Firearm Freedom Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 9009

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-05-22: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-06-23T18:23:35Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose The legislation aims to repeal the Hughes Amendment to the Firearm Owners' Protection Act by removing the federal prohibition on the possession or transfer of machineguns.

Key Provisions

• The bill is titled the "Firearm Freedom Act of 2026."
• It amends Section 922 of Title 18, United States Code, by striking subsection (o) in its entirety.
• No other sections of law are modified or added.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Removes the existing statutory ban on individuals transferring or possessing machineguns (as defined under federal law) that was enacted through the Hughes Amendment.
• Eliminates the specific criminal penalties tied to that subsection for such transfers or possessions.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: May affect enforcement responsibilities of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regarding machinegun regulations.
• On citizens: Could permit additional individuals to legally acquire and possess machineguns, subject to any remaining federal or state requirements.
• On international relations: No direct provisions address foreign policy or international matters.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Firearm owners and collectors.
• Firearm manufacturers and dealers.
• Federal law enforcement agencies, particularly the ATF.
• State governments that may have overlapping or conflicting machinegun laws.
• Advocacy groups focused on firearms regulation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Raises questions regarding the scope of the Second Amendment in relation to certain categories of firearms.
• Could lead to litigation challenging the constitutionality of any remaining machinegun restrictions under the National Firearms Act.
• Represents a legislative effort to expand access to certain firearms through repeal of a longstanding restriction.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1]

Cosponsors (9)

Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9], Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8], Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7], Rep. Fuller, Clay [R-GA-14], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]

Recent Actions

• 2026-05-22: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2026-05-22: Introduced in House
• 2026-05-22: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Firearm Freedom Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-22 — PDF (1 pages)