Wisconsin Senate Bill SB946

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/26
• Refer: 2/6/26
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

An Act to renumber and amend 175.37 (1); to amend 175.37 (title) and 175.37 (2); to create 175.37 (1) (b) of the statutes; Relating to: containers or trigger locks provided at a firearm sale and providing a penalty.

Summary

SB946 would require any person who commercially sells or transfers a firearm to provide the buyer or transferee with either a secure, lockable container designed to store the firearm or a trigger lock for the firearm. The bill also keeps the existing requirement that sellers provide a written child-safety warning at the point of sale or transfer, and it updates the statute’s title to reflect that it covers warning requirements whenever transferring a firearm. The bill creates a new statutory obligation for firearm retailers and other commercial transferors, and it adds a penalty for noncompliance. A seller or transferor who fails to provide the required warning or the container/trigger lock could be fined up to $500, imprisoned for up to 30 days, or both. Because the bill revises penalties and creates a new offense-related requirement, it may also trigger review by the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties.

Impact

SB946 would amend Wisconsin Statutes section 175.37 by expanding the duties imposed on commercial firearm sellers and transferors. It adds a new requirement to provide a secure firearm container or trigger lock at the time of sale or transfer, while preserving the existing written warning requirement and updating the statute’s title and penalty provision. The practical effect would be to impose additional compliance obligations on firearm dealers and others engaged in retail commercial firearm transfers, and to create a misdemeanor-level penalty exposure for violations.

Sentiment

No committee votes or hearing transcripts were provided, so there is no recorded debate to gauge support or opposition. Based on the bill’s sponsorship and cosponsorship, the measure appears to have support among its authors and allied legislators. The bill’s framing suggests a public-safety rationale focused on preventing child access to firearms, which typically draws support from gun-safety advocates, though no formal sentiment from stakeholders is included in the record provided.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the new mandate that firearm sellers provide either a lockable container or trigger lock, because it imposes an additional cost and operational requirement on commercial firearm transfers. Supporters would likely emphasize child safety and secure storage, while opponents may argue that the bill adds burdens on lawful gun sales and creates criminal penalties for noncompliance. The bill text itself does not include any recorded objections, amendments, or committee testimony, so these concerns are inferred from the structure of the proposal rather than from documented debate.