The new bill authored by U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath in the U.S. House aims to allow courts to temporarily restrict firearm access for individuals deemed a risk, according to the U.S. Congress.
H.R.7599 was introduced on Feb. 17, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill authorizes the issuance of federal extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), enabling designated law enforcement officers or family members to petition a U.S. district court for temporary or long-term orders against individuals deemed to pose a risk of imminent harm to themselves or others through firearm access. The bill outlines procedures for the issuance of ex parte orders, which can be granted on the same day a petition is filed, and mandates a hearing for long-term orders within specific timeframes. It establishes requirements for relinquishing firearms, ensures confidentiality for petitioners, and prohibits courts from charging fees related to these petitions. Additionally, the bill proposes a grant program to assist states in implementing ERPO legislation, mandates reporting on orders issued, and requires training for law enforcement on the equitable use of ERPOs. The act is set to take effect 180 days post-enactment.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Lucy McBath (Democrat-GA-6th District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Jake Auchincloss (Democrat-GA-4th District), Rep. Gabe Amo (Democrat-GA-1st District), and Rep. Yassamin Ansari (Democrat-GA-3rd District), along with 102 other sponsors.
Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. McBath has introduced another 10 bills.
Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.
Lucy McBath is a Representative from Georgia, born on June 1, 1960, in Joliet, Will County, Illinois. She earned a B.A. from Virginia State University in 1982 and has been elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Sixteenth and the three succeeding Congresses, serving since January 3, 2019.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| H.R.7599 | 02/17/2026 | Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2026 |
| H.R.7333 | 02/03/2026 | Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2026 |
| H.R.5476 | 09/18/2025 | Preparing And Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act |
| H.R.4701 | 07/23/2025 | Charting My Path for Future Success Act |
| H.R.4602 | 07/22/2025 | Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act |
| H.R.3985 | 06/12/2025 | Helping Student Parents Succeed Act |
| H.R.3115 | 04/30/2025 | Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 |
| H.R.3114 | 04/30/2025 | Clean Slate Act of 2025 |
| H.R.2790 | 04/09/2025 | GOSAFE Act |
| H.R.2789 | 04/09/2025 | Adult Education WORKS Act |
| H.R.1132 | 02/07/2025 | To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to direct the Secretary of Labor to award grants to community colleges for high-quality workforce development programs. |
Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data can be found here.
