Bill > H0015

This bill addresses the storage of handguns in private vehicles and vessels, introducing new requirements to prevent gun theft and hold parents accountable for their children's actions. Specifically, the bill prohibits storing a handgun in an unoccupied, unsecured vehicle or vessel unless the firearm is hidden from view and secured with a locking device or kept in a locked container like a trunk or glove box. Each county is required to adopt an ordinance by July 1, 2025, that imposes sanctions on parents or legal guardians of children under 18 who steal handguns from vehicles or vessels. These sanctions may include parent education classes, community service, and family counseling. Law enforcement agencies must also conduct promotional campaigns to educate the public about these new storage requirements and parental responsibilities. The bill cites concerning statistics about gun theft, noting that on average, a gun is stolen from a car every nine minutes in the United States, and that over half of gun thefts now occur from vehicles, up from roughly a quarter a decade ago. The legislature declares this approach an important state interest aimed at creating an efficient deterrent to juvenile handgun theft, with the law set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Justice

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/15