SB0008 / Public Act 104-0031: Safe Gun Storage Act

What the Act Does

Public Act 104-0031 (originally SB0008) establishes statutory requirements for the safe storage of firearms in Illinois^[1]. When an owner knows or reasonably should know that a minor without lawful permission from a parent, guardian, or person having charge of the minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person is likely to gain access, the Act requires storage in a locked container that renders the firearm inaccessible or unusable to unauthorized persons, subject to its exceptions. Illinois already imposes criminal liability for allowing a minor to access a firearm under certain circumstances (720 ILCS 5/24-9), but this act broadens the storage mandate and requires a locked container properly engaged to render the firearm inaccessible or unusable to unauthorized persons.

A separate bill, HB1790, proposes an income tax credit for eligible purchases of firearm safety devices. It has not become law.

Current Status

SB0008 was signed into law on July 28, 2025, as Public Act 104-0031^[2]. The law is in effect.

What to Watch

Gun owners should review their current storage practices against the new statutory requirements. The law does not mandate the purchase of specific equipment, but a violation of its storage duty can lead to civil penalties. A violation is prima facie evidence of negligence per se in a civil proceeding if a minor, at-risk person, or prohibited person obtains the firearm and causes personal injury or death or uses it in a crime. The FOID Act (430 ILCS 65) governs individual firearm eligibility. The Safe Gun Storage Act requires secure storage when an owner knows or reasonably should know a prohibited person is likely to gain access, subject to its exceptions.