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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2356 PRINTER'S NO. 2594
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1891
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BELLMON, VENKAT, KINKEAD, POWELL, HILL-EVANS,
WAXMAN, GIRAL, DOUGHERTY, WEBSTER, SANCHEZ, K. HARRIS,
HOHENSTEIN, CIRESI, D. WILLIAMS, FRANKEL AND PIELLI,
SEPTEMBER 29, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 17, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous
articles, further providing for sale or transfer of firearms.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 6111(b)(1), (1.1)(i) and (6) and (f)(2)
of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are
amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection
SUBSECTIONS to read:
§ 6111. Sale or transfer of firearms.
* * *
(b) Duty of seller.--No licensed importer, licensed
manufacturer or licensed dealer shall sell or deliver any
firearm to another person, other than a licensed importer,
licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer or licensed collector,
until the conditions of subsection (a) have been satisfied and
until he has:
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(1) [For purposes of a firearm as defined in section
6102 (relating to definitions), obtained a completed
application/record of sale from the potential buyer or
transferee to be filled out in triplicate, the original copy
to be sent to the Pennsylvania State Police, postmarked via
first class mail, within 14 days of the sale, one copy to be
retained by the licensed importer, licensed manufacturer or
licensed dealer for a period of 20 years and one copy to be
provided to the purchaser or transferee. The form of this
application/record of sale shall be no more than one page in
length and shall be promulgated by the Pennsylvania State
Police and provided by the licensed importer, licensed
manufacturer or licensed dealer. The application/record of
sale shall include the name, address, birthdate, gender,
race, physical description and Social Security number of the
purchaser or transferee, the date of the application and the
caliber, length of barrel, make, model and manufacturer's
number of the firearm to be purchased or transferred. The
application/record of sale shall also contain the following
question:
Are you the actual buyer of the firearm(s), as defined
under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6102 (relating to definitions), listed
on this application/record of sale? Warning: You are not
the actual buyer if you are acquiring the firearm(s) on
behalf of another person, unless you are legitimately
acquiring the firearm as a gift for any of the following
individuals who are legally eligible to own a firearm:
(1) spouse;
(2) parent;
(3) child;
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(4) grandparent; or
(5) grandchild.] For purposes of a firearm as
defined in section 6102 (relating to definitions),
obtained a completed application/record of sale from the
potential buyer or transferee. The following shall apply:
(i) A licensed importer, licensed manufacturer or
licensed dealer exempted under subsection (k) may
complete an application/record of sale in paper format
which shall be filled out in triplicate, with the
original copy to be sent to the Pennsylvania State
Police, postmarked via first class mail, within 14 days
of the sale.
(ii) A licensed importer, licensed manufacturer or
licensed dealer not exempted under subsection (k) shall
complete an electronic application/record of sale at the
time of transfer. A licensed importer, licensed
manufacturer or licensed dealer exempted under subsection
(k) who chooses not to complete an application/record of
sale in paper format must complete an electronic
application/record of sale at the time of transfer. A
completed electronic application/record of sale shall be
transmitted to the Pennsylvania State Police.
(iii) A copy of the application/record of sale shall
be retained either in electronic or paper format by the
licensed importer, licensed manufacturer or licensed
dealer for a period of 20 years and a copy shall be
provided to the purchaser or transferee in electronic or
paper format.
(iv) The application/record of sale shall be no more
than one page in length and shall be promulgated by the
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Pennsylvania State Police and provided by the licensed
importer, licensed manufacturer or licensed dealer. The
application/record of sale shall include the name,
address, birth date, gender, race, physical description
and Social Security number of the purchaser or
transferee, the date of the application and the caliber,
length of barrel, make, model and manufacturer's number
of the firearm to be purchased or transferred. The
application/record of sale shall also contain the
following question:
Are you the actual buyer of the firearm(s), as
defined under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6102 (relating to
definitions), listed on this application/record
of sale? Warning: You are not the actual buyer if
you are acquiring the firearm(s) on behalf of
another person, unless you are legitimately
acquiring the firearm as a gift for any of the
following individuals who are legally eligible to
own a firearm:
(1) spouse;
(2) parent;
(3) child;
(4) grandparent; or
(5) grandchild.
(v) In the event of an electronic failure under
section 6111.1(b)(2) (relating to Pennsylvania State
Police) that affects the electronic application/record of
sale and upon notice from the Pennsylvania State Police,
a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer or licensed
dealer shall proceed as if exempted under subsection (k)
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and shall obtain a completed application/record of sale,
in paper format, from the potential buyer or transferee.
A licensed importer, licensed manufacturer or licensed
dealer shall proceed with the application/record of sale
as prescribed in subparagraphs (i) and (iii) until
notified by the Pennsylvania State Police that the
electronic failure no longer remains.
(1.1) On the date of publication in the Pennsylvania
Bulletin of a notice by the Pennsylvania State Police that
the instantaneous records check has been implemented, all of
the following shall apply:
(i) In the event of an electronic failure under
section 6111.1(b)(2) [(relating to Pennsylvania State
Police)] for purposes of a firearm which exceeds the
barrel and related lengths set forth in section 6102,
[obtained] a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer or
licensed dealer shall obtain a completed
application/record of sale in paper form from the
potential buyer or transferee to be filled out in
triplicate, the original copy to be sent to the
Pennsylvania State Police, postmarked via first class
mail, within 14 days of sale, one copy to be retained by
the licensed importer, licensed manufacturer or licensed
dealer for a period of 20 years and one copy to be
provided to the purchaser or transferee.
* * *
(6) Unless it has been discovered pursuant to a criminal
history, juvenile delinquency and mental health records
background check that the potential purchaser or transferee
is prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to section
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6105, no information received [via telephone following the
implementation of] by the instantaneous background check
system from a purchaser or transferee who has received a
unique approval number shall be retained by the Pennsylvania
State Police.
* * *
(f) Application of section.--
* * *
(2) The provisions contained in subsections (a) [and],
(c) and (k) shall only apply to pistols or revolvers with a
barrel length of less than 15 inches, any shotgun with a
barrel length of less than 18 inches, any rifle with a barrel
length of less than 16 inches or any firearm with an overall
length of less than 26 inches.
* * *
(k) Electronic reporting exemption.--A licensed importer,
licensed manufacturer or licensed dealer who conducts 20 or
fewer firearm sales and transfers per year shall not be required
to use an electronic application/record of sale. The following
shall apply:
(1) Beginning in 2027, the Pennsylvania State Police
shall conduct an annual review of the transactions of each
licensed importer, licensed manufacturer and licensed dealer
over the past calendar year to determine whether the licensed
importer, licensed manufacturer or licensed dealer is
exempted from the use of an electronic application/record of
sale. The Pennsylvania State Police shall notify each
licensed importer, licensed manufacturer and licensed dealer
of an exemption to the use of an electronic
application/record of sale no later than April 1 of each
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year.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to
prohibit a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer or
licensed dealer from choosing to use an electronic
application/record of sale.
(L) CONSTRUCTION.--NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE
CONSTRUED TO ALLOW A GOVERNMENT OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR AN
AGENT OF A GOVERNMENT OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO CREATE,
MAINTAIN OR OPERATE A REGISTRY OF FIREARM OWNERSHIP WITHIN THIS
COMMONWEALTH.
Section 2. This act shall take effect April 1, 2026, or
immediately, whichever is later.
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