AB1948 and AB1912 (2026): Concealed Carry License Reforms and Archery-Season Concealed Carry

What the Bills Would Do

Two bills in the 2026 session address California's concealed carry weapons (CCW) permit framework from different angles.

AB1948 would amend the requirements for obtaining a CCW license under Penal Code sections 26150-26225^[1]. California's CCW permitting system was substantially overhauled by SB2 (2023), which was enacted in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022). SB2 imposed new training requirements, expanded the list of "sensitive places" where concealed carry is prohibited, and established new criteria for permit issuance. AB1948 proposes further modifications to this framework.

AB1912 takes a narrower approach, addressing the specific situation of any person hunting deer during archery season^[2]. The bill would allow any person — not just CCW permit holders — to carry a concealed firearm for personal protection while hunting deer during archery season. This addresses a practical safety concern: archery hunters in remote areas may encounter dangerous wildlife or other threats but are currently prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm without a CCW permit. AB1912 would create a legal pathway for concealed carry during archery season without requiring a CCW license.

Current Status

AB 1948 is now law. It passed both houses without a no vote (71-0 in the Assembly, 38-0 in the Senate), was signed by Governor Newsom on June 30, 2026, and was chaptered the same day as Chapter 44, Statutes of 2026 ^[3]. The enacted version amends only Penal Code section 26220, raising the maximum term of a standard CCW license from two years to three years. The chaptered text contains no six-year renewal term, and the existing special durations (90-day employment-based licenses and up to four-year licenses for certain reserve and custodial officers) are unchanged. The act carries no urgency clause, so the change takes effect January 1, 2027. Licenses issued before that date remain capped at two years.

AB 1912 is still moving but has not passed. It cleared the Assembly 68-0 on April 16, 2026, then passed both of its Senate policy committees (7-0 on June 9 and 6-0 on July 1) and was ordered to the Senate consent calendar on July 2, 2026 ^[4]. A Senate floor vote can come after the Legislature returns from summer recess on August 3, 2026. The last day for final passage in the 2025-2026 session is August 31, 2026.

What to Watch

For AB 1948, the operative question is timing. The three-year maximum applies beginning January 1, 2027, so licenses issued or renewed through the end of 2026 still carry the two-year maximum. License holders will see the longer term on their first issuance or renewal after that date, at the discretion of the issuing authority, since PC 26220 sets a ceiling rather than a mandatory term. For AB 1912, the remaining steps are a Senate floor vote after the Legislature reconvenes on August 3, 2026, Assembly concurrence if the Senate amended the bill, and the Governor's signature. AB1912 is narrower but addresses a practical safety issue for archery deer hunters who currently have no legal way to carry a concealed firearm for protection without a CCW permit.