SB 948, as amended 03/17/2026, Arreguín (D). Firearms: safety certificates.

Introduced: February 2, 2026

Hearing on April 13, 2026 placed bill in temporary suspense file.

Existing law requires any person who purchases or receives a firearm to possess a firearm safety certificate. Existing law also prohibits a person from selling or transferring a firearm to any person who does not possess a firearm safety certificate. A violation of either of these provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor. Existing law requires a personal firearm importer, within 60 days of bringing any firearm into this state, to, among other things, submit a report including information concerning that individual and a description of the firearm in question to the Department of Justice.

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Existing property tax law provides, pursuant to a requirement of the California Constitution, that the property tax base year value of real property that is substantially damaged or destroyed by a disaster, as declared by the Governor, may be transferred to a comparable property located within the same county that is acquired or newly constructed, or to replacement property reconstructed on the site of the damaged or destroyed property, within 5 years after the disaster as a replacement property.

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UPDATE ON PROPERTY TAX INITIATIVE

EXEMPTS CERTAIN HOMEOWNERS AGED 60 OR OLDER FROM PROPERTY TAXES. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. 

Reduces local property tax revenues by exempting a principal residence from property taxes if the homeowner, or the homeowner’s spouse: (1) is 60 years of age or older; and (2) has occupied the home as a principal residence for five consecutive years or has lived in California for at least 10 years. Exemption terminates if property no longer qualifies as a principal residence.

After five years, homeowners must certify their continued eligibility to maintain exemption. Exemption does not apply to voter-approved special taxes, assessments, or bonds. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Many homeowners ages 60 or older would pay lower property taxes.

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A court denied the California attorney general's request to stop a county sheriff's investigation into election fraud on March 25th.

The case was filed by Attorney General Rob Bonta, who said the denial was based on a technicality. The court's rejection is "based solely on where we filed the case and is not a ruling on the underlying of the petition," Bonta's office said.

Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is running for California governor, said that he is investigating allegations by an activist group that alleged the reported tallies don't match the ballots in the 2025 special election for Proposition 50, asking voters for endorsement to redraw the congressional districts in response to other Republican-led states, like Texas, redrawing their districts to pick up seats.

Bianco seized more than 650,000 ballots for the investigation, with two warrants signed by a judge. Bonta sent Bianco a letter March 6 alleging, "my office has serious concerns as to whether probable cause existed to support the issuance of the warrants and whether your office presented the magistrate with all material evidence as required by law."

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CALIFORNIA WEALTH/SAVINGS TAX INITIATIVE

California is considering a one-time wealth or savings tax targeting billionaires and high-net-worth residents, potentially raising tens of billions for state programs.

Overview of the Initiative

California Democrats have proposed a wealth or savings tax aimed at the state’s richest residents, often referred to as the 2026 Billionaire Tax Act. The initiative would impose a one-time tax of 5% on net worth exceeding $1 billion, including assets such as stocks, bonds, real estate, business interests, savings accounts, and retirement holdings, with limited exemptions for certain pensions and Roth IRAs capped at $10 million.

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