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H.R. 2189

U.S. HouseEngrossed

Summary

H.R. 2189, to modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes, was introduced in the House on Mar 18, 2025 by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R) with 95 co-sponsors. It last saw action on Feb 24, 2026: Received in the Senate.


Record

Text

H.R. 2189 has 95 co-sponsors, 1 roll call and 1 amendment.

hb2189/engrossed-in-house.txt
119 HR 2189 EH: Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act
U.S. House of Representatives
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I
119th CONGRESS 2d Session
H. R. 2189
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AN ACT
To modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes.
I
Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate
101.
Short title
This title may be cited as the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act .
102.
Exemption of certain less-than-lethal projectile devices from restrictions under title 18, United States Code
Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in the second sentence of paragraph (3), by inserting or a less-than-lethal projectile device before the period; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(39)
(A)
The term less-than-lethal projectile device means a device that—
(i)
is not designed or intended to expel and may not be readily converted to accept and discharge—
(I)
ammunition commonly used in handguns, rifles, or shotguns; or
(II)
any other projectile at a velocity exceeding 500 feet per second;
(ii)
is designed and intended to be used in a manner that is not likely to cause death or serious bodily injury; and
(iii)
does not accept, and is not able to be readily modified to accept, an ammunition feeding device—
(I)
loaded through the inside of a pistol grip; or
(II)
commonly used in semiautomatic firearms.
(B)
If a person requests that the Attorney General determine whether a device satisfies the definition of less-than-lethal projectile device under subparagraph (A), the Attorney General shall make the determination not later than 90 days after the date on which the Attorney General receives the device pursuant to the request.
.
II
Innovate Less Lethal to De-Escalate Tax Modernization
201.
Short title
This title may be cited as the Innovate Less Lethal to De-Escalate Tax Modernization Act .
202.
Exemption of certain less-than-lethal projectile devices from firearms and ammunition tax
(a)
In general
Section 4182 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e), and
(2)
by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection:
(d)
Less-than-Lethal projectile devices
(1)
In general
The tax imposed by section 4181 shall not apply to—
(A)
any less-than-lethal projectile device,
(B)
any device contained on the most recent list made available by the Secretary under paragraph (4)(B), and
(C)
any shell or cartridge that meets the requirement of paragraph (2)(B) and is designed for use in a device referred to in subparagraph (A) or (B).
(2)
Less-than-lethal projectile device
The term less-than-lethal projectile device means a device that—
(A)
is not designed or intended to expel, and may not be readily converted to accept and discharge—
(i)
ammunition commonly used in handguns, rifles, or shotguns, or
(ii)
any other projectile at a velocity exceeding 500 feet per second,
(B)
is designed and intended to be used in a manner that is not likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, and
(C)
does not accept, and is not able to be readily modified to accept, ammunition feeding devices—
(i)
loaded through the inside of a pistol grip, or
(ii)
commonly used in semiautomatic firearms.
(3)
Request for classification
Pursuant to a request made by the manufacturer, producer, or importer of a device for a determination as to whether such device satisfies the requirements under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall make such determination not later than 90 days after the date of receipt of such request.
(4)
Annual review of new and emerging technologies
(A)
List of less-than-lethal projectile devices
The Secretary shall make publicly available a list of devices that the Secretary has determined are described in paragraph (2) and shall update such list annually to take into account new devices.
(B)
List of non-lethal devices the projectiles of which exceed 500 feet per second
(i)
In general
The Secretary shall—
(I)
make publicly available a list of devices that the Secretary has determined are not described in paragraph (2) but would be so described if such paragraph were applied without regard to subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof, and
(II)
update such list annually to take into account new devices.
(ii)
Report to Congress
The Secretary shall annually submit a written report to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate regarding the annual list of devices described in clause (i), including a copy of such list, a description of the devices that were considered for inclusion on such list, and the reasons for including or excluding such devices from such list.
.
(b)
Effective date
(1)
In general
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the amendments made by this section shall apply to articles sold by the manufacturer, producer, or importer after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2)
Requests for determinations
Section 4182(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by this section) shall apply to requests received after the date of the enactment of this Act, except that any request under such section which is received during the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act shall be treated for purposes of such section as received as of the close of such period.
203.
Exemption of certain less-than-lethal projectile devices from National Firearms Act
Section 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking an antique firearm or and inserting any antique firearm, any less-than-lethal projectile device (as defined in section 4182(d)(2)), any device referred to in section 4182(d)(1)(B), or .
Passed the House of Representatives February 12, 2026. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2025-03-18
  2. Passed House2026-02-12
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

CRS Summary

The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.

Reported to House Jan 30, 2026

hb2189/reported-to-house.md

Shown Here:
Reported to House (01/30/2026)

Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act

This bill removes less-than-lethal projectile devices (e.g., certain TASERs) from regulation under the Gun Control Act.

The term less-than-lethal projectile device means a device that (1) is not designed or intended to expel (and may not be readily converted to discharge) commonly used ammunition or projectiles exceeding a velocity of 500 feet per second; (2) is designed and intended to be used in a manner not likely to cause death or serious bodily injury; and (3) does not accept (and cannot be readily modified to accept) an ammunition feeding device.

The bill also requires the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine whether a device satisfies the definition of a less-than-lethal projectile device within 90 days of a request.

Sponsors

Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R) sponsors H.R. 2189, and 95 members have co-sponsored it, 1 of them from the day it was introduced.

Committees

H.R. 2189 went before 1 committee: Judiciary.

Judiciary
Judiciary
Reported By · Jan 30, 2026 · 2,181 Bills

Reports

1 committee report has been filed on H.R. 2189, the latest H. Rept. 119-472.

Actions

H.R. 2189 has taken 17 actions since Mar 18, 2025, the latest on Feb 24, 2026.

ChamberAction
Feb 24, 2026
Senate
Received in the Senate.
Feb 12, 202609:13
House
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2190-2204)
Feb 12, 202609:13
House
Rule provides for consideration of S. 1383, H.R. 2189, H.R. 261 and H.R. 3617. The resolution provides for consideration of S. 1383, H.R. 2189, H.R. 261, and H.R. 3617 under a closed rule and provides for one motion to recommit H.R. 2189, H.R. 261, and H.R. 3617, and one motion to commit S. 1383.
Feb 12, 202609:14
House
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2189.
Feb 12, 202610:19
House
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

Votes

H.R. 2189 went to 1 roll call in the House, the latest on Feb 12, 2026 at 233185.

ChamberQuestion
Yea
Nay
Feb 12, 2026
House
On Passage
233
185

Amendments

1 amendment has been offered to H.R. 2189, the latest acted on Feb 12, 2026.

4 bills are related to H.R. 2189.

HR 4242Innovate Less Lethal to De-Escalate Tax Modernization ActFeb 2, 2026 · Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 407. · Related billHRES 1042Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2189) to modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 261) to amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been authorized by a Federal or State agency; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3617) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to secure the supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.Feb 10, 2026 · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · Related billHRES 1057Providing for consideration of the bill (S. 1383) to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2189) to modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 261) to amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been authorized by a Federal or State agency; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3617) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to secure the supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials, and for other purposes; and waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules.Feb 11, 2026 · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · Related billS 1283Innovate to De-Escalate Modernization ActApr 3, 2025 · Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. · Related bill

Titles

H.R. 2189 goes by 7 titles, 4 of them short titles.

  • To modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes. — Display Title
  • Innovate Less Lethal to De-Escalate Tax Modernization Act — Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill
  • Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act — Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill
  • To modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes. — Official Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text
  • Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act — Short Title(s) as Reported to House
  • Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act of 2025 — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • To modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced

Cost estimate

The Congressional Budget Office has filed 1 estimate for H.R. 2189, the latest on Feb 6, 2026.


Lobbying

15 clients hired 21 firms and 71 registered lobbyists who named H.R. 2189 in 91 quarterly filings, 2025 to 2026. Reported under the Lobbying Disclosure Act; a filing’s income covers everything its registrant worked that quarter, so the amounts below are the filings’, not this bill’s.

Filed under Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice, Firearms/Guns/Ammunition, Budget/Appropriations, Taxation/Internal Revenue Code, Homeland Security, Health Issues, Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace, Retirement.

Clients

Who paid to be heard, by how many filings named the bill.

ClientBusinessStateFirmsFilingsReported
AXON ENTERPRISE, INC.technology and weapons productsArizona527$1.2M
AXON ENTERPRISEManufacturing companyArizona210$80K
GIFFORDSGun violence prevention advocacyDistrict of Columbia210$69.5K
NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEDistrict of Columbia18
AXON ENTERPRISESManufacturing companyArizona16$260K
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTSColorado16
AXON ENTERPRISE, INCManufacturingArizona15$180K
BRADY CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCEDistrict of Columbia15
GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA INCVirginia14
NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATIONDistrict of Columbia13
PEACE OFFICERS RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIALaw enforcementCalifornia12$100K
SANDY HOOK PROMISE ACTION FUNDConnecticut12
CONFERENCE OF PROVINCIALS OF NORTH AMERICAMissouri11$20K
BYRNA TECHNOLOGIES INC.Consumer Goods ManufacturingMassachusetts11$13K
EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY ACTION FUNDNew York11

Firms

Registrants who filed on the bill, by filings.

Lobbyists

Named on the filings that cite the bill. The 20 named most often, of 71.

Filings

The documents themselves, on the Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure site, largest reported first.

ClientRegistrantPeriodReportedDocument
NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATIONNATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION2026 first_quarter$2.3M1st Quarter - Amendme…
NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATIONNATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION2026 first_quarter$2.3M1st Quarter - Report
NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATIONNATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION2026 second_quarter$2M2nd Quarter - Report
AXON ENTERPRISEAXON ENTERPRISE2026 first_quarter$730K1st Quarter - Amendme…
AXON ENTERPRISEAXON ENTERPRISE2026 first_quarter$730K1st Quarter - Report
AXON ENTERPRISEAXON ENTERPRISE2025 fourth_quarter$710K4th Quarter - Report
AXON ENTERPRISEAXON ENTERPRISE2025 third_quarter$700K3rd Quarter - Report
GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA INCGUN OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC.2025 second_quarter$679K2nd Quarter - Report
GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA INCGUN OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC.2025 first_quarter$650.4K1st Quarter - Report
AXON ENTERPRISEAXON ENTERPRISE2025 second_quarter$550K2nd Quarter - Report
GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA INCGUN OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC.2025 fourth_quarter$545.7K4th Quarter - Report
AXON ENTERPRISEAXON ENTERPRISE2025 first_quarter$510K1st Quarter - Report
GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA INCGUN OWNERS OF AMERICA, INC.2025 third_quarter$465.1K3rd Quarter - Report
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTSNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTS2025 second_quarter$304.8K2nd Quarter - Report
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTSNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTS2025 third_quarter$296.6K3rd Quarter - Report
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTSNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTS2026 second_quarter$293.3K2nd Quarter - Report
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTSNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTS2026 first_quarter$289.9K1st Quarter - Report
EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY ACTION FUNDEVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY ACTION FUND2026 first_quarter$270K1st Quarter - Report
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTSNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTS2025 first_quarter$202.6K1st Quarter - Report
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTSNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTS2025 fourth_quarter$136.3K4th Quarter - Report

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 2189 under Crime and Law Enforcement, one of its 31 policy areas, and gives it 2 legislative subjects.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 2189’s is Crime and Law Enforcement.

hr2189/policy-areas.txt
Crime and Law EnforcementAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArmed Forces and National SecurityArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Legislative Subjects

H.R. 2189 carries 2 of CRS’s legislative subjects, from Criminal procedure and sentencing to Firearms and explosives.

hr2189/subjects.txt
Criminal procedure and sentencingFirearms and explosives

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 2189, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 18, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. FITZGERALD:H.R. 2189.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:clause 18 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution.[Page H1172]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com