03/27/2026
After Jan 1, 2027, if you possess ammunition that does not have a serial number on it, you could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor under legislation proposed by Illinois Democrats.
A new Illinois Ammunition tax and new ammunition registration requirement law is being considered this week in Springfield by Illinois Democrats. (HB4414)
A Downers Grove Democrat has proposed a five cent per round of ammunition tax and the requirement that each round of ammunition be registered. After Jan 1, 2027, if you possess ammunition that does not have a serial number on it you will be charged with a Class C misdemeanor- for each round in your possession.
Going to the shooting range and hunting and will soon become very complicated and expensive in Illinois.
Illinois House Bill 4414 proposes that starting January 1, 2027, all handgun ammunition sold or possessed in Illinois must be serialized and traceable by the Illinois State Police (ISP).
The bill was introduced by Chicago area State Representative Anne Stava-Murray.
The bill would create a centralized registry for transactions, imposes a fee of up to 5 cents per round, and makes possession of non-serialized ammunition a misdemeanor.
Details of HB4414:
Serialization Requirement: All handgun ammunition manufactured, imported, or sold in Illinois must have unique identifiers on the packaging and the ammunition itself starting Jan. 1, 2027.
Registry and Tracking: The ISP will manage a database of handgun ammunition transactions, recording the buyer's identification and the unique identifier of the ammunition.
Fees: A fee of up to 5 cents per round will be charged to the end-user the money will go to the state of Illinois.
Penalties: Possessing non-serialized handgun ammunition in a public place can result in a Class C misdemeanor.
Exceptions: Exemptions apply to law enforcement, military, and specific authorized individuals
The bill is designed for the ISP to track ammunition transactions and is part of the 104th General Assembly's legislation for 2025-2026.
