ATF proposed updating procedures for machinegun transfers among qualified manufacturers, importers, and dealers. The proposal focuses on transfers for government demonstrations and when a licensee discontinues business, with the aim of aligning regulations more closely with statutory authority. It is not a final change to machinegun-transfer requirements. Comments closed July 6, 2026.
ATF proposed replacing indefinite retention of specified FFL acquisition-and-disposition records and National Tracing Center records with a fixed period, considering either 20 or 30 years. It also proposed shorter retention for forms used in certain private-party transfers or voluntary firearm-handler checks. No record should be destroyed based on this proposal alone; it is not a final retention rule. Comments closed August 4, 2026.
ATF proposed removing regulatory language added by its 2023 stabilizing-brace rule after courts enjoined, stayed, or vacated that rule. The proposal would delete two paragraphs from the regulatory definition of “rifle” concerning weapons designed or intended to be fired from the shoulder. This notice is a proposed rule, not a new final classification for every brace-equipped firearm. Comments closed August 4, 2026.
ATF’s May 6, 2026 final rule amended its NFA making-application regulation to specify a NICS background check during approval, reflecting a check ATF said it already performed. A May 26 Federal Register correction fixed the rule’s authority citation. ATF’s later October 9 open letter announced a separate enforcement policy that no longer requires NFA approval for making certain $0-tax items, while other categories remain subject to NFA rules. Read the linked rule and later letter for the relevant category.
ATF published a proposal to remove the regulatory text added by the 2023 stabilizing-brace rule. A proposal is not itself a final rule; ATF lists an August 4, 2026 comment deadline.