H.R. 18 — Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025

This section prohibits any non-licensed person from transferring a firearm to another non-licensed person unless a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer first takes possession of the firearm and complies with background check requirements under 18 U.S.C. §922(t) (i.e., National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) screening). (Thus, it requires background checks for most private firearm transfers.) The prohibition does not apply to (1) law enforcement officers, armed security professionals, or military members acting in official duties; (2) bona fide gifts or loans between specified family members or domestic partners (e.g., spouses, parents and children including step-relations, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren, aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews) if the transferor has no reason to believe the transferee is prohibited from possessing firearms or intends criminal use; (3) transfers by operation of law upon death; (4) temporary transfers necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm (e.g., from domestic violence or self-harm); (5) transfers approved by the Attorney General; or (6) temporary transfers at shooting ranges, for hunting or pest control, or in the transferor's presence if the transferor has no reason to believe the transferee is prohibited or intends criminal use. This section further (1) requires licensed dealers to provide non-licensees a notice of the prohibition and obtain their certification before any transfer; (2) directs the Attorney General to provide Spanish and English versions of required forms; (3) applies criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. §924(a) to violations of the new provision; (4) clarifies that it does not authorize a national firearms registry or preempt state law; and (5) takes effect 180 days after enactment.