A new bill in California has been introduced that seeks to regulate the sales of 3D printers, focusing on preventing the creation of firearms with these devices. The proposed legislation, AB-2047, would require manufacturers to implement technologies that restrict the printing of gun parts.<\/p>\n
This initiative is part of a broader legislative trend echoed in similar bills from Washington and New York, both introduced in 2026. California’s legislation takes a stricter stance by prohibiting the sale of any 3D printer that does not appear on an approved state roster.<\/p>\n
If enacted, by July 2027, the California Department of Justice will be tasked with formulating guidelines to ensure 3D printers are capable of blocking the printing of gun components. Following this, applications for printer approvals will be accepted beginning January 2028. By July 2028, all companies intending to sell printers will need to verify compliance with these new regulations. A list of certified printer models will be published and updated quarterly, with a deadline set for unauthorized devices to be banned from sale by March 1, 2029.<\/p>\n
The bill outlines specific firmware and software requirements, stating that printers must have security measures to prevent circumvention of these controls, thus reinforcing compliance and ensuring the technology cannot be easily manipulated by technically skilled users.<\/p>\n
With these three states making similar legislative moves, the combined market represents about 20% of the U.S. population, compelling 3D printing manufacturers to navigate the complexities of differing regulations in each jurisdiction. This could lead to operational challenges for companies that may have to create separate product lines to meet varying state laws.<\/p>\n