Illinois 2026: Convertible Pistol Ban Bills Advancing in Both Chambers

What the Bills Would Do

Three bills targeting convertible pistols are moving through the 104th General Assembly in parallel:

HB4471 — Criminal Code: Convertible Pistols: The most advanced House bill, which had House Committee Amendment No. 1 referred to the Rules Committee on March 17, 2026^[1]. The committee amendment process indicates active negotiation over the bill's scope and definitions.

SB2801 — Criminal Code: Convertible Pistols: The lead Senate vehicle, which had Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 referred to Assignments on March 17, 2026^[2]. The fact that this bill is on its second amendment indicates substantial committee-level work.

SB2652 — Criminal Code: Convertible Pistols: A companion Senate bill with a committee deadline of March 27, 2026^[3].

The bills target convertible pistols, meaning handguns that can be readily converted from semiautomatic to fully automatic operation, typically through the installation of a machine gun conversion device (commonly called a "Glock switch" or auto-sear). Their mechanisms differ. SB2801 would criminalize the manufacture, sale, purchase, or transfer of convertible pistols, while HB4471 as amended, titled the Responsible Gun Manufacturing Act, is a civil scheme built on penalties and licensing consequences for manufacturers. These devices have become a significant law enforcement concern nationwide, with the ATF reporting a dramatic increase in seizures.

Current Status

None of the three bills passed either chamber. The 104th General Assembly adjourned its 2026 spring session sine die on June 1, 2026, without acting on HB4471, SB2801, or SB2652, leaving all three dead for the spring session. Revival would require action in the fall veto session, scheduled for November 17-19 and December 1-3, 2026, or reintroduction in the 105th General Assembly.

What to Watch

The critical legal question is how "convertible pistol" is defined. A narrow definition targeting purpose-built convertible firearms has limited practical impact because few such firearms exist. A broad definition capturing any pistol physically capable of accepting a conversion device could theoretically encompass most striker-fired handguns on the market. The amendment process on both HB4471 and SB2801 is where this definitional battle is playing out. Federal law already prohibits the possession and transfer of machine gun conversion devices under 18 U.S.C. 922(o), with 26 U.S.C. 5845(b) supplying the machine gun definition that covers conversion parts, so the state law would create an additional state-level offense and potentially allow state prosecutors to bring charges independent of federal action.