Criminal Justice (Firearms)

in committee · United States · House Jun 26, 2025

HR 4198: Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act

This bill prohibits federal agencies from entering contracts with firearm dealers who have been identified as having high crime connections. Specifically, it requires the federal government to publish annually a list of dealers with at least 25 firearms traced to crimes within 3 years of sale in two of the past three years. Federal agencies must then avoid contracting with these dealers for two years following their inclusion on the list. The Attorney General may grant limited national security waivers (with congressional notification), but the ban takes effect 180 days after enactment. This directly affects federal contractors and firearm dealers meeting the defined crime-tracing threshold.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents federal contracts with firearm dealers linked to crime, reducing firearm-related offenses through enhanced oversight90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · United States · House Jun 26, 2025

HR 4166: Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025

This bill expands legal protections for domestic violence and stalking survivors by broadening key definitions. It adds current and former dating partners to the definition of "intimate partner" and includes children of dating partners in domestic violence protections. The bill also creates a new federal definition for "misdemeanor crime of stalking," requiring a course of harassment causing fear for specific people (including intimate partners, family, or shared-residence individuals) or their pets/service animals. Convictions under this new definition would trigger firearm restrictions, with specific safeguards for due process in court proceedings. These changes directly affect survivors in dating relationships and their children, strengthening federal protections for vulnerable individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands legal definitions to include dating partners and children, enhancing protections for survivors under criminal justice framework95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 8, 2025

S 1329: PEER Support Act

S.1329, the PEER Support Act, establishes formal standards for peer support specialists in mental health and substance use recovery. It defines the profession (requiring lived experience and certification), mandates the federal government to create a new occupational category for these specialists by 2026, and creates an Office of Recovery within SAMHSA to support workforce development and best practices. The bill also requires a federal report analyzing state criminal background check policies for peer specialists and recommending ways to reduce barriers to certification. This legislation directly affects peer support specialists, state certification agencies, and federal agencies like SAMHSA, aiming to professionalize the field and improve access to recovery support services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates peer support standards for mental health/substance use recovery, directly reducing recidivism through rehabilitation. Mandates federal report on criminal background check policies, aligning with reform efforts to ease reentry barriers.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes standards for peer support specialists in mental health, mandates federal occupational category, creates SAMHSA Office of Recovery for workforce development and best practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · House Nov 20, 2025

HR 6223: Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act of 2025

This bill requires the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to create electronic, searchable databases for firearm transaction records held by licensed dealers. It directly affects licensed firearms dealers (who must provide electronic access to their records) and law enforcement agencies (which can query the databases for investigations or foreign intelligence purposes). Key provisions mandate that databases be searchable by firearm details (like serial number or model) but not by personal identifiers, and allow dealers to permanently relinquish paper records after 10 years. The ATF must establish these systems within three years, with annual audits to ensure compliance.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates electronic database for law enforcement to trace crime guns, enhancing investigative capabilities in criminal justice operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

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in committee · United States · Senate Nov 20, 2025

S 3256: Disarm Hate Act

The Disarm Hate Act (S 3256) adds new restrictions to federal firearm law, prohibiting individuals convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime or who received an enhanced sentence for such a crime from buying, possessing, or transporting firearms. It directly affects people convicted under state, federal, or tribal law for misdemeanor offenses motivated by bias against race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, where the crime involved physical force, a weapon threat, or credible threat to safety. The bill amends existing federal laws (18 U.S.C. §§ 922(d) and 922(g)) to explicitly include these individuals in prohibited categories, while excluding cases where convictions were expunged, pardoned, or where civil rights were restored without firearm restrictions. This is a concrete policy change to expand firearm prohibitions based on specific hate-motivated misdemeanor convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts firearm access for hate crime offenders, strengthening sentencing and public safety measures within criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 3, 2025

S 1294: Federal Firearm Licensee Act

The Federal Firearm Licensee Act (S 1294) requires federally licensed firearm dealers to implement stronger security measures for their premises and firearms inventory. The bill mandates annual security certifications, physical inventory checks, and electronic recordkeeping for all firearms transactions, while repealing restrictions that previously limited the ATF's ability to share crime gun trace data with law enforcement. It also increases licensing fees for dealers and establishes new requirements for online marketplaces facilitating firearm sales. These changes aim to improve accountability and reduce firearms diversion to criminals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens law enforcement by requiring firearm dealer security, mandating electronic records, and repealing ATF data-sharing restrictions to aid crime gun investigations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

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in committee · United States · House Jun 27, 2025

HR 4223: Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act

HR 4223, the Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act, repeals restrictions in the Tiahrt Amendments that currently require federal agencies to destroy most background check records within 24 hours and bar inventory audits of gun shops. The bill removes these barriers, allowing law enforcement to retain background check data longer and access firearm trace records for investigations and research. It also eliminates prohibitions on processing Freedom of Information Act requests about firearm traces and centralizing records at the Department of Justice. This change directly affects law enforcement agencies and researchers by providing greater access to data on gun trafficking patterns and illegal firearm use.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRepeals Tiahrt Amendments, allowing law enforcement to retain background check data and access firearm trace records for investigations - enhancing investigative capabilities in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

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in committee · United States · House Apr 28, 2025

HR 3039: PROSPER Act of 2025

The PROSPER Act of 2025 authorizes $25 million annually (2026-2030) from juvenile justice funds to award grants for youth gun violence prevention programs. It directly affects at-risk youth by requiring grantees to implement evidence-based strategies focused on trauma healing, youth empowerment, mental health connections, community engagement, and gun safety education. Key provisions mandate that programs must be culturally competent, trauma-informed, and inclusive of youth with past exposure to violence or the justice system. Eligible recipients include community organizations, tribes, colleges, and nonprofits - not law enforcement agencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds youth gun violence prevention programs with trauma healing, mental health, and community engagement - evidence-based strategies directly supporting criminal justice reform and reducing youth involvement in violence.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health connections and trauma healing as key strategies for youth gun violence prevention, directly advancing mental health services within its provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 6, 2025

S 889: Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act of 2025

This bill establishes a federal grant program to help states and tribes implement Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), which temporarily restrict firearm access for individuals deemed to pose a danger to themselves or others. To qualify for grants, states and tribes must enact legislation meeting specific requirements, including petition processes, notice and hearing procedures, and standards for issuing ERPOs. The bill requires states to notify federal authorities about ERPOs and update the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, ensuring ERPOs are recognized across state lines. It also mandates training for law enforcement on the safe, impartial use of ERPOs and includes provisions for reporting demographic data on petitioners and respondents. The legislation directly affects states, tribes, law enforcement officers, and individuals subject to ERPOs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands ERPO implementation to prevent gun violence, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing harm and enhancing public safety through evidence-based interventions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · United States · House Apr 30, 2025

HR 3114: Clean Slate Act of 2025

The Clean Slate Act of 2025 automatically seals federal criminal records for individuals convicted of nonviolent marijuana offenses (under 21 U.S.C. 844) or arrested without conviction, after they complete all sentence requirements. It also creates a petition process for individuals convicted of other nonviolent federal offenses who have completed their sentences, requiring courts to balance public safety concerns against the individual's rehabilitation when deciding whether to seal records. Sealed records cannot be accessed for most background checks, employment, or housing applications, with limited exceptions for law enforcement, national security positions, or firearm-related employment. The bill directly affects individuals with certain nonviolent federal convictions or arrests who have completed their sentences, excluding those with violent offenses, sex offenses, or national security convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically seals nonviolent offense records, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through record expungement95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Law Enforcement

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