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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky HB 126 requires dealer-conducted background checks for private firearm transfers and sets a $10 fee limit
Last action · January 14, 2026: to Judiciary (H)Sponsors: George Brown and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
Kentucky HB 126 requires all private firearm sales, exchanges, or transfers to be processed through a licensed dealer who must conduct a , complete a state police form, and maintain transaction records. The legislation exempts licensed firearm dealers acting under federal licenses and transfers between immediate family members such as spouses, parents, children, and stepchildren. Dealers may charge a fee of up to $10 per transaction, and transaction records are excluded from public inspection under the Kentucky Open Records Act.
Private firearm sellers and buyers must utilize a licensed dealer for transfers outside the immediate family, pay up to a $10 processing fee, and ensure records are kept on-site for law enforcement inspection, while violators face a .
- The Kentucky General Assembly is the state legislature responsible for enacting laws in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Firearms sellers and buyers
Individuals engaging in private firearm sales, exchanges, or transfers must use a licensed dealer to perform a national background check, complete state police forms, and pay up to a $10 fee.
Licensed firearm dealers
Dealers must conduct background checks for private parties upon consent, complete state police forms, maintain on-site transaction records for inspection, and are permitted to charge a fee up to $10.
Peace officers
Law enforcement officers gain the authority to inspect transaction and background check records kept on dealer premises at all reasonable hours.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are private firearm sales between friends or acquaintances still allowed without a background check?
Can a firearms dealer charge a fee for conducting this background check?
What is the legal penalty for knowingly violating the background check requirement?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Jan 14, 2026HouseCommitteeto Judiciary (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedintroduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
apps.legislature.ky.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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