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S. 3085: Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act of 2025

119th Congress · introduced 2025-10-30 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act of 2025

Plain summary

Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act of 2025 This bill requires various federal agencies to continue certain operations, functions, and services related to firearms during a government shutdown. The bill applies to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Instant Criminal Background Check System, including the processing of background checks in support of the operations of the Directorate of Enforcement Programs and Services of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the ATF's Directorate of Enforcement Programs and Services; the activities of the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security relating to firearms and firearm-related products, including activities related to processing of applications for export licenses; and the activities of the Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls relating to firearms and firearm-related products, including activities related to processing of applications for export licenses. Under the bill, (1) these operations, functions, and services are deemed to relate to an emergency involving the safety of human life or the protection of property; and (2) employees carrying out the operations, functions, and services are deemed to be excepted employees. (Under an exception in the Antideficiency Act, an employee whose duties involve the safety of human life or the protection of property may be required to work during a government shutdown. Employees who are required to work during a government shutdown because they fall under this or other exceptions are known as excepted employees.)

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act of 2025

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID] · 17 cosponsors

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Words on this page, explained (2)
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).
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-s3085 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills