Sponsors (5)
The bill increases predictability and temporary protection from enforcement for licensed firearms businesses by speeding rulings and creating appealable, binding decisions, but it raises administrative costs, could strain ATF capacity, and may reduce agency flexibility in enforcement.
Licensed gun manufacturers, importers, and dealers get the right to an on-the-record ALJ hearing with binding final agency action on classification appeals, giving businesses clearer legal recourse and regulatory predictability.
Filing an administrative appeal pauses the ATF's ruling while review is pending, preventing immediate enforcement actions against licensees during disputes.
Licensed manufacturers, importers, and dealers receive faster written rulings on product classifications (within 90 days), reducing regulatory uncertainty for businesses.
Expanding administrative hearings and appeals increases ATF workload and administrative costs, which could raise enforcement expenses borne by taxpayers and potentially by regulated businesses.
Mandatory faster timelines may pressure ATF staff and lead to backlogs or rushed determinations, risking lower decision quality and inconsistent outcomes.
Providing binding final agency action in appeal decisions could constrain ATF's flexibility to interpret and enforce regulations across cases, limiting regulatory adaptability.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Imposes firm timelines and a multi-step administrative appeal with ALJ hearings for ATF product-classification and regulatory rulings, and stays rulings during appeal.
Introduced January 22, 2025 by Daniel Crenshaw · Last progress January 22, 2025
Creates a binding, time-limited process for licensed firearms manufacturers, importers, and dealers to get written ATF rulings on product classifications or regulatory questions and to appeal those rulings. The Attorney General must issue a written ruling within 90 days; licensees can seek internal review and an on-the-record hearing with an administrative law judge, and filing an appeal stays the ruling until administrative and judicial review are complete. The new process applies to past, present, and future determinations.