February 2026 Legislation/Litigation Report Legislation
SB 948, as introduced by Senator Arreguín. Firearms: safety certificates.
Existing law requires any person who purchases or receives a firearm to possess a firearm safety certificate. Existing law also prohibits a person from selling or transferring a firearm to any person who does not possess a firearm safety certificate. A violation of either of these provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor. Existing law requires a personal firearm importer, within 60 days of bringing any firearm into this state, to, among other things, submit a report including information concerning that individual and a description of the firearm in question to the Department of Justice.
This bill would also require that personal firearm importer to obtain a valid firearm safety certificate and include a copy of the valid firearm safety certificate within the report. The bill would prohibit a person from bringing a firearm into this state without obtaining a valid firearm safety certificate within 60 days, except as specified. By creating a new prohibition, this bill would create a new crime and therefore impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law requires an applicant for a firearm safety certificate to pass a test developed by the Department of Justice covering specified subjects, including, among others, the laws applicable to carrying and handling firearms and the responsibilities of ownership of firearms.
This bill would require an applicant for a firearm safety certificate, on or after July 1, 2028, to complete a training course no less than 8 hours in length that, among other things, includes instruction on firearm safety and handling and live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range. The bill would authorize the Department of Justice to promulgate regulations and provide additional information for the implementation of this subdivision.
In addition to one hour of live-fire training on a gun range, the training shall include instruction on all of the following:
- Federal and state laws related to possession, transportation, and storage of
- The importance of secure storage to prevent unauthorized access and use of
- Safe firearm handling and fundamentals of shooting
- Risks of firearms and causes of
- How to legally relinquish or transfer a
- State laws pertaining to self-defense and techniques for conflict
- Mental health, suicide prevention, and domestic violence issues associated with firearms and firearm violence.
Litigation
Baird V Bonta, a challenge to California’s ban on open crry in counties with populations over 200,000. A three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that California’s law for open carry is unconstitutional. The law banned open carry in any county with a population greater than 200,000 and required a permit in counties with less.
The state has appealed to the Supreme Court, and a stay has been issued pending action by the court.
Duncan V Bonta, a challenge to California’s High-Capacity Magazine ban, has been distributed to the Supreme Court justices for review and was rescheduled (again) for conference on February 20. If the Supreme Court denies certiorari in this case ownership of all magazines holding more than 10 rounds will be banned in California. This will include currently “grandfathered” magazines held prior to January 1, 2000, and “freedom week” magazines.
Respectfully submitted, David Smith
