A new Minnesota bill would compel insurers to offer firearm liability coverage tied to homeowner's policies.
Senate File No. 4231, introduced on March 9, 2026, by Senator Bonnie Westlin and referred to the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, would require Minnesota residents who own firearms to maintain at least $100,000 in liability coverage for loss or damage arising from any one incident where a person, other than the insured, is injured as a result of an accidental or unintentional discharge of the firearm.
That coverage could be maintained as part of a homeowner's insurance policy or purchased separately. But here is the part that matters most for carriers: the bill would require every insurer writing homeowner's insurance in Minnesota to make available at least one form or rider providing the mandated coverage. Offering this product would not be optional.
The bill also addresses lost and stolen firearms. Under the proposed law, a person remains the owner of a lost or stolen firearm until the loss or theft is reported to law enforcement. The insurance obligation would stay in place during that window, regardless of whether the owner retains physical control of the weapon.
Proving compliance would be straightforward. A firearm owner who produces an insurance policy declaration page documenting coverage would satisfy the requirement. A failure to provide proof through a declaration page, or a digital policy containing the insured's name, policy coverage, and dates of coverage, would serve as prima facie evidence of a violation.
The penalties are graduated. A first offense may be charged as a petty misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $300. That fine may be suspended or partially waived if the firearm owner demonstrates proof of insurance within 30 days. A second or subsequent conviction within five years of a prior conviction is a misdemeanor, and the court may impose a fine of up to $1,000.
The bill carves out exemptions. Federal firearm licensees are excluded entirely. Beyond that, a person may petition the district court for an exemption by demonstrating that they were denied coverage by two or more insurers that would normally offer liability insurance covering accidental or unintentional discharge of a firearm, or that they would qualify for a court-appointed attorney in a criminal matter and have been offered the required coverage but lack adequate financial resources to pay for it.
To grant the exemption, the court must find by a preponderance of the evidence that an exemption ground applies, that the petitioner is likely to behave in a prudent and safe manner with respect to storing, carrying, and using the firearm, and that the petitioner has a gun safe or other secure container and can demonstrate to the court the location in the home where it is permanently affixed. An exemption order is valid for two years.
If enacted, the law would take effect on October 1, 2026, and apply to all owners of firearms on or after that date.
The bill has had its first reading and been referred to committee. It has not yet been voted on or enacted into law. For carriers writing homeowner's insurance in Minnesota, the proposal is one to watch – it would mean developing, filing, and pricing a new coverage product around a risk that sits squarely in the personal lines space.
