Gun Safety Innovation Opportunity Act of 2026

This Act may be cited as the “Gun Safety Innovation Opportunity Act of 2026”.

Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new part:

“(a) In general.— The Attorney General is authorized to make grants to institutions of higher education and firearms manufacturers to—

(1) conduct research on, and develop, technology that may be used to improve safe firearm storage devices, including technology that uses biometric data to prevent an unauthorized user from firing or accessing a firearm; or

(2) analyze consumer willingness and attitudes towards, and develop strategies to improve consumer uptake of, safe firearm storage devices that incorporate such technologies.

(b) Application.— An institution of higher education or a firearms manufacturer seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Attorney General an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require, including—

(1) a detailed plan on how the applicant would use the funding to advance the technology described in subsection (a);

(2) a description of how the use of such technology would enhance community safety; and

(3) a description of how such funding will lead to greater consumer access to such technology, including by lowering of the cost of such technology for consumers.

(c) Authorization of appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030.

(d) Report.— On an annual basis, each recipient of a grant under this section shall submit to the Attorney General a report on how the grant funds were used.

(e) Definitions.— In this section:

(1) The term safe firearm storage device means a device that is—

(A) designed and marketed for the principal purpose of denying unauthorized access to, or rendering inoperable, a firearm or ammunition;

(B) secured by a combination lock, key lock, or lock based on biometric information which is integrated into the design of the device; and

(C) once locked—

(i) in the case of a device not integrated into a firearm, is incapable of being opened without the combination, key, or biometric information, respectively; or

(ii) in the case of a device integrated into a firearm, renders the firearm inoperable without the application of authorized information, including biometric information.

(2) The terms firearm and ammunition have the meanings given such terms in section 921 of title 18, United States Code (without regard to all that follows “firearm silencer” in paragraph (3) of such section).”.

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report on the following:

(1) Ways that Congress can assist in the development of new technology that improves safe firearm storage devices (as such term is defined in section 3061 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968).

(2) Ways that law enforcement officers can deploy such technology in the course of their official duties.

(3) Ways that such technology and safe firearm storage devices can be used to prevent self-harm and suicide attempts.