California: Legislature Breaks for Spring Recess

Today, the California Legislature started their spring recess, which will continue through next week when they return for more policy hearings. This week, the California Legislature took the following actions on bills:

Senate Appropriations Committee:

Senate Bill 865, introduced by Senator Dodd, increases the maximum eligible age for a reduced-fee junior hunting license from 16, to 18 years of age. Youth 18 and under were previously eligible to purchase reduced fee junior hunting licenses until 2020 when the law sunset. This will positively impact hunter recruitment and outreach by making it less expensive for 16-17 year-olds to try out hunting. Many of these teenagers will either become lifelong hunters or gain a new understanding of hunting and its importance, both of which will be valuable to maintain our hunting heritage into the future.  SB 865 has been sent to the suspense file by Senate Appropriations for consideration at a later date.

Senate Bill 915, introduced by Senator Dave Min (D-37), bans state officers or employees, operators, lessees, or licensees from entering into any agreement to allow for the sale of any firearm, firearm precursor parts, or ammunition on property that is owned, leased, occupied or operated by the state. This imposes a one-size-fits-all restriction upon all state-owned venues, to prevent their operators from deciding how to use them. In addition, this prevents tax-paying businesses from renting taxpayer-funded venues for lawful activities. SB 915 has been sent to the suspense file by Senate Appropriations for consideration at a later date.

Assembly Public Safety Committee:

Assembly Bill 2552, introduced by Assembly Member Kevin McCarty (D-7), imposes additional restrictions upon gun shows, including requiring vendors to certify that they will not display, possess, or offer any unserialized or unfinished frames or receivers or any attachments or conversion kits that can convert handguns to short barreled rifles or “assault weapons.” Unfinished frames or receivers are not regulated as firearms under federal law; however, they are regulated under state law and are limited to being transferred by licensed vendors in California. Such restrictions continue to cut off access to law-abiding individuals who are looking to acquire firearm parts in accordance with existing law.  AB 2552 has been passed by the Assembly Public Safety Committee and now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Senate Judiciary Committee:

Senate Bill 1327, introduced by Senator Robert Hertzberg (D-18), creates a private right of action that allows individuals to file civil suits against anyone who manufactures, distributes, transports, sells, or imports firearms banned in California, as well as precursor firearm parts. Current law allows for remedies for illegal activities by firearm dealers and manufacturers. The language contained in this bill, along with the rhetoric surrounding it, betrays the political purpose of its sponsors. The bill is aimed at using the gun issue as a political football, making clear that the legislation would become inoperative should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Texas's recently passed abortion law or if that law is repealed by the Texas Legislature. ​ SB 1327 has been passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee and referred to the Senate Public Safety Committee for a hearing on April 26^th.

Stay-tuned to NRA-ILA Alerts and www.nraila.org​ for updates concerning your Second Amendment Rights and hunting heritage in California.