HB169, titled the Prevent Family Fire Act of 2025, would create a new federal income tax credit for the retail sale of safe firearm storage devices. The credit would equal 10 percent of the amount received from the first retail sale of each qualifying device, capped at $400 per device and limited to fair market value. Qualifying devices must be designed and marketed to prevent unauthorized access to firearms or ammunition and must use an integrated combination lock, key lock, or biometric lock. The bill excludes devices incorporated into firearms or ammunition and devices subject to a mandatory Consumer Product Safety Commission recall.
The credit would be added to the Internal Revenue Code as new section 45BB and treated as part of the general business credit, including eligibility for use against the alternative minimum tax. The bill also authorizes Treasury to issue recapture rules for improperly claimed credits and requires annual public reporting of the credit by state. The tax credit would apply to taxable years beginning after enactment and would sunset for sales after December 31, 2032.
Impact
The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create a new business tax incentive for manufacturers and retailers of gun safes, lockboxes, trigger locks, and similar secure storage products. It would affect federal tax liability for businesses selling qualifying devices at first retail sale, while also requiring Treasury administration, compliance, and reporting. The measure does not directly regulate firearm ownership or storage standards, but it uses the tax code to encourage safer storage practices through a temporary credit.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to have a generally supportive, prevention-oriented framing, reflected in its bipartisan introduction by members from both parties. The title and structure suggest an emphasis on reducing accidental shootings, unauthorized access, and family firearm tragedies by making safe storage devices more affordable or commercially attractive. There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, so broader legislative sentiment cannot be measured beyond the bill’s sponsorship and purpose.
Contention
The main policy tension is likely between supporters who view the credit as a modest, voluntary public-safety incentive and critics who may question using the tax code to subsidize firearm-related products or whether the credit would meaningfully change storage behavior. Another possible point of contention is the scope of the definition of qualifying devices, including the $400 cap, the exclusion of integrated firearm components, and the administrative burden of recapture and reporting. Because no committee transcript or vote record is provided, specific objections or named opponents are not available.
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.