Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish voluntary best practices for safe firearm storage solely for the purpose of public education. DOJ must give at least 90 days public notice and afford an opportunity for a hearing before establishing such best practices. The bill authorizes DOJ to award grants for the development, implementation, and evaluation of Safe Firearm Storage Assistance Programs. The bill also provides for a new tax credit through 2030 for 10% of amounts received from the retail sale of a safe firearm storage device for use in the United States.
Impact
The bill will have significant implications on state laws related to firearm sales and storage. It calls for the Attorney General to create and disseminate best practices for safe firearm storage within 180 days of enactment. It also establishes a grant program to assist local governments and Indian tribes in developing Safe Firearm Storage Assistance Programs, which will distribute safe storage devices to the public and educate on proper firearm storage techniques. Additionally, it creates a tax credit incentivizing the retail sale of safe storage devices, thus aiming to increase accessibility to these safety measures.
Summary
House Bill 52, also known as the Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act, aims to enhance firearm safety by establishing requirements for safe firearm storage. The bill mandates that licensed firearm manufacturers, importers, and dealers provide customers with written notices promoting safe storage, which must state 'SAFE STORAGE SAVES LIVES' along with a link to best practices established by the Attorney General. This initiative seeks to raise awareness and encourage responsible firearm ownership among the public, particularly in preventing unauthorized access to firearms.
Contention
While HB 52 is aimed at improving public safety, discussions surrounding the bill may bring about contention among stakeholders. Supporters argue that these measures are essential for reducing gun-related injuries and fatalities, particularly among children and untrained individuals. However, critics may view the bill as an additional regulatory burden on firearm retailers and argue about the effectiveness of requiring written notices in truly promoting safer storage. Moreover, discussions will likely focus on the balance between public safety interests and the rights of gun owners.
John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023 This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices may take effect. Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights. A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if, during the previous 25 years: 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state; 10 or more violations occurred, at least 1 of which was committed by the state itself; or 3 or more violations occurred and the state administers the elections. A political subdivision as a separate unit shall also be subject to preclearance for a 10-year period if three or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years. States and political subdivisions that meet certain thresholds regarding minority groups must preclear covered practices before implementation, such as redistricting. States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices. The bill authorizes DOJ to require states or political subdivisions to provide certain documents or answers to questions for enforcing voting rights. The bill outlines factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the extent of any history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision.
Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or the HALT Fentanyl Act This bill places fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act. Additionally, the bill establishes a new, alternative registration process for schedule I research that is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Veterans Affairs or that is conducted under an investigative new drug exemption from the Food and Drug Administration. The bill also makes several other changes to registration requirements for conducting research with controlled substances, including permitting a single registration for related research sites in certain circumstances, waiving the requirement for a new inspection in certain situations, and allowing a registered researcher to perform certain manufacturing activities with small quantities of a substance without obtaining a manufacturing registration.