HB05043 (2026): Public Act 26-41 Convertible Pistols Ban

Update on Public Act 26-41 and the September 30 Injunction

Connecticut enacted HB 5043 as Public Act 26-41, approved on May 26, 2026. The public act updates Connecticut law on convertible pistols, unfinished frames or lower receivers, voluntary firearm and ammunition relinquishment, and permit refundability. On September 30, 2026, the District of Connecticut preliminarily enjoined enforcement of the convertible-pistol importation, advertising and sales provision concerning pistols manufactured on or after October 1, 2026. September 30 court order^[1][4]

HB 5043 advanced out of the Judiciary Committee on March 24, 2026 by a vote of 24 to 12 and was referred to the Office of Legislative Research / Office of Fiscal Analysis (OLR/OFA) on April 6, 2026 for reports due April 13, 2026 at noon. For the March 11, 2026 public hearing, the official testimony directory lists approximately 1,900 written submissions in opposition and 61 in support.

The Convertible-Pistol Provision

House Bill 05043 defines a convertible pistol as a semiautomatic pistol with a cruciform trigger bar that can be readily altered by hand or a common household tool to accept a pistol converter that converts it into a machine gun. The definition excludes hammer-fired semiautomatic pistols and semiautomatic pistols with a cruciform trigger bar shielded from a converter by a tab or other material molded to the pistol's frame, unless that material can be readily removed from the frame. The provision quoted in the September 30 order concerns knowingly importing into Connecticut or knowingly advertising, selling, offering or exposing for sale the defined convertible pistols manufactured on or after October 1, 2026^[1]. The provision does not apply to sale at retail or other lawful transfer of a convertible pistol by a person who is not a licensed gun dealer to another person who is not a licensed gun dealer. The Justice Department reported that machine gun conversion devices recovered by law enforcement agencies increased 570% over five years. Such devices convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns. The ATF final rule effective May 6, 2026 removes bump-stock language from the federal machine-gun definitions in 27 CFR 478.11 and 479.11. The September 30 injunction covers the state importation, advertising and sales provision quoted in the court order. September 30 court order^[5]

Current Status

HB 5043 was enacted as Public Act 26-41.^[1][4] On September 30, 2026, the District of Connecticut issued a preliminary injunction in Glock, Inc. v. Griffin, No. 3:26-cv-01525, and National Shooting Sports Foundation Inc. v. Griffin, No. 3:26-cv-01528. The order restrains enforcement of the specified convertible-pistol importation, advertising and sales provision. It does not enjoin the entire act. September 30 court order

What to Watch

Watch subsequent district-court and appellate orders affecting the September 30 preliminary injunction. The order concerns the defined convertible pistols manufactured on or after October 1, 2026, and does not suspend every provision of Public Act 26-41. September 30 court order