California · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB704 Firearms: firearm barrels.

Direction

Firearms purchase background checksAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 90%

Requires licensed dealers to conduct an eligibility check (background check) on purchasers of firearm barrels starting July 1, 2027, and to record and submit purchaser information, so more restrictions on acquiring firearm barrels.

Commencing July 1, 2027, a firearm barrel, as defined in Section 16525, shall not be sold or transferred unless that transaction is completed in person by a firearms dealer licensed pursuant to Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, and the licensed firearms dealer has conducted an eligibility check to determine if that the person is authorized to purchase a firearm barrel under subdivision (b) in a manner prescribed by the Department of Justice.

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Firearms otherAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 85%

Prohibits sale or transfer of firearm barrels except through a licensed dealer, bans unlicensed possession with intent to sell or offering to sell, and creates new misdemeanor/felony penalties, so more restrictions on acquiring and transferring firearm barrels.

A firearm barrel, as defined in Section 16525, shall not be sold or transferred unless that transaction is completed in person by a firearms dealer licensed pursuant to Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive.

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Filed (completed)
Committee (completed)
Passed one chamber (completed)
Passed both (completed)
Governor (completed)
Law

Stage: Law · step 6 of 6

Last action: 2025-10-10: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 591, Statutes of 2025.
Filed: 2025-02-21
Sponsor: Jesse Arreguin D + 1 cosponsor (1 D)

Read official text (Chaptered)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill adds a new definition of 'firearm barrel' and imposes dealer-only sales/transfer requirements plus eligibility checks (background checks) and record-keeping for firearm barrels, with new criminal penalties for violations. This directly addresses the firearms topic under purchase-background-checks and other subtags by increasing regulatory and background-check barriers to acquiring barrels. No provisions address transgender, abortion, or immigration-enforcement topics.

Related bills

SB948 Firearms: safety certificates.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
SB1220 Firearms: prohibited persons.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
AB1187 Firearms: safety certificates.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Failed
SB320 Firearms: California Do Not Sell List.Restricts gun access No change to gun access Failed

Hearings and calendar

2025-04-29 08:30 · Hearing · Senate Public Safety Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200
2025-05-12 10:00 · Hearing · Senate Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200
2025-05-23 00:00 · Hearing · Senate Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200
2025-07-01 09:00 · Hearing · Assembly Public Safety Hearing State Capitol, Room 126
2025-07-15 08:30 · Hearing · Assembly Public Safety Hearing State Capitol, Room 126
2025-08-20 09:00 · Hearing · Assembly Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 1100
2025-08-29 00:00 · Hearing · Assembly Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 1100

Votes

Date	Chamber	Motion	Yea-Nay
2025-04-29	S	Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]	5-1	Passed
2025-05-12	S	Placed on suspense file	7-0	Passed
2025-05-23	S	Do pass as amended	5-1	Passed
2025-06-04	S	Senate 3rd Reading SB704 Arreguín	28-11	Passed
2025-07-15	A	Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]	7-2	Passed
2025-08-29	A	Do pass as amended	11-4	Passed
2025-09-08	A	SB 704 Arreguín Senate Third Reading By Stefani	57-20	Passed
2025-09-09	S	Unfinished Business SB704 Arreguín et al. Concurrence	29-10	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2025-02-21
Amended 2025-03-26
Amended 2025-05-23
Amended 2025-06-25
Amended 2025-07-17
Amended 2025-09-02
Enrolled 2025-09-12
Chaptered 2025-10-10

History (31 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2025-10-10		Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 591, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-10		Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-17		Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
2025-09-09	S	Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 29. Noes 10. Page 2718.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-09-08	S	In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-09-08	A	Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 57. Noes 20. Page 3008.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-09-03	A	Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-02	A	Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-08-29	A	From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 29).
2025-08-20	A	August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-07-17	A	Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-16	A	From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 2.) (July 15).
2025-07-01	A	July 1 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-06-25	A	From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-06-16	A	Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-06-05	A	In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-06-04	S	Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 11. Page 1508.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-27	S	Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23	S	Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-05-23	S	From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 1210.) (May 23).
2025-05-16	S	Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-12	S	May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-02	S	Set for hearing May 12.
2025-04-30	S	From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 945.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-11	S	Set for hearing April 29.
2025-04-02	S	Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-03-26	S	From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-03-12	S	Referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-24	S	Read first time.
2025-02-24	S	From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
2025-02-21	S	Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.