It implemented several changes to the mental health system, school safety programs, and gun control laws.

Gun control laws in the bill include extended background checks for firearm purchasers under the age of 21, clarification of federal firearms license (FFL) requirements, funding for state red flag laws and other crisis intervention programs, further criminalization of arms trafficking and straw purchases, and partial closure of the gun show loophole[1] and boyfriend loophole.

The bill was introduced in the Senate as an unrelated bill (S. 2938) by Senator Marco Rubio (R–FL) on October 5, 2021: it designated the Federal Building and United States Courthouse located at 111 North Adams Street in Tallahassee, Florida, as the Joseph Woodrow Hatchett United States Courthouse and Federal Building.

[9] Provisions regarding "red flag laws" and the "boyfriend loophole" were contentious during Senate negotiations, and Cornyn walked out during talks on June 16.

[11] On June 21, Murphy introduced the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act as an amendment to S. 2938, which had already passed committee and had been pending in the Senate.

[13] Title I of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act provides for Medicare to support states in creating mental health services programs, particularly in schools.

It provides assistance to state governments by expanding the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic demonstration program, and it requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to instruct states on how to provide telehealth services under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

It creates a technical assistance center to facilitate this goal and authorizes CMS to distribute $50 million in grants to state governments.

The bill expands this restriction to disqualify anyone found guilty of a domestic violence charge in a romantic relationship, regardless of marital status.

[15] Title III of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act provides for administrative measures to implement the bill.

Section 2 names a United States Postal Service facility in Petaluma, California after former U.S. representative Lynn Woolsey.

Following the release of the text, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed support for the bill while the National Rifle Association and many other groups opposed it.

[11] The bill was endorsed by President Joe Biden[17] and by gun-control advocacy groups such as Everytown for Gun Safety.