The Wire · CalGunHub

Governor signs SB 758, creating penalties for importing firearms for unlawful transfer

Published September 24, 2024 · Updated October 12, 2026

SB 758 (Umberg), Chapter 543, Statutes of 2024, makes it a crime to bring a firearm into California intending to transfer it to a minor or evade transfer rules.

Written by the CalGunHub desk from public reporting

Who this affects: Per the bill text, bringing a firearm into California with intent to transfer it to a minor or to evade state transfer requirements is now a crime, and certain illegal transactions involving centerfire semiautomatic rifles may be charged as felonies. These provisions apply to conduct occurring on or after January 1, 2025. This is general information, not legal advice.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 758 (Umberg) on September 24, 2024, as Chapter 543 of the Statutes of 2024, according to California Legislative Information and the governor's signing release. The bill makes it a crime to bring a firearm into California with the intent to transfer it to a minor, or with the intent to evade state transfer requirements. It also allows certain illegal firearm transactions involving centerfire semiautomatic rifles to be prosecuted as felonies. According to Department of Justice Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-02, the provisions took effect January 1, 2025. The law has been in effect since that date, and the latest development is the January 1, 2025 operative date. The bill was among the measures listed in the governor's September 24, 2024 signing release on legislation to strengthen California's gun laws.

Informational only, not legal advice. Facts are attributed to the sources listed above.