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Bill

S 89

Requires the fair campaign code to require campaign literature and other mass media identify the person, political party or committee authorizing such media

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Gounardes and 3 co-sponsors

Expands access by allowing more firearms imports deemed sporting with faster decisions and judicial review, broadening what is considered permissible for import.

REFERRED TO ELECTIONS
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 89

Summary — Bill Number: S 89 (materials provided contain multiple, inconsistent texts)

Note up front: the materials you supplied appear to combine at least two distinct measures from different jurisdictions plus an unrelated caption about campaign literature. Below I summarize each identifiable proposal, its key provisions, who it affects, and current procedural notes, and then note the inconsistencies and recommended next steps for verification.

1) Federal: "Sporting Firearms Access Act of 2025" (Senate bill S. 89 — Risch et al.)

Purpose
- To loosen/clarify restrictions on importation of firearms and ammunition by revising 18 U.S.C. §925(d), making it easier for firearms/ammunition designed for sporting uses to be admitted into the United States.

Key provisions and changes
- Short title: “Sporting Firearms Access Act of 2025.”
- Amends 18 U.S.C. §925(d) to:
- Insert a formal definition for “generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes,” explicitly including manufacturer‑designed uses such as hunting, recreational target shooting, organized competitions, and civilian rifle matches.
- Require the Attorney General (and ATF operations) to make determinations on importation requests within 90 days; if no determination is made by that deadline, the importation is deemed allowed.
- If denied, the ATF must provide a written basis for the denial to the applicant and post the basis on the ATF website.
- Prohibit denial of importation for firearms/ammunition that are “substantially similar” to those already in circulation in the U.S.; require the AG to define “substantially similar” in consultation with industry groups, law enforcement, shooting organizations, and others.
- Create administrative hearing rights (local, convenient location) and allow de novo judicial review in U.S. district court if denial is upheld; the AG bears the burden to prove the firearm/ammunition is not sporting or not substantially similar.
- If court finds the denial improper, it must order compliance and award reasonable attorney fees to the aggrieved party.
- Technical/conforming amendments to other statutes referencing §925(d).

Who is affected
- Importers, manufacturers, and distributors of firearms and ammunition.
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) / Department of Justice.
- Recreational shooters, hunting community, shooting sports organizations, firearms industry.
- Federal courts (for increased judicial review).

Procedural status (from provided text)
- Introduced in U.S. Senate on 2025‑01‑14 by Sen. James E. Risch (cosponsors listed).
- Referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
- A hearing was scheduled (noted as 06/17/2025 in provided actions).

Potential impact
- Likely to increase approved imports of firearms/ammunition classified as “sporting,” speed administrative decisions (90‑day rule and deemed allowance), reduce some discretionary denials, and increase transparency and opportunities for judicial review.

2) Massachusetts: “An Act expanding access to legal, regulated cannabis delivery” (Senate Docket/No. 89 — Miranda et al.)

Purpose
- To expand legal/regulatory access to cannabis delivery across Massachusetts.

Key provisions
- Adds subsection (m) to Section 4, Chapter 94G (Mass. Gen. Laws), stipulating that the Cannabis Control Commission shall not prohibit licensed delivery operators or couriers from delivering cannabis to any municipality in the Commonwealth.
- Also prohibits banning delivery to establishments providing overnight lodging to tourists/visitors (hotels, motels, resorts).
- Declares the act an emergency law to take immediate effect (stated purpose: to remove burdens from social equity businesses before the end of license exclusivity).

Who is affected
- Licensed cannabis delivery operators and couriers in Massachusetts.
- Municipalities (loss of local prohibition power over delivery).
- Lodging establishments receiving deliveries.
- Social equity and small cannabis businesses relying on delivery.

Procedural status (from provided text)
- Filed/introduced 01/17/2025 (Senate docket 2380 / Senate No. 89) by Sen. Liz Miranda and others.
- Referred to the committee on Cannabis Policy (action dated 2025‑02‑27).
- Additional procedural entries in your packet (e.g., “House concurred”) appear inconsistent and should be verified with the Massachusetts legislature’s official records.

Potential impact
- Makes statewide delivery access mandatory for licensed operators, reducing local barriers and potentially expanding market access for licensees—particularly social equity businesses that rely on delivery.

3) Other items and inconsistencies

  • The top of your packet also lists a title about campaign literature and mass media identification (fair campaign code) and multiple “REFERRED TO ELECTIONS” entries — no coherent bill text for that topic was provided.
  • Sponsor lists combine federal Republican senators (Risch, Lummis, Cassidy, Scott, Cornyn, etc.) and state/local legislators (Liz Miranda, Liz Krueger, Shelley Mayer, etc.), indicating materials from multiple jurisdictions were merged.
  • Related bill numbers (SD 2380, S 2558, A 8397, etc.) appear to point to state docketing rather than the federal bill.

Recommendation / Next steps

  • Verify each item in the appropriate official repository:
    • Federal: congress.gov (S. 89 — 119th Congress) and Senate Judiciary Committee records.
    • Massachusetts: malegislature.gov / Massachusetts Senate dockets (Senate No. 89 / SD 2380 / Cannabis Policy committee).
  • If you want, I can: (a) fetch an organized status timeline for one specified bill/jurisdiction, or (b) prepare a single‑bill deep summary once you confirm which version (federal firearms S.89, MA cannabis S.89, or the campaign code item) you want detailed.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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