WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 5453 · 119th Congress

RRLEF Act of 2025

IntroducedCrime and Law Enforcement
IntroducedSep 18, 2025
Passed HouseNot yet
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Introduced. Latest step, Sep 18, 2025: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

What it does

Sourced

Responsible Retirement of Law Enforcement Firearms Act of 2025 or the RRLEF Act of 2025

This bill establishes a framework to limit the transfer of firearms to and purchase from federally licensed gun dealers whose firearms have a short time to crime. The term short time to crime means a period of three years or less between the date of the last known retail sale of a firearm and the date a firearm is recovered in an actual or suspected criminal offense.

Specifically, the bill directs the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to notify a state or local law enforcement agency if a firearm transferred by the agency is used, or suspected of being used, in the commission of a criminal offense, as traced by the National Tracing Center.

Additionally, the bill directs the ATF to publish annually a list of federally licensed gun dealers who have 25 or more traces of firearms with a short time to crime in at least two of the three previous years.

The bill prohibits a state (including the District of Columbia), territory, or local government that receives funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program from transferring a firearm to, or purchasing a firearm from, a dealer on the list.

The bill removes limits on the authority of the ATF to disclose firearms tracing data.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Sep 18, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. Sep 18, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show all 3 recorded actions

Cosponsors

  • Joyce Beatty D-OH-3
  • Suzanne Bonamici D-OR-1
  • Sean Casten D-IL-6
  • Judy Chu D-CA-28
  • Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. D-CA-31
  • Madeleine Dean D-PA-4
  • Mark DeSaulnier D-CA-10
  • Adriano Espaillat D-NY-13
  • Valerie P. Foushee D-NC-4
  • Maxwell Frost D-FL-10
  • Daniel S. Goldman D-NY-10
  • Jonathan L. Jackson D-IL-1
Show 17 more cosponsors
  • Pramila Jayapal D-WA-7
  • Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. D-GA-4
  • Robin L. Kelly D-IL-2
  • Summer L. Lee D-PA-12
  • Stephen F. Lynch D-MA-8
  • Seth Magaziner D-RI-2
  • Seth Moulton D-MA-6
  • Kevin Mullin D-CA-15
  • Eleanor Holmes Norton D-DC-At Large
  • Emily Randall D-WA-6
  • Jamie Raskin D-MD-8
  • Deborah K. Ross D-NC-2
  • Rep. David Scott D-GA-13
  • Adam Smith D-WA-9
  • Rep. Eric Swalwell D-CA-14
  • Dina Titus D-NV-1
  • Nikema Williams D-GA-5