HR2243-119

What This Bill Does

The LEOSA Reform Act expands concealed-carry rights for qualified current and retired law enforcement officers under 18 U.S.C. sections 926B and 926C. Section 2 adds an exception to the Gun-Free School Zones Act for individuals authorized by LEOSA to carry a concealed firearm. Section 3 strengthens LEOSA preemption by applying it notwithstanding Interior Department rules for National Park System units and by limiting state and local restrictions on property used by common or contract carriers to transport people or property by land, rail, or water, as well as property open to the public. The same section treats magazines as covered firearms accessories and rewrites retired-officer qualification rules so standards may come from the former agency, the state of residence, any law enforcement agency in that state, or a certified firearms instructor in that state. It also allows states to extend the qualification window from 12 months to as long as 36 months. Section 4 amends the federal-facility firearms statute to allow qualified current and retired law enforcement officers to possess firearms or ammunition in Facility Security Level I or II civilian public-access facilities, and defines those facility terms by reference to Interagency Security Committee standards.

Who Benefits and How

Qualified current law enforcement officers, qualified retired law enforcement officers, retired officers seeking annual or multi-year qualification, certified firearms instructors, state law enforcement agencies, former employing agencies, law enforcement unions, police advocacy organizations, and officers traveling through schools, transit systems, national parks, public facilities, or low-security federal buildings benefit from broader carry authorization, more certification options, magazine coverage, and fewer location-based restrictions.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Schools and school districts, public transit operators, common carriers, National Park Service managers, Interior Department rule administrators, federal facility security managers, Federal Protective Service personnel, state firearms regulators, local property regulators, and gun-control advocacy groups must accept expanded LEOSA preemption, adjust security policies, verify officer status, accommodate firearms in sensitive locations, update rules for Level I and II public-access facilities, and lose some authority to enforce location-specific carry restrictions against LEOSA-qualified individuals.

Key Provisions

• Adds a Gun-Free School Zones Act exception for LEOSA-authorized current and retired officers.
• Expands LEOSA preemption to National Park System rules, public-transit property, common-carrier property, and property open to the public.
• Adds magazines to the firearms-related items covered by LEOSA protections.
• Modifies retired-officer firearms qualification rules to allow standards or certifications from former agencies, states, state law-enforcement agencies, or certified firearms instructors.
• Allows states to extend the firearms qualification period for retired officers up to 36 months.
• Provides a federal-facility exception for qualified current and retired officers in Facility Security Level I or II civilian public-access facilities.