On September 26, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of 10 firearm-related bills covering firearm safety training, protective orders, secure storage, firearm trace information, prohibited persons, 3D-printing technology, youth cases and violence-intervention programs.
Not every bill directly changes what an ordinary firearm owner can buy, possess or transfer. Some primarily change procedures for courts, law enforcement agencies, schools or state programs.
At Old Town Tactical, our goal is to help California firearm owners understand what actually changed, when the changes take effect and which laws may affect them directly.
Important: Unless a bill specifies a later operative date, statutes enacted during California’s regular legislative session generally take effect the following January 1 under Article IV, Section 8 of the California Constitution.
Jump to a Law
AB 1743 • AB 1753 • AB 1943 • AB 1974 • AB 2047 • AB 2339 • AB 2378 • AB 2636 • SB 948 • SB 1220
AB 1743 — Firearm Trace Data & Reporting
What changed?
AB 1743 expands access to certain firearm-trace information already collected and analyzed by the California Department of Justice.
California law already requires law enforcement agencies to report information concerning recovered firearms that were illegally possessed, used in a crime or suspected of being used in a crime.
AB 1743 makes information relied on by DOJ for its crime-gun trend analysis available, upon request and under Attorney General rules, to California cities, counties, state agencies, the University of California, California State University and qualifying private colleges and universities.
What does this mean for gun owners?
This bill does not create a new blanket requirement requiring ordinary firearm owners to report every firearm they possess.
The change primarily concerns access to firearm-trace information already held and analyzed by government agencies.
For dealers, the broader DOJ reporting system can include information concerning dealer inspections, DROS activity and firearms traced back to individual dealers.
Effective date
Generally January 1, 2027.
Read AB 1743 — Official California Legislature Page
AB 1753 — Protective Orders, Firearms & Ammunition
What changed?
AB 1753 makes a wide range of changes involving restraining and protective orders.
Among other provisions, the law expressly requires people subject to certain protective orders to relinquish ammunition as well as firearms and strengthens procedures used by courts, prosecutors and law enforcement agencies to determine whether prohibited individuals possess firearms or ammunition.
The bill also expands procedures involving enforcement of qualifying extreme-risk protection orders issued by other jurisdictions and adds certain offenses to California’s firearm-prohibition framework.
What does this mean for gun owners?
The biggest practical impact is on individuals who become subject to qualifying restraining or protective orders.
Someone prohibited from firearm possession because of an applicable order should pay close attention to the surrender, storage and documentation requirements.
Effective date
Some provisions apply beginning January 1, 2027, while a number of the court, electronic-filing and interstate-enforcement provisions begin January 1, 2028.
Read AB 1753 — Official California Legislature Page
AB 1943 — Secure Firearm Storage Notifications in Schools
What changed?
AB 1943 revises California’s existing school firearm-storage notification requirements.
Schools and other local educational agencies must provide parents or guardians with a “Secure Firearm Storage Notification” addressing safe-storage laws, risks involving children’s access to unsecured firearms and California’s child-access-prevention laws.
The California Department of Education must develop and publish updated model language and resources.
What does this mean for gun owners?
This bill is primarily a school-notification law, rather than a new firearm-purchase requirement.
Parents with school-age children may begin seeing more prominent and standardized notices regarding California firearm-storage laws.
Implementation
Major state implementation requirements begin by July 1, 2027, with annual updates beginning thereafter.
Read AB 1943 — Official California Legislature Page
AB 1974 — Voluntary Firearm Storage Programs
What changed?
AB 1974 authorizes local police departments and sheriff’s departments to establish voluntary temporary firearm-storage programs.
A participating agency may accept a firearm for temporary safekeeping and must provide information explaining how the firearm can later be retrieved.
Participating agencies must be capable of storing a firearm for up to one year and must check relevant firearm records when accepting and returning the firearm.
Important detail
A person requesting return of a stored firearm must satisfy the applicable eligibility and Law Enforcement Release requirements.
The law also permits disposition of a firearm that is not retrieved by the end of the agency’s designated storage period, subject to the procedures and protections contained in the statute.
What does this mean for gun owners?
Participation is voluntary.
The practical takeaway is that some California law enforcement agencies may begin offering a formal option for temporary firearm storage.
Effective date
Generally January 1, 2027.
Read AB 1974 — Official California Legislature Page
AB 2047 — 3D Printers & Firearm-Blocking Technology
What changed?
AB 2047 creates the California Firearm Printing Prevention Act.
Beginning no later than July 1, 2027, the California Department of Justice must periodically determine whether ASTM International has adopted industry standards for technology designed to prevent certain 3D printers from printing firearms or machine-gun conversion devices.
If qualifying industry standards are developed and DOJ determines the technology is feasible, DOJ must develop California performance standards.
One year after those standards are issued, qualifying 3D printers sold in California would generally have to incorporate compliant firearm-blocking technology.
Important clarification
This is not an immediate statewide ban on ordinary 3D printers.
The future sales restriction is dependent on development of qualifying industry standards and subsequent DOJ guidance or regulations. If no qualifying ASTM standards exist by July 1, 2029, DOJ’s obligation to continue checking ends.
What does this mean for gun owners?
For most firearm owners today, there is no immediate change to ordinary firearm purchasing or FSC requirements from AB 2047.
The law is primarily aimed at future 3D-printer technology and the manufacture of firearms and machine-gun conversion devices.
Read AB 2047 — Official California Legislature Page
AB 2339 — Prohibited Persons & DOJ Reporting
What changed?
AB 2339 changes several reporting and record procedures used to determine whether a person is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The law affects juvenile courts, designated mental-health facilities and the Department of Justice, including requirements concerning records and reports used to determine firearm and ammunition eligibility.
It also addresses the operation of certain five-year firearm prohibitions following specified mental-health commitments and requires particular supporting documentation to be provided to DOJ.
What does this mean for gun owners?
This law primarily affects people who may be subject to an existing firearm prohibition and the agencies responsible for determining and reporting that status.
It is not a new general firearm-registration requirement for all gun owners.
Effective date
Generally January 1, 2027.
Read AB 2339 — Official California Legislature Page
AB 2378 — California Violence Intervention & Prevention Program
What changed?
AB 2378 creates an Office of Community Violence Intervention within the Board of State and Community Corrections.
The office will administer the California Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program, commonly known as CalVIP, coordinate violence-intervention programs, provide technical assistance and produce statewide reports.
What does this mean for gun owners?
This is primarily a government-program and grant-administration bill.
It does not create a new FSC requirement, firearm-purchase restriction or general possession restriction for ordinary firearm owners.
Reporting timeline
The new office is required to produce its first specified biennial report by July 1, 2028.
Read AB 2378 — Official California Legislature Page
AB 2636 — Juvenile Cases Involving Loaded Firearms
What changed?
AB 2636 deals with California’s juvenile justice system.
When a juvenile is otherwise eligible for deferred entry of judgment, the court must consider whether the charged offense involves carrying a loaded firearm under Penal Code Section 25850 when deciding whether deferred entry of judgment is appropriate.
What does this mean for gun owners?
This bill does not create a new general restriction on adult firearm purchasing or possession.
Its direct effect is on the way juvenile courts evaluate certain criminal cases involving loaded firearms.
Effective date
Generally January 1, 2027.
Read AB 2636 — Official California Legislature Page
SB 948 — Major Changes to the Firearm Safety Certificate Process
What changed?
SB 948 contains one of the most significant changes in this package for ordinary California firearm purchasers.
Beginning January 1, 2029, an applicant for a California Firearm Safety Certificate must have completed an approved training course during the previous year.
The course must be at least four hours long and include:
- Responsibilities of firearm ownership and firearm safety
- California safe-storage laws
- Safe firearm handling and shooting fundamentals
- Private-transfer and straw-purchase laws
- Firearm relinquishment requirements for prohibited persons
- California self-defense and use-of-force laws
- Firearm transportation and vehicle-storage laws
- Live-fire shooting exercises at a firing range
The live-fire portion must include a demonstration of safe firearm handling and basic shooting proficiency.
Who is exempt from the new training requirement?
The new training requirement does not apply to a person with a valid CCW permit or someone who completed qualifying initial or renewal CCW training within the previous three years.
Personal firearm importers
Beginning January 1, 2028, certain personal firearm importers will also have to certify to DOJ that they have a valid FSC or qualify for an exemption when reporting firearms brought into California.
What does this mean for gun owners?
The familiar FSC process is scheduled to change substantially in 2029.
Someone who can currently obtain an FSC through the existing testing process may, beginning in 2029, also need to complete the required training and live-fire component before receiving the certificate.
Read SB 948 — Official California Legislature Page
SB 1220 — Expanded Firearm Prohibition for Certain Convictions
What changed?
SB 1220 adds another offense to California’s 10-year firearm-prohibition statute.
A person convicted on or after January 1, 2027 of violating Penal Code Section 23920 — involving specified conduct with a firearm whose identifying information has been changed, removed or obliterated — becomes subject to a 10-year prohibition on firearm ownership and possession.
Because SB 1220 and AB 1753 both amended Penal Code Section 29805, the enacted language also coordinates the additional firearm prohibitions created by AB 1753.
What does this mean for gun owners?
This is not a prohibition affecting firearm owners generally.
It applies when a person receives one of the qualifying convictions identified by the statute.
Effective date
The new conviction-based prohibition applies to qualifying convictions occurring on or after January 1, 2027.
Read SB 1220 — Official California Legislature Page
What California Gun Owners Should Take Away
These 10 bills do very different things.
Some, such as SB 948, will eventually create a significant new training requirement for many people seeking a Firearm Safety Certificate.
Others primarily change government reporting, school notifications, protective-order procedures, juvenile court procedures, violence-intervention programs or future technology standards.
That is why it is important to look at what each individual law actually says rather than treating all 10 bills as if they impose the same type of restriction.
Get Educated. Get Trained. Be Prepared.
California firearm laws continue to change, and understanding the rules before you purchase, transfer, transport or carry a firearm can help prevent unnecessary problems.
Old Town Tactical is here to help with:
- Firearm Safety Certificate testing and education
- CCW training
- New-shooter education
- Firearm safety and familiarization
- California firearm compliance information
- Training for friends and family
If someone in your family has been thinking about learning to shoot, getting their FSC or beginning the CCW process, now is a good time to start.
OLD TOWN TACTICAL
Old Town Clovis
Guns • Ammo • Training
Know the law. Know your firearm. Get trained.
This article is provided for general educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Firearm laws, regulations, court decisions and agency requirements may change. Readers should review the official statutory text and consult qualified legal counsel regarding their individual circumstances.
Main package source
Governor Newsom — September 26, 2026 firearm legislation announcement
Official bill sources
AB 1743 — Firearm Trace Data & Reporting
Official AB 1743 Bill Text — California Legislature
The enacted bill expands access to certain firearm-trace information maintained and analyzed by DOJ. LegInfo
AB 1753 — Protective Orders, Firearms & Ammunition
Official AB 1753 Bill Text — California Legislature
AB 1943 — Secure Firearm Storage Notifications in Schools
Official AB 1943 Bill Text — California Legislature
The enacted bill requires a standardized “Secure Firearm Storage Notification” for parents and guardians and sets July 1, 2027 implementation requirements. LegInfo
AB 1974 — Voluntary Firearm Storage Programs
Official AB 1974 Bill Text — California Legislature
AB 2047 — 3D Printing Blocking Technology
Official AB 2047 Bill Text — California Legislature
AB 2339 — Prohibited Persons & DOJ Reporting
Official AB 2339 Bill Text — California Legislature
AB 2378 — California Violence Intervention & Prevention Program
Official AB 2378 Bill Text — California Legislature
AB 2636 — Juvenile Cases Involving Loaded Firearms
Official AB 2636 Bill Text — California Legislature
SB 948 — Firearm Safety Certificate Training Requirements
Official SB 948 Bill Text — California Legislature
SB 1220 — Firearm Prohibition for Certain Convictions
Official SB 1220 Bill Text — California Legislature
