AB1974 (2026): Establishing a Voluntary Firearm Storage Program

What the Law Does

Assembly Bill 1974 authorizes local law enforcement agencies to create voluntary firearm storage programs in California^[1]. A participating program will provide gun owners with a mechanism to temporarily store their firearms outside the home, for example, during a mental health crisis, period of domestic instability, or other situation where the owner believes temporary separation from their firearms is prudent.

California already has several mechanisms for involuntary firearm removal, including Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs) under PC 18100-18205 and the process under Welfare and Institutions Code 8103(f), which generally prohibits firearm possession for five years after release when a person was taken into custody under section 5150 for danger to themselves or others, assessed under section 5151, and admitted to a designated facility because of that danger. Repeated qualifying admissions within one year trigger a lifetime firearm prohibition, subject to court relief. AB1974 fills a gap by providing a proactive, voluntary alternative, allowing individuals to take preventive action without court involvement or a mental health hold^[2].

Current Status

AB 1974 was approved by the Governor and chaptered on September 26, 2026 as Chapter 460, Statutes of 2026. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

What to Watch

Voluntary storage programs have received bipartisan support in other states because they emphasize individual agency rather than government mandate. An agency adopting a program must be capable of storing a firearm for one year and publish instructions for surrender and return. It must record the firearm's disposition in the Automated Firearms System and verify eligibility before returning it. The agency must explain its maximum storage period and the disposition of unclaimed firearms. Destruction or donation may not proceed while the person awaits an eligibility determination after submitting a Law Enforcement Release application.