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Committee Advances Bill Lowering Age to Restore Firearm Rights for Some Juvenile Convictions
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Summary
House bill 2676, which reduces the minimum age to regain firearm possession rights from 30 to 25 for certain juvenile convictions and aligns gun-rights restoration with juvenile record-destruction statutes, received a 'do pass' recommendation from the committee after proponents said the bill remedies an age-disparity problem.
A Special House Committee on Government recommended House Bill 2676 for a 'do pass' Feb. 10, 2026. The bill reduces the minimum age for restoring the right to possess a firearm from 30 to 25 for individuals convicted in juvenile court of dangerous or serious offenses and broadens conditions under which other juvenile-felony convictions could allow rights restoration.
State Representative Almar Hernandez (District 20), the sponsor, told the committee he has personal experience with juvenile-record issues and said the bill corrects statutory language so rehabilitated youth are not blocked from rights restoration and related opportunities. He said the bill is intended to align restoration of civil rights with the legislature’s intent for juvenile-record destruction and to avoid preventing rehabilitated individuals from obtaining employment, education, or housing.
Michelle Robbins of the Pima County Public Defender’s Office testified that the bill corrects a conflict between the age at which juvenile records can be destroyed (18 or 25, depending on offense) and the higher ages previously required to restore civil rights. Robbins emphasized that judges retain discretion to deny restoration when appropriate and said the change will allow many adults to enter adulthood without the harms of an open juvenile record.
The committee recorded the measure out with a 'do pass' recommendation, recorded in the transcript as 7 ayes and 0 nays.
