HR 38 · 119th CongressIn Committee

Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025

Latest updateOct 3, 2025

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

Crime and Law Enforcement

Sponsor

Richard Hudson

Introduced

January 3, 2025

Latest action

October 3, 2025

Legislative Progress

How far this bill has traveled through Congress

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 289.

Plain-Language Summary

AI Generated

Currently, federal law allows individual states to set their own rules for concealed carry permits. Some states issue permits to residents and recognize permits from other states; others issue permits only to residents; and a few states allow residents to carry concealed firearms without a permit. When someone travels across state lines with a concealed firearm, they must comply with the laws of each state they enter. This creates a patchwork of regulations where a person legally carrying a concealed handgun in their home state may violate another state's law simply by traveling there, even if they hold a valid permit from their home state.

This bill amends Chapter 44 of Title 18, United States Code, by adding a new section establishing federal reciprocity for concealed carry. The bill requires that any person who is not prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms, who carries a valid photo identification document, and who holds a valid concealed carry license or permit from their home state—or is entitled to carry concealed in their home state without a permit—may carry a concealed handgun in any other state that either allows residents to apply for a concealed carry permit or does not prohibit concealed carry. The bill specifies that a person carrying under this reciprocity provision cannot be arrested or detained for violating state or local firearms laws unless there is probable cause to believe they are carrying in a manner not permitted by the bill.

The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment. It preserves state and private property rights by allowing states to prohibit firearms on government property and allowing private property owners to restrict firearms on their land. The bill also shifts the burden of proof to prosecutors, requiring them to prove beyond reasonable doubt that a person's conduct violated the bill's conditions, and it allows defendants who successfully assert this protection to recover attorney's fees. Additionally, individuals can sue in federal court for damages if they are deprived of rights under this section, with prevailing plaintiffs recovering attorney's fees. The bill exempts reciprocity carriers from federal restrictions on firearms in schools and allows them to carry on certain federal lands including national parks, wildlife refuges, and Bureau of Land Management property.

Key Provisions

1Authorizes any person holding a valid concealed carry license or permit from their home state to carry a concealed handgun in any other state that permits residents to carry concealed firearms, regardless of whether that state recognizes the out-of-state permit.
2Prohibits law enforcement from arresting or detaining a person for violating state or local firearms laws if they are carrying under this reciprocity provision and present facially valid identification and permit documents, shifting the burden to prosecutors to prove conduct violated the bill's conditions.
3Preserves state authority to prohibit firearms on government property and installations and allows private property owners to restrict concealed firearms on their land.
4Exempts persons carrying under this reciprocity provision from federal restrictions on firearms in schools and authorizes them to carry on federal lands including national parks, wildlife refuges, and Bureau of Land Management property.
5Establishes a private right of action allowing individuals to sue in federal court for damages if deprived of rights under this section, with prevailing plaintiffs recovering reasonable attorney's fees and defendants successfully asserting this defense also entitled to attorney's fees.

★ Why this matters

Travelers and residents would no longer face criminal liability for carrying a concealed handgun across state lines if they hold a valid permit from their home state, eliminating the current risk of unintentional violations when moving between states with different permit recognition rules. Federal lands including national parks and wildlife refuges would become accessible to concealed carry permit holders, changing where firearms can legally be carried on public lands. The bill shifts legal burdens by requiring prosecutors to prove violations and allowing defendants to recover attorney's fees, which could reduce prosecutions and increase litigation costs for states.

● Who this affects

Conceal carry permit holders traveling between states, particularly those in states with restrictive permit policies who travel to states with more permissive rules. Residents of constitutional carry states (those requiring no permit) who travel to permit-required states. Law enforcement agencies and state prosecutors who will need to verify permit validity and prove violations under new federal standards. Private property owners and state and local governments that retain authority to restrict firearms on their property and installations. Visitors to national parks, national wildlife refuges, and other federal lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Forest Service.

Bill Text

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<DOC>

                                                 Union Calendar No. 289
119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 H. R. 38

                          [Report No. 119-337]

  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.

                    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,…

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Alma Adams

D-North Carolina · District 12

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Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

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Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

Plain-Language Summary

Key Provisions

★ Why this matters

● Who this affects

Bill Text

Where House representatives currently stand

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Take Action

Active Organizations