16 Indiana gun bills died in session last year. Which ones are being brought back?

Twenty bills filed in the 2023 legislative session in Indiana had to do with firearms, including how to handle, sell and store them.

Of that batch, four became law. Two created state handgun training for teachers. Another allowed the federal government to receive information about people applying for a gun license if they're subject to a criminal investigation. A bill that essentially classified Glocks with "switches" as machine guns was also signed into law.

The remaining 16 bills did not make it onto the floor.

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Here's a list of the gun-related bills that died last year, and whether the lawmakers who authored them intend to bring them back:

Prohibiting firearms at polling places

What the bill does: SB 14 would've prohibited a person from carrying a firearm in or near the polls, including certain areas where voters congregate and any room where ballots are being counted.

Author: Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D, District 2

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Yes

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Penalizing failure to report lost or stolen firearms

What the bill does: SB 42 would have made it a Class C infraction to fail to report a lost or stolen firearm to state police or a law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction in the locations where the person believes the firearm was lost or stolen, within 30 days.

Author: Sen. J.D. Ford, D, District 29

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Undetermined. "The recently announced 5-bill limit on legislation Senators can introduce for the coming session means we have to be strategic. I will be fighting for gun safety policies like this one in every way I can regardless, but my decisions on the specific bills I will personally file for the 2024 session are still being made," Ford said in a statement.

Allowing retired police officers to bring firearms to school

What the bill does: SB 137 would have allowed retired law enforcement officers to possess a firearm on school property under certain conditions.

Author: Sen. Jack Sandlin, R, District 36, co-author Gary Byrne, R, District 47

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Sandlin died; Byrne did not respond to IndyStar.

Raising the minimum age required to carry a handgun

What the bill does: SB 144 would've changed the minimum age required to carry a handgun in Indiana from 18 to 21 years old under certain conditions.

Author: Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D, District 2

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Yes

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Stiffer penalties for privately made firearms

What the bill does: SB 149 would've increased the penalty related to privately made firearms by a person who does not possess a valid federal firearms license. The bill would have made it a Level 5 felony to alter or own firearms whose identification marks have been removed.

Author: Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D, District 2

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Unsure

Adding money for fire safety training

What the bill does: SB 358 would have established a fund to provide schools and nonprofit organizations with training about firearm safety in the home, particularly in homes with children, as well as firearm suicide prevention. Among other measures, it included language defining "neglect of a dependent" to include how firearms are stored.

Author: Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D, District 2

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Unsure. "This is the first session I can remember where the majority has told the rest of us we are only allowed to bring five bills. That makes it difficult when we are facing so many important issues in East Chicago and statewide. I am listening closely to my constituents and working with my caucus to figure out what I can carry that has the best chance of making an impact."

Making it harder for a person convicted of domestic battery to own a firearm

What the bill does: SB 360 would have made it unlawful for a person convicted of domestic battery to own or carry a handgun unless the right has been restored. A person protected under an order also would have been allowed to carry a handgun without a license for 60 days after the order is issued if they meet other requirements.

Authors: Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D, District 30

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Yes, with some changes

What the bill does: HB 1486 would have required people convicted of domestic violence crimes to surrender their firearms within 72 hours.

Author: Rep. Vernon Smith, D, District 14

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Yes

Raising the age to buy 'assault weapons'

What the bill does: SB 361 would have made it a Level 6 felony for a licensed firearm dealer to sell a "semiautomatic assault weapon" or a large capacity ammunition feeding device to a person who is younger than age 21.

Author: Sen. Ron Alting, R, District 22

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Alting did not respond to IndyStar.

What the bill does: HB 1238 would have prohibited a licensed dealer from selling or delivering a "semiautomatic assault weapon" to a person under 21 years of age.

Author: Rep. Chris Campbell, D, District 26

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Campbell said while her bills are not finalized yet, she would like to propose the legislation again this upcoming session.

Protecting the Second Amendment

What the bill does: HB 1117 would have made federal laws, executive orders or administrative orders that infringe on the constitutional right to keep and bear arms unenforceable in Indiana.

Author: Rep. Lorissa Sweet, R, District 50

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Sweet did not respond to IndyStar.

Providing state income tax credits for firearm safety

What the bill does: HB 1347 would have provided state income tax credits for gun owners who receive qualified firearms instruction or purchase a qualified firearms storage device.

Author: Rep. Jim Lucas, R, District 69

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Undecided

Letting law enforcement trade confiscated firearms

What the bill does: HB 1348 would have allowed law enforcement agencies to get rid of certain confiscated firearms by exchanging them with a licensed firearms dealer, manufacturer or another law enforcement agency for new firearms and other law enforcement equipment.

Author: Rep. Jim Lucas, R, District 69

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Yes

Penalizing people who fail to safely store firearms at home

What the bill does: HB 1366 would have prohibited a person from storing a loaded firearm at home in a way that a child could likely gain access to the firearm.

Author: Rep. Mitch Gore, D, District 89

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Yes

Keeping firearms locked and unloaded

What the bill does: HB 1471 would have required gun owners to keep their firearms locked and unloaded, and store ammunition in a location separate from the firearm.

Author: Rep. Pat Boy, D, District 9

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? No

Requiring liability insurance to carry a handgun

What the bill does: HB 1487 would have required a person who carries a handgun to obtain and continuously maintain liability insurance that covers losses or damages resulting from the negligent or accidental use of the handgun.

Author: Rep. Vernon Smith, D, District 14

Is the bill likely to return in 2024? Yes

Contact Sarah Nelson at 317-503-7514 or sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 16 Indiana gun bills died last year. Which ones will return