Bill · S. 1294· Senate(119-S-1294)
Federal Firearm Licensee Act
- Introduced
- 4/3/2025
- Last activity
- 4/3/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S2175-2181)
- Sponsored by
- Richard Durbin
- Cosponsors
- - 13 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Federal Firearm Licensee Act aims to modernize the regulations governing the business of selling firearms. It introduces stricter requirements for physical security, inventory management, and electronic recordkeeping for licensees. The bill expands the authority of the Attorney General to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses based on public safety and compliance. It also establishes new mandates for background checks for dealer employees and increases various licensing fees. Additionally, the Act creates a new regulatory category for digital facilitators of firearm transfers. Finally, it authorizes the hiring of more investigators to oversee industry operations.
Yes· 3 of 5
Does this put more limits on buying or owning guns?+7
The bill strengthens firearm regulations through stricter dealer requirements, mandatory inventory checks, and enhanced data access for law enforcement.
Does this give the federal government more power?+6
The bill significantly expands the authority of the Attorney General and the ATF to regulate, inspect, and revoke firearms licenses.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+4
The bill mandates annual reports to Congress regarding industry inspections and compliance data.
The opposite· 3 of 8
Would business owners be better off under this?-7
The bill increases costs through higher fees, more frequent inspections, and stricter compliance mandates.
Does this protect the right to own guns?-6
The bill imposes significant new regulatory burdens, increased fees, and stricter licensing requirements on firearm dealers.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?-5
The bill imposes significantly higher licensing fees and increased regulatory compliance costs on firearm dealers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Enhanced Physical Security: Licensees must submit a security plan and comply with specific security measures such as using locked metal cabinets, video monitoring, and anti-theft alarms (Section 5). This could help reduce the theft of firearms from dealer premises.
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Improved Inventory Oversight: The bill requires licensees to conduct quarterly physical checks of their inventory and report any lost or stolen firearms (Section 6). This is intended to curb the diversion of firearms to criminals.
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Increased Data Accessibility for Law Enforcement: The creation of electronic, searchable databases for firearms records allows the National Tracing Center to access information for criminal investigations (Section 7). This is intended to help curb firearm trafficking and violence.
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Digital Marketplace Regulation: By defining and regulating "facilitators," the bill brings oversight to commercial marketplaces where firearm offers are made (Section 3 and Section 20).
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Public Safety Information: The bill requires dealers to post warnings regarding suicide prevention, securing firearms from loss or theft, and straw purchasing (Section 10).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Increased Costs for Businesses: The bill significantly increases licensing fees for manufacturers, importers, and dealers (Section 13). This could increase the cost of doing business.
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Increased Regulatory Burdens: Licensees are subject to mandatory annual inspections, quarterly inventory reporting, and new electronic recordkeeping requirements (Sections 5, 6, and 7).
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Strict Liability and Penalties: The bill increases penalties for failing to conduct background checks and expands the authority of the Attorney General to impose fines and license revocations (Sections 18, 22, and 23).
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Stricter Employee Requirements: Dealers must now conduct background checks on employees before they can possess firearms at the business premises (Section 21).
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New Fees for Facilitators: Individuals or entities engaging as facilitators of firearm transfers will be subject to a $1,000 annual fee (Section 20).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+2Good For Business Owners-7Good For Gun Owners-4
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+6Improves Government Transparency+4Improves Privacy Rights-3Improves Due Process-2
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy-3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+3Improves Small Business Support-5
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Increases Domestic Surveillance-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Gun Control Measures+7Improves Second Amendment Protections-6
- 6/17/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/22/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/3/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S2175-2181)
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island