Firearms Liability Protections Bill Vetoed

Kentucky Legislative Events

Published April 3rd, 2026

Detected April 4th, 2026

Summary

Kentucky HB78, titled the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms (PLCAA) Clarification Act of 2026, was vetoed by the Governor on April 3, 2026. The bill would have created liability protections for firearms manufacturers and sellers against lawsuits arising from criminal or unlawful use of firearms. Despite passing both chambers with veto-proof majorities (House 76-16, Senate 32-6), the bill did not become law.

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What changed

Kentucky HB78 was vetoed on April 3, 2026, preventing the bill from becoming law. The vetoed legislation would have established new civil liability protections for firearms manufacturers and sellers, including statutory definitions, procedural criteria with timelines and burden of proof standards, and a civil cause of action with delineated damages. The Attorney General would have been granted enforcement authority.

Since the bill was vetoed, no new legal obligations or liability protections were created. The existing legal landscape for firearms manufacturers and sellers regarding civil liability remains unchanged. Stakeholders should monitor for potential reintroductions in future legislative sessions.

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Kentucky / HB78 Vetoed HB78 House Bill Vetoed 2026-04-03

AN ACT relating to firearms liability protections and declaring an emergency.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to define terms; establish liability protections for manufacturers and sellers of firearms against specified legal actions arising from criminal or unlawful use of firearms or ammunition; establish criteria for proceedings including timelines and burden of proof; establish a civil cause of action for violation of the extended protections for manufacturers and sellers and delineate available damages; provide the Attorney General with enforcement authority; provide that the Act may be cited as the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms (PLCAA) Clarification Act of 2026; EMERGENCY.

Bill Details

State Kentucky

Session 2026 Regular Session

Chamber House

Official Source apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb78.html

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Action History

2026-04-03 H Vetoed 2026-03-31 H delivered to Governor 2026-03-31 H enrolled, signed by President of the Senate 2026-03-31 H enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House 2026-03-31 H passed 76-16 2026-03-31 H House concurred in Committee Substitute (1) 2026-03-31 H posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1) 2026-03-27 H to Rules (H) 2026-03-27 H received in House 2026-03-26 S 3rd reading, passed 32-6 with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-03-26 S placed in the Orders of the Day 2026-03-26 S taken from Rules 2026-03-26 S reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-03-25 S returned to Judiciary (S) 2026-03-25 S 2nd reading 2026-03-25 S taken from Judiciary (S) 2026-03-24 S returned to Judiciary (S) 2026-03-24 S 1st reading 2026-03-24 S taken from Judiciary (S) 2026-03-19 S to Judiciary (S) 2026-03-18 S to Committee on Committees (S) 2026-03-18 S received in Senate 2026-03-17 H 3rd reading, passed 75-17 with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-03-17 H floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute 2026-03-13 H posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, March 16 2026 2026-03-12 H 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-03-11 H reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-01-14 H to Judiciary (H) 2026-01-07 H to Committee on Committees (H) 2026-01-07 H introduced in House

Votes

2026-03-17 House: Veto Override RCS# 273 Yea: 75 Nay: 17 2026-03-26 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4024 Yea: 32 Nay: 6 2026-03-31 House: Veto Override RCS# 362 Yea: 76 Nay: 16

Committee Referrals

2026-01-07 H Committee On Committees 2026-01-14 H Judiciary 2026-03-12 H Rules 2026-03-18 S Committee on Committees 2026-03-19 S Judiciary 2026-03-27 H Rules

Amendments

0000-00-00 House Committee Substitute 0000-00-00 House Floor Amendment 0000-00-00 Senate Committee Substitute

Bill Text Versions

0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed 0000-00-00 Enrolled

Subjects

Civil Procedure Effective Dates, Emergency Firearms and Weapons Short Titles and Popular Names Attorney General Federal Laws and Regulations Civil Actions Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)

Named provisions

Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms (PLCAA) Clarification Act of 2026 Extended Protections for Manufacturers and Sellers Civil Cause of Action Attorney General Enforcement Authority