HB 5043 Connecticut House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING CONVERTIBLE PISTOLS, UNFINISHED FRAMES OR UNFINISHED LOWER RECEIVERS, VOLUNTARY RELINQUISHMENT OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION AND REFUNDABILITY OF PERMITS FOR SALE AT RETAIL OF FIREARMS AND FOR CARRYING OF PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS.

HB 5043 prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of "convertible pistols" - semiautomatic pistols that can be rapidly converted into machine guns using common household tools like screwdrivers. It defines these as pistols with a specific "cruciform trigger bar" that can be modified with a "pistol converter," excluding certain shielded designs. Selling or distributing such weapons would be classified as a class D felony, with exceptions for law enforcement, military personnel, and licensed gun dealers. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 5, 2026 Signed May 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Governor's Bill → JUD Joint Favorable Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renamed from a prohibition act to a general concern act, expanding its scope to include unfinished frames or receivers. The effective date was moved from July 1, 2026, to October 1, 2026, and the definition of 'common household tool' was broadened to include items like electric drills and crowbars. Additionally, the list of violent crimes used to define machine guns was updated to include larceny and riot in the first degree.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely prohibiting the manufacture and sale of convertible pistols to also addressing unfinished frames or receivers.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the legislation was changed from July 1, 2026, to October 1, 2026.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'common household tool' was expanded to include electric drills, rotary tools, crowbars, and hacksaws.

The list of crimes considered 'violence' was updated to include larceny and riot in the first degree.

The definition of 'pistol converter' was slightly altered to specify installation on the 'rear of the slide' rather than just the slide.

SCOPE

The bill title and scope were broadened to explicitly include unfinished frames or receivers in addition to convertible pistols.

Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2026 · House Apr 22, 2026

How they voted

22–11

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 36

May 6, 2026

D Democratic25

21 Yea 1 Nay 3

84% Yea

R Republican11

1 Yea 10 Nay

90% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 26, 2026

Signed into law

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

lower

May 6, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (22-11-3)

senate

May 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

SEN. PASSED, HO. AMEND. SCH. A

upper

May 5, 2026

Amended

SEN. REJ. SEN. AMEND. SCH. G

upper

May 5, 2026

Amended

SEN. REJ. SEN. AMEND. SCH. F

upper

May 5, 2026

Amended

SEN. REJ. SEN. AMEND. SCH. E

upper

May 5, 2026

Amended

SEN. REJ. SEN. AMEND. SCH. D

upper

May 5, 2026

Amended

SEN. REJ. SEN. AMEND. SCH. C

upper

May 5, 2026

Amended

SEN. REJ. SEN. AMEND. SCH. B

upper

May 5, 2026

Amended

SEN. REJ. SEN. AMEND. SCH. A

upper

May 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

SEN. ADOPTED HO. AMEND. SCH. A

upper

Apr 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

HOUSE PASSED, HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Amended

HOUSE REJECTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. D

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Amended

HOUSE REJECTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. C

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Amended

HOUSE REJECTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. B

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

HOUSE ADOPTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Judiciary

lower

20 primary · 0 co-sponsors