Firearms: firearm barrels.

Senator Arreguín's firearm barrel legislation establishes new requirements for the sale and transfer of firearm barrels in California, mandating that these transactions occur in-person through licensed firearms dealers beginning July 1, 2026. The bill defines a firearm barrel as the tube through which projectiles are fired, including components that can be readily assembled into functional barrels.

Under the new provisions, licensed dealers must conduct background checks on purchasers and maintain detailed transaction records, including the purchaser's identification, contact information, and specifications of the intended firearm. Dealers must submit these records electronically to the Department of Justice, which will maintain a database of firearm barrel transactions. The Department receives authority to implement regulations outside the standard Administrative Procedure Act process, with implementation costs funded through the Dealers' Record of Sale Special Account.

The legislation creates exemptions for law enforcement agencies, military personnel, and individuals already undergoing background checks for complete firearm purchases. Violations constitute misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and a $10,000 fine. The bill adds these oversight provisions to existing California firearms regulations while establishing dedicated funding mechanisms through the special account to cover administrative costs.