HEAR Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill would make it illegal for most people to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess firearm silencers and mufflers. This is a near-total civilian ban on these devices, with violations subject to criminal penalties and seizure of the devices.
• Law enforcement officers, government agencies, nuclear facility security personnel, and licensed manufacturers conducting authorized testing would be exempt from the ban.
• The Attorney General would be required to set up a national buy-back program within a 90-day window so current silencer owners can turn in their devices for compensation, funded through existing Byrne Justice Assistance Grants.
• The ban and criminal penalties would take effect 90 days after the bill is signed into law, giving current owners a window to participate in the buy-back program before possession becomes illegal.
• The bill includes a severability clause, meaning if any part of the law is struck down by courts as unconstitutional, the rest of the law would remain in effect.