1140-AB03 202510 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 1140 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ATF 1100 Department of Justice DOJ Revising Definition of "Unlawful User of or Addicted to Any Controlled Substance"

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is amending regulations to update the definition of unlawful user of a controlled substance, a category of persons who may not possess firearms under federal law. ATF created its implementing regulatory definition in 1996 to facilitate the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Since then, court decisions and ATF internal guidance have evolved to include recurring use as a factor. As a result, ATF is updating its regulations to align with this evolution and ensure it does not interfere with the ability to purchase firearms based on incorrect applications of the term.

]]> Other Significant First Time Published in The Unified Agenda Final Rule Stage No No Deregulatory 27 CFR 478.11 5 U.S.C. 552(a) 18 U.S.C. 847 18 U.S.C. 921-931 44 U.S.C. 3504(h) No Interim Final Rule 01/22/2026 91 FR 2698 Interim Final Rule Effective 01/22/2026 Final Rule 01/00/2027 No No None No No No No Vivian Chu Chief 1140 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ATF 202 648-7070 ora@atf.gov 99 New York Avenue NE, Washington DC 20226