California AB 2047 — The 3D Printer Surveillance Bill That Could...

Category: Industry News

California lawmakers are pushing a bill that would fundamentally alter what it means to own a 3D printer in America. AB 2047, dubbed the "3D Printer Surveillance Bill" by opponents, would require every 3D printer sold in California to come with government-approved software that blocks firearm-related printing — and makes circumventing that software a crime.

The bill has already cleared one major hurdle. On June 23, 2026, the California Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 9-3 to advance it. It now sits in the Appropriations Committee. If it passes the full legislature and gets the governor's signature, it takes effect December 1, 2029.

What AB 2047 Actually Requires

At its core, AB 2047 mandates that every 3D printer sold in California include "firearm blocking" technology — software that prevents the printer from producing firearm components or anything the software identifies as a firearm part.

The bill doesn't stop at mandating the software. It also criminalizes circumvention. That means removing, disabling, or bypassing the blocking software would be illegal. This is where things get particularly concerning for the maker community.

Open-source firmware like Klipper and Marlin — which power a significant portion of the 3D printers on the market today — don't ship with any such blocking capability. Under AB 2047, running Klipper or Marlin on a printer sold in California could potentially be interpreted as circumvention, placing hobbyists, small print-farm operators, and educators in legal jeopardy.

The bill's language is broad. What counts as a "firearm component" under the software's definition remains unclear. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has pointed out that overbroad blocking software could flag legitimate parts — replacement knobs, brackets, tool holders — simply because they share geometric features with firearm components.

California Isn't Alone

AB 2047 is not happening in a vacuum. Similar legislation is moving through multiple states:

New York has already passed a law requiring 3D printers sold in the state to include firearm-printing blocking software. The EFF is actively pushing back on implementation.
Colorado saw HB 26-1144 pass its legislature.
Washington state has introduced comparable legislation.

Seven bills are currently being tracked by the dont-ban-3dprinters.com coalition, a group that's emerged as a central hub for opposition.

What's particularly significant: if California — the world's fifth-largest economy — passes AB 2047, the practical effect likely extends far beyond state lines. Printer manufacturers aren't going to build California-specific SKUs. They'll either comply for all US-bound units or potentially exit the California market entirely. The Prusa community forum already has a megathread discussing how US state laws could force cloud-locked firmware on printers worldwide.

The Open-Source Problem

This is the bill's most consequential tension. The 3D printing renaissance of the last decade was built on open-source firmware. Marlin runs on millions of printers. Klipper has become the go-to for anyone wanting high-speed, high-quality printing. RepRapFirmware, Sprinter, and others fill niches across the ecosystem.

None of these can comply with AB 2047 as written. They weren't built to block anything — they were built to give users full control of their machines.

The EFF has been direct about the stakes. In their April 2026 analysis, they called the bill a "censorship scheme" that would turn general-purpose manufacturing tools into locked-down appliances. Their more recent June update emphasized that stopping the bill is still possible — but the window is closing.

If AB 2047 forces manufacturers to ship only locked-down, proprietary firmware, it could effectively kill the open-source 3D printer market in the United States. Chinese manufacturers like Creality and Elegoo — many of whose printers run customized Marlin builds — would face a choice: develop compliant firmware from scratch or stop selling in California.

What the Maker Community Can Do

The EFF has published specific action steps:

Contact your California representatives. The bill is in Appropriations now; calls and emails to committee members matter.
Support the opposition coalition. The dont-ban-3dprinters.com site has templates, call scripts, and up-to-date information on all seven active state bills.
Educate your network. Many people in the 3D printing community still don't know this legislation exists. The December 2029 effective date creates a false sense of distance — but once a bill like this passes, it's nearly impossible to roll back.

The EFF's position is that the bill is well-intentioned but catastrophically overbroad. The goal of keeping untraceable firearms off the streets is one most people support. But regulating general-purpose manufacturing tools — machines that also print prosthetics, prototyping parts, replacement household items, and educational models — isn't the way to achieve it.

The Bottom Line

AB 2047 is the most significant 3D printing policy fight of 2026. It passed its first committee vote with a wide margin, which means lawmakers are taking it seriously. The 2029 effective date is designed to make it feel distant, but the legislative fight is happening right now.

If you print, if you sell printers, if you develop firmware, or if you teach 3D printing — this bill affects you, regardless of what state you live in. California's regulatory gravity is real, and what passes there tends to ripple outward.

We'll be tracking this story as it moves through the legislative process. For now, the most useful thing you can do is make your voice heard.

Sources:

California AB 2047: What the 3D Printer Bill Would Do