Congress moves to let federal safety agency regulate firearms

What it does

This bill removes a longstanding exemption that has kept firearms out of the Consumer Product Safety Commission's regulatory authority. Currently, the CPSC cannot set safety standards for pistols, revolvers, and other firearms. This bill deletes that exemption, allowing the CPSC to issue and enforce safety standards for firearms just as it does for other consumer products like toys, electronics, and appliances.

Why we flagged it

The bill's sole operative function is to expand federal regulatory authority over a previously exempted product category. It is a straightforward amendment that removes a carve-out, enabling the CPSC to treat firearms as consumer products subject to safety standards.

What the text implies

• CPSC safety standards for firearms could include design requirements, testing protocols, and labeling that may increase manufacturing costs and potentially reduce product availability or raise consumer prices.
• The bill does not specify what safety standards the CPSC will adopt, leaving the scope and stringency of future regulation undefined — implementation will depend entirely on CPSC rulemaking and political composition.
• Removal of the firearms exemption may trigger litigation over whether CPSC authority conflicts with Second Amendment protections or existing federal firearms law (ATF jurisdiction), creating legal uncertainty.
• State and local firearms regulations may interact unpredictably with federal CPSC standards, potentially creating a patchwork of overlapping requirements.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill expands consumer protection by subjecting firearms to federal safety standards, potentially reducing accidental injuries and defects. However, it also creates regulatory uncertainty and may increase firearm costs or availability friction, which affects citizens' access to a constitutionally protected product. The net civic effect depends on how the CPSC exercises this new authority and whether safety standards are evidence-based or become a de facto restriction mechanism.

Who stands to gain

• firearms manufacturers (if standards are minimal and create compliance cost barriers to entry for co
• testing and certification firms (new compliance infrastructure)
• consumer advocacy organizations (if standards are stringent and reduce injury liability)

Named in the bill

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. § 3), firearms industry, pistols, revolvers

Where it stands

33 cosponsors: 33 Democrats.

• Feb 11, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Feb 11, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.