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SB-704 • 2026

Firearms: firearm barrels.

Firearms: firearm barrels.

Crime Education Firearms
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Arreguín
Last action
2025-10-10
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 591, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact penalties for violations beyond stating they are punishable as misdemeanors or felonies.

Firearms: Rules for Selling and Buying Gun Barrels

This law makes it illegal to sell or transfer gun barrels unless a licensed dealer does the transaction in person, starting from July 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes it against the rules to sell or give away gun barrels unless a licensed firearms dealer is involved and the deal happens face-to-face.
  • Requires dealers to check if buyers are allowed to buy gun barrels before selling them, starting July 1, 2027.
  • Allows dealers to charge up to $5 for each eligibility check when selling gun barrels.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who want to buy or sell gun barrels
  • Licensed firearms dealers

Terms To Know

firearm barrel
The part of a gun that holds and directs the bullet when it is fired.
licensed firearms dealer
A business or person who has permission from the government to sell guns and parts like barrels.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens if someone tries to buy a gun barrel before July 1, 2027.
  • It is unclear how much it will cost local agencies or schools because the state says no reimbursement is needed.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-10 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 591, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-10-10 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-17 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.

  4. 2025-09-09 California Legislative Information

    Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 29. Noes 10. Page 2718.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. 2025-09-08 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  6. 2025-09-08 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 57. Noes 20. Page 3008.) Ordered to the Senate.

  7. 2025-09-03 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  8. 2025-09-02 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  9. 2025-08-29 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 29).

  10. 2025-08-20 California Legislative Information

    August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  11. 2025-07-17 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  12. 2025-07-16 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 2.) (July 15).

  13. 2025-07-01 California Legislative Information

    July 1 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.

  14. 2025-06-25 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  15. 2025-06-16 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  16. 2025-06-05 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  17. 2025-06-04 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 11. Page 1508.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  18. 2025-05-27 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  19. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  20. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 1210.) (May 23).

  21. 2025-05-16 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 23.

  22. 2025-05-12 California Legislative Information

    May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  23. 2025-05-02 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 12.

  24. 2025-04-30 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 945.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  25. 2025-04-11 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 29.

  26. 2025-04-02 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  27. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  28. 2025-03-12 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on RLS.

  29. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  30. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.

  31. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 704, Arreguín.
Firearms: firearm barrels.
Existing law generally requires the sale or transfer of firearms to be conducted through a licensed firearms dealer. For purposes of these provisions, existing law defines “firearm” to mean a device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion and to include the frame or receiver of the weapon, including both a completed frame or receiver, or a firearm precursor part. For these purposes, existing law defines “firearm precursor part” as any forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body, or similar article that has reached a stage in manufacture where it may readily be completed, assembled, or converted to be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm, or that is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once
completed, assembled, or converted.
This bill would, except as specified, prohibit the sale or transfer of a firearm barrel, as defined, unless the transaction is completed in person by a licensed firearms dealer. The bill would also prohibit a person from possessing a firearm barrel with the intent to sell, or offering to sell, unless the person is a licensed firearms dealer.
Commencing on July 1, 2027, except as specified, the bill would require the licensed firearms dealer to conduct an eligibility check of the purchaser or transferee and to record specified information pertaining to the transaction, including the date of the sale or transfer. The bill would make a first and 2nd violation of these provisions punishable as a misdemeanor, and any additional violations punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony, as specified. The bill would require the department to require the licensed firearms dealer to charge a fee up to $5 for each firearm barrel eligibility check, as specified.
By creating a new crime, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.
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.
The bill would declare the severability of its provisions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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