Local Gun Violence Reduction Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4883
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-05: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-18T19:24:52Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Local Gun Violence Reduction Act (H.R. 4883) aims to create a national database that collects and shares information on state and local laws designed to prevent gun violence. This would help governments learn from each other's experiences and identify effective strategies to reduce gun-related incidents.
Key Provisions
- Database Establishment: Within one year of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), must create and maintain a searchable online database.
- Content Submission: State and local governments (such as cities, towns, counties, and special districts) can voluntarily submit details on their gun violence prevention laws and ordinances, including:
- How well these measures have worked to lower gun violence in their areas.
- Basic facts like the government's population size, the date the law was passed, when it started being enforced, and data on gun violence rates (incidents and deaths) before and after the law took effect.
- Accessibility and Promotion: The database must be searchable by any state or local government. HHS must conduct outreach (like awareness campaigns) to encourage participation and use.
- Reporting Requirements: Starting two years after enactment, and every two years after that, HHS must report to Congress on:
- The number of submissions received.
- Common themes in the submitted laws.
- Examples of laws shown to be successful.
- Areas of the U.S. with high or low participation.
- Funding: Authorizes $1.5 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1 million annually starting in fiscal year 2027 to support the database.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal requirement for HHS and the CDC to build and operate a dedicated database focused on local gun violence prevention efforts. No similar nationwide, centralized repository currently exists under federal law, so it creates a novel tool for data sharing without altering existing state or local gun laws.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HHS and the CDC would gain new responsibilities for database management, outreach, and reporting, potentially improving coordination on public health issues like gun violence (treated here as a preventable health concern). State and local governments could benefit from easier access to evidence-based strategies, leading to more informed policymaking.
- Citizens: Residents in areas with high gun violence might see indirect benefits through better-targeted local laws, though the bill does not directly regulate guns or enforce changes. It could foster community-level reductions in gun deaths by highlighting successful approaches.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. laws and data.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State and Local Governments: Primary users and contributors, as they submit data and access the database to refine their own policies.
- Federal Agencies: HHS and CDC bear the operational burden, including funding and reporting.
- Congress: Receives regular updates to inform future legislation on gun violence prevention.
- Public Health and Advocacy Groups: Could indirectly benefit by using the database to support research or advocacy, though they are not directly involved.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill emphasizes voluntary participation, avoiding mandates on states or localities, which reduces risks of federal overreach challenges. It frames gun violence as a public health issue, aligning with CDC's existing role in injury prevention without expanding regulatory powers.
- Constitutional: Likely uncontroversial under the Commerce Clause (as it involves interstate data sharing on a national health concern) and the Tenth Amendment (by not compelling state action). No Second Amendment conflicts, as it only collects information on existing laws rather than restricting gun rights.
- Political: Could spark debate in the ongoing national discussion on gun control, with supporters viewing it as a neutral, data-driven tool and critics potentially seeing it as indirect promotion of restrictive local measures. The biennial reports might influence future federal funding or policy without binding outcomes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-05: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-08-05: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Local Gun Violence Reduction Act — issued 2025-08-05 — PDF (4 pages)