HEAR Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
Introduced
Summary
A national ban on firearm silencers and mufflers. This bill would make it illegal to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess firearm silencers and mufflers while carving out narrow law enforcement and testing exceptions and creating a funded buy-back program.
Show full summary
- Private owners would no longer be allowed to possess, sell, import, manufacture, or transfer silencers or mufflers. The Attorney General would have 90 days to set up a nationwide buy-back that can use Byrne grant funds to compensate people who surrender devices.
- Federal, state, and campus law enforcement officers would be exempt when acting in law enforcement roles. Licensed manufacturers and importers could handle devices for Attorney General authorized testing and Atomic Energy Act licensees could receive devices for on-site protection and training.
- Enforcement tools and penalties would expand by amending federal firearms statutes to add the new prohibition and link it to broader seizure and forfeiture rules.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Ban on silencers and mufflers
If enacted, the bill would make it illegal to import, sell, make, transfer, or possess firearm silencers or mufflers. The ban would take effect 90 days after the law is signed. Exceptions would include federal, state, and local law enforcement (including campus officers), certain Atomic Energy licensees, and licensed makers or importers for Attorney General‑approved testing. Violations would carry criminal penalties and allow seizure and forfeiture of devices.
Nationwide silencer buy-back program
If enacted, the Attorney General would set up a nationwide buy-back program during the 90-day period after enactment. The program would buy firearm silencers and mufflers from people who surrender them and would pay compensation. Byrne grant funds could be used to pay for surrendered devices, but the bill does not set specific payment amounts.
90-day delay before new rules
If enacted, the changes to definitions, the new ban, and the expanded penalties would take effect 90 days after the law is signed. That would give people and businesses covered by those rules 90 more days to comply before the ban and penalties begin.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]
MD • D
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov