Congress·In Progress·H.R. 4242

Congress bill targets tax and federal rules for certain less-than-lethal launchers and ammo

Innovate Less Lethal to De-Escalate Tax Modernization Act

3 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Part of: Congress Moves to Exempt Less-Than-Lethal Launchers from Federal Gun Laws

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Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

This bill would remove a federal excise tax on certain less-than-lethal projectile devices and their matching shells or cartridges.
To qualify, the device must not be able to fire regular gun ammo, must not be easy to convert into a real firearm, and generally must fire under 500 feet per second.
It sets up a process where makers can ask the Treasury Department for a yes-or-no decision within 90 days on whether a product qualifies.
The Treasury Department would publish and update a public list each year of devices that qualify, plus a separate list of devices that are “non-lethal” but too fast to qualify under the 500 feet per second rule.
It would also exclude qualifying less-than-lethal devices from National Firearms Act rules, which could mean fewer federal paperwork and tax requirements for those products.

Gun PolicyTaxesConsumer Protection

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(1)

Federal Employee

Neutral

Positive Impacts(1)

Gun Owner

Helps

Milestones

3 milestones4 actions

Dec 10, 2025House

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 15.

Dec 10, 2025House

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Jun 27, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Jun 27, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Immediately after the date the Act is enacted (applies to covered items sold after that date)

Excise tax exemption starts for qualifying less-than-lethal devices and certain related shells/cartridges sold after enactment

Some less-than-lethal launchers and compatible ammo could become cheaper or be priced more competitively soon after the law is signed, depending on how sellers set prices.

On and after enactment, as classifications are applied in practice

Qualifying less-than-lethal devices are excluded from the National Firearms Act definition referenced in the tax code

Devices that meet the definition may avoid being treated like NFA items for federal tax-and-registration purposes, reducing paperwork and delays for those products.

Soon after enactment, once Treasury sets up intake procedures

Treasury begins accepting manufacturer/producer/importer requests to classify devices under the new definition

Companies can ask for an official yes/no decision to reduce uncertainty before launching or importing a product.

Within 90 days after Treasury receives each request

90-day decision clock applies to each classification request Treasury receives

Manufacturers/importers get a clearer timeline for whether their device will qualify for the tax break and NFA exclusion.

First list likely appears within the first year after enactment, then annually

Treasury publishes a public list of qualifying less-than-lethal projectile devices and updates it every year

Buyers, sellers, and law enforcement can more easily check whether a specific device is meant to be treated as qualifying, reducing confusion at purchase or shipment.

Within the first year after enactment, then annually

Treasury publishes and updates an annual list of non-lethal devices that exceed 500 feet per second and reports to Congress

Some products may be publicly flagged as ‘almost qualifying’ but excluded due to speed, which can affect product design choices and what’s offered for sale.