hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Bans states from blocking merchant codes for gun or ammo sales.
Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL), referred to Financial Services Committee.
Introduced in House, no vote scheduled.
The bill adds a new subsection to U.S. law that prevents any state from passing laws that interfere with the use of merchant category codes (MCCs) for firearms and ammunition transactions. MCCs are standard codes used by credit card companies to categorize businesses. The sponsor is a Democrat from Florida, and the bill is currently in the House Financial Services Committee, meaning it needs committee approval before a full House vote.
Introduced Jan 16, 2026
This bill is under review by a committee. The committee holds hearings, gathers testimony from experts and stakeholders, and may propose amendments. If the committee votes to advance it, the bill moves to the full chamber for debate and a vote.
If this becomes law, states like Florida or Texas that have passed laws blocking credit card companies from using gun-specific codes would be overruled. That means your credit card issuer could continue to assign a special code to gun and ammunition stores, which could be used by law enforcement or financial institutions to monitor suspicious purchasing patterns. The Attorney General can sue states that try to interfere.
Supporters Say
Supporters say the codes help law enforcement detect illegal gun trafficking and mass shooting threats.
Critics Say
Critics argue the codes could be used to create a federal gun registry, infringing on Second Amendment rights.
Supporters, including gun safety groups, point to the codes as a tool for financial institutions to report suspicious activity. Critics, such as some state lawmakers, contend that even indirect tracking violates privacy and could lead to harassment of lawful gun owners. The bill does not mandate use of the codes, only prevents states from blocking them.