H.R. 1674: Keep Americans Safe Act
Sponsor
Diana DeGette
Democrat · CO-1
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Feb 27, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Congress draws a 15-round federal line
Why it matters
15 rounds is the cutoff. If H.R. 1674 became law, you could generally keep a magazine you already lawfully own, but buying, selling, making, importing, transferring, or newly possessing one over that limit would become a federal crime unless an exemption applies.
H.R. 1674 would create a federal ban on large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, defined as magazines, drums, belts, feed strips, helical devices, and similar equipment that hold more than 15 rounds or can be readily converted to do so.
The bill is not written as an across-the-board surrender order. It lets people keep covered devices they lawfully possessed before the law takes effect, but it would block most new civilian imports, sales, manufacturing, transfers, and possession after that point.
The bill also builds in a long exemption list. Federal, state, and local governments are exempt, along with qualified law enforcement officers, some campus police at private colleges, certain nuclear-security uses, some retired officers, and licensed manufacturers or importers doing authorized testing.
On top of the ban itself, H.R. 1674 would require post-enactment devices to carry a serial number and manufacture date, allow federal seizure and forfeiture in violation cases, and let existing Byrne grant funds pay compensation in magazine buy-back programs.
H.R. 1674 Bill Summary
What H.R. 1674 actually does.
New civilian market over 15 rounds shuts down
H.R. 1674 would generally make it illegal to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a covered ammunition feeding device over 15 rounds in interstate or foreign commerce, unless an exemption applies.
Current owners can keep what they already lawfully have
The bill says people who lawfully possessed a covered device before enactment could continue possessing it afterward. The legal break point is when the bill becomes law.
.22 tubular devices stay outside the ban
An attached tubular device designed to use only .22 caliber rimfire ammunition is excluded from the bill's definition of a banned large-capacity device.
Police and some security uses get carveouts
Exemptions cover government agencies, qualified law enforcement officers on or off duty, certain private-college campus officers, some retired officers, nuclear-security licensees and contractors, and licensed testing or experimentation.
Post-enactment devices get tracing marks
Covered devices made after enactment would need a serial number and manufacture date marked on them, plus any additional identification required by federal regulations.
Buy-backs can use existing federal grant money
The bill allows Byrne grant funds to be used as compensation in programs where people surrender covered devices.
Who benefits from H.R. 1674?
People who want a nationwide magazine limit
They would get a single federal 15-round standard instead of relying only on state-by-state rules.
State and local governments running buy-back programs
They could use existing Byrne grant funds to compensate people who turn in covered devices, though H.R. 1674 does not set a payment amount per magazine.
Law enforcement and certain campus police
Qualified officers are exempt, including some off-duty officers and certain campus law enforcement officers at eligible private colleges who meet the bill's requirements.
Nuclear-site security teams and licensed testing operations
The bill preserves access for certain nuclear-protection uses and for licensed manufacturers or importers conducting authorized testing or experimentation.
Who is affected by H.R. 1674?
Current civilian owners of magazines over 15 rounds
If you already lawfully own one before enactment, the bill says you can keep possessing it. But future sales, transfers, and other transactions would be heavily restricted.
Future buyers and sellers
If you wanted to buy, receive, sell, or transfer a covered device after enactment, H.R. 1674 would generally block that unless you fall under an exemption.
Manufacturers and importers
Companies that make or bring in covered devices would face a new federal ban outside limited authorized testing or experimentation, and post-enactment devices would need serial-number and date markings.
Federal prosecutors and regulators
They would gain a new federal offense to enforce, plus authority to seize covered devices involved in violations.
HR1674 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Feb 27, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
About the Sponsor
Diana DeGette
Democrat, Colorado's 1st congressional district · 29 years in Congress
Committees: Energy and Commerce
View full profile →
Cosponsors (145)
All 145 cosponsors are Democrats. Cosponsors represent 36 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, and 33 more.
Dina Titus
Democrat · NV
Bradley Schneider
Democrat · IL
Emanuel Cleaver
Democrat · MO
Jonathan Jackson
Democrat · IL
Mike Quigley
Democrat · IL
Nanette Barragán
Democrat · CA
Henry Johnson
Democrat · GA
Mary Scanlon
Democrat · PA
Brad Sherman
Democrat · CA
Jennifer McClellan
Democrat · VA
Kevin Mullin
Democrat · CA
Morgan McGarvey
Democrat · KY
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Judiciary Committee
14 of 42 committee members cosponsored
4 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 1674 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Judiciary
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Introduced
- Feb 27, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 27, 2025
Official Sources
Official Congress.gov page for the Keep Americans Safe Act, including text, actions, and committee referrals.
This is the federal criminal code definitions section that H.R. 1674 would amend to add the definition of a large capacity ammunition feeding device.
This section contains federal firearms and ammunition prohibitions and is where the bill would add the new ban and grandfather clause.
H.R. 1674 would amend this section to require serial numbers and manufacture dates on covered devices made after enactment.
This section governs criminal penalties and seizure/forfeiture rules that the bill would extend to large capacity ammunition feeding devices.
The bill would allow existing Byrne grant funds to be used for compensation in buy-back programs, making the Bureau of Justice Assistance's JAG overview directly relevant.
This is the statutory Byrne grant provision that H.R. 1674 would amend to permit compensation for surrendered devices under buy-back programs.
The bill incorporates the existing federal definition of 'qualified law enforcement officer' by reference to this section.
H.R. 1674 Common Questions
Can you keep a magazine over 15 rounds if you already own it?
Yes—if you lawfully possessed it before H.R. 1674 takes effect. The bill grandfathers in existing lawful possession, but it would still restrict most future sales, transfers, and new acquisitions.
What counts as a banned magazine under H.R. 1674?
The bill covers magazines, drums, belts, feed strips, helical devices, and similar equipment that hold more than 15 rounds—or can be readily converted to hold more than 15 rounds.
Does H.R. 1674 ban possession, or just sale?
Both, with an important exception. H.R. 1674 would generally ban importing, selling, making, transferring, and possessing covered devices, but it lets people keep ones they already lawfully owned before enactment.
Are any magazines exempt from the bill?
Yes. The clearest product exemption is an attached tubular device designed to operate only with .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.
Who is exempt from the 15-round limit?
The bill exempts government agencies, qualified law enforcement officers, certain private-college campus officers, some retired officers, certain nuclear-security uses, and licensed testing or experimentation.
Would magazines made after H.R. 1674 need serial numbers?
Yes. Covered devices made after enactment would need a serial number and manufacture date marked on them, plus any other identification federal regulators require.
Can the government seize magazines banned under H.R. 1674?
Yes. H.R. 1674 adds covered devices to federal seizure and forfeiture rules for violations.
Does H.R. 1674 create a federal buy-back program?
Not directly. The bill says existing Byrne grant funds can be used to compensate people who surrender covered devices in buy-back programs, but it does not set a national payment amount.
Based on H.R. 1674 bill text
H.R. 1674 Bill Text
“To regulate large capacity ammunition feeding devices.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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