Constitutional Hearing Protection Act
Sponsored By: Representative Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9]
Introduced
Summary
Removes silencers from the federal definition of “firearm.” The bill would reclassify firearm silencers while setting a separate federal rulebook that keeps National Firearms Act (NFA) controls, preempts many state rules, mandates destruction of federal silencer records, and tightens marking requirements for makers and importers.
Show full summary
- People who buy or possess silencers would still have to meet NFA registration and licensing requirements when they acquire or possess a silencer under chapter 44 of Title 18. The definitional change would apply to calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after enactment.
- The Attorney General would be required to destroy any silencer registrations in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record and any transfer or make applications that identify a silencer within 365 days after enactment. This targets federal records that identify owners, transferees, or makers.
- States and localities could not impose taxes, marking, recordkeeping, or registration rules on silencers that affect interstate commerce except a general sales tax. Licensed manufacturers and importers would have to engrave or cast a serial number on a single "keystone part" and may seek a marking variance if needed.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Destroy federal silencer registry records
The Attorney General would have to destroy all silencer registrations in the federal NFRTR. The Attorney General would also have to destroy transfer and make applications that name the buyer or maker of a silencer. This must happen no later than 365 days after enactment.
Changes to definitions and compliance for silencers
The bill would change how federal law defines silencers and mufflers, including a "keystone part" definition. If you acquire or possess a silencer under chapter 44 rules, that would count as meeting National Firearms Act registration and licensing for that silencer. The change to the tax-code firearm definition would apply to calendar quarters that start more than 90 days after enactment. The bill would also update federal sales rules to list silencers and make clear this does not place these firearms under the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
States barred from extra silencer taxes
States and cities could not add special taxes on making, selling, using, owning, or transporting a silencer in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce. General sales or use taxes would still apply. States and cities also could not require extra marking, registration, or recordkeeping for silencers in interstate commerce. Any such state or local rules would have no effect under the bill.
New serial marking rules for silencer makers
Licensed importers and manufacturers would have to engrave or cast a serial number on the single "keystone part" of each silencer. If a device has no clear single keystone part or has several, they would need to ask the Attorney General for a marking variance. The Attorney General would have to grant the variance unless there is good cause that the request does not serve the law’s purpose.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9]
GA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]
LA • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
IL • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Norman
SC • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7]
MO • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1]
MD • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5]
TN • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Stutzman
IN • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Brecheen
OK • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Crane
AZ • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1]
MN • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]
AL • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]
OH • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
McGuire
VA • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
McClintock
CA • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]
TX • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Wied
WI • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]
AK • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]
AZ • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Harris (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
TX • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]
TN • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Hern (OK)
OK • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1]
MT • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2]
MT • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4]
KY • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Reschenthaler
PA • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10]
PA • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
FL • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
NY • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Estes
KS • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Feenstra
IA • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Fulcher
ID • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Kelly (PA)
PA • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]
OH • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21]
TX • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11]
PA • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Kustoff
TN • R
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3]
NC • R
Sponsored 5/9/2025
Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6]
AL • R
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4]
TX • R
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]
IN • R
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3]
CO • R
Sponsored 6/5/2025
Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]
WA • R
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Barr
KY • R
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2]
OH • R
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Tiffany
WI • R
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Davidson
OH • R
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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