Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act
Sponsored By: Senator Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced
Summary
Reshapes immunity for the gun industry by narrowing when manufacturers, sellers, and trade groups are protected from lawsuits and by creating a federal removal, pleading, and preemption framework for those cases. The bill rewrites core definitions of who counts as a seller or a qualified product and sets rules for what civil claims may proceed.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
New federal removal and dismissal rules
If enacted, the bill would let manufacturers, sellers, and trade groups move many state lawsuits into federal court by a colorable assertion that a claim is covered. The federal court would have jurisdiction and defendants would have 30 days after removal to ask for dismissal. Denials of dismissal and remand orders would be immediately appealable. Any covered case pending on enactment would be dismissed, and prevailing defendants could get reasonable attorney fees and costs.
Who counts as a gun seller
If enacted, the bill would redefine what products and sellers the law covers. "Qualified product" would include firearms under federal law, ammunition, parts, magazines, clips, and optical devices that moved in interstate or foreign commerce. "Seller" would include licensed importers and dealers, ammunition sellers, and wholesale or retail sellers, plus their owners and employees, but would expressly exclude manufacturers. The bill would also define "engaged in the business" as regularly selling, making, or importing these products. These changes would take effect upon enactment.
Limits on lawsuits over gun misuse
If enacted, the bill would sharply limit most civil claims tied to the criminal or unlawful misuse, alteration, or modification of a covered firearm or related product. It would define a narrow class of allowed exceptions, including claims against a transferor convicted of certain felonies, negligent entrustment or negligence per se claims against sellers, certain statutory violations that impose concrete duties on makers or sellers, contract or warranty claims, some defect claims when products were used as intended, and actions by the Attorney General. Courts would require detailed factual pleadings showing knowledge and direct causation. The bill would also preserve a carveout for victims under 17 and bar foreign governments from bringing these claims.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
WV • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
LA • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
AR • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT]
UT • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
IA • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]
WV • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
WY • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
SC • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
FL • R
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
MS • R
Sponsored 7/16/2026
Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]
IN • R
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Sen. Graham, Darline [R-SC]
SC • R
Sponsored 7/28/2026
Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
OK • R
Sponsored 7/29/2026
Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
SD • R
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov