By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—The Big Beautiful Bill signed by President on July 4; California: On legislative recess; More bills before both Assembly and Senate Public Safety Committees; Maine: Governor Janet Mills signed LD1126; Oregon: SB243, has passed the Legislature; Pennsylvania: Sunday hunting bill passed and was signed; .Rhode Island: S359A, the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban, passed both the House and the Senate on June 20, 2025, and was signed by Governor Daniel J. McKee.
Federal Legislation
President Trump signed the Big Beautiful Bill on July 4, 2025
Although I wrote, “I think Trump’s 4th of July deadline is likely to be delayed as the Senate Democrats stall as long as they can,” in the last issue, obviously, I was wrong. The Senate passed the bill on July 1. At that time, there appeared to be 10 Republican holdouts; however, on July 3, with every Democrat voting against it, the House of Representatives passed the measure by a vote of 219-214. President Trump signed it at the White House in an outdoor signing ceremony on July 4, 2025.
On the day the bill was signed, Gun Owners of America (GOA) announced on X.com that it was filing a bill to gut the NFA: Silencer Shop Foundation v. Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Case No: 6:25-cv-00056-H in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas. We will be following this case on our weekly Grassroots Judicial Review as the case develops.
State Legislatures
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming have adjourned.
California: The California Legislature began its summer recess before the 4th of July and is scheduled to return on Monday, Aug. 4, based on the standard legislative calendar. It will then rush to pass as many anti-Second Amendment bills as possible before adjourning on Sept. 12.
Delaware: Although the Delaware legislature adjourned on Monday, June 30, they also managed to pass an amended SB82 that expands the current “Red Flag” law with amendments that expanded the the duration of lethal violence protective orders from one to five years and expands the ability of courts and police to confiscate firearms and ammunition without due process. The bill now goes to Governor Carney for his consideration. Another bill, HB45, requiring payment processors to use firearm-specific merchant category codes for firearms, ammunition, and components, did not pass the House and has not been considered further.
Maine: The Maine Senate passed LD 1126, Maine’s so-called “ghost gun” bill, by a vote of 17-16, and Governor Janet Mills signed it on the same day. The Special Session has now adjourned.
Michigan: The Michigan Legislature typically takes a summer recess; it adjourned for summer recess after passing the fiscal year 2024-2025 state budget on June 27 and is scheduled to return on July 15.
New Jersey: On late Monday night, June 30, the legislature left Trenton, and the recent package of anti-gun legislation has not been considered. The New Jersey State Legislature typically returns from summer recess after Labor Day; however, specific dates for the 2025 session are not yet explicitly announced. Based on historical patterns and available information, the legislature is likely to reconvene in early September 2025, with potential sessions or committee meetings scheduled shortly after Labor Day (Sept. 1).
North Carolina: HB193, which allows citizens with a valid concealed handgun permit to carry on school grounds, was reported favorably out of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Rules Committee, with amendments. However, the amendments severely limited who could carry and added additional education requirements. It has not moved forward since, and probably will not. The legislature will return after a summer recess, but budget issues are expected to take priority at that time.
Oregon: The legislature passed SB243 that bans rapid-fire activators (e.g., bump stocks, Glock switches), classifying possession as a Class A misdemeanor and transport/manufacture as a Class B felony (up to 10 years imprisonment). It allows local governments to prohibit concealed carry in public buildings and sets an effective date of March 15, 2026, for Ballot Measure 114 (which includes magazine capacity limits and permit requirements). A proposed 72-hour waiting period was removed via amendment, drawing criticism from gun control advocates. The governor has not signed it as of the date of this report.
Pennsylvania: On Monday, the House voted 142-61 to concur with the Senate’s amendments and pass HB1431, which allows unrestricted Sunday hunting. The bill repeals all current restrictions on Sunday hunting, allowing Pennsylvania to join the overwhelming majority of states that do not have restrictions. The bill now goes to Governor Josh Shapiro for his signature.
Rhode Island: S359A, the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban, passed both the House and the Senate on June 20, and was signed by Governor Daniel J. McKee on June 25.
