The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Pennsylvania Bill HB 837 restricts handgun purchases to one per 30 days and establishes a violence prevention account
Last action · March 10, 2025: Referred to JUDICIARY, March 10, 2025Sponsors: Melissa Shusterman and 18 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Pennsylvania House Bill 837 prohibits individuals from purchasing or selling more than one handgun within any 30-day period, establishing criminal penalties for violations and creating a dedicated funded by collected fines. The measure applies to all firearm buyers and sellers in the Commonwealth with specific exemptions for law enforcement, licensed dealers, collectors, and replacement of stolen firearms. The law takes effect in 60 days if enacted.
Gun purchasers face a strict limit on how frequently they can acquire firearms, sellers must run history checks through the Pennsylvania State Police, and any assessed fines will redirect dollars toward youth education and police grants.
- House Bill 837 was introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly during the 2025-2026 legislative session and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
gun purchasers
Individuals are restricted from acquiring more than one handgun every 30 days and must undergo a purchase history check.
licensed firearm dealers
Dealers are prohibited from selling more than one handgun to a person within 30 days, must notify buyers of the restriction, and must request a purchase history check from the Pennsylvania State Police.
law enforcement agencies
Agencies are exempt from the purchase limits and are eligible for equipment and training grants funded by collected fines.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a replacement handgun if my firearm is stolen?
Where do fines collected from violations go?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Mar 10, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to JUDICIARY, March 10, 2025
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 14 more sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.palegis.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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