House approves voluntary background/serial-number check for private firearm sales

Representative Moy, sponsor of Second Substitute House Bill 226, told the House the measure creates an optional tool for people involved in private firearm sales to increase confidence in transactions. “The what's really important … is that it's completely voluntary,” Moy said on the floor.

Under the bill, the Bureau identified in the floor as "BCI" would provide an online option to verify two things in voluntary checks: whether a prospective buyer has a valid carry permit and whether a firearm’s serial number has been reported stolen. Moy summarized: the online check can show whether a prospective buyer “has a valid and current carry permit, or … run a serial number to make sure that the firearm in question has not been reported as stolen.”

Representatives questioned whether the tool could be a step toward non-voluntary checks. Representative Lisenbee asked whether the bill could “open the door to a non voluntary process,” and Moy replied that the sponsor “absolutely” intended no such outcome and that he had tried to “put guardrails in” to prevent a mandatory system. Supporters said the measure is a voluntary option for responsible owners who want an additional safeguard in private sales.

The House adopted the measure and passed Second Substitute HB226 by a vote of 70 yes and 0 no. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.