The country’s first significant gun legislation in nearly 30 years is on track to advance in Congress. The bipartisan bill passed an initial procedural vote in the Senate Tuesday night with Democratic and Republican votes.

What You Need To Know

  • Bipartisan gun legislation passed initial procedural vote

  • Bill focuses on background checks, red flag laws, mental health and school safety

  • Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, was a key negotiator during the process

The bill requires more firearm sellers to conduct background checks and toughens them for the youngest buyers.

The bill also gets rid of the “boyfriend loophole” by prohibiting romantic partners convicted of domestic violence, not married to victims, from getting firearms.

The legislation also provides money to states that have red flag laws and to other states with violence prevention programs. There must be legal processes in place for the gun owner to contest the firearm’s removal in order for states to receive the funds.

There is also money for mental health services and school safety in the bill.

One of the big things the bill leaves out is raising the age to buy an AR-15 weapon to 21 from 18. That’s something gun safety advocates argue is key if the country really wants to combat gun violence.

Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, was one of the key negotiators in writing the bill, and he said the Republican lead negotiators didn’t push for raising the age.

“We made it very clear that we didn’t intend to raise the age. What we intended to do was put safety valves in place, particularly for somebody who might have been in a mental health crisis or somebody who’s committed a crime that would have been disqualifying if they had committed it a year later,” Tillis said.

Sen. Richard Burr, a North Carolina Republican, has also been a supporter of the legislation.

And while North Carolina House Democrats support the bill, N.C. Republicans in the House are so far noncommittal.

Tillis said House Republicans are divided.

“I do know that there are some Republicans that are looking at it … at the end of the day that has to go through the House process."

Tillis said some of the concerned callers who have contacted his office haven’t read the bill.

“Our job is to get the information out there and separate the fact from fiction,” Tillis said. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.