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MaineLD 1126132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)House

An Act Requiring Serial Numbers on Firearms and Prohibiting Undetectable Firearms

Sponsored By: Samuel Zager (Democratic)

Became Law

FIREARMSFIREARMS - POSSESSION

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

Statewide ban on undetectable guns

The law bans making, bringing into Maine, selling, transferring, or knowingly possessing an undetectable firearm. It uses the federal detectability test and includes items made of 3.7 ounces of 17-4 PH stainless steel shaped like a handgun. Making, importing, selling, or transferring one is a Class C crime. Knowingly possessing one is a Class D crime.

Serial numbers now required on guns and parts

Beginning January 1, 2027, you may not possess, import, or transfer any firearm, frame, or receiver unless it has a serial number imprinted by a licensed dealer under federal law or section 2039. The same rule applies to unfinished frames or receivers. Unfinished frames or receivers are now treated as firearms under Maine law. Exceptions include licensed dealers and law enforcement acting officially; antiques, curios or relics, permanently inoperable guns, and guns made before 1968; and short-term possession up to 48 hours if you have an appointment with a licensed dealer to add a serial number.

Dealer returns and a narrow no check exception

A licensed dealer may return a firearm, frame, or receiver to the same person after adding a serial number under federal law or section 2039. The law also confirms that selling a firearm to a licensed dealer fits the listed rule. For one listed situation in the statute, no background check is required under state or federal law. These changes simplify returns after serialization and reduce uncertainty for dealers and owners.

Background checks for serialized frames and receivers

Beginning January 1, 2027, you must pass a background check to buy any frame or receiver that has a serial number. This includes unfinished frames or receivers that are imprinted. The check follows federal law (18 U.S.C. §922(t)) or Maine Title 15, section 395.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Samuel Zager

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Matthea E. L. Daughtry

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rachel Talbot Ross

    Democratic • Senate

  • Ryan Fecteau

    Democratic • House

  • Scott Cyrway

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 345 • No: 329

House vote • 6/25/2025

RECEDE AND CONCUR

Yes: 73 • No: 67

Senate vote • 6/25/2025

ADOPT SENATE AMENDMENT (SBS-468) to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

Yes: 16 • No: 15

Senate vote • 6/25/2025

ENACTMENT

Yes: 17 • No: 16

House vote • 6/17/2025

ADOPT SENATE AMENDMENT (S-403) to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

Yes: 17 • No: 18

Senate vote • 6/17/2025

ADOPT CAH-660

Yes: 18 • No: 17

House vote • 6/17/2025

Enactment

Yes: 76 • No: 72

Senate vote • 6/12/2025

TABLE UNTIL LATER

Yes: 14 • No: 21

House vote • 6/12/2025

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 77 • No: 70

Senate vote • 6/12/2025

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 18 • No: 17

Senate vote • 3/20/2025

REFERENCE

Yes: 19 • No: 16

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 537

    5/1/2026

  2. HELD BY THE GOVERNOR.

    7/8/2025Senate

  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 654 Yeas 17 - Nays 16 - Excused 2 - Absent 0

    6/25/2025Senate

  4. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/25/2025House

  5. The House RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) as Amended by Senate Amendment "B" (S-468) thereto.ROLL CALL NO. 595(Yeas 73 - Nays 67 - Absent 9 - Excused 2)ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/25/2025House

  6. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table On motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) On further motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) was ADOPTED. On further motion by Same Senator Senate Amendment "B" (S-468) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) READ and ADOPTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 638 Yeas 16 - Nays 15 - Excused 4 - Absent 0 Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) as Amended by Senate Amendment "B" (S-468) thereto ADOPTED. PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) as Amended by Senate Amendment "B" (S-468) thereto in NON-CONCURRENCE. Sent down for concurrence.

    6/25/2025Senate

  7. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ENACTMENT in concurrence. Taken from the table by the President On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence.

    6/17/2025Senate

  8. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. ROLL CALL NO. 557(Yeas 76 - Nays 72 - Absent 1 - Excused 2)Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/17/2025House

  9. Taken from the table by the President On motion by Senator HARRINGTON of York the Senate RECONSIDERED their actions whereby they ADOPTED Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) Motion by Senator HARRINGTON of York Senate Amendment "A" (S-403) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) READ and FAILED ADOPTION Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 595 Yeas 17 - Nays 18 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Subsequently Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) ADOPTED PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 596 Yeas 18 - Nays 17 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) in concurrence

    6/17/2025Senate

  10. Unfinished Business

    6/17/2025Senate

  11. On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland RECONSIDERED PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) TABLED until Later in Today's Session PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) Unfinished Business

    6/13/2025Senate

  12. Reports READ.On motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 459(Yeas 77 - Nays 70 - Absent 2 - Excused 2)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-660). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/12/2025House

  13. Senator CARNEY of Cumberland moved to ACCEPT the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report . On motion by Senator HARRINGTON of York TABLED until Later in Today's Session pending motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland to ACCEPT the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report . FAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 515 Yeas 14 - Nays 21 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Accept the The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 516 Yeas 18 - Nays 17 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 READ Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-660) in concurrence Held at the Request of STEWART of Aroostook

    6/12/2025Senate

  14. Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.

    3/21/2025House

  15. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY in concurrence PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 50 Yeas 19 - Nays 16 - Excused 0 - Absent 0

    3/20/2025Senate

  16. Committee on CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY suggested and ordered printed. On motion of Representative HASENFUS of Readfield, the Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    3/18/2025House

Bill Text

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