Individuals who own firearms required to obtain and maintain liability insurance required, criminal penalties imposed, and firearm liability insurance surcharge imposed.
Summary
HF4820 would require any individual who owns a firearm in Minnesota to obtain and continuously maintain firearm liability insurance covering damages from negligent or accidental discharge that results in death, injury, or property damage. The bill sets a minimum coverage limit of $250,000 per occurrence and allows insurers to offer premium discounts for safety measures such as certified firearm safety training, safes, locks, or chamber load indicators. Existing firearm owners would have until February 15, 2027, to comply, and the requirement would take effect January 1, 2027.
The bill also creates a new surcharge on firearm liability insurance premiums. Licensed insurers writing these policies would collect the surcharge, which would be separately stated on policy documents and deposited into a newly established gun harm reduction account in the special revenue fund. The bill exempts law enforcement and active-duty military personnel while acting in the course of official duties.
Impact
HF4820 would add a new regulatory requirement to Minnesota law by creating Minnesota Statutes section 65A.60 and a related surcharge provision in chapter 297I. It would make firearm ownership contingent on maintaining a qualifying liability insurance policy, and it would impose criminal penalties for noncompliance, including misdemeanor liability for a first violation and gross misdemeanor penalties, with a mandatory minimum fine for repeat offenders. It would also create a dedicated revenue stream for gun harm reduction through insurer-collected surcharges on firearm liability insurance policies.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative debate or vote margins. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to reflect a policy approach focused on gun harm reduction, insurance-based accountability, and incentivizing firearm safety practices. The inclusion of criminal penalties and a surcharge suggests the bill is designed to be mandatory and enforcement-oriented rather than voluntary.
Contention
The main likely points of contention are the requirement that firearm owners purchase and maintain insurance, the use of criminal penalties for failure to comply, and the creation of a surcharge tied specifically to firearm insurance. Supporters would likely emphasize compensation for accidental or negligent gun harm and incentives for safe storage and training, while opponents would likely view the bill as an added burden on lawful gun ownership, a de facto tax or fee on firearms, and a potential barrier for lower-income owners. The exemption for law enforcement and active-duty military may also draw attention as a carveout that some may see as appropriate and others as unequal treatment.
Similar To
Individuals who own firearms obtaining and maintaining liability insurance requirement provision and firearm liability insurance surcharge imposition provision