What changed, why it matters, what to do.
Briefs are short — usually under 400 words — and cover one regulatory event: a bill filed or passed, a Federal Register rule, an NIJ CPL update, a state AG opinion, a grant NOFO. Each brief is generated from automated monitoring, reviewed by a subject-matter expert, and cites its source.
What we monitor
- • All 50 state legislatures + DC (via OpenStates v3)
- • US Congress — body-armor-adjacent bills (Congress.gov v3)
- • Federal Register — ATF, DOJ, DHS, NIJ rules and notices
- • NIJ Compliant Products List — new certifications + delistings
- • BVP grant cycle — NOFO releases + awards (coming)
- • NASPO + state cooperative RFPs (coming)
Latest briefs 6 published
Sentinel LGM-35A — The Largest Single Body Armor Refresh in DoD History Is Coming
The Sentinel LGM-35A ICBM program replaces Minuteman III across F.E. Warren (WY/NE/CO), Minot (ND), and Malmstrom (MT) through the 2030s. Security Forces equipment refresh is massive and multi-year. A primer on what the program means for body armor procurement.
The Complete US Body Armor Regulation Map
The authoritative guide to body armor law in every US state. Five compliance tiers, two restrictive states (NY, DC), one face-to-face state (CT), and 42 standard jurisdictions — with statute citations and shipping gating rules.
The Complete BVP Grant Guide — Bulletproof Vest Partnership for LE Agencies
DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance reimburses up to 50% of NIJ-certified body armor for state/local/tribal LE. Biennial cycle, strict product eligibility, and the difference between getting reimbursed and wasting your submission.
New York's Body Armor Law (§ 144-a) — Who Can Buy, What's Required, What's Prohibited
NY Executive Law § 144-a (enacted 2022 after the Buffalo supermarket shooting) restricts body armor purchase to eligible professions. Active LE, military, corrections, EMT, firefighters, and licensed armed security qualify. Residential online shipping to non-eligible civilians is prohibited.
Connecticut's Face-to-Face Body Armor Rule (CGS 53-341b) — How Online Sellers Handle CT
CGS § 53-341b prohibits mail-order body armor sales to Connecticut residents. In-person transfer is required. Licensed armed security, LE, and military buyers are exempt. Here's the operational playbook for sellers.
18 USC § 931 — The Federal Body Armor Baseline, Explained
18 USC § 931 is the federal floor. Convicted violent felons cannot possess body armor. Post-Sessions v. Dimaya (2018), the definition of "crime of violence" narrowed to § 16(a). Here's what that means for sellers and buyers.