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S. 529 117th Congress Senate

Background Check Expansion Act

Official title: A bill to require a background check for every firearm sale.

Introduced: March 2, 2021 Introduced by: Christopher Murphy Democratic · Connecticut See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 2, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 2, 2021
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action March 2, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Background Check Expansion Act

This bill establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties (i.e., unlicensed individuals).

Specifically, it prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check.

The prohibition does not apply to certain firearm transfers, such as a gift between spouses in good faith.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • S 1155 Virginia Plan to Reduce Gun Violence Act of 2021
  • HR 8 Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 37
All 37 Democratic 36 Independent 1
D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Bennet, Michael F.
Colorado · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Cantwell, Maria
Washington · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Cortez Masto, Catherine
Nevada · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Duckworth, Tammy
Illinois · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Heinrich, Martin
New Mexico · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Hickenlooper, John W.
Colorado · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Kaine, Tim
Virginia · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Kelly, Mark
Arizona · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Klobuchar, Amy
Minnesota · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Luján, Ben Ray
New Mexico · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Merkley, Jeff
Oregon · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Ossoff, Jon
Georgia · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Padilla, Alex
California · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Peters, Gary C.
Michigan · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Rosen, Jacky
Nevada · Mar 2, 2021
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Schatz, Brian
Hawaii · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Shaheen, Jeanne
New Hampshire · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Smith, Tina
Minnesota · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Warner, Mark R.
Virginia · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Warnock, Raphael G.
Georgia · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Mar 2, 2021
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Mar 2, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 529: Background Check Expansion Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-529/
MLA
"S. 529: Background Check Expansion Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-529/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 529, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-529/.
Markdown link
[S. 529: Background Check Expansion Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-529/)
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