California · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB948 Firearms: safety certificates.

Direction

Firearms purchase background checksAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 90%

Requires personal firearm importers to certify under penalty of perjury that they have a valid firearm safety certificate (or exemption) when reporting importation, and makes failure to include the certificate number or exemption an infraction punishable under the safety-certificate statute.

Commencing January 1, 2028, a personal firearm importer shall also certify to the department under penalty of perjury that they have obtained a valid firearm safety certificate pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 31615 or that they qualify for an exemption to the firearm safety certificate requirement

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Firearms otherAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 90%

Requires new applicants for a firearm safety certificate (on or after Jan. 1, 2029) to complete a 4-hour training course including live-fire exercises within the prior year, with specified curriculum on safety, storage, laws, and self-defense; exempts recent CCW permit holders.

An applicant for a firearm safety certificate on or after January 1, 2029, shall have completed a training course within the prior year that meets all of the following conditions: (1) The training shall be no less than four hours in length, including live-fire shooting exercises.

✓ 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: 2026-09-26: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 465, Statutes of 2026.
Filed: 2026-02-02
Sponsor: Jesse Arreguin D + 1 cosponsor (1 D)

Read official text (Chaptered)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill tightens firearm importation reporting and safety-certificate requirements (adding perjury certification, new infraction penalties, and a prohibition on importing without timely certificate), which restricts access; it also mandates more extensive pre-certification training with live-fire exercises, further restricting ease of obtaining a certificate needed to buy/receive firearms. The longer 180-day reporting window and added funding authorization are expansions or neutral, producing a mixed effect on the 'other' tag.

Related bills

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
AB1078 Firearms.Expands gun access Expands gun access Law

Hearings and calendar

2026-03-17 08:30 · Hearing · Senate Public Safety Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200
2026-04-13 10:00 · Hearing · Senate Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200
2026-05-14 00:00 · Hearing · Senate Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200
2026-06-30 08:30 · Hearing · Assembly Public Safety Hearing State Capitol, Room 126
2026-08-05 09:00 · Hearing · Assembly Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 1100
2026-08-13 00:00 · Hearing · Assembly Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 1100

Votes

Date	Chamber	Motion	Yea-Nay
2026-03-17	S	Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]	5-1	Passed
2026-04-13	S	Placed on suspense file	7-0	Passed
2026-05-14	S	Do pass as amended	5-2	Passed
2026-05-27	S	Senate 3rd Reading SB948 Arreguín et al	28-9	Passed
2026-06-30	A	Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]	7-1	Passed
2026-08-13	A	Do pass as amended	11-4	Passed
2026-08-24	A	SB 948 Arreguín Senate Third Reading By Pellerin	56-19	Passed
2026-08-25	S	Unfinished Business SB948 Arreguín et al. Concurrence	28-12	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2026-02-02
Amended 2026-03-18
Amended 2026-05-14
Amended 2026-07-02
Amended 2026-08-13
Enrolled 2026-08-27
Chaptered 2026-09-26

History (28 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-09-26		Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 465, Statutes of 2026.
2026-09-26		Approved by the Governor.
2026-08-30		Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.
2026-08-25	S	Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 28. Noes 12. Page 5754.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2026-08-24	S	In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2026-08-24	A	Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 56. Noes 19. Page 6419.) Ordered to the Senate.
2026-08-17	A	Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-08-13	A	Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2026-08-13	A	From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 13).
2026-08-13	A	Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
2026-08-05	A	August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
2026-07-02	A	Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-07-01	A	From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 1.) (June 30).
2026-06-08	A	Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-05-27	A	In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2026-05-27	S	Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 9. Page 4497.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2026-05-18	S	Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14	S	Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2026-05-14	S	From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 4258.) (May 14).
2026-05-08	S	Set for hearing May 14.
2026-04-13	S	April 13 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-10	S	Set for hearing April 13.
2026-03-18	S	Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-17	S	From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 3590.) (March 17).
2026-03-03	S	Set for hearing March 17.
2026-02-11	S	Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-02-03	S	From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 5.
2026-02-02	S	Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.