CIV.IQ

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Open civic intelligence. Bills, votes, spending, committees — real government data, published as public record. civdotiq.org

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Overview Articles Media Highlights

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Privacy Act Regulations

Commodity Futures Trading Commission — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC or Commission) is establishing a new Insider Risk Program, the records of which are included in a new Privacy Act system of records, CFTC-59, Insider Risk Program Records (CFTC-59), published concurrently in this Federal Register. The Commission proposes here to update its regulations to exempt CFTC-59 from certain provisions of the Privacy Act in accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act and the guidance contained in Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-108, Federal Agency Responsibilities for Review, Reporting, and Publication Under the Privacy Act (OMB A-108) in order to maintain the integrity of insider risk investigations and to keep confidential the identity of confidential sources. If the Commission adopts this proposal, the records in CFTC-59 will be exempt from those provisions of the Privacy Act pertaining to an individual's right to access and request amendment of their records. (29 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Firearm Records Retention Periods

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes to amend Department of Justice ("Department") regulations establishing records retention periods for federal firearms licensees' ("FFLs" or "licensees") acquisition and disposition ("A&D") records, and the retention period for records the National Tracing Center ("NTC") receives. Specifically, ATF is proposing these records be retained for a specific period rather than indefinitely, and is considering either 20 or 30 years for the specified period. ATF is also proposing a brief retention period for forms used to facilitate private-party transfers or to conduct voluntary firearm handlers checks. (89 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of America; Amendment 58B

Commerce Department — NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in Amendment 58B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf (FMP) (Amendment 58B). For the deep-water grouper (DWG) complex, this proposed rule would revise the catch limits, set a recreational annual catch limit (ACL), and revise the recreational accountability measure (AM). Amendment 58B would also revise the status determination criteria and sector allocations for the DWG complex. The purpose of this proposed rule and Amendment 58B is to update catch levels, management measures, and sector allocations for the DWG complex consistent with the best scientific information available. (30 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility

Transportation Department — This action would implement section 2209, of the FAA Extension, Safety and Security Act of 2016, by establishing a process for operators and proprietors of certain fixed site facilities to request and maintain an unmanned aircraft flight restriction. The proposal also establishes requirements for applicants to demonstrate the unmanned aircraft flight restriction is necessary for: aviation safety, protection of people and property on the ground, national security, or homeland security. Lastly, the proposal identifies the types of operations that are allowed in the unmanned aircraft flight restriction UAFR. (61 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Administrative Site Leases

Agriculture Department — The United States Department of Agriculture (Department), Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency), is proposing to amend its land use regulations to exempt administrative site leases from the regulations for special uses. The purpose of this deregulatory action is to better align Forest Service leasing activities with private real estate market practices. (30 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Selecting Biological Sex on ATF Forms

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes amending Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to make clear that when individuals complete ATF forms for firearms or explosives, they should select their biological sex under the question on "sex." (90 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Removing Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached “Stabilizing Braces”

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") is proposing to amend Department of Justice ("Department") regulations on firearms with attached stabilizing braces. Courts have found that ATF's revisions in the 2023 final rule on the same topic violated the Administrative Procedure Act. Several courts have enjoined, stayed, or vacated the final rule, which has rarely been in effect. ATF is therefore proposing to remove from the regulatory definitions of "rifle" the two paragraphs added by the 2023 final rule that defined the term "designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder." (90 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Transferring Machine Guns Between Qualified Licensees

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes amending Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to update the procedure for transferring machine guns between qualified manufacturers, importers, or dealers. Specifically, the proposed rule would simplify the regulatory requirements for such machine gun transfers pursuant to requests to demonstrate firearms to a government entity or due to a licensee discontinuing business. The proposed changes would allow the implementing regulations to more closely mirror the statutory authority provided by the Gun Control Act. (61 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Definition of Business Premises

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes amending Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to clarify that the term "business premises" includes properties that adjoin each other; or that are adjacent to each other and adjoin the same parking lot, sidewalk, or road. (90 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Clarifying Special (Occupational) Tax Payments Per Business Activity

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes amending Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to clarify that a person engaged in the business of dealing, importing, or manufacturing firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act must pay a special (occupational) tax ("SOT") for each business activity conducted at the same location. However, they are not required to pay a tax for each license they have at that location if the licenses are for the same type of business activity. The rule proposes clarifying that licensees pay one SOT per business activity (manufacturing, importing, or dealing). (61 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Firearms Transactions and Straw Purchases

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes amending Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to provide clarity for conduct prohibited by federal law commonly referred to as a straw purchase. (90 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Adding Component Definitions Under the Arms Export Control Act

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes amending Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to include terms that the United States Munitions List uses to describe the composition of defense articles ("compositional terms"). Specifically, the proposed rule would amend Department regulations that implement the Arms Export Control Act ("AECA") to define the compositional terms "component," "accessories and attachments," and "part" for purposes of permanent imports under the AECA. (61 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Revising Regulations Defining “Engaged in the Business” as a Dealer in Firearms

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") is proposing to revise regulations implementing the "engaged in the business" definition from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act ("BSCA"). Although Congress defined that term in BSCA, the Department of Justice ("Department") provided additional definitions in its implementing regulations to further define terms within the statutory definition and to include examples of covered activities that established rebuttable presumptions of being engaged in the business of dealing in firearms. This rule proposes to remove those changes. ATF has determined that the changes have not shown the expected impact on federal firearms licensee applications, administrative licensing actions, civil forfeitures, or other anticipated effects. (90 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Clarifying Exceptions to the Brady Act Background Check Requirement

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes amending Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to clarify when a state's firearms-related permit meets the requirements under the Gun Control Act of 1968, as amended, as an alternative to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System check and includes minor changes to ensure that the regulatory language adheres closely to the language used in the statute. (90 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Clarifying Delivery to a Common or Contract Carrier When Transporting Firearms

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes amending Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to clarify that, for purposes of the Gun Control Act of 1968, a person who travels aboard a common or contract carrier while in possession of a firearm or ammunition is not considered to have "delivered" or "caused to be delivered" said firearm or ammunition to the common or contract carrier, provided that the person possesses and maintains direct control over the firearm or ammunition for the duration of the trip. (90 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Clarifying Interstate Transportation of Firearms Under the Gun Control Act

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes amending Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to clarify that, for purposes of transporting firearms interstate, any activities that are reasonably necessary to transportation such as staying overnight in temporary lodging, stopping for food, fuel, vehicle maintenance, an emergency, or medical treatment, or transiting between modes of transportation, are considered "transport" and thus protected by the Gun Control Act provision that addresses interstate transport of firearms. The proposed rule also addresses transporting ammunition and firearm accessories between states and the requirements for securing firearms during such transit. (90 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Allowing Makers To Adopt Certain Markings for National Firearms Act Firearms

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes amending Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to allow persons making National Firearms Act ("NFA") firearms to adopt certain markings previously placed on the firearm to comply with NFA marking requirements. (61 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 6 2026

Open for Comment: Importing Training Rounds

Justice Department — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes amending Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to clarify that certain training rounds do not meet the definition of "ammunition" as defined by the Gun Control Act and are not regulated by the Arms Export Control Act. Less-than-lethal ammunition, which is distinct from training rounds, will still generally be considered ammunition. (90 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 5 2026

Open for Comment: Special Local Regulation; Marine Events Within the Captain of the Port Zone Columbia River

Homeland Security Department — The Coast Guard is proposing to establish minor changes to a Special Local Regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of the Columbia River. The SLRs are needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards from the associated marine events. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the regulated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Columbia River. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking. (14 days remaining)

by CIV.IQ

May 5 2026

Open for Comment: Special Local Regulation; Marine Events in the Coast Guard Sector Detroit Captain of the Port Zone

Homeland Security Department — The Coast Guard is proposing to revise its existing regulation to add a new recurring Special Local Regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of Sandusky Bay. The SLR is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created during a swim event in Sandusky Bay. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from transiting the regulated area unless specifically authorized by Captain of the Port, Sector Detroit. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking. (30 days remaining)