SB 2136: Proposed Repeal of the Assault Weapons Ban

Senate Bill 2136, introduced on February 7, 2025, in the 104th Illinois General Assembly, proposes the repeal of the assault weapons ban provisions enacted under the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA). If passed, the bill would remove PICA's restrictions on assault weapons, large-capacity magazines and rapid-fire devices. PICA took effect on January 10, 2023, but its assault weapon possession restriction began on January 1, 2024, and its large-capacity magazine possession restriction began 90 days after the Act took effect, subject to exceptions.^[1]

What the Bill Would Do

SB 2136 would amend the Criminal Code of 2012 (720 ILCS 5) to repeal the sections of PICA that define and prohibit assault weapons, set magazine capacity limits, ban rapid-fire devices, and require registration of pre-owned assault weapons through the endorsement affidavit system. The bill would repeal these PICA restrictions on firearms and accessories.^[1]

The bill's provisions include:

• Removing the ban on semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns with specified features
• Eliminating large-capacity ammunition feeding device restrictions, which generally apply above 10 rounds for long guns and 15 rounds for handguns and include statutory exclusions and exemptions
• Removing the ban on rapid-fire devices such as bump stocks and trigger cranks
• Eliminating the assault weapons endorsement affidavit requirement

SB 2136 would require the Illinois State Police to permanently destroy endorsement affidavits and all information collected from them in the possession of the ISP or any law enforcement agency.

Legislative Prospects

Democrats hold supermajorities in both the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives, and the 102nd General Assembly enacted the assault weapons ban with Democratic support. Governor Pritzker signed PICA into law and said at the signing that he and his colleagues would keep fighting to ensure future generations only hear about massacres in textbooks.^[1]

SB 2136 did not advance before adjournment. The 104th General Assembly adjourned on June 1, 2026 until the call of its presiding officers without passing the bill. Further action could occur in the fall veto session, scheduled for November 17 to 19 and December 1 to 3, 2026, or repeal legislation could be reintroduced in the 105th General Assembly.

Interaction with Pending Litigation

The introduction of SB 2136 occurs against the backdrop of multiple federal court challenges to PICA. On July 9, 2026, the Seventh Circuit upheld the assault weapons ban in the consolidated Barnett litigation, which joined Barnett with Harrel v. Raoul, Langley v. Kelly, and Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois v. Pritzker. With the ban upheld in court, SB 2136 represents the legislative avenue through which opponents would seek to undo the restrictions. Challengers are also looking to the U.S. Supreme Court, which scheduled argument for December 2, 2026 after granting certiorari on June 30, 2026 in Viramontes v. Cook County, consolidated with Grant v. Higgins, on the constitutionality of bans on AR-15 platform and similar rifles.^[2]