# 119-hr-9208: HEAR Act of 2026

119-hr-9208, HEAR Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ); status introduced (as of 2026-07-02).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9208
- As of: 2026-07-02
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9208
- Congress: 119
- Title: HEAR Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-08
- Sponsor: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-02

## Summary

**A nationwide prohibition on the import, manufacture, sale, transfer, and commercial possession of firearm silencers and mufflers.** The bill would also create a federally funded buy-back program and carve out narrow exemptions for government, law enforcement, and certain licensed nuclear operations. - Private owners would be barred from engaging in interstate or foreign commercial transfer, sale, manufacture, importation, or possession of silencers and mufflers and could surrender them to a federal buy-back for compensation. - Federal, State, and local government agencies and qualified law enforcement officers, including defined campus law enforcement officers at Title IV-eligible private colleges, are exempt from the prohibition. - Licensed manufacturers and importers may possess silencers for testing or experimentation authorized by the Attorney General. Atomic Energy Act licensees and their employees or contractors may hold silencers for on-site security or authorized training and transport. - The Attorney General must set up a nationwide buy-back program using Byrne Grants and begin it within 90 days, and the bill adds the new prohibition to existing criminal provisions and enhances penalties for violations.

## Cosponsors (7)

- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] (D-HI), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4] (D-MD), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ), 2026-06-30T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Nationwide silencer buy-back payments: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require the Attorney General to run a nationwide buy-back for firearm silencers and mufflers during the 90 days after enactment. Individuals could sell their silencers to the program for payment. The bill would allow Byrne Grant funds to pay people who surrender silencers…
- Ban on silencers and mufflers: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would make it unlawful to import, sell, make, transfer, or possess firearm silencers or mufflers that affect interstate or foreign commerce. The ban would start 90 days after enactment. It would still allow the United States, state and local governments, and qualified law enfor…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-9208 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9208)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5390)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9208 (as of 2026-07-02).