Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Chuck Grassley
Introduced
Summary
This bill would push for more complete federal background‑check records and broaden federal enforcement of firearms crimes by expanding targeted prosecutions and new DOJ task forces. It focuses on improving NICS data, tightening definitions around mental‑health prohibitions, and funding prosecutions and oversight.
Show full summary
- Families and people with mental‑health contacts would face clearer rules on who is considered "adjudicated mentally incompetent" for gun prohibitions, and agencies would be required to prioritize submitting relevant records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
- States would face new grant accountability and phased Byrne Justice Assistance Grant withholdings if they do not provide required mental‑health records or lack a relief‑from‑disabilities program, starting at a 5 percent withholding and rising to 10 percent after five years.
- Law enforcement and prosecutors would get new federal tools and funding: an expanded "Project Exile" in high‑homicide areas plus multijurisdictional task forces, a DOJ Felon and Fugitive Firearm Task Force, and authorizations including $20 million per year for NICS efforts, $15 million per year for Project Exile in FY2026–FY2028, and $10 million per year for the DOJ task force.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Expanded travel protections for gun owners
If enacted, you would be able to travel across State lines with an unloaded firearm that is not directly accessible while stopping for overnight lodging, food, fuel, repairs, emergencies, or medical care. The gun and ammo must be stored according to the new rules (unloaded and inaccessible or locked). If you raise the defense in court, the government would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt it did not apply. A defendant who wins could get reasonable attorney fees.
New definition for mental incompetence
If enacted, the bill would narrow who counts as "adjudicated mentally incompetent" for federal gun rules. It would require a binding order or finding after a hearing with notice and a chance for counsel (or a knowing waiver). It would exclude observation stays and voluntary admissions and would not count orders that expired, were set aside, or where relief was granted.
Veterans and service members' gun rules
If enacted, the VA would not treat a veteran as "adjudicated mentally incompetent" for gun law purposes unless a judge, magistrate, or other court found the person is a danger to self or others. The bill would also clarify residency rules for active-duty service members and spouses so they count as residents of their legal home State, their permanent duty station, or a place they use to commute.
More transfer locations and protections
If enacted, licensed gun sellers could do transfers at more places. The law would treat 'firearm' broadly and let licensee-to-licensee transfers occur at any location in a State and some temporary-location sales to unlicensed buyers. The bill would also require senior DOJ approval in writing before undercover operations could push a dealer to sell to someone suspected of buying for a third party, and those operations must include safeguards to stop guns getting to third parties.
Stronger background-check records and grants
If enacted, the Attorney General would issue guidance within 45 days and agencies would identify and send records that show people are barred from guns to the NICS background-check system. The bill would authorize $20 million per year for NICS Improvement grants for each of FY2026–FY2030, start DOJ Inspector General audits in the first fiscal year, and give grant priority to applicants without unresolved audit findings. It would also require DOJ to check for duplicate grants before awards and to report any duplicates to Congress. The Attorney General could withhold 5% of Byrne JAG funds after 18 months and 10% after 5 years from States that do not comply.
New DOJ firearm task forces and funding
If enacted, DOJ would create and run several new firearms enforcement efforts. A Felon and Fugitive Firearm Task Force would be formed and meet at least twice per year and get up to $10 million per year for FY2026–FY2030. A Nationwide Project Exile Expansion must start within 90 days and would get $15 million per year for FY2026–FY2028 for prosecutors and ATF agents. Regional ATF trafficking task forces would be set up or continued in Houston, Phoenix, Dallas, and Los Angeles with at least 12 agents each.
Higher penalties and wider offenses
If enacted, the bill would add subsection (n) to the list of covered prohibited acts, expanding the reach of 18 U.S.C. 924(a)(8). It would also raise the maximum prison term for certain false gun-purchase statements so some violations could carry up to 10 years instead of five.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Chuck Grassley
IA • R
Cosponsors
Ted Cruz
TX • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in