H8073 / S2710 (2026): Proposed Possession Restriction

On February 27, 2026, House Bill 8073 was introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, with a Senate companion (S2710, Sens. Mack, Lauria, Valverde, and others) also referred to Senate Judiciary the same day. The bills in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, with a Senate companion (S2710, Sens. Mack, Lauria, Valverde, and others) also referred to Senate Judiciary the same day^[1]. The bills would amend P.L. 2025, ch. 281 to restrict not only the sale and transfer but also the continued possession of firearms classified as assault weapons under the existing ban.

What the Bill Would Change

The current assault weapons ban (P.L. 2025, ch. 281) includes a grandfathering provision that allows individuals who lawfully possessed assault weapons before July 1, 2026 to keep them. H8073 would eliminate this grandfathering provision. If enacted, all persons in possession of a firearm meeting the assault weapon definition would be required to surrender the firearm to law enforcement, transfer it to a licensed dealer for destruction or out-of-state sale, permanently modify it to remove all prohibited features, or transfer it out of state. The bill would make possession a crime effective July 1, 2026, and provides a window through December 31, 2026 for existing owners to sell or transfer prohibited firearms to a licensed dealer or an out-of-state buyer.

Current Status

H8073 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. No hearing date has been scheduled as of the introduction date. The bill has drawn immediate opposition from firearms rights organizations and some legislators who supported the original assault weapons ban with its grandfathering provision. Proponents argue that grandfathering undermines the public safety goals of the ban and that a complete prohibition is necessary for effectiveness^[2].

Constitutional Questions

The proposed elimination of the grandfathering provision raises additional constitutional questions beyond those already present in the assault weapons ban litigation. Opponents argue that requiring the surrender or destruction of lawfully acquired property without compensation constitutes an unconstitutional taking under the Fifth Amendment. The bill does not include a compensation or buyback program. Any legal challenge would likely raise both Second Amendment and Takings Clause arguments.

Update: Hearing Held April 8, 2026 -- Held for Further Study

On April 8, 2026, the House Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on H8073 and voted to hold the bill for further study, a procedural step that keeps it alive but defers a committee vote. The companion Senate bill S2710 was heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 14, 2026 and was also held for further study. Neither bill is advancing at this time.^[5]

All five Rhode Island general officers -- Governor McKee, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General Neronha, Secretary of State, and Treasurer -- have publicly supported the legislation. Prime sponsor Rep. Tanzi faced pushback during the April 8 hearing from fellow Democrats who questioned the bill's vulnerability to court challenge, pointing to the grandfather clause compromise that allowed the 2025 AWB to pass in the first place.

Compliance Timeline (If Enacted)

If H8073 passes, current owners of assault weapons would have until December 31, 2026 to:

- Sell the firearm to a licensed FFL dealer
- Transfer the firearm to a person in a jurisdiction where it is legal
- Surrender the firearm to law enforcement
- Destroy the firearm

After December 31, 2026, possession of a prohibited assault weapon would be a felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, and mandatory firearm forfeiture.

What to Watch

Both House and Senate Judiciary committees held H8073/S2710 for further study in April 2026, reflecting political hesitance to force a floor vote on removing the grandfathering compromise that enabled the 2025 AWB to pass. The bill remains alive but is not expected to advance before the session ends in June 2026. Firearms owners who possess assault weapons should continue monitoring but need not take compliance action at this time.