Secure Firearm Storage and Suicide Prevention Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 7591

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Education

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-02-17: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2026-03-17T08:05:52Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Secure Firearm Storage and Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 aims to promote firearm safety education in schools by requiring certain local school districts to provide guidance on secure firearm storage and preventing firearm-related suicides and unintentional injuries. It seeks to reduce youth deaths from these causes through awareness and resources, without promoting or discouraging firearm ownership.

Key Provisions

• Findings: The bill outlines Congress's recognition of rising firearm suicide rates among youth, with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing firearms as a leading cause of death for those under 18. It notes that most youth firearm suicides involve family guns and emphasizes secure storage as a key prevention tool.

• Development of Best Practices (Section 4131):
• The Secretary of Education must create national best practices on secure firearm storage and preventing firearm-related suicides or injuries within one year of enactment.
• Developed in consultation with federal agencies (e.g., Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Department of Health and Human Services; CDC), law enforcement, non-profits focused on firearm safety (not affiliated with the firearm industry), educators, and experts.
• Best practices must cover: secure storage methods (e.g., using safes or locks); evaluating safety protocols in homes and vehicles; risks of unsecured firearms; prevention strategies; what students should do if they find an unsecured gun (e.g., not touch it and tell an adult); access to free storage devices; summaries of federal and state laws (including the Second Amendment); and other relevant resources.
• Requires neutrality—no materials that encourage or discourage owning firearms.
• The Secretary must distribute these annually to all local educational agencies (school districts), notify certain districts of new requirements, and suggest optimal times for distribution to maximize impact.
• Best practices must be updated every three years after the initial four-year review, based on feedback from school staff, students, parents, and experts.

• Local Guidance Requirements (Section 4132):
• "Covered" school districts (those receiving specific federal education funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) must develop local guidance within one year of receiving best practices.
• Guidance must incorporate and adapt national best practices to the local community, in consultation with health organizations, public safety officials (e.g., police, firefighters), mental health professionals, educators, and other stakeholders.
• Must include local mental health resources for students and maintain neutrality on firearm ownership.
• Districts must distribute the guidance twice per school year—within 90 days of the start of the 2027-2028 academic year and 90 days before each subsequent year's end—via email, handouts, mail, or other physical means to students, parents, school staff, and community members. Districts can delegate distribution to individual schools.

• Definitions (Section 4133):
• "Covered local educational agency": A school district or group of districts receiving federal funds under a specific education allocation.
• "Secure storage device": Tools like firearm safes, lock boxes, trigger locks, or cable locks that prevent unauthorized access or use.
• "School staff": Includes school leaders, support personnel, teachers, and other employees.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) by adding a new Subpart 3 to Part A of Title IV, introducing mandatory firearm safety resources and guidance. Previously, ESEA focused on general student support and safe schools but did not specifically require firearm storage education or suicide prevention tied to guns. It adds these as conditions for certain federally funded districts, with no direct penalties specified but potential implications for funding compliance.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Department of Education gains responsibilities for developing, distributing, and updating materials, involving coordination with agencies like the CDC, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Homeland Security. This could increase administrative workload and inter-agency collaboration but foster evidence-based school safety programs.

• Citizens: Students, parents, and communities in covered districts will receive regular education on firearm safety, potentially reducing youth suicides (noted as nearly always fatal when firearms are involved) and unintentional injuries. It promotes access to free storage devices and mental health resources, benefiting families with firearms and at-risk youth.

• International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic education and public health.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Local Educational Agencies: Covered districts must create and distribute guidance, affecting operations and potentially requiring new consultations with local experts.
• Students and Youth: Primary beneficiaries through education on safety steps and suicide prevention, targeting those under 18 where firearms are a leading death cause.
• Parents and Families: Receive guidance on secure storage and resources, especially relevant since most youth firearm suicides involve family guns.
• School Staff and Educators: Involved in development, distribution, and providing feedback; must integrate this into school activities.
• Community Members: Broader local groups, including mental health providers, public safety officials, and non-profits, consulted for input and affected by distribution.
• Federal Agencies and Experts: Agencies like the CDC and non-industry non-profits contribute to best practices, with ongoing roles in updates.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Ties compliance to ESEA funding allocations, which could indirectly enforce participation through federal grant conditions. Includes surveys of state laws on secure storage and crisis intervention (e.g., court proceedings for at-risk individuals), potentially harmonizing federal guidance with varying state requirements.

• Constitutional: Explicitly references the Second Amendment (right to bear arms) in best practices to ensure information on federal laws is balanced, while the neutrality requirement avoids any infringement on gun rights debates.

• Political: Addresses gun safety amid rising youth suicide rates without regulating ownership or possession, which may appeal across political lines (bill introduced by a bipartisan group). Could spark discussions on school roles in public health versus Second Amendment sensitivities, but focuses on education rather than mandates.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

Cosponsors (20)

Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

Recent Actions

• 2026-02-17: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2026-02-17: Introduced in House
• 2026-02-17: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Secure Firearm Storage and Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-17 — PDF (11 pages)