Introduced. Latest step, Mar 11, 2025: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35. It would change 1 section of existing law.
How this bill changes the law
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S. 478 would change 1 section of existing law. Read from the bill text as introduced in the Senate (Feb 6, 2025).
adds
changes words
removes or repeals
renumbers
Dashed lines: proposed, not law.
S. 478Bill
Sec. 2(a)In general1 change
38 U.S.C. 5501ABeneficiaries' rights in mental competence determinations
(1)Notice of the proposed adverse determination and the supporting evidence.
(2)An opportunity to request a hearing.
(3)An opportunity to present evidence, including an opinion from a medical…
(4)An opportunity to be represented at no expense to the Government (including by…
5501B. Prohibition on transmittal of certain information to the Department of Justice for use by the national instant criminal background check system.— The Secretary may not transmit to any entity in the Department of Justice, for use by the national instant criminal background check system established under section 103 of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (34 U.S.C. 40901), personally identifiable information of a beneficiary, solely on the basis of a determination by the Secretary to pay benefits to a fiduciary for the use and benefit of the beneficiary under section 5502 of this title, without the order or finding of a judge, magistrate, or other judicial authority of competent jurisdiction that such beneficiary is a danger to themselves or others.
The bill says: Chapter 55 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5501A the following new section:
From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.
What it does
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Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025
This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from transmitting certain information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) utilized by licensed importers or dealers of firearms.
Specifically, the bill prohibits the VA from transmitting personally identifying information of a veteran or a beneficiary to the NICS solely on the basis that such veteran or beneficiary has an appointed fiduciary to manage their benefits, unless there is an order or finding of a judicial authority that such veteran or beneficiary is a danger to themselves or others.
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in Senate, Feb 6, 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
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Mar 11, 2025Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35.Senate
Feb 6, 2025Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.Senate
Feb 6, 2025Introduced in SenateLibrary of Congress