Kentucky enacts HB78 creating firearms civil-liability protections; emergency effective date
State bill HB78 — Kentucky — status: enacted
Official title: AN ACT relating to firearms liability protections and declaring an emergency.
What it does
HB78 establishes statutory civil-liability protections for persons and entities involved with firearms and related transactions and declares an emergency so the law takes effect immediately. The measure was passed by the legislature and delivered to the Secretary of State as Acts Chapter 177. The text focuses on shielding covered parties from certain civil claims relating to the criminal or unlawful misuse of firearms; it also sets out the statutory framework for which claims are barred or permitted.
Industry impact
For firearms businesses and NFA/SOT holders, the law reduces exposure to certain categories of civil litigation tied to third-party criminal misuse of firearms, which may lower litigation risk and affect insurer underwriting or defense strategies. It does not alter federal licensing requirements, criminal statutes, or what can be sold, but businesses should review the enacted language and any exceptions (for example, allegations of willful misconduct, knowing violations, or product defects) to understand limits on the immunity. Companies may also want to update contracts and compliance policies and consult counsel or insurers to assess how the new statutory protections change their legal risk profile.
Latest official status: delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 177)
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Plain-English coverage generated with AI assistance and reviewed by our team. General information, not legal advice.