# Plain Language Summary: Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2025

This bill makes changes to how gun background checks work when someone buys a firearm from a licensed dealer. Currently, when you try to buy a gun, the dealer checks your background through a system called NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System). The system has three business days to tell the dealer whether you're allowed to buy the gun. If the system doesn't respond within three days, the dealer can go ahead and complete the sale anyway. This bill changes that rule by extending the waiting period and adding a new petition process.

Under the new system, if the background check system doesn't respond within three business days, the buyer can now submit a petition saying they believe they're legally allowed to own a gun. Once they submit this petition (either online or by mail), there's a new ten business day waiting period. During this time, the system has to respond with a decision. Only if the system still hasn't responded after those ten additional days can the sale go through. This means instead of potentially getting a gun after just three days of no response, buyers would now have to wait at least thirteen business days in cases where the background check is delayed.

The bill also requires the Attorney General to create an official petition form and make it available to gun dealers and the public. The government must send written confirmation when someone submits a petition. Additionally, the FBI will have to publish annual reports showing how many petitions were submitted, how many people were later found to be ineligible to own guns, and whether any of those people were prosecuted for trying to illegally obtain firearms. The government will also study whether these changes affect domestic violence victims' safety. The law takes effect 210 days after it's signed.