New California Gun Laws for 2026 – What Gun Owners Need to Know

Legislative Update: End of Session 2025

The California Legislature adjourned in mid-September 2025 and returned to the Capitol January 5, 2026. All legislation that was "held in committee" and did not pass in the first half of the 2025-26 Legislative Session is unlikely to be voted on again in its current form, given legislative deadlines in early 2026. Members of the Senate and Assembly will be able to introduce new bills beginning January 5, 2026.

Several new California gun laws were signed this session significantly expand firearm restrictions, impose new compliance burdens, and create vague liability standards that threaten lawful gun ownership, commerce, and speech in California and beyond.

The following bills were signed by Governor Newsom; effective dates are noted in yellow.

AB 383 - READ HERE Firearms: prohibition: minors.

This bill modifies California's existing laws regarding firearm possession by minors and individuals with certain legal restrictions. Specifically, the bill expands the procedures for relinquishing firearms for juveniles who are prohibited from possessing firearms until they turn 30 years old, making the existing firearm surrender process applicable to this group. GOC OPPOSE.

Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 362, Statutes of 2025. Sponsor: Laurie Davies (R) Effective date: January 1, 2026.

AB 584 - READ HERE Firearms dealers and manufacturers: secure facilities.

This bill amends California's Penal Code to expand the definition of a "secure facility "for firearms dealers and manufacturers by adding a new option for perimeter doorways. Specifically, the bill allows doors to be a windowed or windowless steel door equipped with panic hardware that operates a multipoint lock bolting into the interior door frame. By providing an additional secure door option, the bill offers firearms dealers and manufacturers more flexibility in meeting safety and security standards while maintaining robust protective measures.

Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 40, Statutes of 2025. Sponsor: Heather Hadwick (R) Effective date: January 1, 2026. GOC SUPPORTED.

AB 1078 - READ HERE CCW Regulations and purchase limits.

This bill modifies licensing requirements for concealed carry permits, expanding disqualification criteria for applicants to include convictions under federal or out-of-state laws, being an unlawful user of controlled substances, and other potential risk factors. The bill requires a more onerous background investigation for license applicants, including reviewing publicly available information, character references, and a review of restraining order systems.

Beginning April 1, 2026, the bill also limits the number of firearms a person can apply to purchase within a 30-day period to three, and updates required warning signs in firearm dealerships to reflect this change. The bill also circumvents the court ruling (Nguyen v Bonta) that determined restrictions on the number of guns one can purchase in a month is unconstitutional. GOC OPPOSED.

Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 570, Statutes of 2025. Sponsor: Marc Berman (D) GOC opposed.

AB 1127 - READ HERE Firearms: converter pistols.

Although not named in the actual bill language, this is a de facto ban on Glock handguns. It prohibits the sale, transfer, or possession of "machinegun-convertible pistols" and "pistol converters "in California, starting July 1, 2026. Specifically, the bill defines a machinegun-convertible pistol as a semiautomatic pistol with a specific trigger mechanism that can be easily converted into an automatic weapon using a "pistol converter"- a device that replaces a pistol's backplate and interferes with its trigger mechanism to enable automatic firing. GOC OPPOSED.

Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 572, Statutes of 2025. Sponsor: Jesse Gabriel. GOC opposed.

AB 1263 - READ HERE Firearms: ghost guns.

This bill significantly expands restrictions on the private manufacture of firearms, targeting so-called "ghost guns," 3D-printed firearms, digital manufacturing files, and common gun components. It introduces new criminal offenses and broad civil liability that extend far beyond actual firearm manufacturing. This law relies on vague and subjective definitions-such as whether a product or conduct "facilitates" firearm manufacturing-creating serious legal uncertainty. This ambiguity exposes lawful gun owners, retailers, manufacturers, and online platforms to liability, even when no crime has occurred, while also threatening First Amendment protections for lawful speech and information sharing. Although framed as addressing privately manufactured firearms, the bill goes much further by imposing strict age and identity verification, address-matching, and delivery requirements on firearm parts and accessories. These provisions create new compliance burdens and record-keeping requirements designed to chill lawful commerce. Because the law applies to out-of-state sellers who do business with Californians, its impact extends nationwide-forcing businesses to either adopt California-specific compliance systems or stop selling to California residents altogether. GOC OPPOSED.

Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 636, Statutes of 2025. Sponsor: Mike Gipson Effective date: January 1, 2026. GOC OPPOSED.

AB 1344 - READ HERE Restrictions on firearm possession: pilot project.

This bill establishes a pilot program in four California counties (Alameda, El Dorado, Santa Clara, and Ventura) that expands the ability of district attorneys to file gun violence restraining orders (GVROs) until January1, 2032. Currently, GVROs can be requested by law enforcement officers or family members to prohibit a person from purchasing or possessing firearms if they pose a significant danger to themselves or others. The pilot program will allow district attorneys in these counties to also file - or deny such petitions (which is why GOC remained neutral), starting April 1, 2027.

Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 573, Statutes of 2025. Sponsor: Jacqui Irwin (D)

AB1363 - READ HERE Protective orders: Wyland's Law.

This bill, known as Wyland's Law, would authorize the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to create or contract for an automated system that provides people with protective orders access to real-time case information. The system would allow petitioners or protected persons to check whether the DOJ

has received their protective order, confirmed service of the order on the restrained person, and whether the restrained person has attempted to purchase firearms or ammunition while the order is in effect.

Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 574, Statutes of 2025. Sponsor: Catherine Stefani Effective date: January 1, 2026.

SB 704 - READ HERE Firearms: firearm barrels.

This bill mandates that all sales or transfers of firearm barrels be conducted in person through a licensed firearms dealer. Starting July 1, 2027, licensed dealers must conduct an eligibility check on the purchaser, ensuring they are at least 18 years old and not prohibited from owning firearms under state or federal law. The dealers must record detailed transaction information, including the purchaser's identification, address, and the specific characteristics of the barrel. Just like the other new California gun laws introduced, SB 704 is an unnecessary and fundamentally flawed attempt to regulate lawful gun owners while doing nothing to curb actual crime. Barrels, while essential parts of a firearm protected under the Second Amendment, are not serialized under federal law or California law. GOC OPPOSED.

Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 591, Statutes of 2025. Sponsor: Jesse Arreguin (D)

Gun Owners of California remains dedicated to fighting for the 2nd Amendment at the State Capitol and in the courts. If you would like to support the efforts of GOC, please consider donating HERE