Bill > H901

This bill establishes a legal framework for safety hold agreements between federal firearms licensees (licensed gun dealers, manufacturers, or importers) and individual firearm owners, allowing owners to voluntarily have their firearms temporarily held by a licensee without payment. The bill defines a safety hold agreement as a private transaction where a licensee takes physical possession of a lawfully owned firearm for an agreed-upon period and then returns it to the owner. The legislation provides liability protection for federal firearms licensees, meaning they cannot be sued for personal injury or death arising from the agreement, except in cases of negligent or reckless firearm storage or unlawful conduct. If an owner does not reclaim their firearm after the agreed period, the licensee may sell or dispose of it. The State Bureau of Investigation is required to develop a standardized form for these agreements and make it available online, and the agreements are to remain confidential. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that licensees are not obligated to hold unlawfully possessed firearms or return firearms to individuals prohibited by law from possessing them. The act will become effective on July 1, 2025, and the State Bureau of Investigation is tasked with adopting rules to implement the law.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H901