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Read. Follow. Verify.Pennsylvania Bill 912 removes character-and-reputation checks for concealed carry permits and limits sheriff record retention
Last action · March 13, 2025: Referred to JUDICIARY, March 13, 2025Sponsors: Eric Davanzo and 6 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Pennsylvania House Bill 912 removes the requirement for sheriffs to investigate an applicant's character and reputation when reviewing concealed carry permit applications. The legislation also bars sheriffs from retaining investigation records for more than 10 days after a permit is issued or denied, mandates that the Attorney General seek with every state without unilateral withdrawal, and allows applicants to recover attorney fees if their rights under this section are violated.
- Pennsylvania concealed carry permits are traditionally issued by county sheriffs after conducting background checks and application reviews. context
- House Bill 912 was introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives during the 2025-2026 legislative session and referred to the 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.
firearm permit applicants
county sheriffs
Sheriffs must drop character and reputation checks from their investigations and must destroy or cease retaining investigation records past 10 days following a permit issuance or denial.
Attorney General
The Attorney General is mandated to seek reciprocity agreements with every state, barred from unilateral withdrawal, and required to submit periodic legislative reports.
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
What background check criteria are removed by this bill?
How long can sheriffs keep background investigation records after a permit decision?
What else do you want to know?
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 13, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to JUDICIARY, March 13, 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Removal of Subjective Permit Criteria
The legislation shifts concealed carry background reviews away from subjective character assessments toward strictly objective criminal and mental health checks.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.palegis.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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