# Kentucky HB 78: AN ACT relating to firearms liability protections and declaring an emergency. Kentucky HB 78, AN ACT relating to firearms liability protections and declaring an emergency., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by T.J. Roberts (Republican); status became law, last action 2026-04-14 (delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 177)) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB78-2026RS - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky HB 78 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to firearms liability protections and declaring an emergency. - Status: became law - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-07 - Last action: 2026-04-14, delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 177) - Sponsor: T.J. Roberts (Republican) - Cosponsors: 10 - Subjects: Civil Procedure, Effective Dates, Emergency, Firearms And Weapons, Short Titles And Popular Names, Attorney General, Federal Laws And Regulations, Civil Actions - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 5 (294 yes, 64 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Barred firearm lawsuits carry financial risks: cost, medium. People filing an allowed claim must give detailed facts supporting the exception, including required knowledge and direct cause of harm. Special dismissal or summary judgment motions have a 45-day hearing window and up to 60 days of discovery limited to relevant issues. A denied motion allows immed… - Fewer lawsuits allowed against firearm companies: cost, medium. Kentucky law bars covered lawsuits against firearm makers, sellers, and trade groups over criminal or unlawful misuse, alteration, or modification. Covered products include firearms, ammunition, parts, and accessories; covered businesses include their owners, officers, directors, and employees. Exc… - Foreign governments cannot bring covered firearm lawsuits: cost, low. Foreign states and governments cannot bring covered firearm liability lawsuits in any court. The law's exceptions are unavailable for claims brought by foreign governments. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: T.J. Roberts (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Daniel Elliott (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Derek Lewis (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Josh Calloway (Republican), House - Cosponsor: John Hodgson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Kimberly Poore Moser (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Mitch Whitaker (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Steven Rudy (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Vanessa Grossl (Republican), House - Cosponsor: William Lawrence (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Wade Williams (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-14 | House | passed | pass | 80 | 19 | | | 2026-04-14 | Senate | passed | pass | 31 | 6 | | | 2026-03-31 | House | passed | pass | 76 | 16 | | | 2026-03-26 | Senate | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 32 | 6 | | | 2026-03-17 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 75 | 17 | | ## Actions (45) - 2026-04-14: delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 177) - 2026-04-14: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (House) - 2026-04-14: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (House) - 2026-04-14: received in House (House) - 2026-04-14: passed 31-6 (Senate) - 2026-04-14: veto overridden (Senate) - 2026-04-14: posted for passage for consideration of Governor's veto - 2026-04-14: to Rules (S) (Senate) - 2026-04-14: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-14: passed 80-19 (House) - 2026-04-14: veto overridden (House) - 2026-04-14: posted for consideration of Governor's veto - 2026-04-14: taken from Rules (House) - 2026-04-14: to Rules (H) (House) - 2026-04-14: received in House (House) - 2026-04-03: Vetoed - 2026-03-31: delivered to Governor - 2026-03-31: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (House) - 2026-03-31: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (House) - 2026-03-31: passed 76-16 (House) - 2026-03-31: House concurred in Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-03-31: posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-03-27: to Rules (H) (House) - 2026-03-27: received in House (House) - 2026-03-26: 3rd reading, passed 32-6 with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-03-26: placed in the Orders of the Day (Senate) - 2026-03-26: taken from Rules (Senate) - 2026-03-26: reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-03-25: returned to Judiciary (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-25: 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-03-25: taken from Judiciary (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-24: returned to Judiciary (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-24: 1st reading (Senate) - 2026-03-24: taken from Judiciary (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-19: to Judiciary (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-18: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-18: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-17: 3rd reading, passed 75-17 with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-03-17: floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute (House) - 2026-03-13: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, March 16 2026 (House) - 2026-03-12: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-03-11: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-01-14: to Judiciary (H) (House) - 2026-01-07: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-01-07: introduced in House (House) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-04-14: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb78/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2025-12-15: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb78/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agencies and institutions, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergen… (became law) - SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities. (signed) - HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. (signed) - SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry. (signed) - SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (signed) - HB 826: AN ACT relating to education. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb78/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb78/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related - [SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agenc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB197-2026RS) - [SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB133-2026RS) - [HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB869-2026RS) - [SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB324-2026RS) - [SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB66-2026RS) - [HB 826: AN ACT relating to education.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB826-2026RS) - [Kentucky bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky/bills) - [Kentucky state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB78-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).