Bill > HB2985

This bill requires that before any person who is not a licensed dealer (meaning someone with a federal firearms dealer license and any required state or local licenses) transfers a firearm, they must ensure a background check is performed on the person receiving the firearm (the transferee) and obtain approval for the transfer from a central repository, which is defined as the same entity as in section 43.500. To facilitate this, the person transferring the firearm must arrange for either a licensed dealer or a law enforcement agency to conduct the background check. Licensed dealers who conduct these checks must record and retain the transfer information as required by federal law, and both licensed dealers and law enforcement agencies must provide copies of the background check results to both the transferor and transferee, with a fee for this service capped at twenty-five dollars or the actual cost, whichever is greater. The bill also states that a transferee cannot take possession of a firearm unless the transfer has been approved by the central repository and that transferees cannot knowingly provide false information during the process. Approvals from the central repository are valid for thirty days. However, this requirement does not apply to transfers of antique firearms or curios/relics, bona fide gifts or loans between immediate family members, transfers due to death or as part of an estate or trust, temporary transfers in specific emergency situations, temporary transfers at shooting ranges or competitions, temporary transfers while hunting or fishing if legal and permitted, temporary transfers in the owner's continuous presence, transfers involving law enforcement or military personnel acting in their official capacity, transfers to or from gunsmiths for service or repair, transfers involving common carriers or warehousemen in the ordinary course of business, or transfers to a relative within the first degree of relationship. Violations of this section are classified as a class B misdemeanor, with each day of a continuing violation considered a separate offense, and violations by licensed dealers will be reported to the Attorney General, who will then report them to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2985&year=2026&code=R