AB 1344: Restrictions on firearm possession: pilot project. - California

10/10/25 - Chaptered → AB1344 · 1 edit

MINOR

No substantive policy changes exist between these two versions. The diff reflects only a change in document format: the first version is the officially chaptered and authenticated legislative document with traditional formatting (page numbers, column layout), while the second is a web-based rendering from the California Legislature website that includes navigation elements, search tools, and different typographic presentation. All statutory provisions are identical.

TECHNICAL

The document was reformatted from an official chaptered legislative print (with page numbers, two-column layout, and authentication header) to a web page rendering from leginfo.legislature.ca.gov that includes site navigation, search fields, version history links, and metadata such as vote type, appropriation status, and fiscal committee designation.

09/10/25 - Enrolled → 10/10/25 - Chaptered · 4 edits · Oct 10, 2025

MODERATE

This diff reflects the transition of AB 1344 from its enrolled form to its chaptered (enacted) form as Chapter 573. No substantive policy changes were made. The only differences are procedural: the chapter number was assigned, the governor's approval date (October 10, 2025) was added, legislative process markings (passage dates, clerk signatures) were removed, and page headers were updated to reflect the new chapter designation.

TECHNICAL

Chapter number filled in as Chapter 573 and governor's approval date added as October 10, 2025

Legislative process markings removed (Assembly passage date, Senate passage date, clerk signatures, governor receipt line)

Header 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL' added to the chaptered version

Page numbering changed from 'AB 1344' format to 'Ch. 573' format throughout

05/23/25 - Amended Assembly → 06/23/25 - Amended Senate · 5 edits · Jun 23, 2025

MODERATE

The Senate amendment to AB 1344 adds Alameda County to the pilot program (now four counties total) and significantly narrows the bill's scope by removing amendments to existing Penal Code sections 18415 and 18420 that would have required courts to send default and disposal orders to the Department of Justice. The Senate version also strips out detailed parallel procedures for DA-filed gun violence restraining orders, replacing them with a simpler authorization for DAs to file petitions under existing Chapter 3 or Chapter 4 procedures.

SCOPE

Alameda County is added to the list of counties eligible to participate in the pilot program, expanding it from three counties (El Dorado, Santa Clara, Ventura) to four.

The bill's operative language changes from 'amend Sections 18415 and 18420 of, and to add and repeal Chapter 6' to simply 'add and repeal Chapter 6,' reflecting the removal of the amendments to existing law.

ENFORCEMENT

Amendments to Penal Code Section 18415 requiring courts to transmit copies of default orders to the Department of Justice are removed from the bill.

Amendments to Penal Code Section 18420 requiring courts to transmit copies of firearm disposal orders to the Department of Justice are removed from the bill.

REQUIREMENT

Section 18215 is substantially simplified. The Assembly version included detailed parallel procedures for DA-filed ex parte GVRs, post-hearing GVRs, renewals, and weapon return/disposal timelines (60-day, 90-day, and 30-day deadlines). The Senate version replaces all of this with a simple authorization for DAs to file petitions under existing Chapter 3 or Chapter 4 procedures, relying on those chapters' existing rules rather than creating new ones.

03/24/25 - Amended Assembly → 05/23/25 - Amended Assembly · 7 edits · May 23, 2025

MODERATE

The May 23 amendment to AB 1344 expands the gun violence restraining order pilot program by adding Santa Clara County alongside El Dorado and Ventura, broadens district attorney authority from only temporary emergency orders to full GVR petitions under existing law, adds a new legislative findings section, requires DAs (rather than counties generally) to submit data, and creates a new obligation for DAs to share data with the Department of Justice and Judicial Council upon request. A severability clause was also added.

SCOPE

Santa Clara County is added as a third pilot county alongside El Dorado and Ventura, expanding geographic applicability of the program.

District attorney authority is broadened from requesting only temporary emergency GVRs to filing petitions for full gun violence restraining orders under Chapter 3 (Section 18150) or Chapter 4 (Section 18170), which covers both temporary and longer-term orders.

DEFINITION

A new provision defines 'law enforcement officer' in Sections 18109, 18150, 18170, and 18190 to include district attorneys, assistant DAs, and deputy DAs in pilot counties, and defines 'law enforcement agency' in Section 18109 to include the DA's office.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement obligates the district attorney of a pilot county to make pilot program data available upon request to the Department of Justice and the Judicial Council, commencing April 1, 2027.

Data submission responsibility is shifted from 'a county' generally to specifically 'the district attorney of a county,' creating clearer individual accountability for reporting.

TECHNICAL

A severability clause is added as a new Section 2, stating that if any provision is held invalid, the remaining provisions continue in effect.

FISCAL

The fiscal committee designation changes from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now carries fiscal implications requiring legislative fiscal review.

06/23/25 - Amended Senate → 09/10/25 - Enrolled · 3 edits · Sep 10, 2025

MINOR

No substantive policy changes occurred between the Amended Senate version and the Enrolled version of AB 1344. The differences are entirely procedural and formatting-related, reflecting the bill's transition from an amended draft to its final enrolled form ready for the Governor's signature.

TECHNICAL

Header updated to reflect final passage: Assembly passed September 8, 2025, Senate passed September 4, 2025, and a Governor approval block was added.

Amendment history lines (dates of prior amendments) and the principal coauthor credit were removed, as is standard in enrolled versions.

Line numbering ('line 1', 'line 2', etc.) was stripped from the statutory text, page numbers shifted from 96 to 95, and line breaks/indentation were reformatted throughout.

02/21/25 - Introduced → 03/24/25 - Amended Assembly · 8 edits · Mar 24, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was transformed from a placeholder intent statement into a substantive pilot program authorizing district attorneys in El Dorado and Ventura counties to petition for gun violence restraining orders (GVROs), a role previously limited to law enforcement officers, family members, employers, coworkers, and teachers. The amendment also adds Department of Justice reporting requirements for firearm forfeiture and disposal orders, and establishes data collection and evaluation obligations for the pilot program.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded dramatically from a one-line legislative intent statement to a full pilot program with specific county applicability (El Dorado and Ventura), new petitioner eligibility (district attorneys), data reporting obligations, evaluation requirements, and Department of Justice notification mandates for firearm forfeiture and disposal orders statewide.

SCOPE

New Chapter 6 (Sections 18210-18220) added to the Penal Code creating a pilot program in El Dorado and Ventura counties that authorizes district attorneys to request ex parte emergency GVROs, full GVROs after notice and hearing (1-5 years), and renewals. The pilot runs until January 1, 2032, with a sunset date of January 1, 2034.

ELIGIBILITY

District attorneys are added as a new category of petitioners for GVROs, expanding beyond the existing list of law enforcement officers, immediate family members, employers, coworkers, and teachers. This is limited to the two pilot counties.

REQUIREMENT

Pilot counties must annually submit data to the California Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis starting April 1, 2027, including number of petitions filed, outcomes, demographic data for restrained individuals, reasons for filing, and areas of success or improvement.

ENFORCEMENT

The California Firearm Violence Research Center may conduct an evaluation of the pilot program starting July 1, 2027, and must submit reports to the Assembly and Senate Public Safety Committees annually thereafter.

Section 18415 amended to require courts to transmit a copy of any default order (forfeiting a seized firearm) to the Department of Justice.

Section 18420 amended to require courts to transmit a copy of any order disposing of a firearm to the Department of Justice, and clarifies that at a second hearing the court must order return unless clear and convincing evidence shows return would endanger the victim or reporter, with attorney's fees awarded to the prevailing party.

TIMELINE

Specific timelines added for DA-initiated return-of-weapon proceedings: 60 days after seizure to file a petition (extendable by court order), 90 days maximum including extensions, and 30 days for the owner to respond to notice of the petition.

TECHNICAL

Fiscal committee note changed from 'no' to 'no yes,' indicating a fiscal impact was identified in the amended version. Assembly Member Stefani added as principal coauthor.

Restrictions on firearm possession: pilot project.

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