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H.R. 9208House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

HEAR Act of 2026

Sponsored by Bonnie Watson ColemanRep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)
Introduced June 8, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated June 17, 2026 at 3:04 PM UTC

The HEAR Act of 2026 tightens federal control over firearm silencers and mufflers by generally prohibiting their import, sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession. It creates specific exemptions for law‑enforcement officers, nuclear‑facility licensees, and authorized testing, and defines campus police as eligible officers. The bill also adds seizure, forfeiture, and penalty provisions, and establishes a federally funded buy‑back program to remove existing silencers and mufflers from private hands.

Key Provisions

  • Makes it illegal to import, sell, make, transfer, or possess firearm silencers or mufflers, except for certain exemptions.
  • Exemptions include: qualified law‑enforcement officers (including campus police), federal, state or local agencies, nuclear‑facility licensees for security purposes, and licensed manufacturers or importers conducting testing approved by the Attorney General.
  • Defines “campus law enforcement officer” as a police officer employed by a federally‑funded college or university who is authorized to carry a firearm and make arrests.
  • Adds new seizure and forfeiture rules for silencers and mufflers and expands criminal penalties for violating the restrictions.
  • Requires the Attorney General to set up a nationwide buy‑back program, funded by Byrne grants, to purchase silencers and mufflers from owners who want to comply; the program must be ready within 90 days of enactment.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 8, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 8, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 8, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 8, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9208

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 8, 2026

Mrs. Watson Coleman (for herself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Case, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Ivey, and Mr. Casten) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To regulate firearm silencers and firearm mufflers.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Help Empower Americans to Respond Act of 2026 or the HEAR Act of 2026.

2.

Definitions

Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (3), by striking (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or (D) and inserting or (C); and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(39)

The term qualified law enforcement officer has the meaning given the term in section 926B.

.

3.

Restrictions on firearm silencers and firearm mufflers

(a)

In general

Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after subsection (u) the following:

(v)
(1)

Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful for a person to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a firearm silencer or firearm muffler.

(2)

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to—

(A)

the importation for, manufacture for, sale to, transfer to, or possession by the United States or a department or agency of the United States or a State or a department, agency, or political subdivision of a State, or a sale or transfer to or possession by a qualified law enforcement officer employed by the United States or a department or agency of the United States or a State or a department, agency, or political subdivision of a State for purposes of law enforcement (whether on or off-duty), or a sale or transfer to or possession by a campus law enforcement officer for purposes of law enforcement (whether on or off-duty);

(B)

the importation for, or sale or transfer to a licensee under title I of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) for purposes of establishing and maintaining an on-site physical protection system and security organization required by Federal law, or possession by an employee or contractor of such licensee on-site for such purposes or off-site for purposes of licensee-authorized training or transportation of nuclear materials; or

(C)

the importation for, manufacture for, sale to, transfer to, or possession by a licensed manufacturer or licensed importer for the purposes of testing or experimentation authorized by the Attorney General.

(3)

For purposes of paragraph (2)(A), the term campus law enforcement officer means an individual who is—

(A)

employed by a private institution of higher education that is eligible for funding under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.);

(B)

responsible for the prevention or investigation of crime involving injury to persons or property, including apprehension or detention of persons for such crimes;

(C)

authorized by Federal, State, or local law to carry a firearm, execute search warrants, and make arrests; and

(D)

recognized, commissioned, or certified by a government entity as a law enforcement officer.

.

(b)

Seizure and forfeiture of firearm silencers and firearm mufflers

Section 924(d) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1), by striking or (k) and inserting (k), or (v); and

(2)

in paragraph (3)(E), by inserting 922(v), after 922(n),.

4.

Penalties

Section 924(a)(1)(B) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking or (q) and inserting (q), or (v).

5.

Use of Byrne grants for buy-back programs for firearm silencers and firearm mufflers

(a)

In general

Section 501(a)(1) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10152(a)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(L)

Compensation for surrendered firearm silencers and firearm mufflers, as those terms are defined in section 921 of title 18, United States Code, under the buy-back program for firearm silencers and firearm mufflers required under section 5(b) of the Help Empower Americans to Respond Act of 2026.

.

(b)

Requirement

During the 90-day period described in section 6, the Attorney General shall establish and implement a buy-back program, to be carried out across the United States, to purchase firearm silencers and firearm mufflers (as defined in section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code) from individuals seeking to comply with the requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act.

6.

Effective date

The amendments made by sections 2, 3, and 4 shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

7.

Severability

If any provision of this Act, an amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, the amendments made by this Act, and the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.