Background Check Expansion Act
Sponsored By: Senator Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced
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.
Show full summary
- 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.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
New rules for private gun sales
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 and the sale cannot go forward, returning it would not count as a sale. The bill would make breaking this rule a crime. Several exceptions would apply, including certain law enforcement or military transfers, many family loans or gifts, short emergency handovers, transfers at ranges, and hunting uses. These rules would start 180 days after enactment.
No federal gun registry allowed
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.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
CT • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
WI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
CO • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
WA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
ME • I
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
WA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Gary Peters
MI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Charles Schumer
NY • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Elissa Slotkin
MI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
GA • D
Sponsored 1/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov