Title 21 - Firearm Manufacturing

California Civil Code — §§ 3273.60-3273.625

Sections (4)

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 636, Sec. 3. (AB 1263) Effective January 1, 2026.

As used in this title, the following definitions apply:

(a)“Digital firearm manufacturing code” means any digital instructions in the form of computer-aided design files, computer-aided manufacturing files, or other code or instructions stored and displayed in electronic format as a digital model that may be used to program a CNC milling machine, a three-dimensional printer, or a similar machine, to manufacture or produce any of the following:

(1)A firearm, including a completed frame or receiver or a firearm precursor part.

(2)A large-capacity magazine, as defined in Section

16740 of the Penal Code.

(3)A large-capacity magazine conversion kit, as defined in Section 32311 of the Penal Code.

(4)A machinegun, as defined in Section 16880 of the Penal Code, including devices commonly known as switches or auto-sear devices.

(5)A multiburst trigger activator, as defined in Section 16930 of the Penal Code.

(6)A silencer, as defined in Section 17210 of the Penal Code.

(7)A firearm accessory, as defined in Section 3273.50.

(8)A firearm barrel.

(b)“Federally licensed firearms manufacturer” means a person, firm, corporation, or other entity that holds a valid license to manufacture firearms issued pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Part I of Title 18 of the United States Code and regulations issued pursuant thereto.

(c)“Firearm” has the same meaning as in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 16520 of the Penal Code.

(d)“Three-dimensional printer” means a computer-aided manufacturing device capable of producing a three-dimensional object from a three-dimensional digital model through an additive manufacturing process that involves the layering of two-dimensional cross sections formed of a resin or similar material that are fused together to form a three-dimensional

object.

§ 3273.61

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 636, Sec. 4. (AB 1263) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)A civil action may be brought against a person who knowingly does either of the following:

(1)Distributes or causes to be distributed, by any means including the internet, any digital firearm manufacturing code to any other person in this state who is not a federally licensed firearms manufacturer, member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard, while on duty and acting within the scope and course of employment, or any law enforcement agency or forensic laboratory.

(2)Commits an act that violates Section 29185 of the Penal Code, regardless of whether the act results in a conviction.

(b)(1) In awarding compensatory damages under subdivision (c), a court shall hold a person who commits an act described in subdivision (a) strictly liable for any personal injury or property damage inflicted by the use of a firearm or other device that was unlawfully manufactured or produced as a result of the person’s violation, including a firearm or device

manufactured or produced in whole or in part using the digital firearm manufacturing code that the person distributed or caused to be distributed in violation of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), or a firearm or device that was unlawfully manufactured by means of a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine, a three-dimensional printer, or a similar

machine as a result of the person’s act in violation of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).

(2)This subdivision does not apply to any injury or property damage sustained by a person who commits an unlawful act described in subdivision (a).

(c)(1) A person who has suffered harm in California as a result of a violation of this section may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to establish that a person has violated this section, and may seek compensatory damages as well as injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the person and any other defendant from further violating the law.

(2)The Attorney General, county counsel, or city attorney may bring an action in any

court of competent jurisdiction to establish that a person has violated this section and may seek a civil penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each violation, as well as injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the person and any other defendant from further violating the law.

(d)A prevailing plaintiff shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

(e)The remedies provided by this section are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting any other rights, causes of action, claims, or defenses available under any other law.

(f)There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a person has violated paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of this section if both of the following are

true:

(1)The person owns or participates in the management of an internet website or other electronic portal, database, or platform that makes digital firearm manufacturing code available for purchase, download, or other distribution to individuals in California who are not federally licensed firearms manufacturers and who are not otherwise described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).

(2)Under the totality of the circumstances, the internet website or other electronic portal, database, or platform encourages individuals who access or use the internet website or electronic portal, database, or platform to upload or disseminate digital firearm manufacturing code or to use digital firearm manufacturing code to manufacture firearms, firearm accessories, or other devices described

in subdivision (a) of Section 3273.60.

§ 3273.62

Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 243, Sec. 2. (AB 1089) Effective January 1, 2024.

(a)A person shall not sell, offer to sell, transfer, advertise, or market a CNC milling machine or three-dimensional printer in a manner that knowingly or recklessly causes another person in this state to engage in conduct prohibited by Section 29185 of the Penal Code, or in a manner that otherwise knowingly or recklessly aids, abets, promotes, or facilitates conduct prohibited by that section.

(b)There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a person is engaged in conduct in violation of subdivision (a) if both of the following are true:

(1)The person offers to sell, advertises, or markets a CNC milling

machine or three-dimensional printer in a manner that, under the totality of the circumstances, is targeted at purchasers seeking to manufacture firearms or that otherwise affirmatively promotes the machine or printer’s utility in manufacturing firearms, regardless of whether the machine or printer is otherwise described or classified as having any other capabilities.

(2)The person sells or transfers the CNC milling machine or three-dimensional printer described in paragraph (1) without verifying that a purchaser or transferee in this state is a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or not otherwise prohibited from purchasing or using the machine or printer to manufacture firearms under Section 29185 of the Penal Code.

(c)A person who has suffered harm because of conduct in violation

of this section, including conduct in violation of Section 29185 of the Penal Code that was precipitated by a violation of this section, may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to seek appropriate relief, which may include injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the person and any other defendant from further violating the law, compensatory or statutory damages, punitive damages, reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, and any other appropriate relief necessary to enforce this title and remedy the harm caused by the violation.

(d)In the name of the people of the State of California, the Attorney General, county counsel, or city attorney

may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to establish that a person has violated this section, or Section 29185 of the Penal Code, and seek a civil penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each violation, as well as injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the person and any other defendant from further violating the law.

§ 3273.625

Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 636, Sec. 5. (AB 1263) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)It is unlawful to knowingly, willfully, or recklessly cause another person to engage in the unlawful manufacture of firearms, or to knowingly, willfully, or recklessly aid, abet, promote, or facilitate the unlawful manufacture of firearms.

(b)As used in this section, the “unlawful manufacture of firearms” shall have the same meaning provided in subdivision (b) of Section 29186 of the Penal Code.

(c)(1) A person who has suffered harm in California as a result of a violation of this section may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to establish that a person

has violated this section, and may seek compensatory damages as well as injunctive

relief sufficient to prevent the person and any other defendant from further violating the law.

(2)The Attorney General, county counsel, or city attorney may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to establish that a person has violated this section, and may seek a civil penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each violation, as well as injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the person and any other defendant from further violating the law.

(d)A prevailing plaintiff shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

(e)The remedies provided by this section are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting any other rights, causes of action,

claims, or defenses available under any other law.