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Title I — Licensing

S. 4921 · 119th Congress · Jun 24, 2026 · Lineage

I Licensing

Sec. 101 Licensing requirement

Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(aa) Firearm licensing requirement

“(1) In general—Subject to paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful for any individual other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to possess a qualifying firearm on or after the applicable date, unless that individual has a valid—

“(A) firearm owner license; or

“(B) State firearm license.

“(2) Exemptions

“(A) In general—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to—

“(i) a Federal, State, local, or Tribal law enforcement officer while engaged in the performance of official duties;

“(ii) a member of the Armed Forces or National Guard while engaged in the performance of official duties;

“(iii) a Federal employee who is required to carry a qualifying firearm in the capacity of that individual as a Federal employee while engaged in the performance of official duties;

“(iv) a member of a bona fide veterans organization that received the qualifying firearm directly from the Armed Forces, including a member of the color guard of the veterans organization, while using the qualifying firearm for a ceremonial purpose with blank ammunition;

“(v) an unemancipated minor who is under the direct supervision of an individual who—

“(I) has a valid firearm owner license or State firearm license; and

“(II) is, with respect to the minor—

“(aa) a parent;

“(bb) a legal guardian; or

“(cc) any other individual standing in loco parentis;

“(vi) an individual with a valid hunting license issued by a State while the individual is—

“(I) hunting in the State that issued the license; and

“(II) accompanied by an individual who has a valid firearm owner license or State firearm license; or

“(vii) an individual who is—

“(I)

“(aa) on a firing or shooting range; or

“(bb) participating in a firearms safety or training course recognized by—

“(AA) a Federal, State, local, or Tribal law enforcement agency; or

“(BB) a national or statewide shooting sports organization;

“(II) otherwise eligible to obtain a firearm owner license; and

“(III) under the direct supervision of an individual who—

“(aa) has a valid firearm owner license or State firearm license; and

“(bb) is not less than 21 years of age.

“(B) Individuals with State firearm licenses—Not later than 60 days after the date on which an individual who has a State firearm license moves from the State in which the State firearm license of the individual was issued to a different State, the individual shall—

“(i) if the State to which the individual has moved has a State firearm owner licensing system certified by the Attorney General under section 936, apply for—

“(I) a State firearm license under that State system; or

“(II) a firearm owner license; or

“(ii) if the State to which the individual has moved does not have a State firearm licensing system certified by the Attorney General under section 936, apply for a firearm owner license.

“(3) Definitions—In this subsection—

“(A) the term applicable date means, with respect to a qualifying firearm that is acquired by the individual—

“(i) before the date of enactment of the Blair Holt Firearm Owner Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2026, 2 years after that date of enactment; and

“(ii) on or after the date of enactment of the Blair Holt Firearm Owner Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2026, 1 year after that date of enactment; and

“(B) the term State firearm license means a firearm license issued under a firearm licensing system established by a State that has been certified by the Attorney General under section 936.

“(bb) Denial or revocation of firearm owner licenses—It shall be unlawful for any individual who is denied a firearm owner license under paragraph (3)(D) of section 923(m) or receives a revocation notice under paragraph (5)(B)(i) of that section to knowingly—

“(1) fail to surrender the firearm owner license of the individual in accordance with paragraph (6)(A)(i) of that section;

“(2) fail to submit a firearm disposition record in accordance with paragraph (6)(A)(ii) of that section;

“(3) make a false statement in a firearm disposition record submitted under paragraph (6)(A)(ii) of that section; or

“(4) fail to transfer any qualifying firearm of the individual in accordance with paragraph (6)(A)(iii) of that section.”

Sec. 102 Issuance, revocation, and renewal of firearm owner licenses

Section 923 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (d)(1)(F)(iii), by inserting “under subsection (a) or (b)” after “Federal firearms license”;
(2)
in subsection (l), by inserting “under subsection (a) or (b)” after “a firearms license is issued”; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:

“(m) Firearm owner licenses

“(1) Definitions—In this subsection—

“(A) the term clinical psychologist means a psychologist licensed or registered to practice psychology in the State in which the psychologist practices who—

“(i) has—

“(I) a doctoral degree from a regionally accredited university, college, or professional school; and

“(II) not less than 2 years of supervised experience in health services, of which—

“(aa) not less than 1 year is of postdoctoral experience; and

“(bb) not less than 1 year is of experience in an organized health service program; or

“(ii) has—

“(I) a graduate degree in psychology from a regionally accredited university or college; and

“(II) not less than 6 years of experience as a psychologist, of which not less than 2 years are of supervised experience in health services;

“(B) the term covered offense means battery, assault, aggravated assault, or violation of an order of protection, in which a firearm was used or possessed;

“(C) the term identification document has the meaning given the term in section 1028(d);

“(D) the term licensed individual means an individual issued a firearm owner license under paragraph (3);

“(E) the term physician means a doctor of medicine legally authorized to practice medicine by the State in which the physician performs that function or action;

“(F) the term qualified examiner means a medical professional authorized to conduct a qualifying mental health evaluation by the State in which the evaluation occurs; and

“(G) the term qualifying mental health evaluation means a mental evaluation by a physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner resulting in a certification by the physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner that an individual is not a clear and present danger to the individual or others.

“(2) Applications

“(A) In general—An individual applying for a firearm owner license under this subsection shall submit to the Attorney General, in accordance with the regulations promulgated under subparagraph (B), an application that includes—

“(i) a current, passport-sized photograph of the applicant that provides a clear, accurate likeness of the applicant;

“(ii) the name, address, and date and place of birth of the applicant;

“(iii) any other name that the applicant has ever used or by which the applicant has ever been known;

“(iv) with respect to each category of person prohibited by Federal law, or by the law of the State of residence of the applicant, from obtaining a firearm, a statement that the applicant is not a person prohibited from receiving a firearm;

“(v)

“(I) a certification by the applicant that the applicant is not younger than 21 years old; or

“(II) in the case of an applicant who is younger than 21 years old—

“(aa) written proof of the consent of the parent or legal guardian of the applicant for the applicant to possess and acquire a qualifying firearm, provided that the parent or legal guardian—

“(AA) is not an individual prohibited by subsection (g) or (n) of section 922 from receiving a firearm; and

“(BB) submits an affidavit with the application affirming that the parent or legal guardian is not an individual prohibited by subsection (g) or (n) of section 922 from receiving a firearm; and

“(bb) a certification by the applicant that the applicant has not been convicted of a misdemeanor, other than a traffic offense, or adjudged delinquent;

“(vi) a certification by the applicant that the applicant—

“(I) was not a patient in a mental health facility during the 5-year period preceding the date on which the application is submitted;

“(II) is not an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability;

“(III) is not subject to an order of protection prohibiting the applicant from possessing a firearm;

“(IV) has not been convicted of a covered offense during the 5-year period preceding the date on which the application is submitted; and

“(V) has not been adjudged delinquent for an act of juvenile delinquency that if committed by an adult would be a felony;

“(vii) if the individual was a patient in a mental health facility during a period ending more than 5 years before the date on which the application is submitted, a qualifying mental health evaluation;

“(viii) an authorization by the applicant to release to the Attorney General, or an authorized representative of the Attorney General, any mental health records pertaining to the applicant;

“(ix) the rolled fingerprints of the applicant;

“(x) the date on which the application was submitted; and

“(xi) the signature of the applicant.

“(B) Regulations governing submission

“(i) In general—The Attorney General shall promulgate regulations specifying procedures for the submission of an application under subparagraph (A) to the Attorney General that shall—

“(I) provide for submission of the application through a licensed dealer or an office or agency of the Federal Government designated by the Attorney General;

“(II) require the applicant to provide a valid identification document of the applicant, containing a photograph of the applicant, to the licensed dealer or to the office or agency of the Federal Government, as applicable, at the time of submission of the application to that licensed dealer, office, or agency; and

“(III) require that a completed application be forwarded to the Attorney General not later than 48 hours after the application is submitted to the licensed dealer or office or agency of the Federal Government.

“(ii) Definition—In this subparagraph, the term agency has the meaning given the term in section 551 of title 5.

“(C) Fees

“(i) In general—The Attorney General shall charge and collect from each applicant for a license under this subsection a fee in an amount determined in accordance with clause (ii).

“(ii) Fee amount—The amount of the fee collected under this subparagraph shall be not less than the amount determined by the Attorney General to be necessary to ensure that the total amount of all fees collected under this subparagraph during a fiscal year is sufficient to cover the costs of carrying out this subsection during that fiscal year, except that such amount shall not exceed $10.

“(3) Issuance of licenses

“(A) In general—Not later than 30 days after the date on which an application is submitted under paragraph (2), the Attorney General shall issue a firearm owner license to an applicant who has submitted an application that meets the requirements under paragraph (2), if, after conducting a fingerprint-based nationwide criminal background check using the rolled fingerprints of the applicant submitted in the application, the Attorney General determines that the applicant—

“(i) is not prohibited by subsection (g) or (n) of section 922 from receiving a qualifying firearm;

“(ii)

“(I) is not younger than 21 years old; or

“(II) is younger than 21 years old and—

“(aa) has submitted written proof of the consent of the parent or legal guardian of the applicant required under paragraph (2)(A)(v)(II)(aa); and

“(bb) has not been convicted of a misdemeanor, other than a traffic offense, or adjudged delinquent;

“(iii) was not a patient in a mental health facility during the 5-year period preceding the date on which the application is submitted;

“(iv) is not an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability;

“(v) is not subject to an order of protection prohibiting the applicant from possessing a firearm;

“(vi) has not been convicted of a covered offense during the 5-year period preceding the date on which the application is submitted;

“(vii) has not been adjudged delinquent for an act of juvenile delinquency that if committed by an adult would be a felony;

“(viii) if the applicant was a patient in a mental health facility during a period ending more than 5 years before the date on which the application is submitted, has received a qualifying mental health evaluation;

“(ix) does not have a mental condition that makes the applicant a clear and present danger to the individual or others; and

“(x) has not intentionally made a false statement in the application under paragraph (2).

“(B) Effect of issuance to prohibited individuals—A firearm owner license issued under this paragraph shall be null and void if issued to an individual who is prohibited by subsection (g) or (n) of section 922 from receiving a firearm.

“(C) Form of licenses—A firearm owner license issued under this paragraph shall be in the form of a tamper-resistant card, and shall include—

“(i) the photograph of the licensed individual submitted with the application under paragraph (2);

“(ii) the address of the licensed individual;

“(iii) the date of birth of the licensed individual;

“(iv) the sex of the licensed individual;

“(v) the height and weight of the licensed individual;

“(vi) a license number, unique to each licensed individual;

“(vii) the expiration date of the license, which shall be—

“(I) the date that is 5 years after the initial anniversary of the date of birth of the licensed individual following the date on which the license is issued; or

“(II) in the case of a license renewed under paragraph (4), the date that is 5 years after the anniversary of the date of birth of the licensed individual following the date on which the license is renewed;

“(viii) a facsimile of the rolled fingerprints of the individual submitted in the application of the individual under paragraph (2)(A)(ix) in an encrypted, embedded, and machine-readable format;

“(ix) the signature of the licensed individual provided on the application under paragraph (2), or a facsimile of the signature; and

“(x) centered at the top of the license, capitalized, and in boldface type, the following:

“(D) Denial

“(i) In general—If the Attorney General determines that an applicant does not meet the requirements under subparagraph (A), the Attorney General shall provide written notice to the applicant that states—

“(I) the specific grounds on which the denial is based; and

“(II) the requirements for issuance of a firearm owner license under subparagraph (A).

“(ii) Notice to local law enforcement—The Attorney General shall transmit a copy of the notice described in clause (i) to the sheriff and law enforcement agency having jurisdiction where the individual to whom the denial pertains resides.

“(E) Change of address—A licensed individual shall immediately notify the Attorney General if the licensed individual moves from the residence address listed on the firearm owner license of that licensed individual.

“(4) Renewal of licenses

“(A) Applications for renewal of licenses

“(i) In general—A licensed individual seeking to renew a firearm owner license shall, not later than 60 days before the expiration date of the firearm owner license, submit to the Attorney General, in accordance with the regulations promulgated under clause (iii), an application for renewal of the license.

“(ii) Contents—An application submitted under clause (i) shall include—

“(I) a current, passport-sized photograph of the licensed individual that provides a clear, accurate likeness of the licensed individual;

“(II) current proof of identity of the licensed individual; and

“(III) the address of the licensed individual.

“(iii) Regulations governing submission—The Attorney General shall promulgate regulations specifying procedures for the submission of applications under this subparagraph.

“(B) Issuance of renewed licenses—Upon approval of an application submitted under subparagraph (A), the Attorney General shall issue a renewed license, which shall meet the requirements of paragraph (3)(C), except that the license shall include the current photograph and address of the licensed individual, as provided in the application submitted under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, and the expiration date of the renewed license, in accordance with paragraph (3)(C)(vii)(II).

“(5) Revocation of licenses

“(A) In general—If a licensed individual becomes an individual who the Attorney General determines does not meet the requirements under paragraph (3)(A) of this subsection—

“(i) the firearm owner license is revoked; and

“(ii) the individual shall surrender the firearm owner license to the Attorney General in accordance with paragraph (6)(A) of this subsection.

“(B) Notice

“(i) In general—Upon receipt by the Attorney General of notice that a licensed individual has become an individual described in subparagraph (A), the Attorney General shall provide written notice to the individual that—

“(I) the firearm owner license is revoked; and

“(II) states the specific grounds on which the revocation is based.

“(ii) Notice to local law enforcement—The Attorney General shall transmit a copy of the notice described in clause (i) to the sheriff and law enforcement agency having jurisdiction where the individual to which the denial pertains resides.

“(6) Surrender of licenses and qualifying firearms

“(A) In general—Subject to subparagraph (D), an individual who is denied a firearm owner license under paragraph (3)(D) or receives a revocation notice under paragraph (5)(B)(i) shall, not later than 48 hours after receiving notice of the denial or revocation—

“(i) in the case of an individual who receives a revocation notice, surrender the firearm owner license of the individual—

“(I) by bringing the firearm owner license to an office of—

“(aa) the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

“(bb) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; or

“(cc) a United States Attorney; or

“(II) by mailing the firearm owner license to the Attorney General;

“(ii) if the individual owns or has custody and control of a qualifying firearm, complete a firearm disposition record described in subparagraph (B) and—

“(I) in the case of an individual who receives a denial notice, submit that firearm disposition record to an entity described in clause (i); and

“(II) in the case of an individual who receives a revocation notice, submit that firearm disposition record at the same time that the individual surrenders the firearm owner license under clause (i); and

“(iii) transfer any qualifying firearm that is owned by or under the custody and control of the individual to—

“(I) any location other than—

“(aa) a location to which the individual has immediate access;

“(bb) a residence of the individual;

“(cc) a vehicle of the individual; or

“(dd) a storage space of the individual; or

“(II) if applicable, any person other than a member of the household of the individual.

“(B) Firearm disposition records—The Attorney General shall prescribe a form for a firearm disposition record to be completed under subparagraph (A)(ii) that shall require an individual completing the firearm disposition record to disclose—

“(i) the make, model, and serial number of each qualifying firearm that is owned by or under the custody and control of the individual on the date on which the firearm disposition record is completed by the individual;

“(ii) the location where each qualifying firearm described in clause (i) will be located after the individual submits the firearm disposition record; and

“(iii) if any qualifying firearm described in clause (i) will be transferred to the ownership or custody and control of another person, the name, address, and, if applicable, firearm owner license number of the transferee.

“(C) Responsibilities of receiving entities—At the time at which an entity described in subparagraph (A)(i) receives a firearm owner license and firearm disposition record under subparagraph (A), the entity shall—

“(i) provide to the individual surrendering the firearm owner license and submitting the firearm disposition record—

“(I) a receipt showing that the individual surrendered the firearm owner license to the entity; and

“(II) a copy of the firearm disposition record submitted by the individual; and

“(ii) if the entity is an entity described in item (aa), (bb), or (cc) of subparagraph (A)(i)(I)—

“(I) transmit to the Attorney General—

“(aa) the firearm owner license; and

“(bb) the firearm disposition record; and

“(II) maintain a copy of the documents described in subclause (I) of this clause.

“(D) Right to reclaim firearm—An individual who transfers a qualifying firearm under subparagraph (A)(iii) may reclaim the qualifying firearm after a successful application for relief or appeal under section 925(g).”

Sec. 103 Relief from denial or revocation of firearm owner licenses

Section 925 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(g) Relief from denial or revocation of firearm owner licenses

“(1) Application to the Attorney General

“(A) In general—If the Attorney General denies a firearm owner license to an individual under paragraph (3)(D) of section 923(m) or revokes the firearm owner license of an individual under paragraph (5) of that section, the individual may, not later than 60 days after the date on which the denial or revocation occurs, make an application to the Attorney General for relief from that denial or revocation.

“(B) Relief—The Attorney General may grant relief to an applicant under subparagraph (A), if the applicant establishes to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that the circumstances relating to the denial or revocation, and the criminal record and personal reputation of the applicant, are such that—

“(i) the applicant will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety; and

“(ii) relief under this subparagraph would not be contrary to the public interest.

“(C) Notice in the Federal Register—If the Attorney General grants relief under subparagraph (B), the Attorney General shall promptly publish in the Federal Register a notice—

“(i) that the relief was granted; and

“(ii) that describes the reasons for granting the relief.

“(2) Appeal

“(A) In general—An applicant who is denied relief under paragraph (1)(B) may file a petition for judicial review of the denial with the district court of the United States for the district in which the applicant resides.

“(B) Hearing—A court that receives a petition under subparagraph (A) shall hold a hearing to determine whether to grant the petitioner relief described in paragraph (1)(A) not later than 72 hours after the petitioner files the petition.

“(C) Notice and opportunity to be heard

“(i) In general—The court shall provide the petitioner with notice and the opportunity to be heard at a hearing under this paragraph, sufficient to protect the due process rights of the petitioner.

“(ii) Right to counsel

“(I) In general—At a hearing under this paragraph, the petitioner may be represented by counsel who is—

“(aa) chosen by the petitioner; and

“(bb) authorized to practice at such a hearing.

“(II) Court-provided counsel—If the petitioner is financially unable to obtain representation by counsel, the court, at the request of the petitioner, shall ensure to the extent practicable that the petitioner is represented by an attorney for the Legal Services Corporation with respect to the petition.

“(D) Burden of proof; standard—At a hearing under this paragraph, the Attorney General—

“(i) shall have the burden of proving all material facts; and

“(ii) shall be required to demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, that the petitioner is prohibited under section 923(m)(3)(A) from receiving a firearm owner license.”