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)

Guidance #3 states that its list of frequently asked questions includes the answers previously provided in Guidance #1 and Guidance #2. Among them, it confirms that licensed dealers may continue to sell firearms on the approved rosters and may continue to sell shotguns and rifles so long as they are not otherwise prohibited in Massachusetts^[3].

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 a different date, October 2, 2026, for registering firearms in the new registration system. EOPSS Guidance #5, dated September 18, 2026, states only the October 28, 2026 date.

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 about 42 written comments were received, and it submitted a legislative report on the live-fire training component. The live-fire qualification is not yet being enforced. EOPSS has stated that live fire does not need to be included until implementing regulations are promulgated and live fire is fully implemented. Persons who held an FID or LTC on or before August 1, 2024 are exempt, including at renewal.