Background Check Point of Contact Act of 2025

The Background Check Point of Contact Act of 2025 would create a federal grant program to encourage states to establish and operate a state point-of-contact (POC) system for firearm sales that require a background check. Under the bill, the Attorney General could award up to $1 million per eligible state annually (renewable as long as the state stays in compliance), with a federal funding cap of $10 million per year and a federal-to-state cost share not exceeding 25%. States that conform to the Act would receive priority for discretionary grants from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The core requirement is that states implement a POC system that allows licensed gun dealers (FFLs under 18 U.S.C. 923) to verify the legality of a sale or transfer, issue an approval number within 10 days of initiation, and halt completing a sale if no valid approval can be confirmed. The bill also imposes reporting, auditing, and transparency provisions. States must publish annual reports with data similar to NICS operations plus state-specific metrics (e.g., investigations arising from failures to issue approval numbers, denials overturned on appeal, hours of system downtime, and arrests linked to information transfers). An annual FBI audit of the POC system would be required. Definitions cover firearms, law enforcement, and states to include U.S. territories and D.C. Sponsor and status notes: The text indicates introduction in the House on June 27, 2025, with the sponsor listed as “Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania” and referred to the Judiciary Committee. The sponsor for this summary is not specified in the provided materials.