Important: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Many of these rules are still proposed — not law. Until a final rule is published in the Federal Register and its effective date arrives, existing regulations remain in full force. When in doubt, call us or consult an attorney. Do not change your behavior based on a proposed rule.
On April 29, 2026 — the same day the Senate confirmed Robert Cekada as the new ATF Director — the Department of Justice and ATF released what they're calling the largest single-day regulatory overhaul in the agency's history. Thirty-four rule changes, spanning suppressors, SBRs, pistol braces, NFA paperwork, FFL recordkeeping, and more.
It's genuinely significant. But it's also being reported in ways that could get people in trouble — because most of these rules are proposed, not final. There's a major difference. Let's break it down clearly.
How Federal Rulemaking Works — Why This Takes Time
When the ATF wants to change a regulation, it doesn't happen overnight. The process is:
Step 1 — Done
NPRM Published — The ATF publishes a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register. The public comment period opens.
Step 2 — ~90 Days
Public Comment Period — Anyone can submit comments at Regulations.gov. The ATF is legally required to review and respond to significant feedback. Most of these rules have 90-day comment windows, meaning comments close roughly late July/early August 2026.
Step 3 — Months Later
ATF Reviews & Revises — ATF reads the comments, makes changes where appropriate, and drafts the final rule. This typically takes several additional months.
Step 4 — Final Rule Published
Final Rule in Federal Register — The rule is published with a specific effective date, usually 30-60 days after publication.
Step 5 — Rule in Effect
Now You Can Act On It — Only at this point does the rule actually change what you can legally do.
Realistically, most of these proposed rules won't be fully in effect until late 2026 at the earliest — and some could take well into 2027 depending on comment volume, legal challenges, and ATF processing time.
⚠ Still the Law Right Now
SBRs still require NFA engraving with trust name, city, and state — or your name, city, and state for individual filers.
CLEO notification is still required on NFA applications.
Interstate transport of NFA items still requires advance ATF approval for trips over 365 days. Under 365 days is already generally allowed but check your specific situation.
The $200 tax stamp is already $0 as of January 1, 2026 — that's done. But all other NFA paperwork and background check requirements remain.
What's Already Done — Final Rules
Final Rule — In Effect
Machine Gun Definition — Bump Stocks Removed
The ATF has formally removed bump stock language from the federal definition of "machine gun," complying with the Supreme Court's ruling in Garland v. Cargill (2024), which found bump stocks don't convert semi-auto rifles to machine guns.
What it means in real life: Bump stocks are no longer classified as machine guns under federal law. However, check your state law — some states have their own bans. North Dakota has no state ban, so this is a genuine win here.
Final Rule — In Effect ~60 Days After Federal Register
Zero-Tolerance Dealer Policy — Formally Ended
The Biden-era zero-tolerance enforcement policy that revoked FFL licenses for minor paperwork errors is formally codified as ended. A new Administrative Action Policy focuses on actual trafficking violations, not immaterial paperwork mistakes.
What it means in real life: Your local gun dealer is less likely to lose their license over a typo. Better for FFLs everywhere, and better for the long-term health of the firearms retail industry.
Direct Final Rule
eZ Check for FFL-to-FFL Transfers
Streamlines the verification process when one FFL ships a firearm to another FFL for customer pickup.
What it means in real life: Faster, cleaner transfers between dealers. When you order a firearm through us that ships from a distributor, the paperwork process is smoother on our end.
What's Proposed — Not Law Yet
These are the changes generating the most excitement — and the most misinformation. They are real proposals with real intent behind them. But they are not in effect. Here's each one, what it would mean, and a realistic timeline.
Proposed — Not In Effect
Pistol Brace Rule — Full Repeal
The 2023 Biden-era rule that reclassified millions of braced pistols as short-barreled rifles would be formally and permanently repealed. Courts had already largely blocked it since 2024, so practically speaking braced pistols have been in a gray zone.
What it means in real life: Once final, your braced pistol is definitively a pistol — no Form 1, no NFA registration required. Not there yet. Estimated timeline: comment period closes ~late July 2026. Final rule likely late 2026 to early 2027.
Proposed — Not In Effect
CLEO Notification — Eliminated
Currently, NFA applicants must notify their local Chief Law Enforcement Officer (sheriff or police chief) when submitting a Form 4 or Form 1. This proposal would eliminate that requirement entirely.
What it means in real life: One less step in the suppressor/SBR buying process. Still required right now. We handle this notification for our customers automatically — but it will eventually go away. Timeline: same as above, late 2026 at earliest.
Proposed — Not In Effect
NFA Interstate Transport — No More Advance Approval
Currently, transporting an NFA item across state lines for trips longer than a year requires advance ATF approval. This proposal would eliminate the requirement for trips of 365 days or less, and simplify or eliminate it for longer trips.
What it means in real life: Road trip with your suppressor or SBR without filing paperwork first. Not yet. For now, trips under a year are generally allowed already under existing ATF guidance — but longer trips still require approval. When final, this simplifies things significantly.
Proposed — Not In Effect
SBR Engraving — Use Existing Serial Number
When converting an existing firearm into an NFA item (like turning an AR pistol into an SBR on a Form 1), current rules require engraving the trust name, city, and state — or the maker's info for individuals. This proposal would allow use of the existing factory serial number instead of adding new engraving.
What it means in real life: If you're building an SBR on a Form 1, you currently still need engraving. We offer NFA-compliant engraving at $75 flat rate. Do not skip engraving yet — this rule isn't final. When it is, the engraving requirement for Form 1 builds may change — we'll update this page when it does.
Proposed — Not In Effect
Joint Spousal NFA Registration
Currently, married couples who want both spouses to legally possess an NFA item must set up an NFA trust with both as trustees. This proposal would allow joint spousal registration on an individual Form 4 without forming a trust.
What it means in real life: Your spouse could legally handle and possess your suppressor without being listed as a trustee. Not yet. For now, if shared possession matters to you, a trust is still the right move — and we can help with that.
Proposed — Not In Effect
Form 4473 Overhaul — Electronic Forms
The standard gun purchase form would be fully modernized: electronic submission, auto-populated fields, digital attachments, and longer NICS check validity.
What it means in real life: Less paperwork at the counter. Faster transfers. More accurate records. When final — probably 2027 — the buying process gets meaningfully faster.
Proposed — Not In Effect
"Engaged in the Business" — Rolled Back
The Biden-era expansion that pushed more private sellers into needing an FFL license would be revised back toward the statutory standard — meaning casual private sellers at gun shows or online are less likely to need a federal license.
What it means in real life: Private sales between individuals remain private sales. The gun show "loophole" — which was never really a loophole, just private property rights — gets restored.
Proposed — Not In Effect
Records Retention — 20-30 Years Instead of Forever
FFLs are currently required to retain 4473 forms indefinitely. This proposal limits retention to 20-30 years. ATF's out-of-business records database in Martinsburg, WV — which many view as a de facto gun registry — would also have a fixed destruction timeline.
What it means in real life: A meaningful step away from permanent federal records of every gun purchase. Not perfect, but better. Gun rights groups wanted immediate destruction — this is a compromise.
The Bottom Line — What to Do Right Now
The direction couldn't be clearer. This administration is dismantling the regulatory overreach of the last four years, and the changes being proposed are real and significant. But significant doesn't mean immediate.
Here's the honest takeaway for North Dakota gun owners:
The best time to buy a suppressor is right now. The $200 tax stamp is already gone. Approval times at Horace Firearms are running 3-4 days on individual eForm 4s — our fastest was under 24 hours. Once these proposed rules take effect and the word gets out even further, demand will increase and approval times will almost certainly follow. Buy now while the window is open.
SBRs still need engraving. If you're building an SBR on a Form 1, you need NFA-compliant engraving. We do it same day for $75. Don't skip it based on a proposed rule that isn't final.
CLEO notification is still required. We handle it for you — but it's still part of the process until the final rule says otherwise.
NFA trusts are still worth it. Joint spousal registration isn't final yet. If you want your spouse to legally possess your suppressor or SBR, a trust is still the correct move. We have trust packages starting at $39.95.
We'll update this page as rules move from proposed to final. Bookmark it.
Complete List — All 34 Rules
Below is the full package as released by the ATF on April 29, 2026. Use the key below to understand the status of each rule before diving in.
Final Rule
Already law. In effect now. No further action needed.
Direct Final Rule
In effect unless significant opposition is received during a short comment window.
Interim Final Rule
In effect now but open to public comment and subject to revision afterward.
NPRM
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Proposed only — not law yet. Public comment period open, final rule comes later.
Repeal — 4 Rules
▼
11PRescind 2023 Stabilizing Brace RuleNPRM
27PRescind 2024 Engaged-in-the-Business RuleInterim Final
2024-01FRevise Machine Gun Definition Following Garland v. CargillFinal Rule
2025R-28PRemove Requirement to Provide Youth Handgun Safety Act NotificationNPRM
Reduce Burden — 7 Rules
▼
03PStreamline Interstate Transport Procedures for NFA FirearmsNPRM
13PAuthorize Joint Spousal Registration of NFA FirearmsNPRM
15PRemove CLEO Notification Requirement for NFA ApplicationsNPRM
18PUpdate Interstate Firearm Transport Protections Under FOPANPRM
19PUpdate Machine Gun Transfer Requirements for Dealer Sales SamplesNPRM
20PUpdate Special Occupational Taxpayer Fee Obligations by LocationNPRM
38FEliminate Triplicate Submission Requirement for Plastic Explosives Import ApplicationsFinal Rule
Modernize — 5 Rules
▼
01PModernize Form 4473 and Firearm Transfer Record RegulationsNPRM
07PAuthorize Electronic Recordkeeping for FFLsNPRM
08PEstablish Defined Retention Periods for FFL Transaction RecordsNPRM
32DAuthorize FFL eZ Check System for License VerificationDirect Final
26PModernize Remote Identification and Non-Over-the-Counter (NOTC) TransfersNPRM
Clarify — 12 Rules
▼
06PClarify Importation Definition for Foreign Trade Zones and Customs Bonded WarehousesNPRM
09PClarify Import Standards for Dual-Use Firearm BarrelsNPRM
10PClarify Regulatory Status of Training Rounds Under GCANPRM
16PEstablish Conversion Process for Temporary to Permanent Firearms ImportsNPRM
17PEliminate Redundant Marking Requirements for NFA Firearms MakesNPRM
23PClarify Firearm Possession Obligations During Common Carrier TravelNPRM
24PClarify Mental Health-Related Firearms Prohibition DefinitionsNPRM
25PClarify Brady Act State Permit Exception StandardsNPRM
33PClarify Biological Sex Designation Requirement on ATF FormsNPRM
36PClarify Business Premises Definition for FFLsNPRM
41PClarify Straw Purchase Prohibition LanguageNPRM
47PClarify Definition of "Willfully" for FFL Enforcement PurposesNPRM
Align — 6 Rules
▼
21FCodify NICS Background Check Requirements for NFA Firearm Making ApplicationsFinal Rule
03FUpdate ATF Import Regulations Following Commerce/State ActionsFinal Rule
04FUpdate Proscribed Countries List under Arms Export Control ActNPRM
39PAlign ATF Terminology with U.S. Munitions ListNPRM
2006R-01Implement PATRIOT Act Provisions Governing Contraband Tobacco TraffickingFinal Rule
2025R-45FUpdate National Firearms Act Tax Remittance ProvisionsFinal Rule
Source: ATF.gov — April 29, 2026 · 26 NPRMs · 6 Final Rules · 1 Direct Final Rule · 1 Interim Final Rule
I strongly encourage every gun owner in North Dakota to read through these changes carefully — and to reach out with any questions. This is the most significant shift in NFA regulation in decades.
Ready to Get Started While the Window Is Open?
No transfer fee. No shipping. Approval times running 3-4 days. Everything handled in one appointment.
Questions? Call or text 701-866-0050 · sales@horacefirearms.com
