CaliforniaCalifornia would restrict 3D printer sales after workable standards and guidance
If officials find standards showing gun blocking can work and issue guidance, manufacturers must equip 3D printers they sell in California one year later, except printers used only to make entertainment props.
What it does
If officials find standards showing gun blocking can work and issue guidance, manufacturers must equip covered 3D printers before California sales one year later. No one may sell printers that fail state standards, offer them for sale, or transfer them for something of value. Printers used only to make entertainment props are exempt; further exceptions must fit the goal of preventing illegal printing of guns and parts that turn guns into machine guns.
California’s Justice Department must start checking for gun blocking standards by July 1, 2027, and check every three months. If it finds standards showing the technology can work, it must set minimum standards within two years. It can stop checking if it determines no standards have been published as of July 1, 2029.
The signed bill provides an exemption from a rule allowing civil lawsuits over sharing digital gunmaking files solely to genuinely develop, refine, and test gun blocking technology, or keep an updated file library solely for that work.
Argument forIf officials find workable standards and issue guidance, file checks in covered printers sold a year later could stop some attempts to print guns or parts that turn guns into machine guns.
Argument againstIf officials find workable standards and issue guidance, California buyers may have fewer printer choices a year later because sellers cannot offer models that fail state standards unless an exception applies.
More detail
Once the sales rule starts, manufacturers must equip covered printers; no one may sell printers that fail state standards, offer them for sale, or transfer them for something of value. The rule covers California sales, offers for sale, and transfers for something of value of 3D printers. Printers used only to make entertainment props are exempt. The rule depends on the Justice Department finding industry standards showing that gun blocking technology is workable and issuing guidance or rules. The department may add exceptions only if they fit the goal of preventing illegal printing of guns and parts that turn guns into machine guns. The sales rule starts one year after the Justice Department publishes its guidance or rules.
California’s Justice Department must check for industry standards every three months and issue guidance or rules after finding standards that show the technology can work. The checks cover ASTM International standards for gun blocking technology in 3D printers. The guidance or rules must set minimum standards for printers sold in California. The department must issue guidance or rules only if it finds ASTM International standards showing that gun blocking technology can work. If it determines that ASTM International has published no standards as of July 1, 2029, it no longer has to check. Checks must begin no later than July 1, 2027. Guidance or rules are due within 24 months after the department finds standards showing the technology can work.
The signed bill provides an exemption from a rule allowing civil lawsuits over distributing digital gunmaking files for qualifying gun blocking work. This covers people who distribute digital gunmaking files or cause others to distribute them. They must share the files solely to genuinely develop, refine, and test whether the technology works, or to keep an updated file library solely for that work.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 26Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 461, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 26Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 14Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1:30 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 1
- Vote recorded AB 2047 Bauer-Kahan Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 31Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 60. Noes 18. Page 7035.).Major
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2047 Bauer-Kahan et al. By Blakespear. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 31In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 31Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 10.).Passed Senate
- Aug 30Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 28Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 17Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Aug 17From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 13
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 2Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 1From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (June 30).Major
- Jun 30
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 15From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- Jun 3Referred to Coms. on JUD. and PUB. S.Minor
- May 27In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 2047 Bauer-Kahan Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 26Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 58. Noes 19. Page 5372.)Passed Assembly
- May 19Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 18Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- May 14From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (May 14).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- May 14Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.)
- May 13In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 15From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 14
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Mar 24
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and JUD.Minor
- Feb 18From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.
- Feb 17Read first time. To print.Introduced
Gun PolicyTechnologyPublic Safety