Received in the Senate.
This bill creates a statutory definition for "less-than-lethal projectile devices," excludes such devices from certain Federal firearms definitions and the National Firearms Act, and exempts them from the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition.
It requires the Attorney General and the Treasury Secretary to make classification determinations within 90 days upon request and directs the Secretary to publish and annually update lists of covered and related devices, with annual reporting to Congress.
The bill applies prospectively to articles sold after enactment, with transitional rules for early classification requests.
Technically focused and potentially bipartisan appeal to law enforcement and manufacturers, but firearms policy controversy and Senate procedural hurdles lower prospects.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a substantive statutory update that provides clear, specific amendments and operational timelines to create and apply a new 'less‑than‑lethal projectile device' classification across criminal, tax, and NFA provisions. It includes administrative processes (90‑day determinations, annual lists) and reporting to Congress.
Safety vs. deregulation: liberals worry about loopholes; conservatives emphasize deregulation.
The clearest budget scorecard attached to this bill: what it changes for direct spending, revenue, and the deficit.
As reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary on January 30, 2026
Safety vs. deregulation: liberals worry about loopholes; conservatives emphasize deregulation.
Generally supportive of policies that reduce deadly force and encourage nonlethal options, but cautious about loosening firearms law definitions.
Would evaluate whether the bill includes sufficient safeguards, oversight, and training requirements to prevent misuse.
Concerned about potential loopholes that could allow lethal-capable devices to be exempted.
Likely views the bill as pragmatic: modernizing statute definitions and lowering regulatory burdens for genuinely nonlethal devices while imposing administrative review.
Will weigh benefits for policing alternatives against potential safety and fiscal tradeoffs.
Supportive if classification processes are timely and transparent and if Congress receives the required annual reports.
Will favor the bill as a deregulatory and law-enforcement-support measure that enables safer, nonlethal policing tools.
Sees the tax and NFA exemptions as reducing burdens on manufacturers and encouraging private-sector innovation.
Approves of clear administrative timelines for determinations.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
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Technically focused and potentially bipartisan appeal to law enforcement and manufacturers, but firearms policy controversy and Senate procedural hurdles lower prospects.
On Passage
Safety vs. deregulation: liberals worry about loopholes; conservatives emphasize deregulation.
Technically focused and potentially bipartisan appeal to law enforcement and manufacturers, but firearms policy controversy and Senate proc…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a substantive statutory update that provides clear, specific amendments and operational timelines to create and apply a new 'less‑than‑lethal projectile device' cl…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.