AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN FIREARMS DEFINITIONS AND CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES AND ASSAULT WEAPONS.

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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5436
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 2344

Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY

Introduced by:
(JUD)

AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN FIREARMS DEFINITIONS AND
CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES
AND ASSAULT WEAPONS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 53a-3 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes 1
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 2
October 1, 2026): 3
Except where different meanings are expressly specified, the 4
following terms have the following meanings when used in this title: 5
(1) "Person" means a human being, and, where appropriate, a public 6
or private corporation, a limited liability company, an unincorporated 7
association, a partnership, a government or a governmental 8
instrumentality; 9
(2) "Possess" means to have physical possession or otherwise to 10
exercise dominion or control over tangible property; 11
(3) "Physical injury" means impairment of physical condition or pain; 12

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(4) "Serious physical injury" means physical injury which creates a 13
substantial risk of death, or which causes serious disfigurement, serious 14
impairment of health or serious loss or impairment of the function of 15
any bodily organ; 16
(5) "Deadly physical force" means physical force which can be 17
reasonably expected to cause death or serious physical injury; 18
(6) "Deadly weapon" means any weapon, whether loaded or 19
unloaded, from which a shot may be discharged, or a switchblade knife, 20
gravity knife, billy, blackjack, bludgeon, or metal knuckles. The 21
definition of "deadly weapon" in this subdivision shall be deemed not 22
to apply to section 29 -38 or 53 -206 and does not include an electronic 23
defense weapon when used by a peace officer; 24
(7) "Dangerous instrument" means any instrument, article or 25
substance which, under the circumstances in which it is used or 26
attempted or threatened to be used, is capable of causing death or 27
serious physical injury, and includes a "vehicle" as that term is defined 28
in this section and includes a dog that has been commanded to attack, 29
except a dog owned by a law enforcement agency of the state or any 30
political subdivision thereof or of the federal government when such 31
dog is in the performance of its duties under the direct supervision, care 32
and control of an assigned law enforcement officer; 33
(8) "Vehicle" means a "motor vehicle" as defined in section 14 -1, a 34
snowmobile, any aircraft, or any vessel equipped for propulsion by 35
mechanical means or sail; 36
(9) "Peace officer" means a member of the Division of State Police 37
within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection or 38
an organized local police department, a chief inspector or inspector in 39
the Division of Criminal Justice, a state marshal while exercising 40
authority granted under any provision of the general statutes, a judicial 41
marshal in the performance of the duties of a judicial marshal, a 42
conservation officer or special conservation officer, as defined in section 43

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26-5, a constable who performs criminal law enforcement duties, a 44
special policeman appointed under section 29 -18, 29-18a, 29-18b or 29-45
19, an adult probation officer, an official of the Department of Correction 46
authorized by the Commissioner of Correction to make arrests in a 47
correctional institution or facility, any investigator in the investigations 48
unit of the office of the State Treasurer, an inspector of motor vehicles in 49
the Department of Motor Vehicles, who is certified under the provisions 50
of sections 7-294a to 7-294e, inclusive, a United States marshal or deputy 51
marshal, any special agent of the federal government authorized to 52
enforce the provisions of Title 21 of the United States Code, or a member 53
of a law enforcement unit of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe or the 54
Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut created and governed by a 55
memorandum of agreement under section 47 -65c who is certified as a 56
police officer by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council 57
pursuant to sections 7-294a to 7-294e, inclusive; 58
(10) "Firefighter" means any agent of a municipality whose duty it is 59
to protect life and property therein as a member of a duly constituted 60
fire department whether professional or volunteer; 61
(11) A person acts "intentionally" with respect to a result or to conduct 62
described by a statute defining an offense when his conscious objective 63
is to cause such result or to engage in such conduct; 64
(12) A person acts "knowingly" with respect to conduct or to a 65
circumstance described by a statute defining an offense when he is 66
aware that his conduct is of such nature or that such circumstance exists; 67
(13) A person acts "recklessly" with respect to a result or to a 68
circumstance described by a statute defining an offense when he is 69
aware of and consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk 70
that such result will occur or that such circumstance exists. The risk 71
must be of such nature and degree that disregarding it constitutes a 72
gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person 73
would observe in the situation; 74

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(14) A person acts with "criminal negligence" with respect to a result 75
or to a circumstance described by a statute defining an offense when he 76
fails to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such result will 77
occur or that such circumstance exists. The risk must be of such nature 78
and degree that the failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation 79
from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe in the 80
situation; 81
(15) "Machine gun" means a weapon of any description, irrespective 82
of size, by whatever name known, loaded or unloaded, from which a 83
number of shots or bullets may be rapidly or automatically discharged 84
from a magazine with one continuous pull of the trigger and includes a 85
submachine gun; 86
(16) "Rifle" means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or 87
remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or 88
redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of the explosive in a 89
fixed metallic cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifled 90
bore for each single pull of the trigger; 91
(17) "Shotgun" means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or 92
remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or 93
redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of the explosive in a 94
fixed shotgun shell to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball 95
shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger; 96
(18) "Pistol" or "revolver" means any firearm having a barrel less than 97
twelve inches; 98
(19) "Firearm" means any sawed -off shotgun, machine gun, rifle, 99
shotgun, pistol, revolver , major firearm component, unfinished frame 100
or lower receiver, as defined in section 53-206j, as amended by this act , 101
or other weapon, whether loaded or unloaded from which a shot may 102
be discharged; 103
(20) "Electronic defense weapon" means a weapon which by 104

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electronic impulse or current is capable of immobilizing a person 105
temporarily, including a stun gun or other conductive energy device; 106
(21) "Martial arts weapon" means a nunchaku, kama, kasari -fundo, 107
octagon sai, tonfa or chinese star; 108
(22) "Employee of an emergency medical service organization" means 109
an ambulance driver, emergency medical technician or paramedic as 110
defined in section 19a-175; 111
(23) "Railroad property" means all tangible property owned, leased 112
or operated by a railroad carrier including, but not limited to, a right-of-113
way, track, roadbed, bridge, yard, shop, station, tunnel, viaduct, trestle, 114
depot, warehouse, terminal or any other structure or appurtenance or 115
equipment owned, leased or used in the operation of a railroad carrier 116
including a train, locomotive, engine, railroad car, signals or safety 117
device or work equipment or rolling stock; 118
(24) "Serious firearm offense" means a violation of section 29 -36, 29-119
36a or 53-202w, as amended by this act, possession of a stolen firearm or 120
a firearm that is altered in a manner that renders the firearm unlawful, 121
or any crime of which an essential element is that the person discharged, 122
used or was armed with and threatened the use of a firearm; [and] 123
(25) "Serious firearm offender" means a person who has (A) two 124
convictions for a serious firearm offense, (B) a conviction for a serious 125
firearm offense and was previously convicted of a violation of section 126
29-36, 29 -36a, subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 53a -217 or 127
subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 53a -217c, or (C) a conviction 128
for a serious firearm offense and was previously convicted of two or 129
more additional felony offenses; and 130
(26) "Major firearm component" means the barrel, slide or cylinder or 131
frame or receiver of a firearm. 132
Sec. 2. Subsection (i) of section 53 -206j of the general statutes is 133

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repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 134
1, 2026): 135
(i) For purposes of this section, "unfinished frame or lower receiver" 136
means a blank, casting , [or machined body intended to be turned into 137
the frame or lower receiver of a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, with 138
additional machining, and which has been formed or machined to the 139
point where most major machining operations have been completed to 140
turn the blank, casting or machined body into a frame or lower receiver 141
of a firearm, even if the fire-control cavity area of such blank, casting or 142
machined body is still completely solid and unmachined. An 143
"unfinished frame or lower receiver" is not a firearm, as defined in 18 144
USC 921(a), as amended from time to time] forging, printing, extrusion, 145
machined body or similar item that ( 1) has reached a stage in 146
manufacture where it may readily be completed, assembled or 147
converted to be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm; or 148
(2) is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame 149
or receiver of a functional firearm once completed, assembled or 150
converted. 151
Sec. 3. Subsection (c) of section 53-206g of the 2026 supplement to the 152
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 153
thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 154
(c) For purposes of this section, "firearm" means firearm as defined in 155
section 53a-3, as amended by this act , and "rate of fire enhancement" 156
means any device, component, part, combination of parts, attachment 157
or accessory that: (1) Uses energy from the recoil of a firearm to generate 158
a reciprocating action that causes repeated function of the trigger, 159
including, but not limited to, a bump stock; (2) repeatedly pulls the 160
trigger of a firearm through the use of a crank, lever or other part, 161
including, but not limited to, a trigger crank; [or] (3) causes a 162
semiautomatic firearm to fire more than one round per operation of the 163
trigger, where the trigger pull and reset constitute a single operation of 164
the trigger, including, but not limited to, a binary trigger system ; (4) 165

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includes a trigger that forcibly resets into the firing position after each 166
round is fired, such as a forced reset trigger; (5) applies force to a 167
firearm's trigger bar to prevent the trigger bar from limiting the firearm 168
to firing only one round each time the trigger is depressed, such as an 169
auto-sear; or (6) is unnecessary for the function of a firearm and that, 170
when built into, installed in or attached to a firearm, increases the rate 171
of fire above the rate at which a person could otherwise fire such 172
firearm. 173
Sec. 4. Section 53 -202w of the general statutes is repealed and the 174
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 175
(a) As used in this section and section 53-202x: 176
(1) "Large capacity magazine" means any firearm magazine, belt, 177
drum, feed strip or similar device that has the capacity of, or can be 178
readily restored or converted to accept, more than ten rounds of 179
ammunition, but does not include: (A) A feeding device that has been 180
permanently altered so that it cannot accommodate more than ten 181
rounds of ammunition, (B) a .22 caliber tube ammunition feeding 182
device, (C) a tubular magazine that is contained in a lever -action 183
firearm, or (D) a magazine that is permanently inoperable; 184
(2) "Lawfully possesses", with respect to a large capacity magazine, 185
means that a person has (A) actual and lawful possession of the large 186
capacity magazine, (B) constructive possession of the large capacity 187
magazine pursuant to a lawful purchase of a firearm that contains a 188
large capacity magazine that was transacted prior to or on April 4, 2013, 189
regardless of whether the firearm was delivered to the purchaser prior 190
to or on April 4, 2013, which lawful purchase is evidenced by a writing 191
sufficient to indicate that (i) a contract for sale was made between the 192
parties prior to or on April 4, 2013, for the purchase of the firearm, or (ii) 193
full or partial payment for the firearm was made by the purchaser to the 194
seller of the firearm prior to or on April 4, 2013, or (C) actual possession 195
under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, or constructive possession 196

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under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, as evidenced by a written 197
statement made under penalty of false statement on such form as the 198
Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection prescribes; 199
and 200
(3) "Licensed gun dealer" means a person who has a federal firearms 201
license and a permit to sell firearms pursuant to section 29-28. 202
(b) Except as provided in this section, on and after April 5, 2013, any 203
person who, within this state, distributes, imports into this state, keeps 204
for sale, offers or exposes for sale, or purchases a large capacity 205
magazine shall be guilty of a class D felony. On and after April 5, 2013, 206
any person who, within this state, transfers a large capacity magazine, 207
except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, shall be guilty of a 208
class D felony. 209
(c) Except as provided in this section and section 53-202x, any person 210
who possesses a large capacity magazine shall be guilty of a (1) class D 211
felony if such person is ineligible to possess a firearm under state or 212
federal law, or (2) class A misdemeanor if such person is not ineligible 213
to possess a firearm under state or federal law. 214
(d) A large capacity magazine may be possessed, purchased or 215
imported by: 216
(1) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, 217
police departments, the Department of Correction, the Division of 218
Criminal Justice, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of 219
Energy and Environmental Protection or the military or naval forces of 220
this state or of the United States; 221
(2) A sworn and duly certified member of an organized police 222
department, the Division of State Police within the Department of 223
Emergency Services and Public Protection or the Department of 224
Correction, a chief inspector or inspector in the Division of Criminal 225
Justice, a salaried inspector of motor vehicles designated by the 226

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Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, a conservation officer or special 227
conservation officer appointed by the Commissioner of Energy and 228
Environmental Protection pursuant to section 26 -5, or a constable who 229
is certified by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council and 230
appointed by the chief executive authority of a town, city or borough to 231
perform criminal law enforcement duties, for use by such sworn 232
member, inspector, officer or constable in the discharge of such sworn 233
member's, inspector's, officer's or constable's official duties or when off 234
duty; 235
(3) A member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the 236
United States; 237
(4) A nuclear facility licensed by the United States Nuclear 238
Regulatory Commission for the purpose of providing security services 239
at such facility, or any contractor or subcontractor of such facility for the 240
purpose of providing security services at such facility; 241
(5) Any person who is sworn and acts as a policeman on behalf of an 242
armored car service pursuant to section 29 -20 in the discharge of such 243
person's official duties; or 244
(6) Any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of 245
manufacturing large capacity magazines in this state that manufactures, 246
purchases, tests or transports large capacity magazines in this state for 247
sale within this state to persons specified in subdivisions (1) to (5), 248
inclusive, of this subsection or for sale outside this state , or a federally-249
licensed firearm manufacturer engaged in the business of 250
manufacturing firearms or large capacity magazines in this state that 251
manufactures, purchases, tests or transports firearms or large capacity 252
magazines in this state for sale within this state to persons specified in 253
subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, of this subsection or for sale outside 254
this state. 255
(e) A large capacity magazine may be possessed by: 256

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(1) A licensed gun dealer; 257
(2) A gunsmith who is in a licensed gun dealer's employ, who 258
possesses such large capacity magazine for the purpose of servicing or 259
repairing a lawfully possessed large capacity magazine; 260
(3) A person, firm, corporation or federally -licensed firearm 261
manufacturer described in subdivision (6) of subsection (d) of this 262
section that possesses a large capacity magazine that is lawfully 263
possessed by another person for the purpose of servicing or repairing 264
the large capacity magazine; 265
(4) Any person who has declared possession of the magazine 266
pursuant to section 53-202x; or 267
(5) Any person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that 268
includes a large capacity magazine, or the trustee of a trust that includes 269
a large capacity magazine, the possession of which has been declared to 270
the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection pursuant 271
to section 53 -202x, which is disposed of as authorized by the Probate 272
Court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by this section and 273
section 53-202x. 274
(f) Subsection (b) of this section shall not prohibit: 275
(1) The transfer of a large capacity magazine, the possession of which 276
has been declared to the Department of Emergency Services and Public 277
Protection pursuant to section 53 -202x, by bequest or intestate 278
succession, or, upon the death of a testator or settlor: (A) To a trust, or 279
(B) from a trust to a beneficiary; 280
(2) The transfer of a large capacity magazine to a police department 281
or the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; 282
(3) The transfer of a large capacity magazine to a licensed gun dealer 283
in accordance with section 53-202x; [or] 284

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(4) The transfer of a large capacity magazine prior to October 1, 2013, 285
from a licensed gun dealer, pawnbroker licensed under section 21-40, or 286
consignment shop operator, as defined in section 21 -39a, to any person 287
who (A) possessed the large capacity magazine prior to or on April 4, 288
2013, (B) placed a firearm that such person legally possessed, with the 289
large capacity magazine included or attached, in the possession of such 290
dealer, pawnbroker or operator prior to or on April 4, 2013, pursuant to 291
an agreement between such person and such dealer, pawnbroker or 292
operator for the sale of the firearm to a third person, and (C) is eligible 293
to possess the firearm on the date of such transfer; or 294
(5) The transfer of a large capacity magazine within this state between 295
any of the persons specified in subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, of 296
subsection (e) of this section. 297
(g) The court may order suspension of prosecution in addition to any 298
other diversionary programs available to the defendant, if the court 299
finds that a violation of this section is not of a serious nature and that 300
the person charged with such violation (1) will probably not offend in 301
the future, (2) has not previously been convicted of a violation of this 302
section, and (3) has not previously had a prosecution under this section 303
suspended pursuant to this subsection, it may order suspension of 304
prosecution in accordance with the provisions of subsection (i) of section 305
29-33. 306
Sec. 5. Section 53 -202d of the general statutes is repealed and the 307
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 308
(a) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 309
any person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, as defined in 310
subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, prior to October 311
1, 1993, shall apply by October 1, 1994, or, if such person is a member of 312
the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States and is 313
unable to apply by October 1, 1994, because such member is or was on 314
official duty outside of this state, shall apply within ninety days of 315

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returning to the state to the Department of Emergency Services and 316
Public Protection, for a certificate of possession with respect to such 317
assault weapon. 318
(B) No person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon pursuant to 319
subdivision (1), (2) or (4) of subsection (b) of section 53 -202c shall be 320
required to obtain a certificate of possession pursuant to this subdivision 321
with respect to an assault weapon used for official duties, except that 322
any person described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 53 -323
202c who purchases an assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A) 324
of subdivision (1) of section 53 -202a, for use in the discharge of official 325
duties who retires or is otherwise separated from service shall apply 326
within ninety days of such retirement or separation from service to the 327
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a 328
certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon. 329
(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 330
any person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, as defined in any 331
provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of 332
section 53-202a, on April 4, 2013 , under the provisions of sections 53 -333
202a to 53 -202k, inclusive, in effect on January 1, 2013, or any person 334
who regains possession of an assault weapon as defined in any 335
provision of said subparagraphs pursuant to subsection (e) of section 336
53-202f, or any person who lawfully purchases a firearm on or after 337
April 4, 2013, but prior to June 18, 2013, that meets the criteria set forth 338
in subdivision (3) or (4) of subsection (a) of section 53-202a of the general 339
statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2013, shall apply by 340
January 1, 2014, or, if such person is a member of the military or naval 341
forces of this state or of the United States and is unable to apply by 342
January 1, 2014, because such member is or was on official duty outside 343
of this state, shall apply within ninety days of returning to the state to 344
the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a 345
certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon. Any 346
person who lawfully purchases a semiautomatic pistol that is defined as 347
an assault weapon in any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), 348

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inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a that the Commissioner of 349
Emergency Services and Public Protection designates as being designed 350
expressly for use in target shooting events at the Olympic games 351
sponsored by the International Olympic Committee pursuant to 352
regulations adopted under subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 353
53-202b shall apply within ninety days of such purchase to the 354
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a 355
certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon. 356
(B) No person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon pursuant to 357
subdivision (1), (2) or (4) of subsection (b) of section 53 -202c shall be 358
required to obtain a certificate of possession pursuant to this subdivision 359
with respect to an assault weapon used for official duties, except that 360
any person described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 53 -361
202c who purchases an assault weapon, as defined in any provision of 362
subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a 363
for use in the discharge of official duties who retires or is otherwise 364
separated from service shall apply within ninety days of such retirement 365
or separation from service to the Department of Emergency Services and 366
Public Protection for a certificate of possession with respect to such 367
assault weapon. 368
(3) Any person who obtained a certificate of possession for an assault 369
weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of section 53-370
202a, prior to April 5, 2013, that is defined as an assault weapon 371
pursuant to any provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of 372
subdivision (1) of section 53 -202a shall be deemed to have obtained a 373
certificate of possession for such assault weapon for the purposes of 374
sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, and shall not be required to obtain 375
a subsequent certificate of possession for such assault weapon. 376
(4) (A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this 377
subdivision, any person who lawfully possesses a 2023 assault weapon 378
on June 5, 2023, under the provisions of sections 53 -202a to 53 -202k, 379
inclusive, in effect on January 1, 2023, or any person who regains 380

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possession of a 2023 assault weapon pursuant to subdivision (2) of 381
subsection (e) of section 53 -202f, shall apply by May 1, 2024, or, if such 382
person is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of the 383
United States and is unable to apply by May 1, 2024, because such 384
member is or was on official duty outside of this state, shall apply within 385
ninety days of returning to the state to the Department of Emergency 386
Services and Public Protection for a certificate of possession with respect 387
to such assault weapon. The Department of Emergency Services and 388
Public Protection shall accept applications both in paper and electronic 389
form, to the extent practicable, and shall not require such applications 390
be notarized. 391
(B) No person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon pursuant to 392
subdivision (1), (2) or (4) of subsection (b) of section 53 -202c shall be 393
required to obtain a certificate of possession pursuant to this subdivision 394
with respect to an assault weapon used for official duties, except that 395
any person described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 53 -396
202c who purchases a 2023 assault weapon for use in the discharge of 397
official duties who retires or is otherwise separated from service shall 398
apply within ninety days of such retirement or separation from service 399
to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for a 400
certificate of possession with respect to such assault weapon. 401
(C) Any person who lawfully possesses a 2023 assault weapon 402
pursuant to the provisions of subsection (f) of section 53-202c and whose 403
Form 1 application to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 404
Explosives has not yet been processed may, instead of following the 405
procedure specified in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, apply by 406
May 1, 2024, to the Department of Emergency Services and Public 407
Protection for a temporary certificate of possession with respect to such 408
assault weapon. Such temporary certificate of possession shall expire on 409
the earlier of January 1, 2027, and the date seven days succeeding a 410
denial of the Form 1 application. When the Form 1 application is 411
approved with respect to such assault weapon, such person may apply 412
to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to 413

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convert such temporary certificate of possession into a certificate of 414
possession with respect to such assault weapon. If a complete 415
application to convert is received, the Commissioner of Emergency 416
Services and Public Protection shall approve the application. For the 417
purposes of this subparagraph, a full and complete Form 1 application 418
submitted to the Department of Emergency Services and Public 419
Protection in a form and manner determined by the department shall be 420
sufficient to constitute a complete application for a temporary certificate 421
of possession, and a copy of the notice that a Form 1 application has 422
been approved shall constitute a complete application to convert a 423
temporary certificate of possession into a certificate of possession. The 424
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall accept 425
applications under this subparagraph both in paper and electronic form, 426
to the extent practicable, and shall not require such applications to be 427
notarized. 428
(5) Any person who obtained a certificate of possession for an assault 429
weapon, as defined in any provision of subparagraphs (A) to (F), 430
inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53-202a prior to June 6, 2023, that 431
is also a 2023 assault weapon shall be deemed to have obtained a 432
certificate of possession for such assault weapon for the purposes of 433
sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, and shall not be required to obtain 434
a subsequent certificate of possession for such assault weapon. 435
(6) The certificate of possession shall contain a description of the 436
firearm that identifies it uniquely, including all identification marks, the 437
full name, address, date of birth and thumbprint of the owner, and any 438
other information as the department may deem appropriate. 439
(7) The department shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the 440
provisions of chapter 54, to establish procedures with respect to the 441
application for and issuance of certificates of possession pursuant to this 442
section. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1-210 and 1-211, the 443
name and address of a person issued a certificate of possession shall be 444
confidential and shall not be disclosed, except such records may be 445

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disclosed to (A) law enforcement agencies and employees of the United 446
States Probation Office acting in the performance of their duties and 447
parole officers within the Department of Correction acting in the 448
performance of their duties, and (B) the Commissioner of Mental Health 449
and Addiction Services to carry out the provisions of subsection (c) of 450
section 17a-500. 451
(b) (1) No assault weapon, as defined in subparagraph (A) of 452
subdivision (1) of section 53-202a, possessed pursuant to a certificate of 453
possession issued under this section may be sold or transferred on or 454
after January 1, 1994, to any person within this state other than to a 455
licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (f) of section 53-202f, or as 456
provided in section 53-202e, or as provided in subsection (g) of section 457
53-202f, as amended by this act, or by bequest or intestate succession, or, 458
upon the death of a testator or settlor: (A) To a trust, or (B) from a trust 459
to a beneficiary who is eligible to possess the assault weapon. 460
(2) No assault weapon, as defined in any provision of subparagraphs 461
(B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of section 53 -202a, possessed 462
pursuant to a certificate of possession issued under this section may be 463
sold or transferred on or after April 5, 2013 , to any person within this 464
state other than to a licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (f) of 465
section 53 -202f, or as provided in section 53 -202e, or as provided i n 466
subsection (g) of section 53 -202f, as amended by this act , or by bequest 467
or intestate succession, or, upon the death of a testator or settlor: (A) To 468
a trust, or (B) from a trust to a beneficiary who is eligible to possess the 469
assault weapon. 470
(3) No 2023 assault weapon possessed pursuant to a certificate of 471
possession issued under this section may be sold or transferred on or 472
after June 6, 2023, to any person within this state other than to a licensed 473
gun dealer, or as provided in section 53 -202e, or as provided i n 474
subsection (g) of section 53 -202f, as amended by this act , or by bequest 475
or intestate succession, or, upon the death of a testator or settlor: (A) To 476
a trust, or (B) from a trust to a beneficiary who is eligible to possess the 477

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assault weapon. 478
(c) Any person who obtains title to an assault weapon for which a 479
certificate of possession has been issued under this section by (1) 480
transfer pursuant to subsection (g) of section 53 -202f, as amended by 481
this act, or (2) bequest or intestate succession shall, within ninety days 482
of obtaining title, apply to the Department of Emergency Services and 483
Public Protection for a certificate of possession as provided in subsection 484
(a) of this section, render the assault weapon permanently inoperable, 485
sell the assault weapon to a licensed gun dealer or remove the assault 486
weapon from the state. 487
(d) Any person who moves into the state in lawful possession of an 488
assault weapon, shall, within ninety days, either render the assault 489
weapon permanently inoperable, sell the assault weapon to a licensed 490
gun dealer or remove the assault weapon from this state, except that any 491
person who is a member of the military or naval forces of this state or of 492
the United States, is in lawful possession of an assault weapon and has 493
been transferred into the state after October 1, 1994, may, within ninety 494
days of arriving in the state, apply to the Department of Emergency 495
Services and Public Protection for a certificate of possession with respect 496
to such assault weapon. 497
(e) If an owner of an assault weapon sells or transfers the assault 498
weapon to a licensed gun dealer, such dealer shall, at the time of 499
delivery of the assault weapon, execute a certificate of transfer and cause 500
the certificate of transfer to be mailed or delivered to the Commissioner 501
of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The certificate of transfer 502
shall contain: (1) The date of sale or transfer; (2) the name and address 503
of the seller or transferor and the licensed gun dealer, their Social 504
Security numbers or motor vehicle operator license numbers, if 505
applicable; (3) the licensed gun dealer's federal firearms license number 506
and seller's permit number; (4) a description of the assault weapon, 507
including the caliber of the assault weapon and its make, model and 508
serial number; and (5) any other information the commissioner 509

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prescribes. The licensed gun dealer shall present such dealer's motor 510
vehicle operator's license or Social Security card, federal firearms license 511
and seller's permit to the seller or transferor for inspection at the time of 512
purchase or transfer. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and 513
Public Protection shall maintain a file of all certificates of transfer at the 514
commissioner's central office. 515
(f) Any person who has been issued a certificate of possession for an 516
assault weapon under this section may possess the assault weapon only 517
under the following conditions: 518
(1) At that person's residence, place of business or other property 519
owned by that person, or on property owned by another person with 520
the owner's express permission; 521
(2) While on the premises of a target range of a public or private club 522
or organization organized for the purpose of practicing shooting at 523
targets; 524
(3) While on a target range which holds a regulatory or business 525
license for the purpose of practicing shooting at that target range; 526
(4) While on the premises of a licensed shooting club; 527
(5) While attending any exhibition, display or educational project 528
which is about firearms and which is sponsored by, conducted under 529
the auspices of, or approved by a law enforcement agency or a 530
nationally or state recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or 531
promotes education about, firearms; 532
(6) While transporting the assault weapon between any of the places 533
set forth in this subsection, or to any licensed gun dealer, as defined in 534
subsection (f) of section 53 -202f, for servicing or repair pursuant to 535
subsection (c) of section 53 -202f, or for purposes of a transfer pursuant 536
to subsection (g) of section 53-202f, as amended by this act, provided the 537
assault weapon is transported as required by section 53 -202f, as 538

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amended by this act; 539
(7) With respect to a nonresident of this state, while transporting a 540
semiautomatic pistol that is defined as an assault weapon in any 541
provision of subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of 542
section 53 -202a that the Commissioner of Emergency Services and 543
Public Protection designates as being designed expressly for use in 544
target shooting events at the Olympic games sponsored by the 545
International Olympic Committee pursuant to regulations adopted 546
under subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 53 -202b, into or 547
through this state in order to attend any exhibition, display or 548
educational project described in subdivision (5) of this subsection, or to 549
participate in a collegiate, Olympic or target pistol shooting competition 550
in this state which is sponsored by, conducted under the auspices of, or 551
approved by a law enforcement agency or a nationally or state 552
recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or promotes education 553
about, firearms, provided (A) such pistol is transported into or through 554
this state not more than forty -eight hours prior to or after such 555
exhibition, display, project or competition, (B) such pistol is unloaded 556
and carried in a locked carrying case and the ammunition for such pistol 557
is carried in a separate locked container, (C) such nonresident has not 558
been convicted of a felony in this state or of an offense in another state 559
that would constitute a felony if committed in this state, and (D) such 560
nonresident has in his or her possession a pistol permit or firearms 561
registration card if such permit or card is required for possession of such 562
pistol under the laws of his or her state of residence. 563
Sec. 6. Section 53 -202f of the general statutes is amended by adding 564
subsection (g) as follows (Effective July 1, 2026): 565
(NEW) (g) (1) Any licensed gun dealer, as defined in subsection (f) of 566
this section, may take possession of any assault weapon from any 567
person to whom has been issued a certificate of possession for such 568
weapon pursuant to sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive, for purposes 569
of transferring such assault weapon to another person pursuant to 570

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subdivision (2) of this subsection. 571
(2) Any licensed gun dealer may transfer possession of any assault 572
weapon received pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection to a 573
person who lawfully possesses another assault weapon and to whom 574
has previously been issued a certificate of possession for such weapon 575
pursuant to sections 53-202a to 53-202k, inclusive. 576
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 53a-3
Sec. 2 October 1, 2026 53-206j(i)
Sec. 3 October 1, 2026 53-206g(c)
Sec. 4 July 1, 2026 53-202w
Sec. 5 July 1, 2026 53-202d
Sec. 6 July 1, 2026 53-202f(g)

Statement of Purpose:
To (1) amend certain definitions concerning firearms, and (2) allow the
legal transfer of large capacity magazines possessed under a declaration
of possession and assault weapons possessed under a certificate of
possession between persons who are legally permitted to possess such
magazine or weapon.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]