Firearms; firearm hold agreements defined; civil immunity therefrom provided
This bill defines "firearm hold agreements" as private arrangements where a licensed gun store (federal firearms licensee) holds a customer's legally owned firearm for a set period and returns it later. It grants civil immunity to these licensees, protecting them from lawsuits if they return the firearm as agreed under the contract. The immunity does not apply if the licensee acted unlawfully, and the bill explicitly excludes transfers violating Alabama's existing gun laws. The law, named the Houston/Hunter Act, takes effect June 1, 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Feb 4, 2025
Signed Apr 7, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
Apr 7, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was finalized as an enrolled version after passing both legislative chambers. The most significant substantive change is the removal of municipal and county law enforcement officers from the list of entities eligible for civil immunity, leaving only federal firearm licensees protected. Additionally, the bill's title was updated to reflect this narrowed scope by removing the reference to law enforcement officers.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed to apply only to federal firearm licensees, excluding municipal and county law enforcement officers from the civil immunity provisions.
ELIGIBILITY
Civil immunity protections were removed for municipal and county law enforcement officers, applying only to federal firearm licensees.
DEFINITION
The definition of a 'firearm hold agreement' was updated to remove references to law enforcement officers as potential parties.
SCOPE
The bill title was changed from 'Engrossed' to 'Enrolled' to indicate final passage, and the descriptive text was shortened to match the narrowed eligibility.
TECHNICAL
The bill number was updated from B55F4QJ-2 to QN79744-2, and the certification section was updated to reflect the final signing process.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
25
Key actions
9
Committee
4
Amendments
4
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Kelley Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 430
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 558
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 557
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Introduced
Judiciary Engrossed Substitute Offered (Judiciary)
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee Second House (Judiciary)
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Introduced
Judiciary 1st Amendment (Judiciary)
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Pending Committee Action in Second House (Judiciary)
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 167
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Kelley motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 166
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Introduced
County and Municipal Government 1st Amendment Offered (County and Municipal Government)
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Introduced
County and Municipal Government 1st Amendment (County and Municipal Government)
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (County and Municipal Government)
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Keith Kelley
RRepublican
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