Advancing Gun Safety Technology Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4918
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-08: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-19T08:06:45Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Advancing Gun Safety Technology Act (H.R. 4918) aims to promote the development and commercialization of technologies that make guns safer by reducing the risk of accidental discharge or use by unauthorized individuals, such as children or thieves.
Key Provisions
- Pilot Program Authorization: The Attorney General, through the Director of the National Institute of Justice (a research arm of the Department of Justice), is authorized to establish a pilot grant program to fund the development of gun safety technology.
- Grant Eligibility and Application: Grants are available only to small businesses (defined as those with fewer than 500 employees under the Small Business Act). Applicants must submit a detailed plan, including their commitment to development and an initial product design.
- Grant Limits: The program will award between 3 and 5 grants.
- Reporting Requirements: Grant recipients must provide regular updates to the Attorney General on progress milestones, including building a prototype, conducting reliability tests, planning trial production, and preparing for commercialization.
- Funding: Authorizes $10 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2026 to support the program.
- Definitions:
- "Gun" refers to a firearm as defined in federal law (18 U.S.C. § 921), which includes any device that expels a projectile using an explosive.
- "Gun safety technology" includes innovations like smart guns (electronically locked to authorized users), childproof handguns, personalized firearms, and locking safes with biometric or personalized features.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal pilot program focused on gun safety innovation, which does not amend or repeal any existing laws. It builds on current federal support for research through the National Institute of Justice but specifically targets small business commercialization of safety technologies, an area not previously funded in this targeted manner.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Justice will gain administrative responsibilities for managing grants, applications, and reporting, potentially increasing workload for the National Institute of Justice without additional specified staffing.
- Citizens: Could lead to safer firearms entering the market, potentially reducing gun-related accidents, suicides, or crimes involving stolen guns; however, adoption depends on market viability and consumer acceptance.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though advancements in U.S. gun safety tech could influence global standards or exports of firearms.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Small Businesses: Primary beneficiaries as eligible grant recipients, particularly those innovating in firearm safety tech.
- Gun Owners and Users: Indirectly affected through potential availability of safer gun options.
- Firearm Manufacturers and Tech Developers: May face new competition or opportunities to integrate safety features.
- Federal Government (Department of Justice): Responsible for program oversight and funding disbursement.
- Advocacy Groups: Gun safety organizations may support it, while Second Amendment advocates could view it as indirect regulation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The program operates within Congress's authority under the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8) to appropriate funds for public safety research; it avoids direct regulation of firearms, focusing instead on voluntary innovation incentives.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts with Second Amendment rights, as it promotes optional safety enhancements rather than mandating them on existing guns.
- Political: Could spark debate in a polarized environment on gun policy—framed as innovation and accident prevention by supporters, but potentially criticized as government overreach or a step toward "smart gun" mandates by opponents. As a pilot, it allows testing without broad implementation risks.
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 (4)
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-08: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-08-08: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-08: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Advancing Gun Safety Technology Act — issued 2025-08-08 — PDF (3 pages)