H2672 (2026): Firearm Industry Accountability and Victims' Access to Justice

What the Bill Would Do

House Bill 2672 would establish new legal pathways for gun violence victims to seek accountability from the firearm industry^[1]. The bill targets the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), the 2005 federal law that broadly shields firearm manufacturers and dealers from civil liability. H2672 would use state-level consumer protection and public nuisance theories to create causes of action that fall within PLCAA's recognized exceptions.

Specifically, the bill would allow lawsuits against manufacturers and dealers who engage in unfair or deceptive trade practices related to the marketing, sale, or distribution of firearms. It follows the approach pioneered by Connecticut in its Sandy Hook litigation and codified in similar statutes in New York, New Jersey, and California.

Current Status

H2672 was reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on January 27, 2026^[2]. Referral to Ways and Means indicates the bill has a fiscal impact that needs evaluation — likely related to potential state enforcement costs and court system impacts. A companion Senate bill, S1653, was sent to a study order and is effectively dead this session, making H2672 the sole vehicle for this policy.

What to Watch

Ways and Means referral is often where ambitious bills stall, but the favorable committee report is a strong signal of legislative intent. The firearm industry will lobby aggressively against this bill, arguing that PLCAA preempts state-level liability expansion. Watch for whether the bill includes a private right of action, an attorney general enforcement mechanism, or both. Massachusetts already has strong consumer protection statutes under Chapter 93A; the question is how this bill would interact with that existing framework.