Advancing Gun Safety Technology Act

The Advancing Gun Safety Technology Act would authorize a Department of Justice pilot program, overseen by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), to grant funds to eligible small businesses to develop gun safety technology. The program aims to support technologies that reduce the likelihood of accidental or unauthorized use of firearms, including concepts like smart guns, user-authorized handguns, childproof guns, personalized guns, and locks or safes with personalized features. The bill sets aside $10 million for fiscal year 2026 and requires at least 3 but no more than 5 grants. Grantees must progress through defined milestones (prototype creation, reliability testing, trial production planning, and commercialization preparation) and report back on their progress. The act defines “eligible entities” as small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. In short, this bill creates a targeted, government-funded push to accelerate the development and potential commercial rollout of gun safety technologies through a small number of grants to small businesses, with explicit milestones and reporting requirements.