Bill · S. 3214· Senate(119-S-3214)
Background Check Expansion Act
- Introduced
- 11/19/2025
- Last activity
- 11/19/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Christopher Murphy
- Cosponsors
- - 44 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Background Check Expansion Act" seeks to require a background check for every firearm sale. Under this bill, any person who is not a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer cannot transfer a firearm to another unlicensed person without a licensee first taking possession of it. This ensures that licensed entities handle the transfer process. The Act includes several specific exceptions for law enforcement, family transfers, and certain temporary transfers. The new regulations are set to take effect 180 days after the bill is enacted.
Yes
Does this put more limits on buying or owning guns?+8
The bill requires all firearm transfers between unlicensed individuals to be processed through a licensed dealer to ensure a background check occurs.
The opposite· 3 of 6
Would gun owners be better off under this?-4
The bill restricts the ability of individuals to transfer firearms directly to one another without a licensed intermediary.
Would business owners be better off under this?-2
The bill increases the regulatory and administrative burden for firearm dealers and manufacturers.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?-2
The bill imposes new administrative and compliance duties on licensed dealers and manufacturers during firearm transfers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Standardized Transfer Process: By requiring a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer to take possession of a firearm during a transfer between unlicensed persons, the bill establishes a specific protocol for these transactions (Section 2(a)(1)(A)).
-
Safety Exceptions for Imminent Danger: The bill allows for a temporary transfer if it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, including harm related to domestic violence or sexual assault (Section 2(a)(2)(D)).
-
Protection for Recreational Activities: The bill permits temporary transfers for specific purposes such as target shooting at a range or for hunting, trapping, or fishing, provided certain conditions regarding the transferee's intent and compliance are met (Section 2(a)(2)(F)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Mandatory Involvement of Licensed Entities: Any person who is not a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer must involve a licensee to facilitate a transfer of a firearm to another unlicensed person (Section 2(a)(1)(A)).
-
New Requirements for Licensed Professionals: Licensed importers, manufacturers, or dealers must comply with all requirements of the chapter as if they were transferring from their own inventory once they take possession of a firearm (Section 2(a)(1)(B)).
-
Administrative Burdens for Licensees: Licensed professionals are required to provide a notice of prohibition to the person receiving the firearm and must ensure the person certifies they received that notice via a prescribed form (Section 2(a)(3)).
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 Gun Owners-4Good For Business Owners-2Good For Low Income Households-1Good For Middle Class Households-1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Gun Control Measures+8
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Privacy Rights-1
- 1/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/19/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 45 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill 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
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Lisa Blunt RochesterDemocrat · Delaware
Maria CantwellDemocrat · Washington
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Patty MurrayDemocrat · Washington
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Gary PetersDemocrat · Michigan
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Charles SchumerDemocrat · New York
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat · Michigan
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts