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H.R. 38: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017

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H.R. 38: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-01-03 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-01-03 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-8] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 2 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 662 (2017): On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, HR38 (2017-12-06), Failed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017

Plain summary

Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 TITLE I--CONCEALED CARRY RECIPROCITY ACT OF 2017 (Sec. 101) This bill amends the federal criminal code to allow a qualified individual to carry a concealed handgun into or possess a concealed handgun in another state that allows individuals to carry concealed firearms. A qualified individual must: (1) be eligible to possess, transport, or receive a firearm under federal law; (2) carry a valid photo identification document; and (3) carry a valid concealed carry permit issued by any state or be eligible to carry a concealed firearm in his or her state of residence. Additionally, the bill specifies that a qualified individual who lawfully carries or possesses a concealed handgun in another state: (1) is not subject to the federal prohibition on possessing a firearm in a school zone, and (2) may carry or possess the concealed handgun in federally owned lands that are open to the public. (Sec. 102) This bill does not prohibit a law enforcement officer with reasonable suspicion of a violation of any law from conducting a brief investigative stop in accordance with the U.S. Constitution. (Sec. 103) It specifies that certain retired and off-duty law enforcement officers who are authorized to carry concealed firearms are not subject to the federal prohibitions on possessing or discharging a firearm in a school zone. (Sec. 104) It permits a federal judge to carry a concealed firearm in any state if the judge is not prohibited from receiving a firearm under federal law. TITLE II--FIX NICS ACT Fix NICS Act of 2017 (Sec. 202) This bill amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to require each federal agency and department, including a federal court, to: certify whether it has provided to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) disqualifying records of persons prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm, and establish and substantially comply with an implementation plan to maximize record submissions and verify their accuracy. (Sec. 203) The bill amends the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 to modify the NICS Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP). Specifically, it: establishes a domestic abuse and violence prevention initiative as a priority area for NARIP grant funding, and creates a funding preference for states that establish an implementation plan and use grant funds to upload felony conviction and domestic violence records. (Sec. 204) It amends the Crime Identification Technology Act of 1998 to modify the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP). Specifically, it: specifies that facilitating full participation in the NICS, as an allowable use of NCHIP grant funds, includes increasing efforts to pre-validate felony conviction and domestic violence records to expedite eligibility determinations; and permits the federal share of a grant to exceed 90% of program costs if a state complies with its implementation plan. (Sec. 205) This section amends the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 to: direct the Department of Justice (DOJ), in coordination with each state or tribal government, to establish an implementation plan, including benchmarks, to maximize the automation and submission of mental health and criminal history records to the NICS; require DOJ to conduct, and publish the results of, compliance determinations for state and tribal governments; give preference to certain discretionary grant applicants that substantially comply with an implementation plan; and require the NICS to notify law enforcement agencies when a firearm is transferred to a person who is subsequently determined to be prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm. (Sec. 206) DOJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance must report to Congress on the use of bump stocks in the commission of crimes, including the number of instances and the types of firearms. (Sec. 207) The bill authorizes appropriations for FY2018-FY2022 to carry out activities under this title.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-8] · 213 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 38, Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 (2017-12-05)

Cosponsors on this site

Jason Smith (R-MO), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Gary J. Palmer (R-AL), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA), Mike Rogers (R-AL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Roger Williams (R-TX), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Mark E. Amodei (R-NV), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Tom Cole (R-OK), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Michael R. Turner (R-OH), J. French Hill (R-AR) and 153 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-8] reported raising $4.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (4)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Ballot initiative
A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr38 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115