Legislative updates, court decisions, and regulatory changes affecting Illinois firearms law.
Three bills targeting convertible pistols — firearms that can be readily modified to fire fully automatic — are advancing simultaneously in the Illinois House and Senate, reflecting urgency around the "Glock switch" epidemic.
Multiple active bills in the 104th General Assembly would reform Illinois's Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card system — adding safety course requirements, strengthening mental health reporting, and expanding denial criteria to include stalking.
The Illinois Supreme Court heard oral arguments March 11, 2026 in People v. Benson, an as-applied Bruen challenge to the felon-in-possession statute.
The Illinois State Police has faced persistent FOID and CCL application processing backlogs, prompting legislative fixes and system modernization efforts.
The proposed RIFL Act would impose variable licensing fees on Illinois firearm manufacturers based on how often their products are linked to gun injuries.
SB 2136, filed in February 2025, proposes repealing Illinois's Protect Illinois Communities Act assault weapons ban. The bill faces long legislative odds.
Illinois enacted multiple gun safety bills in early 2025, including Karina's Law requiring 96-hour firearm confiscation under domestic violence orders.
Illinois's Safe Gun Storage Act (SB 0008), effective January 1, 2026, requires secure firearm storage where minors or prohibited persons may gain access.
In June 2025, the DOJ filed an amicus brief opposing Illinois's assault weapons ban -- the first time the federal government argued against a state AWB.
Harrel v. Raoul is the Firearms Policy Coalition and Second Amendment Foundation challenge to Illinois's PICA assault weapons and magazine bans under Bruen.
Bevis v. Naperville challenges both the city's local assault weapons ban and Illinois's statewide ban. The case is consolidated at the Seventh Circuit.
Barnett v. Raoul is the NRA-backed Second Amendment challenge to Illinois's assault weapons ban under the Bruen framework, pending at the Seventh Circuit.