AB1615 (2026): Amending the Unsafe Handgun Roster Requirements

What the Bill Would Do

Assembly Bill 1615, authored by Assembly Member Stephanie Nguyen, amends Penal Code section 32000 within California's Unsafe Handgun Act, which governs the Roster of Certified Handguns ^[1]. The roster is one of California's most consequential firearms regulations. Subject to statutory exemptions, a new handgun model must be listed on the roster for dealer sale in the state, which requires the manufacturer to submit the model for testing and meet specific design requirements including a loaded chamber indicator, a magazine disconnect mechanism, and (for semiautomatic pistols) microstamping capability.

Effective January 1, 2027, AB 1615 allows sworn county probation department members to satisfy the off-roster service-weapon training requirement by completing the firearms portion of a POST course under Penal Code section 832. As a condition of carrying that handgun, they must complete an employer-prescribed live-fire qualification at least every three months. County probation departments already had a service-weapon exemption under prior law.

The roster has been a focal point of litigation, most notably in Boland v. Bonta, which challenges the microstamping requirement. AB 1615 does not expand or contract civilian roster access. It changes the training requirements within the existing county probation department service-weapon exemption and requires live-fire qualification at least every three months ^[2].

Current Status

AB 1615 passed the Assembly 79-0 on May 27, 2026. The Senate Public Safety Committee approved it 6-0 on June 23 with a consent-calendar recommendation, and it was re-referred to Senate Appropriations on June 24. The Senate passed it 38-0 on August 26, and the Assembly concurred 78-0 on August 27. The Governor approved it on September 14, 2026, and it was enacted as Chapter 198, Statutes of 2026. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

Distinguishing AB 1615 from AB 879

AB 1615 amends Penal Code section 32000 to change training requirements for county probation officers using off-roster handguns as service weapons. AB 879 also addressed section 32000. AB 879 (2025)

What to Watch

AB 1615 has completed the legislative process. Its county probation officer training provisions take effect January 1, 2027.