SACRAMENTO—A bill to extend the duration of newly issued Carry Concealed Weapons (CCW) Licenses to three years has been approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom. AB 1948 was introduced by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino).
“The current two-year renewal cycle creates unnecessary administrative burdens for both applicants and issuing authorities,” Ramos said. “AB 1948 streamlines the process, reduces costs for residents, and allows law enforcement agencies to focus on oversight and public safety. I thank Governor Newsom for signing this into law.”
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Discus, a sponsor of the bill, stated, “AB 1948 being signed by the Governor is a clear win for lawful CCW holders and a commonsense improvement to California’s concealed carry licensing process. Extending the validity of CCW licenses from two years to three years provides greater certainty for responsible, law-abiding residents while reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and fees for our residents. I want to thank Assemblymember James Ramos for authoring this important measure and for his continued commitment to practical public safety policy.”
Under current law, CCW licenses may be issued for a period not to exceed two years. The short issuance period forces applicants to repeatedly undergo the full licensing process within a short timeframe, resulting in significant and recurring costs for individuals who already are in compliance with the law. County sheriffs’ offices and municipal agencies must then devote substantial resources to processing a high volume of renewals, resources that could be used for other priorities.
The Assembly Committee analysis found that extending the license duration streamlines the administrative process for both applicants and local law enforcement agencies responsible for issuing permits. The measure is also expected to help stabilize application cycles and reduce the risk of backlogs driven by surges in demand.
AB 1948 is supported by a broad coalition of law enforcement organizations, including the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), the California State Sheriffs' Association (CSSA), and numerous local public safety associations statewide.
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Assemblymember James C. Ramos proudly represents the 45th Assembly district that includes the Cities of Fontana, Highland, Mentone, Redlands, Rialto and San Bernardino. He is the first and only California Native American serving in the state’s legislature. Ramos chairs the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #6 on Public Safety and the Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs.