steps to eventually take them all under the guise of its for everyone’s safety, this wont affect everyone.