WashingtonWashington law restricts digital firearm plans and homemade gun parts
Washington law restricts who may make untraceable firearms and firearm parts, and who may share digital instructions for making them.
What it does
People may not make untraceable firearms. Separate rules limit possessing, moving, receiving, selling, transferring, or buying them, with exceptions for certain older, disabled, or properly marked firearms.
Only certain licensed firearm makers and repair dealers may share or hold digital instructions for making firearms or parts. People also may not knowingly or recklessly help someone barred from firearms make an undetectable or untraceable gun.
Only specified federal firearm manufacturers and repair dealers may make firearm frames or unfinished frames or receivers. The law also limits handling and sales of unfinished parts without required serial numbers.
Argument forThese restrictions could make it harder for people barred from having firearms to make or obtain untraceable guns without a background check.
Argument againstThe limits could make it harder for people outside a small group of licensed businesses to share digital plans or make firearm parts.
More detail
People may not make untraceable firearms. An untraceable firearm is one that law enforcement cannot trace using a serial number applied as federal law requires. The exceptions for permanently disabled, antique, pre-1968, or properly marked firearms apply to possession, transport, receipt, sale, transfer, and purchase rules, not to the ban on making them. The possession, transport, and receipt restrictions apply after March 10, 2023. The law takes effect immediately.
People may not share or hold digital firearm-making instructions for distribution or use, except for certain licensed businesses. The instructions are digital files or code used to program a 3D printer or computer-controlled milling machine to make firearms, firearm parts, or magazines. The exceptions are for federal firearm manufacturers and federal firearm dealers licensed only to repair existing firearms. People also may not knowingly or recklessly help someone barred by state or federal law, or someone with an unrevoked voluntary waiver of firearm rights, make an undetectable or untraceable firearm. Failing to conduct a required background check is evidence of recklessness. The law takes effect immediately; these provisions state no separate start date.
Only specified federal firearm manufacturers and repair dealers may make firearm frames or unfinished frames or receivers. An unfinished frame or receiver includes a partly made firearm part that can reasonably be completed or is sold to become a working firearm part. Possession, transport, or receipt of an unfinished frame or receiver is allowed for listed federal licensees or when the item has a serial number issued by a listed federal licensee. Sale, transfer, or purchase is allowed for listed federal licensees or when the item has the required serial number. The law also restricts digital instructions for making or distributing these parts. The possession, transport, and receipt restrictions apply after March 10, 2023. The law takes effect immediately.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 24Effective date 3/24/2026*.Latest
- Mar 24Chapter 203, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 24Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11President signed.Major
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#13). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 11Passed final passage; yeas, 58; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 2.Passed House
- Mar 11House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Feb 28Third reading, passed; yeas, 29; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 2.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#20). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 28Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 28Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.
- Feb 27Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 24Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 23Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 23LAW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 23Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 20Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 2:00 PM.
- Feb 19First reading, referred to Law & Justice.Minor
- Feb 16Third reading, passed; yeas, 57; nays, 39; absent, 0; excused, 2.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#29). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 16Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 161st substitute bill substituted (CRJ 26).Major
- Feb 12Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 6Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 6Committee relieved of further consideration.
- Feb 4Referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Feb 4Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 4CRJ - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 4Executive action taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 21Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.Minor
- Jan 8Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
Gun PolicyPublic SafetyCriminal Justice