# 119-s-3214: Background Check Expansion Act

119-s-3214, Background Check Expansion Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (D-CT); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3214
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3214
- Congress: 119
- Title: Background Check Expansion Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-11-19
- Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (D-CT)
- Cosponsors: 46
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (46)

- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (D-WI), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] (D-WA), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA] (D-PA), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (D-WA), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (D-MI), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI] (D-RI), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI] (D-MI), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] (D-GA), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA] (D-GA), 2026-01-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- No federal gun registry allowed: benefit, low. 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.
- New rules for private gun sales: cost, medium. 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 an…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025
- 119-s-2523: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
- 119-s-1115: Paycheck Fairness Act
- 119-s-3071: Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-3214 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3214)

## Related
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2150)
- [119-s-2523: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2523)
- [119-s-1115: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1115)
- [119-s-3071: Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3071)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3214 (as of 2026-08-11).