H.R. 38House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025

Introduced January 3, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 3:57 AM UTC

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 creates a federal standard that allows anyone with a valid concealed‑carry license from their home state to carry a concealed handgun in any other state that permits concealed carry for its own residents, regardless of that state’s licensing rules. The law applies only to handguns (excluding machine guns and destructive devices), requires a government‑issued photo ID, and respects private‑property and government‑property bans. It provides carriers with a legal defense against arrest, the right to sue for violations, and attorney‑fee awards, and it becomes effective 90 days after enactment.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new Section 926D to Title 18, creating a federal rule that lets a person who holds a valid concealed‑carry license (or entitlement) from their home state carry a concealed handgun in any other state that either issues its own permits or does not ban concealed carry for residents.
  • The person must not be prohibited by federal law, must carry a government‑issued photo ID, and the handgun cannot be a machine gun or destructive device.
  • The rule does not override private‑property or state‑government property bans; owners and government facilities may still prohibit concealed firearms on their premises.
  • Carriers cannot be arrested or detained for state firearm laws unless there is probable cause they are violating this federal provision; the prosecution must prove the violation beyond a reasonable doubt, and successful defendants may receive reasonable attorney’s fees.
  • Anyone whose rights under this section are denied may sue for damages and attorney’s fees against the responsible party, including a state or local government.
  • Defines “identification document” and expands “handgun” to include its magazine and loaded ammunition.
  • Carriers are exempt from the prohibition in 18 U.S.C. § 922(q) and may carry in specified public lands (national parks, wildlife refuges, BLM lands, Army Corps, Reclamation, and Forest Service lands).
  • Includes a severability clause and states the amendments take effect 90 days after enactment.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

5 earlier actions
HouseCalendars Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 289.

October 3, 2025

View full timeline
HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 3, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

January 3, 2025

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

March 25, 2025

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 9.

March 25, 2025

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-337.

October 3, 2025

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 289.

October 3, 2025

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 38 on the floor

1 Republican
Chuck Edwards
Rep. Chuck EdwardsR-NC-11 · Jan 22, 2025

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following newsletter to give an update to my constituents on the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. Dear Friend: H.R. 38, the Constitutional…

Bill Text

2 versions available

Reading Mode
Latest
Reported in HouseIssued October 3, 2025

IB

Union Calendar No. 289

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 38

[Report No. 119–337]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 3, 2025

Mr. Hudson (for himself, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Hern of Oklahoma, Mr. Jackson of Texas, Mr. Clyde, Mrs. Cammack, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Harrigan, Mr. Pfluger, Mr. Ellzey, Ms. Tenney, Mr. Bean of Florida, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Meuser, Mr. Finstad, Mr. Self, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Babin, Mr. Rose, Mrs. Wagner, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Rouzer, Mrs. Harshbarger, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Mr. Timmons, Mr. Brecheen, Mrs. Bice, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Ms. Foxx, Mr. Yakym, Mr. Womack, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Langworthy, Mr. Guest, Mr. Ezell, Mr. Moolenaar, Ms. Mace, Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania, Mr. Stauber, Mr. Reschenthaler, Mr. Feenstra, Mr. Latta, Mrs. Fischbach, Mr. Aderholt, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Perry, Mr. Ogles, Mr. Graves, Mr. Crane, Mr. Williams of Texas, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Fleischmann, Ms. Hageman, Mr. Crank, Mr. Moran, Mrs. Hinson, Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas, Ms. Van Duyne, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Bost, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Fry, Mr. Estes, Mr. Dunn of Florida, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Ms. Letlow, Mr. Issa, Mr. Cline, Mr. Cole, Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. Moore of Utah, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Nehls, Mr. Goldman of Texas, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Biggs of Arizona, Mrs. Houchin, Mr. Scott Franklin of Florida, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Allen, Mr. Kustoff, Mr. Begich, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Gill of Texas, Mr. Bresnahan, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Alford, Mr. Arrington, Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Gooden, Mr. LaHood, Mrs. Luna, Mr. Collins, Mr. Norman, Mr. Ciscomani, Mr. Owens, Mr. Balderson, Mr. Comer, Mr. Strong, Mr. Smith of Missouri, Mr. Luttrell, Mr. Schmidt, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Wittman, Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Mr. Shreve, Mr. Mann, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Amodei of Nevada, Mr. Green of Tennessee, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Huizenga, Mr. Haridopolos, Mr. Moore of North Carolina, and Mr. Carter of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

October 3, 2025

Additional sponsors: Mr. Lucas, Mr. Obernolte, Mr. McDowell, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Hill of Arkansas, Mr. Rogers of Kentucky, Ms. De La Cruz, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. Harris of Maryland, Mr. Golden of Maine, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Evans of Colorado, Mr. Tiffany, Ms. Lee of Florida, Mr. Burchett, Mr. Fallon, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Loudermilk, Mr. Webster of Florida, Mr. Messmer, Mr. Moore of West Virginia, Mr. Burlison, Mr. Knott, Mr. Onder, Mr. Westerman, Mr. Bentz, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Rulli, Mr. Downing, Mr. Harris of North Carolina, Mr. Cloud, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Van Orden, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. Steube, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. Stutzman, Mr. Flood, Mr. McGuire, Mr. Fong, Mr. Steil, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, Mr. Hamadeh of Arizona, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Baumgartner, Mr. Valadao, Mr. Barr, Mr. Baird, Mr. Smucker, Mr. Kennedy of Utah, Mr. Mills, Mr. Wied, Mr. Hurd of Colorado, Mr. Barrett, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Ms. Stefanik, Ms. Greene of Georgia, Mr. Jack, Mr. Donalds, Ms. Fedorchak, Mr. Fine, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Carey, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. James, and Mr. Patronis


October 3, 2025

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 3, 2025


A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide a means by which nonresidents of a State whose residents may carry concealed firearms may also do so in the State.


1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 .

2.

Reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms

(a)

In general

Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 926C the following:

926D.

Reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms

(a)

Notwithstanding any provision of the law of any State or political subdivision thereof (except as provided in subsection (b)) and subject only to the requirements of this section, a person who is not prohibited by Federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm, who is carrying a valid identification document containing a photograph of the person, and who is carrying a valid license or permit which is issued pursuant to the law of a State and which permits the person to carry a concealed firearm or is entitled to carry a concealed firearm in the State in which the person resides, may possess or carry a concealed handgun (other than a machine gun or destructive device) that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, in any State that—

(1)

has a statute under which residents of the State may apply for a license or permit to carry a concealed firearm; or

(2)

does not prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms by residents of the State for lawful purposes.

(b)

This section shall not be construed to supersede or limit the laws of any State that—

(1)

permit private persons or entities to prohibit or restrict the possession of concealed firearms on their property; or

(2)

prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on any State or local government property, installation, building, or base.

(c)
(1)

A person who carries or possesses a concealed handgun in accordance with subsections (a) and (b) may not be arrested or otherwise detained for violation of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof related to the possession, transportation, or carrying of firearms unless there is probable cause to believe that the person is doing so in a manner not provided for by this section. Presentation of facially valid documents as specified in subsection (a) is prima facie evidence that the individual has a license or permit as required by this section.

(2)

When a person asserts this section as a defense in a criminal proceeding, the prosecution shall bear the burden of proving, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the conduct of the person did not satisfy the conditions set forth in subsections (a) and (b).

(3)

When a person successfully asserts this section as a defense in a criminal proceeding, the court shall award the prevailing defendant a reasonable attorney’s fee.

(d)
(1)

A person who is deprived of any right, privilege, or immunity secured by this section, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage of any State or any political subdivision thereof, may bring an action in any appropriate court against any other person, including a State or political subdivision thereof, who causes the person to be subject to the deprivation, for damages or other appropriate relief.

(2)

The court shall award a plaintiff prevailing in an action brought under paragraph (1) damages and such other relief as the court deems appropriate, including a reasonable attorney’s fee.

(e)

In subsection (a):

(1)

The term identification document means a document made or issued by or under the authority of the United States Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State which, when completed with information concerning a particular individual, is of a type intended or commonly accepted for the purpose of identification of individuals.

(2)

The term handgun includes any magazine for use in a handgun and any ammunition loaded into the handgun or its magazine.

(f)
(1)

A person who possesses or carries a concealed handgun under subsection (a) shall not be subject to the prohibitions of section 922(q).

(2)

A person possessing or carrying a concealed handgun in a State under subsection (a) may do so in any of the following areas in the State that are open to the public:

(A)

A unit of the National Park System.

(B)

A unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

(C)

Public land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management.

(D)

Land administered and managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.

(E)

Land administered and managed by the Bureau of Reclamation.

(F)

Land administered and managed by the Forest Service.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 926C the following:

.

(c)

Severability

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, if any provision of this section, or any amendment made by this section, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or cir­cum­stance is held to be unconstitutional, this section and amendments made by this section and the application of such provision or amendment to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

(d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

October 3, 2025

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed