Background Check Expansion Act
Sponsored By: Senator Christopher Murphy
Introduced
Summary
Would require background checks for most private firearm transfers by routing them through licensed dealers. This bill would create a new transfer framework that makes it unlawful for two unlicensed people to complete a firearm transfer without a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer first taking possession to run the check and comply with federal transfer rules.
Show full summary
- Private sellers and buyers would have to route most sales through a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer who would take possession to run the background check and follow all transfer requirements.
- Licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers would be required to provide a notice of the prohibition and collect a certification on a form prescribed by the Attorney General before completing a transfer.
- Close family and estate transfers would be exempt, including transfers between spouses, domestic partners, parents and children, siblings, aunts or uncles and nieces or nephews, and grandparents and grandchildren, and transfers by operation of law to executors or trustees.
- Temporary and specific transfers would be exempt in narrowly defined situations. These include short-term transfers to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, transfers approved under the tax code, and transfers that occur only at a shooting range or for hunting, trapping, or fishing while the transferor is present and has no reason to believe the transferee is prohibited.
- Transfers to law enforcement officers, armed private security professionals acting within official duties, and members of the Armed Forces acting in their official capacity would be exempt.
- The bill's amendments would take effect 180 days after enactment.
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
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
New rules for private gun sales
This bill would make most private gun sales illegal unless a licensed dealer, importer, or manufacturer first takes the gun to run a background check. The licensee would have to follow dealer rules, give a written notice, and get the buyer's certification on a form. If the licensee takes the gun and the sale cannot go forward, returning it would not count as a sale. The bill would make breaking this rule a crime. Several exceptions would apply, including certain law enforcement or military transfers, many family loans or gifts, short emergency handovers, transfers at ranges, and hunting uses. These rules would start 180 days after enactment.
No federal gun registry allowed
This bill would say nothing in the Act allows the federal government to create a national gun registry. It would also say states can still make their own laws on the same topic. This rule would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Christopher Murphy
CT • D
Cosponsors
Angela Alsobrooks
MD • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Tammy Baldwin
WI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Michael Bennet
CO • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Lisa Blunt Rochester
DE • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Cory Booker
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Maria Cantwell
WA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Christopher Coons
DE • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Catherine Cortez Masto
NV • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Tammy Duckworth
IL • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Richard Durbin
IL • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
John Fetterman
PA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Ruben Gallego
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Kirsten Gillibrand
NY • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Maggie Hassan
NH • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Martin Heinrich
NM • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Mazie Hirono
HI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Timothy Kaine
VA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Mark Kelly
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Andy Kim
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Angus King
ME • I
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Edward Markey
MA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Jeff Merkley
OR • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Patty Murray
WA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Alex Padilla
CA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Gary Peters
MI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
John Reed
RI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Jacky Rosen
NV • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Bernie Sanders
VT • I
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Brian Schatz
HI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Adam Schiff
CA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Charles Schumer
NY • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Jeanne Shaheen
NH • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Elissa Slotkin
MI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Tina Smith
MN • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Chris Van Hollen
MD • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Mark Warner
VA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Elizabeth Warren
MA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sheldon Whitehouse
RI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Ron Wyden
OR • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Jon Ossoff
GA • D
Sponsored 1/14/2026
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