New York Governor Kathy Hochul's FY 2026-2027 budget bill includes provisions requiring 3D printers sold in the state to include software that scans files and blocks potential firearm components. The requirement extends beyond consumer 3D printers to CNC mills and other manufacturing equipment.
Adafruit, a New York-based electronics kit manufacturer, warns the legislation is overbroad. "This is defined as software or firmware that scans every print file through a 'firearms blueprint detection algorithm' and refuses to print anything it flags," the company said in a blog post this week.
The proposal follows Luigi Mangione's alleged use of a 3D-printed weapon in the December 2024 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has pushed 3D printing firms to remove gun CAD files, citing rising ghost gun seizures.
Washington State's House Bill 2320 advanced in committee this week with similar provisions targeting digital firearm files. The proposal has drawn criticism from hobbyists who argue it would criminalize possession of prop designs and stifle innovation.
Seven U.S. states currently ban ghost guns outright. Federal ATF rules already prohibit selling unserialized frames. The New York and Washington proposals extend restrictions to digital files and hardware-level controls.
Experts question the technical feasibility. Users can bypass software blocks through custom firmware, and constitutional challenges are likely. A Delaware ghost gun ban was partially blocked last year on Second Amendment grounds.
For manufacturing firms operating in multiple jurisdictions, the patchwork of state-level hardware and software requirements creates compliance complexity. The proposals don't specify certification processes or which algorithms would be deemed acceptable.
The New York bill is part of the state's executive budget and requires legislative approval. Washington's HB 2320 faces additional committee votes before reaching the floor.
History suggests hardware-level restrictions face implementation challenges. The question for manufacturers: whether to build location-specific firmware variants or lobby for federal preemption.