H.R. 7591

119 HR 7591 IH: Secure Firearm Storage and Suicide Prevention Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-02-17
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 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 7591  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   February 17, 2026   Mr. Goldman of New York  (for himself,  Mr. Auchincloss ,  Mr. Johnson of Georgia ,  Mr. Moskowitz ,  Mr. Bell ,  Ms. Norton ,  Mr. Carter of Louisiana ,  Mrs. Foushee ,  Mrs. Watson Coleman ,  Ms. Pettersen ,  Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania ,  Mr. Deluzio ,  Ms. Johnson of Texas ,  Ms. Crockett ,  Mr. Krishnamoorthi ,  Ms. Wilson of Florida ,  Ms. Craig , and  Ms. Kelly of Illinois ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Education and Workforce    A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require certain local educational agencies to distribute guidance to students, parents, and other local community members regarding firearm safety, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Secure Firearm Storage and Suicide Prevention Act of 2026  .
2.
Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Unintentional injuries and suicides related to firearms are significant causes death among children and teenagers.
(2)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—
(A)
the annual rate of suicide by firearm in the United States increased approximately 11 percent from 2019 to 2022, with provisional data suggesting that 2024 may have had the highest rate of gun suicide since at least 1968;
(B)
nearly 60 percent of all gun-related deaths in the United States are suicides;
(C)
in 2021, 2022, and 2023, firearm suicides accounted for approximately 55 percent of all suicide deaths in the United States;
(D)
in 2023, an average of 75 individuals in the United States died by firearm suicide each day;
(E)
in 2023, the third leading cause of death in the United States for youth under the age of 18 was suicide; and
(F)
in both 2022 and 2023, firearms were the leading mechanism of death among youth under the age of 18 in the United States.
(3)
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 79 percent of the firearms used in the suicides of youth under the age of 18 are the guns of family members.
(4)
Suicide attempts involving firearms are almost always deadly, with 9 out of 10 firearm suicide attempts resulting in death.
(5)
Education about the importance of proper secure storage of firearms, including the risk of firearm-related suicide associated with unsecured weapons, is critical to reducing firearm-related unintentional injuries and suicides.
(6)
Implementing firearm safety and education on suicide prevention can foster a culture of responsible firearm ownership and handling, benefitting both individuals and communities.
(7)
It can take less than 10 minutes between thinking about suicide and acting on it. Putting barriers between individuals and lethal means in moments of crisis can save lives.
(8)
Secure storage of firearms is effective in reducing suicide deaths.
3.
Firearm safety resources
(a)
In general
Part A of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
3
Firearm safety resources
4131.
Firearm safety best practices
(a)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall develop best practices relating to the secure storage of firearms and the prevention of firearm-related suicide or unintentional injury in consultation with—
(1)
the Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives;
(2)
the Department of Health and Human Services;
(3)
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
(4)
the National Institutes of Health;
(5)
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services;
(6)
the Department of Homeland Security;
(7)
the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety Evidence-Based Practices established under section 2220D of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 665k );
(8)
the Firearms-Toolmarks Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
(9)
law enforcement agencies;
(10)
non-profit organizations that—
(A)
have experience in firearm safety and education; and
(B)
are not affiliated with the firearm industry or lobbyist working on behalf of the firearm industry;
(11)
educators; and
(12)
independent experts in firearm safety and education, as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(b)
Information required
The Secretary shall include as part of the best practices described in subsection (a) the following information:
(1)
How to securely store firearms, including how to use secure storage devices.
(2)
How to evaluate and regularly re-evaluate firearm safety protocols, including secure storage practices for firearms in places were firearms are commonly kept, including in homes and motor vehicles.
(3)
The risks associated with the improper use of firearms or unsecure storage of firearms, including firearms that are not lawfully possessed, and the correlation of such factors with suicide or unintentional injury.
(4)
Strategies for preventing unintentional injuries or suicides related to the use of firearms.
(5)
How to educate students about the proper steps such students should take upon encountering an unsecured firearm, including to not handle the firearm and to contact a trusted adult.
(6)
How community members, including parents, can acquire secure storage devices, including any resources that provide secure storage devices for free.
(7)
A summary of Federal laws directly related to firearm safety and secure firearm storage, including information about the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
(8)
A survey of State laws and programs related to firearm safety, including laws related to the secure storage of firearms and the implementation of State crisis intervention court proceedings and related programs or initiatives.
(9)
Firearm safety resources created by academic institutions or organizations with experience in firearm safety and education, as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(10)
Any other information determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(c)
Neutrality requirement
In developing the best practices described in subsection (a), the Secretary may not include as part of such best practices materials encouraging or discouraging the possession or ownership of firearms.
(d)
Distribution
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall—
(1)
distribute the best practices described in subsection (a) to each local educational agency;
(2)
notify each covered local education agency of the local firearm safety guidance requirements under section 4132; and
(3)
provide guidance to each covered local education agency regarding the most effective time during an academic year to satisfy the distribution requirement under section 4132(e) in order to maximize the prevention of firearm-related suicide or unintentional injury.
(e)
Update
Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this section, and once every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary shall—
(1)
solicit feedback from school staff, students, parents, and experts with experience in firearm safety and education on the best practices described in subsection (a); and
(2)
update the information in such best practices, as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
4132.
Local firearm safety guidance
(a)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the Secretary distributes the best practices described in section 4131(a) as required under section 4131(d)(1), each covered local educational agency shall develop guidance relating to the secure storage of firearms and the prevention of firearm-related suicide or unintentional injury in consultation with—
(1)
community-based health and violence prevention organizations;
(2)
public safety officials and emergency personnel, including police and firefighters;
(3)
mental health professionals, including doctors and psychologists;
(4)
educators; and
(5)
any other stakeholders determined appropriate by the local educational agency.
(b)
Relationship to best practices
In developing the guidance described in subsection (a), each covered local educational agency shall—
(1)
incorporate the best practices distributed to the covered local educational agency as required under section 4131(d)(1);
(2)
modify such best practices to be relevant to the local community, as determined appropriate by the covered local educational agency; and
(3)
regularly update such guidance to reflect any changes to such best practices, as determined appropriate by the covered local educational agency.
(c)
Additional information
Each covered local educational agency shall include as part of such guidance the following information:
(1)
Mental health resources available to students, including resources available in schools served by the covered local educational agency and resources provided by the local community.
(2)
Any other information determined appropriate by the covered local educational agency.
(d)
Neutrality requirement
In developing the guidance described in subsection (a), each covered local educational agency may not include as part of such guidance materials encouraging or discouraging the possession or ownership of firearms.
(e)
Distribution
(1)
In general
Not later than 90 days after the beginning of the 2027–2028 academic year, and not later than 90 days before the end of each academic year thereafter, each covered local educational agency shall distribute the guidance described in subsection (a) through email and physical means (including by sending students home with such guidance as a handout or by mail) to—
(A)
students;
(B)
parents;
(C)
school staff; and
(D)
any other members of the local community determined appropriate by the covered local educational agency.
(2)
Responsibility
A covered local educational agency may delegate responsibility for carrying out any part of the distribution activities required under paragraph (1) to the schools served by such covered local educational agency.
4133.
Definitions
In this subpart:
(1)
Covered local educational agency
The term  covered local educational agency  means a local educational agency, or consortium of such agencies, that receives an allocation under section 4105(a).
(2)
Secure storage device
The term  secure storage device  means a device which is designed to prevent unauthorized access to, or render inoperable, a firearm, including a firearm safe, lock box, trigger lock, or cable lock.
(3)
School staff
The term  school staff  means—
(A)
school leaders;
(B)
specialized instructional support personnel;
(C)
teachers; and
(D)
other staff.
  .
(b)
Table of contents
The table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 4121 the following:
Subpart 3—Firearm Safety Resources
4131. Firearm safety best practices.
4132. Local firearm safety guidance.
4133. Definitions.
   .