Joseph Morelle (D-NY)
State Firearms Dealer Licensing Enhancement Act
A Democratic bill with 17 Democratic cosponsors · See all 17 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the State Firearms Dealer Licensing Enhancement Act, proposes to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. It seeks to establish a new grant program managed by the Attorney General. These annual grants would be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible States or Indian tribal governments. The funds are intended for the development, implementation, improvement, or evaluation of firearms dealer licensing programs. To be eligible, a State or tribe must have laws requiring firearms dealers to be licensed, undergo inspections, and face potential penalties or license revocation for noncompliance.
Yes
- Scored +6
Does this put more limits on buying or owning guns?
The bill funds the development and improvement of state and tribal firearms dealer licensing and inspection programs.
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires the Attorney General to submit annual reports to Congress and make them available to the public regarding grant recipients and inspection data.
- Scored +3
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill allows Indian tribal governments to apply for grants to improve their firearms dealer licensing programs.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Does this protect the right to own guns?
The bill increases regulatory oversight, inspections, and the potential for license revocation for firearms dealers.
- Scored -4
Would gun owners be better off under this?
The bill facilitates stricter oversight and licensing requirements for those engaged in the firearms business.
- Scored -3
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill requires firearms dealers to undergo more rigorous licensing, inspections, and potential penalties.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Development and Improvement of Licensing Programs: The Attorney General may award grants to help eligible applicants develop, implement, improve, or evaluate firearms dealer licensing programs (Section 2(a), SEC. 3061(a)).
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Local Government Support: States receiving grants may provide subawards to local government units that are authorized to oversee and enforce the firearms dealer licensing programs (Section 2(a), SEC. 3061(c)).
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Public Transparency: The Attorney General is required to submit annual reports to Congress and make them available to the public, which includes information on grant recipients, funds awarded, and data regarding inspections and license statuses (Section 2(a), SEC. 3061(d)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Requirements for State/Tribal Laws: To be considered an eligible applicant, a State or Indian tribal government must have laws in place that require firearms dealers to undergo inspections and allow for the suspension or revocation of licenses, as well as the imposition of civil penalties or criminal charges (Section 2(a), SEC. 3062(1)).
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Grant Limitations: Individual grants are restricted to an amount not exceeding $2,500,000 per fiscal year (Section 2(a), SEC. 3061(e)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Attorney General to submit annual reports to Congress and make them available to the public regarding grant recipients and inspection data.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill requires firearms dealers to undergo more rigorous licensing, inspections, and potential penalties.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this put more limits on buying or owning guns? — The bill funds the development and improvement of state and tribal firearms dealer licensing and inspection programs. Does this protect the right to own guns? — The bill increases regulatory oversight, inspections, and the potential for license revocation for firearms dealers.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill allows Indian tribal governments to apply for grants to improve their firearms dealer licensing programs. Would gun owners be better off under this? — The bill facilitates stricter oversight and licensing requirements for those engaged in the firearms business.
- 9/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/24/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 13 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
4 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.
Ed CaseDemocrat · Hawaii
Salud CarbajalDemocrat · California
Angie CraigDemocrat · Minnesota
Gilbert CisnerosDemocrat · California
Danny DavisDemocrat · Illinois
Mark DeSaulnierDemocrat · California
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
Robin KellyDemocrat · Illinois
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Mike QuigleyDemocrat · Illinois
Robert ScottDemocrat · Virginia
Janice SchakowskyDemocrat · Illinois
Marilyn StricklandDemocrat · Washington
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Jill TokudaDemocrat · Hawaii
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan