Starting January 1st, 2026, all retailers selling firearm accessories to California residents will be required to implement new ID verification and attestation requirements.

This new law, California Assembly Bill 1263, was signed into law to address concerns about unlawful firearm manufacturing and ensure that purchasers of firearm accessories and manufacturing equipment are aware of California's firearm manufacturing laws.

The major requirements for retailers include:

• Verifying that purchasers are at least 18 years of age
• Obtaining valid proof of identity before completing sales
• Capturing attestation acknowledgment that customers have received and understood the required legal notice
• Maintaining records of verifications and attestations

These measures are intended to ensure responsible selling practices and inform purchasers about the legal restrictions on firearm manufacturing in California. This FAQ guide provides a high-level overview of the requirements for your business.

Who is affected by CA AB 1263?

CA AB 1263 applies to "firearm industry members" selling certain products to California residents. This includes:

• Licensed firearms dealers
• Licensed ammunition vendors
• Firearm accessory retailers
• Online retailers shipping to California

If you sell any of the covered products to customers in California, you are subject to these requirements regardless of where your business is located.

What products are covered?

The law covers three main categories of products:

| Category | Examples | |----------|----------| | Unattached Firearm Barrels | Replacement barrels, barrel blanks, barrel kits | | Firearm Accessories | Triggers, stocks, grips, magazines, sights, rails | | Manufacturing Machines | 3D printers, CNC milling machines, lathes capable of manufacturing firearm frames or receivers |

What are the ID verification requirements?

Sellers must verify that the purchaser is at least 18 years of age with valid proof of identity before completing the sale. Acceptable forms of identification include:

• Valid driver's license
• State-issued identification card
• Passport
• Military identification

The verification must confirm both the identity of the purchaser and that they meet the minimum age requirement.

What is the attestation requirement?

In addition to ID verification, sellers must obtain acknowledgment that the customer has received and understands a notice about unlawful firearm manufacturing in California.

The required notice must inform purchasers that the following activities are generally crimes without a valid license:

• Manufacturing more than three firearms per calendar year
• Manufacturing a firearm using a 3D printer or CNC milling machine
• Manufacturing firearms for the purpose of selling to unlicensed individuals
• Manufacturing to sell without a required background check
• Allowing prohibited persons to manufacture firearms
• Manufacturing assault weapons, machineguns, undetectable firearms, or other prohibited weapons

Customers must acknowledge receipt and understanding of this notice before the sale can be completed.

Are online retailers required to comply?

Yes, online sellers have the same responsibilities as physical stores. If you ship covered products to California residents, you must:

1. Implement effective ID verification methods
2. Display the required attestation notice
3. Capture customer acknowledgment of the notice
4. Maintain records of verifications and attestations

Self-reported age pop-ups or simple checkboxes are not sufficient to meet the ID verification requirement. Merchants must take reasonable steps to verify customer identity and age.

How do I verify age for online sales?

For online sales, you should use a third-party ID verification service that can:

• Verify the authenticity of the customer's identification document
• Extract and confirm the date of birth from the ID
• Confirm the customer is at least 18 years of age

Below is an example of an ID verification flow you can set up through Real ID to verify age and capture attestation acknowledgment:

What records must I maintain?

While the law requires verification and attestation, retailers should maintain records of:

• Customer identity verification (proof that ID was checked)
• Attestation acknowledgment (confirmation that customer received and understood the notice)
• Date and time of verification
• Order or transaction reference

These records may be needed to demonstrate compliance during audits or legal proceedings.

When does the law take effect?

CA AB 1263 takes effect on January 1, 2026. Retailers should begin implementing compliance measures well before this date to ensure smooth operations when the law goes into effect.

How Real ID helps with compliance

Real ID provides a complete solution for CA AB 1263 compliance:

• ID Verification: Automatically verify customer identity and age using government-issued IDs
• Attestation Capture: Display the required notice and capture customer acknowledgment in the same verification flow
• Record Keeping: Store verification results and attestations securely, linked to customer and order records
• Automation: Integrate with Shopify Flow to automatically trigger verification for California orders
• Repeat Customer Recognition: Previously verified customers are remembered for faster checkout