HB05436 (2026): Updating Firearms Definitions and Allowing Grandfathered LCM/Assault Weapon Transfers

What the Bill Would Do

House Bill 05436 addresses two distinct areas of Connecticut firearms law^[1].

Part 1: Updated Firearms Definitions

The bill would amend Connecticut's statutory firearms definitions. It would add major firearm components and unfinished frames or lower receivers to the definition of firearm and expand the rate-of-fire enhancement definition to include forced reset triggers and auto-sears. The bill would define unfinished frames or lower receivers to include items that may readily be completed, assembled or converted to be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm, or are marketed or sold to the public for that purpose. Section 5 of Public Act 26-41, effective October 1, 2026, separately defines an unfinished frame or unfinished lower receiver as a blank, casting, forging, printing, extrusion, machined body or similar item that may readily be completed into the frame or receiver of a functional firearm, or is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed.

Part 2: Allowing Transfers of Grandfathered LCMs and Assault Weapons

Under current Connecticut law, owners may lawfully retain large capacity magazines (LCMs) declared under the possession rules and assault weapons covered by a certificate of possession, subject to the statutory conditions on possession. Current law permits specified transfers, including bequests and intestate succession, and transfers to licensed dealers.

HB05436 would allow large capacity magazines to be transferred between the eligible possessors listed in the bill. Its assault-weapon pathway would use licensed dealers to transfer certified weapons to people who lawfully possess another assault weapon and already hold a certificate of possession for it. The bill would expand transfers between eligible possessors, while retaining the existing exceptions for inheritance.

Effective Dates

The introduced bill proposed an October 1, 2026 effective date for sections 1 to 3 and a July 1, 2026 effective date for sections 4 to 6. The bill did not become law. Section 2 of Public Act 26-41, effective October 1, 2026, amended the rate-of-fire enhancement definition to include a part that repeatedly pulls or forcibly resets the trigger of a firearm, including a forced reset trigger. Incorporation of HB5436 section 3 does not establish enactment of its other proposals. Public Act 26-41

Current Status

HB05436 had a public hearing on March 11, 2026, before the Judiciary Committee^[2]. No further action followed, and the bill died in committee when the 2026 regular session adjourned on May 6, 2026. The OLR Bill Tracking Report identifies section 3 of HB5436 as incorporated into section 2 of Public Act 26-41, effective October 1, 2026. That section updates the rate-of-fire enhancement definition, including forced reset triggers. It does not establish enactment of the proposed grandfathered magazine and assault-weapon transfer provisions. Official bill-tracking report Public Act 26-41

What to Watch

The transfer provisions would expand the permitted transfers of grandfathered assault weapons and LCMs beyond the existing exceptions, which already allow bequests and intestate succession. The proposed assault-weapon transfer pathway would use licensed dealers and limit recipients to people who lawfully possess another assault weapon with a previously issued certificate of possession.