S3085Referred to Committee

Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act of 2025

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Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2025-10-30
Introduced
17
Cosponsors
S
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

James E. Risch
James E. Risch
Republican · ID · Senator
Votes with party: 76.7% (889 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/R000584

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (17)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

2025-10-30

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

Previously

Plain-English Summary

Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act of 2025 This bill requires various federal agencies to continue certain operations, functions, and services related to firearms during a government shutdown. The bill applies to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Instant Criminal Background Check System, including the processing of background checks in support of the operations of the Directorate of Enforcement Programs and Services of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the ATF's Directorate of Enforcement Programs and Services; the activities of the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security relating to firearms and firearm-related products, including activities related to processing of applications for export licenses; and the activities of the Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls relating to firearms and firearm-related products, including activities related to processing of applications for export licenses. Under the bill, (1) these operations, functions, and services are deemed to relate to an emergency involving the safety of human life or the protection of property; and (2) employees carrying out the operations, functions, and services are deemed to be excepted employees. (Under an exception in the Antideficiency Act, an employee whose duties involve the safety of human life or the protection of property may be required to work during a government shutdown. Employees who are required to work during a government shutdown because they fall under this or other exceptions are known as excepted employees.)

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

Affected Industries

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Gun Rights

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Subjects

Crime and Law Enforcement
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Related legislation

Bills by the same sponsor or covering overlapping subjects.