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S 494 118th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Crime prevention Criminal justice information and records Firearms and explosives Government information and archives Licensing and registrations

Background Check Expansion Act

Introduced: February 16, 2023 Introduced by: Murphy, Christopher Democratic · Connecticut See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) 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
Feb 16, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Feb 16, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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 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.

What's happening now February 16, 2023

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Lobbying activity 2

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

 Cosponsors 40
D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Feb 16, 2023
D
Bennet, Michael F.
Colorado · Feb 16, 2023
D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Feb 16, 2023
D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · Feb 16, 2023
D
Cantwell, Maria
Washington · Feb 16, 2023
D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · Feb 16, 2023
D
Cortez Masto, Catherine
Nevada · Feb 16, 2023
D
Duckworth, Tammy
Illinois · Feb 16, 2023
D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Feb 16, 2023
D
Fetterman, John
Pennsylvania · Feb 16, 2023
D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Feb 16, 2023
D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · Feb 16, 2023
D
Heinrich, Martin
New Mexico · Feb 16, 2023
D
Hickenlooper, John W.
Colorado · Feb 16, 2023
D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Feb 16, 2023
D
Kaine, Tim
Virginia · Feb 16, 2023
D
Kelly, Mark
Arizona · Feb 16, 2023
I
King, Angus S., Jr.
Maine · Feb 16, 2023
D
Klobuchar, Amy
Minnesota · Feb 16, 2023
D
Luján, Ben Ray
New Mexico · Feb 16, 2023
D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Feb 16, 2023
D
Merkley, Jeff
Oregon · Feb 16, 2023
D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Feb 16, 2023
D
Ossoff, Jon
Georgia · Feb 16, 2023
D
Padilla, Alex
California · Feb 16, 2023
D
Peters, Gary C.
Michigan · Feb 16, 2023
D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · Feb 16, 2023
D
Rosen, Jacky
Nevada · Feb 16, 2023
I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Feb 16, 2023
D
Schatz, Brian
Hawaii · Feb 16, 2023
D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Feb 16, 2023
D
Shaheen, Jeanne
New Hampshire · Feb 16, 2023
D
Smith, Tina
Minnesota · Feb 16, 2023
D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Feb 16, 2023
D
Warner, Mark R.
Virginia · Feb 16, 2023
D
Warnock, Raphael G.
Georgia · Feb 16, 2023
D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Feb 16, 2023
D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Feb 16, 2023
D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Feb 16, 2023
D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Feb 16, 2023
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 494: Background Check Expansion Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-494/
MLA
"S. 494: Background Check Expansion Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-494/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 494, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-494/.
Markdown link
[S. 494: Background Check Expansion Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-494/)
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