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H.R. 8: Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019

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H.R. 8: Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019

116th Congress · introduced 2019-01-08 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 29.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-01-08 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 4 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 96 (2019): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR8 (2019-02-27), Failed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 29. 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

Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019

Plain summary

Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 This bill establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties (i.e., unlicensed individuals). Specifically, it prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check. The prohibition does not apply to certain firearm transfers, such as a gift between spouses in good faith.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House), 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

Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5] · 232 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 8, Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 (2019-03-11); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 8, Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 (2019-04-23)

Cosponsors on this site

Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Brian J. Mast (R-FL), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Lori Trahan (D-MA), William R. Keating (D-MA), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA) and 172 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5] reported raising $5.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (1)
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-cong116-hr8 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116