Illinois 2026 Convertible Pistol Ban Bills

What the Bills Would Do

Three bills targeting convertible pistols remain pending in the 104th General Assembly.

HB4471, Criminal Code, Convertible Pistols. House Committee Amendment No. 1 was referred to the Rules Committee on March 17, 2026^[1].

SB2801, Criminal Code, Convertible Pistols. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 was referred to Assignments on March 17, 2026^[2].

SB2652, Criminal Code, Convertible Pistols. Its committee deadline was established as March 27, 2026, then extended to April 24, May 15 and May 22, 2026 before re-referral to Assignments on May 22^[3].

The bills target convertible pistols. HB4471 as amended defines these as semiautomatic pistols with a cruciform trigger bar that can be readily altered by hand or with common household tools so that they can be converted into machine guns by the installation or attachment of a switch, and excludes hammer-fired semiautomatic pistols. Their mechanisms differ. SB2801 as introduced would criminalize the knowing manufacture, sale, purchase, or transfer of convertible pistols, subject to listed exemptions. HB4471 as amended, titled the Responsible Gun Manufacturing Act, would prohibit manufacturing convertible pistols and specified transfers by certified licensees, subject to listed exemptions. Violations would carry civil penalties, with license sanctions for certified dealers. In February 2023 the Justice Department reported that the number of machine gun conversion devices law enforcement agencies reported recovering had increased 570% over the preceding five years.

Current Status

None of the three bills passed either chamber. HB4471 was re-referred to Rules Committee on May 31, 2026 under Rule 19(a). SB2801 and SB2652 were re-referred to Assignments on May 22, 2026 under Rule 3-9(a).

What to Watch

Federal law prohibits transferring or possessing machineguns under 18 U.S.C. 922(o), subject to its exceptions for specified government-authorized transfers or possession and lawful transfers or possession of machineguns lawfully possessed before the subsection took effect. The definition in 26 U.S.C. 5845(b) includes parts designed and intended solely and exclusively for converting a weapon into a machinegun. SB2801 as introduced would create a separate state criminal offense concerning convertible pistols, while HB4471 as amended would impose civil penalties.