DOJ Announces Proposed Changes to Federal Firearms Licensee NICS Forms
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The Department of Justice (DOJ), through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has announced a proposed revision to the information collection for Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs). This proposal was published in the Federal Register on July 24, 2025.
The revision concerns important forms related to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). These forms include the FFL Enrollment/NICS E-Check Enrollment Form, the FFL Officer/Employee Acknowledgment of Responsibilities under the NICS Form, and the Responsibilities of an FFL under the NICS Form.
The FBI is inviting public comments on the proposed changes. The comment period is open for 60 days, ending September 22, 2025.
The changes include adding four new fields to the form. The new questions ask for the FFL’s date of birth and the mother’s maiden name for security reasons. There is also a new question for FFLs in Point of Contact (POC) states. If the FFL operates in a POC state, they must confirm they will use the FBI NICS system for authorized purposes only.
The main purpose of collecting this information is to control access to the NICS and NICS Electronic (E-Check) systems. The forms help protect the privacy and security of background check information. They ensure only authorized users, like FFLs and employees in POC states, can use the NICS system.
The DOJ estimates that 6,160 respondents will complete these forms each year. Completing and reading the forms takes about 15 minutes per person. This results in a total estimated burden of 1,540 hours yearly. The cost for respondents is $0, as the forms are available online and can be signed digitally. No mailing or copying costs are required.
The responses are required for FFLs or POC states to obtain access to the NICS system to perform background checks for firearm sales.
Anyone needing more information or wishing to review the proposed information collection can contact Jill Montgomery at the FBI NICS Section in Clarksburg, West Virginia. For official details or to send in comments, the announcement provides contact information for Darwin Arceo, the Department Clearance Officer at the Department of Justice.
More information on the NICS is available at https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/nics.
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