AB 879 (2025): Unsafe Handgun Act Amendments
AB 879 (2025): Unsafe Handgun Act Amendments
Assembly bill proposing changes to the Unsafe Handgun Act and certified handgun roster. Passed Assembly 69-0 in May 2025, held in Senate Appropriations under submission.
What the Bill Would Do
AB 879 proposes amendments to California's Unsafe Handgun Act (Penal Code section 32000), which establishes the requirements for handguns to be listed on the state's Roster of Certified Handguns. Only handguns on the roster may be sold by dealers in California.
Sponsors
The bill was authored by Assembly Member Joe Patterson (R).
Current Status
AB 879 passed the full Assembly on May 8, 2025 with a 69-0 vote. It moved to the Senate, where it passed the Public Safety Committee with amendments (6-0). It was then referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee, where it was held under submission following the August 29, 2025 hearing. While stalled in Senate Appropriations, it has not been formally killed and remains eligible for consideration.
Context
California's handgun roster has been the subject of significant legal challenges. The roster currently requires new handgun models to include microstamping technology, a requirement that has effectively prevented any new models from being added since 2013. The Ninth Circuit has heard challenges to the roster requirement, and the issue remains actively litigated. AB 879 was introduced by a Republican member and received bipartisan unanimous support in the Assembly, suggesting the proposed changes have broad appeal across party lines.