PROHIBITED WEAPONS/FIREARM CONVERT DEVICE

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not provide an effective date, so the exact start time for these changes is unknown based on this source alone.

Alaska SB 203: Updating Prohibited Weapon Definitions

This bill changes Alaska law to add a device that converts handguns into automatic firearms as a prohibited weapon and removes the ban on short-barreled rifles, shotguns, or modified firearms from this specific definition.

What This Bill Does

• Adds devices designed to convert a handgun into an automatic firearm to the list of prohibited weapons.
• Removes rifles with barrels shorter than 16 inches from the 'prohibited weapon' definition in AS 11.61.200(h)(1).
• Removes shotguns with barrels shorter than 18 inches from the 'prohibited weapon' definition in AS 11.61.200(h)(1).
• Removes firearms made from modified rifles or shotguns that are less than 26 inches long from the 'prohibited weapon' definition.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who possess devices designed to convert handguns into automatic firing guns.
• People who own short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, or modified firearms that are no longer included in this specific 'prohibited weapon' definition.

Terms To Know

Prohibited weapon

A type of explosive device, firearm part, or gun defined by state law as restricted under AS 11.61.200(h)(1).

Automatic firing

Shooting more than one shot without manual reloading using a single function of the trigger.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill only changes how 'prohibited weapon' is defined in AS 11.61.200(h)(1) and does not list other laws that might still apply.
• These new rules only apply to crimes committed on or after the date this law officially takes effect.

Official Summary Text

PROHIBITED WEAPONS/FIREARM CONVERT DEVICE
An Act relating to the definition of 'prohibited weapon.'

Current Bill Text

SB0203A -1- SB 203
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1186\A

SENATE BILL NO. 203

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY SENATORS TOBIN, Gray-Jackson

Introduced: 1/21/26
Referred: State Affairs, Judiciary

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to the definition of 'prohibited weapon.'" 1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 2
* Section 1. AS 11.61.200(h)(1) is amended to read: 3
(1) "prohibited weapon" means any 4
(A) explosive, incendiary, or noxious gas 5
(i) mine or device that is designed, made, or adapted for 6
the purpose of inflicting serious physical injury or death; 7
(ii) rocket, other than an emergency flare, having a 8
propellant charge of more than four ounces; 9
(iii) bomb; or 10
(iv) grenade; 11
(B) device designed, made, or adapted to muffle the report of a 12
firearm; 13
(C) firearm that is capable of shooting more than one shot 14
automatically, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger; 15
34-LS1186\A
SB 203 -2- SB0203A
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

[OR] 1
(D) rifle with a barrel length of less than 16 inches, shotgun 2
with a barrel length of less than 18 inches, or firearm made from a rifle or 3
shotgun which, as modified, has an overall length of less than 26 inches; or 4
(E) device designed, made, or adapted to convert a handgun 5
into a firearm that is capable of shooting more than one shot 6
automatically, without manual reloading, by a single function of the 7
trigger; 8
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 9
read: 10
APPLICABILITY. AS 11.61.200(h)(1), as amended by sec. 1 of this Act, applies to 11
offenses committed on or after the effective date of this Act. 12