HB289 expands liability protections to include firearm and ammunition manufacturers, distributors, and sellers. It removes federal compliance requirements, clarifies that normal firearm or ammunition use is not a product defect, and bars government entities from suing over their lawful design, sale, or marketing. Courts must award attorney fees, court costs, and related expenses to defendants if such lawsuits are improperly filed.
The Louisiana State Senate passed HB289 on June 2, 2025 by a vote of 27 to 9. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill correctly places liability on those who commit crimes, not on manufacturers whose products are lawfully made and sold. HB289 shields firearm and ammunition producers from abusive lawsuits designed to bankrupt the industry and effectively nullify the Second Amendment through the courts. Protecting lawful commerce in arms is essential to preserving the God-given rights referenced in the Declaration of Independence—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and safeguarding the constitutionally protected right of the people to keep and bear arms. HB289 reinforces that government may not punish manufacturers for the criminal misuse of products by others.
