Firearms: 3-dimensional printing blocking technology.

The bill text was reformatted from the official legislative document style (with line numbers, page breaks, and centered headers) to a web publication layout with navigation elements, version history list, and simplified section formatting. No policy language was added, removed, or altered.

All major deadlines were pushed back: performance standards publication moved from July 1, 2027 to September 1, 2028; manufacturer attestation deadline moved from July 1, 2028 to March 1, 2029; department list publication moved from September 1, 2028 to June 1, 2029; and the prohibition on selling non-compliant printers moved from March 1, 2029 to December 1, 2029.

The formal certification process for firearm blueprint detection algorithms and software controls processes was eliminated. The Assembly version required the department to accept applications, issue certifications, maintain public lists of certified algorithms, and revoke certifications. The Senate version removes all of this, replacing it with a simpler requirement that algorithms meet published performance standards.

The software controls process standard was weakened from requiring the technology to 'effectively prevent a technically skilled user from evading' the detection algorithm to merely 'substantially reduce the likelihood of foreseeable circumvention attempts intended to evade' it. This is a materially lower bar.

New language allows the department to adopt performance standards created by nongovernmental entities (explicitly naming ASTM International as an example) and provides that compliance with such nongovernmental standards can constitute full compliance with the title, if they meet all requirements set forth in the section.

The design forms requirement for software controls processes was changed from mandating that standards include all listed options (firmware design, integrated preprint software design, other forms) to requiring only that the 'standards-setting process shall consider' those options, making it advisory rather than mandatory.

A new liability immunity provision was added: individuals with authorized access to a firearm blueprint file library for the purpose of developing or vetting firearm blocking technology are immune from liability under Section 3273.61(a) for reviewing or testing files in that library.

The voluntary compliance verification program was removed. The Assembly version allowed manufacturers to apply for departmental inspection and receive a written notice of compliance verification that would shield them from civil actions. This safe harbor mechanism no longer exists in the Senate version.

References throughout the bill to 'certified firearm blueprint detection algorithm' and 'certified software controls process' were changed to simply 'firearm blueprint detection algorithm' and 'software controls process,' reflecting the removal of the certification framework.

Assembly Members Rogers and Stefani were added as coauthors, expanding the bill's legislative support base.

Deadline for publishing written guidance on performance standards for both firearm blueprint detection algorithms and software controls processes changed from July 1, 2027 to January 1, 2028, giving agencies six additional months.

The department must now set standards for acceptable false-positive and false-negative rates in detection algorithm performance, rather than only stating that a perfect success rate is not required.

For software controls processes, the department must set minimum standards on developer testing to confirm an acceptably low level of evasion with identified design files, rather than only stating a perfect success rate is not required.

Stakeholder input for performance standards now explicitly includes identification of design files used to evaluate whether an algorithm is producing false-positive results that erroneously identify non-firearm files as firearm blueprints.

The department may now adopt some or all of performance standards created by a nongovernmental entity, including academic consortia or global standard-setting nonprofits, for both detection algorithms and software controls processes.

Open-source architecture compatibility was added as an approved design form for software controls processes, alongside firmware design and integrated preprint software design.

The department may now coordinate with academic consortia (in addition to government agencies and research institutions) to create and maintain the library of firearm blueprint files.

The new criminal provision now requires that a person 'knowingly' distribute, sell, or transfer modified printers AND act 'with the intent to facilitate the unlawful manufacture of firearms,' adding both a knowledge element and a specific intent element that were not in the introduced version.

The Attorney General's investigation authority over incomplete attestations was expanded to include requesting further information about the type of detection algorithm or software controls process used by the manufacturer.

Penal Code Section 29187 was entirely removed. This section had created a misdemeanor offense for knowingly disabling, deactivating, uninstalling, or circumventing firearm blocking technology in a 3D printer with intent to manufacture firearms, and for distributing modified versions of listed printers with intent to facilitate unlawful firearm manufacture.

The state-mandated local program designation and the associated constitutional reimbursement provision (former Section 4) were removed, since the criminal provision that triggered the mandate was eliminated. The bill now states 'State-mandated local program: no.'

A new Civil Code section (3273.633) requires the Department of Justice to check quarterly beginning July 1, 2027, whether ASTM International has published industry standards for firearm blocking technology for 3D printers. If standards are found, the department must publish written guidance or regulations within 24 months describing minimum performance standards. If no standards exist as of July 1, 2029, the department is relieved of further monitoring responsibility.

A new definition for 'ASTM International' (formerly American Society for Testing and Materials) was added to Section 3273.632 to support the new standards-monitoring provision.

Minor corrections were made: 'lists list' was corrected to 'list' in Section 3273.635(b)(2), and 'feasability' was corrected to 'feasibility' in Section 3273.633(e).

The severability clause was renumbered from Section 3 to Section 2 following the removal of the Penal Code section.

All major deadlines shifted later: performance standards publication moved from January 1, 2028 to September 1, 2028; manufacturer attestation deadline moved from July 1, 2028 to March 1, 2029; department list publication moved from September 1, 2028 to June 1, 2029; and the sale prohibition effective date moved from March 1, 2029 to December 1, 2029.

Removed the requirement for the Department of Justice or other relevant state agency to engage in an investigation of known firearm blueprint design files and existing detection algorithms, including the option to create or coordinate a library of firearm blueprint files.

Weakened the software controls process standard: the old version required the process to 'effectively prevent a technically skilled user from evading' the detection algorithm, while the new version only requires it to 'substantially reduce the likelihood of foreseeable circumvention attempts intended to evade' the algorithm.

Added a requirement that performance standards include a process for periodically reviewing emerging detection software techniques, including advanced forms of image recognition and volumetric search functionality.

Narrowed responsibility from 'the department or other relevant state agency' to just 'the department' (Department of Justice) throughout, eliminating flexibility for other agencies to perform these functions.

Removed the word 'certified' from references to 'firearm blocking technology,' changing 'certified firearm blocking technology' to simply 'firearm blocking technology.'

Changed the state-mandated local program designation from 'yes' to 'no' in the fiscal note, indicating the bill no longer imposes a state-mandated local program requiring reimbursement.