Blair Holt Firearm Owner Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
Introduced
Summary
Federal licensing and a transfer reporting system.
Show full summary
This bill would create a two-track licensing regime for possession of certain handguns and semiautomatic rifles and would require dealers to verify licenses and report transfers into a federal record-of-sale system that the Attorney General would create within 270 days.
- Families and children: Would create a Child Access Prevention rule that makes it a crime to keep a loaded firearm or an accessible firearm with ammunition where a child under 18 can gain access. Violations carry penalties up to 5 years in prison.
- Firearm owners: Would require either a Federal firearm owner license or a State license certified by the Attorney General to possess qualifying firearms, with fingerprint-based background checks, mental-health reviews, photo ID, parental consent rules for applicants under 21, and a fee cap of $10.
- Dealers, States, and enforcement: Would require dealers to verify a transferee’s license at the time of transfer, record a tracking authorization number, and report transfers within 14 days to the Attorney General or to a certified State agency. The bill would authorize inspections, regulations, injunctive relief, and criminal penalties up to 10 years for key transfer and reporting violations.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.
Federal gun injury data and research
If enacted, the Attorney General would create a firearm injury information clearinghouse to collect and publish data on firearm deaths and injuries. The Attorney General would study causes, track manufacturer production and sales figures, and study smart-gun technologies. Reports would be sent to Congress and made public at least annually.
Rules for private and dealer transfers
If enacted, you could not sell or give a qualifying firearm directly to another unlicensed person. A licensed dealer would have to take possession to run checks and do the paperwork before the transfer. Dealers would have to verify the buyer has a valid Federal or certified State license at the time of transfer and record a tracking authorization number. There are specific exceptions for law enforcement, close family gifts, estates, emergencies, and short temporary uses.
Federal inspections and tougher penalties
If enacted, the Attorney General could inspect places where firearms are made, stored, or sold during business hours to check compliance. The Attorney General could stop sales and sue to block violations. Knowing violations of key licensing, transfer, or recordkeeping rules could bring fines or up to 10 years in prison, and child-access violations could bring fines or up to 5 years in prison.
Child access and lost-gun rules
If enacted, it would be illegal to keep a loaded gun, or an unlocked gun with readily accessible ammunition, where a child under 18 gets it and then uses it to kill or seriously hurt someone. There are exceptions if the gun was secured with an approved device, used by the child in lawful self-defense, or if no child was reasonably expected. The bill would also require owners to report a lost or stolen qualifying firearm to the Attorney General within 72 hours after they find out.
Federal gun sale records and state systems
If enacted, the Attorney General would create a Federal record-of-sale system within 270 days to receive dealer reports about qualifying firearm transfers. States could ask to be certified so dealers report to the State, and certified State systems must forward each dealer report to the Federal system within 7 days. The Act would also remove a prior sentence that barred creating registration systems, which could enable broader federal or state recordkeeping in the future.
New federal firearm owner license
If enacted, the bill would create a Federal firearm owner license you could apply for. You would send a photo, fingerprints, mental-health releases, and personal details. The Attorney General could charge a fee up to $10 and must issue a license within 30 days if the background check clears. License-holders would need to report address changes within 60 days and could seek relief or quick judicial review if denied.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 6/30/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov