EOPSS Guidance Letters on Chapter 135 Implementation

Following the enactment of Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) issued a series of guidance letters to assist licensing authorities, dealers, and the public with implementation.

Guidance Letter #1 (September 30, 2024)

Issued two days before the law's effective date, this letter provided initial implementation guidance for licensing authorities and dealers^[1].

Guidance Letter #2 (October 2, 2024)

Released on the effective date, this letter addressed handgun roster compliance. Dealers may continue selling firearms on the approved roster and non-prohibited long guns pending further guidance^[2].

Guidance Letter #3 (November 14, 2024)

Presented in FAQ format, this letter consolidated prior guidance and addressed Basic Firearms Safety (BFS) course requirements. Training curriculum is being developed under EOPSS, Massachusetts State Police, and MPTC oversight^[3].

Guidance Letter #4 (November 13, 2025)

The updated FAQ addresses licensing, training, registration, serialization, dealer activity, and other implementation questions.^[4] Question 35 states that individuals are not required to comply with the registration and serialization requirements in Sections 121B and 121C until October 28, 2026. Question 8 in the same document gives an inconsistent October 2, 2026 serialization date. Because the official guidance contains both dates, owners of unserialized firearms should confirm the current deadline with DCJIS.

Training Timeline

New training requirements, including the live-fire component, have a statutory effective date of April 2, 2026. The expanded curriculum covers live-fire training, disengagement tactics, suicide prevention, and safe storage. EOPSS held public hearings on May 29 and June 4, 2025, where about 170 people participated and 42 written comments were received, and it submitted a legislative report on the live-fire training component. EOPSS published an approved instructor list on April 1, 2026. The live-fire qualification is not yet being enforced while EOPSS finalizes statewide instructor standards. Persons who held an FID or LTC on or before August 1, 2024 are exempt, including at renewal.