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AB-1187 • 2026

Firearms: safety certificates.

Firearms: safety certificates.

Crime Education Firearms
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Celeste Rodriguez
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details about penalties for non-compliance or specific implementation procedures.

Firearms Safety Certificates

AB-1187 requires personal firearm importers to obtain safety certificates and mandates new training courses for applicants starting July 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires personal firearm importers to obtain a valid firearm safety certificate within 60 days of bringing firearms into the state.
  • Prohibits individuals from bringing firearms into the state without obtaining a valid safety certificate within 60 days.
  • Mandates that applicants for firearm safety certificates complete an 8-hour training course starting July 1, 2027, which includes instruction on firearm safety and handling as well as live-fire shooting exercises.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Personal firearm importers who bring firearms into California.
  • People applying for a firearm safety certificate after July 1, 2027.

Terms To Know

Firearm Safety Certificate
A document required by law to purchase or receive a firearm in California.
Personal Firearm Importer
An individual who brings firearms into the state for sale or distribution.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if someone fails to obtain a safety certificate.
  • It is unclear how existing importers will comply with new requirements.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  4. 2025-04-30 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

  5. 2025-04-21 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  6. 2025-04-10 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended.

  7. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (April 8).

  8. 2025-03-10 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  9. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  10. 2025-02-22 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.

  11. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1187, as amended, Celeste Rodriguez.
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.
Existing law generally makes a violation of the Penal Code a misdemeanor.
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
make it a misdemeanor for that personal firearm importer to bring
prohibit a person from bringing
a firearm into this state without obtaining a valid firearm safety certificate within 60 days, except as specified.
By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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
any
an
applicant for a firearm safety certificate, on or after July 1, 2027, 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
require
authorize
the Department of Justice to promulgate
regulations and provide additional information for the implementation of this subdivision.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF