H.R. 2189 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Feb 12, 2026. Received Feb 24, 2026; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryRemoves certain stun devices from gun regulations
Ever wondered why non-lethal tools used by police and civilians are treated the same as firearms under federal law? This bill removes certain less-than-lethal devices—like some types of stun devices—from being regulated as guns under the Gun Control Act. It also requires federal regulators to decide within 90 days whether a device qualifies as less-than-lethal, rather than leaving that question open-ended.
How it affects you
If you carry a less-than-lethal device for personal safety, this could change how you buy and own it, since it would no longer be regulated like a firearm. Law enforcement and manufacturers of these devices may also see changes in how they're classified and distributed. The official summary doesn't spell out all the specific effects on everyday people's rights or responsibilities.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, Jan 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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 2189
AN ACT
Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act
To modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI-5) · Introduced Mar 18, 2025 · Crime and Law Enforcement · 3 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 24, 2026: “Received in the Senate.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · Feb 12, 2026
Passage Passed 233–185
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 22 | 184 | 8 |
| Republicans | 211 | 1 | 5 |
23 members voted against most of their party: 22 Democrats voted Yes and 1 Republicans voted No.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.