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HB 3320

RIFL ACT

104th Regular Session Introduced by Carol Ammons and 45 co-sponsors

Illinois requires a RIFL license for manufacturers starting 2028, with fees funding firearm injury victims and penalties for unlicensed makers and retailers.

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Bill Summary · HB 3320

Summary — HB 3320 (RIFL Act) — Responsibility in Firearm Legislation

Primary sponsor: Rep. Kevin John Olickal. Introduced February 2025. Status highlights: Passed the Illinois House (May 16, 2025); referred to Senate committees (Business & Commerce / Insurance / Gun Violence Prevention); placed on intent calendar May 28, 2025. Multiple co-sponsors added through 2025.

Purpose

The RIFL Act establishes a state licensing and fee program aimed at making firearm manufacturers financially accountable for public health costs associated with firearm injuries and deaths in Illinois, and directing license revenues to a special fund to provide financial assistance to victims of firearm injury and death.

Major provisions

  • Establishes a licensing program for firearm manufacturers (originally in the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; a House amendment replaces that structure with an independent Responsibility in Firearm Legislation (RIFL) Agency governed by a 9‑member Board).
  • Licensing requirement: Beginning January 1, 2028, manufacturers may not operate in Illinois without a RIFL license.
  • Fee structure:
    • The Department/Agency must set an annual total aggregate fee equal to the State’s estimated public health costs and financial burdens from firearm injuries occurring in Illinois.
    • In the first program year, the total annual aggregate fee is capped at $866,000,000.
    • The total aggregate fee is indexed annually by the unadjusted annual percent change in the CPI‑U (calculation date tied to November 1 / prior September months).
    • Individual manufacturer fees are allocated based on market share (and, in the amendment, an “experience rating” tied to the share of firearms recovered in injury incidents).
  • Retailer restrictions: Beginning January 1, 2028, retailers may not sell firearms in Illinois that were manufactured by an entity without a RIFL license.
  • Penalties:
    • Civil penalties reported in the introduced text: up to $1,000,000 per month for unlicensed manufacturers; up to $10,000 per violation for retailers; and authority for additional civil penalties (up to $1,000 per violation). The Attorney General may enforce the Act.
  • RIFL Fund: Creates a special fund in the State treasury to receive license fees. Fund proceeds finance a financial assistance program for victims of firearms and related program administration. The Department/Agency may contract with a program administrator to run victim assistance and other program elements.
  • Data & rules: Illinois State Police must report certain information to the Department/Agency. The Department/Agency will adopt implementing rules and may provide tax‑exemption rules for assistance payments.
  • Conforming changes: Amendments to the State Finance Act and Illinois Income Tax Act for consistency.

Who is affected

  • Firearm manufacturers, importers, and distributors doing business in Illinois (required to obtain a RIFL license and pay allocated fees).
  • Firearm retailers in Illinois (restricted from selling products of unlicensed manufacturers).
  • Victims and secondary victims (eligible for financial assistance from the RIFL Fund).
  • State agencies (Department/Agency, Illinois State Police, Attorney General) — new duties for licensing, reporting, enforcement, and fund administration.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced Feb 2025; House passed the bill May 16, 2025; later referred to Senate committees for consideration. Key effective/compliance date for licensing and retailer sales restrictions: January 1, 2028 (per bill synopsis). House Committee Amendment No. 1 (filed March 17, 2025) substantially restructures the implementing entity (creates independent RIFL Agency and Board) and adds definitions (e.g., experience rating).

Potential impacts (practical)

  • Generates a large, recurring revenue stream (up to and potentially above the $866M first-year cap) to support victim assistance.
  • Imposes compliance costs and potential significant penalties on manufacturers and retailers that could alter industry behavior, supply chains, and product availability in Illinois.
  • Implementation requires rulemaking, data reporting, and administrative capacity—possibly prompting further legislative or legal developments as the program is phased in.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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