Proposed Virginia Firearm Legislation HB351
Legislation Overview
Title: Firearm; locking device required for purchase, households where minor resides, penalty.
Subject: Crimes and Offenses Generally: Minors: Firearms: Children
Description: Firearm locking device required for purchase of a firearm; warning against accessibility to children; penalty. Requires any person who purchases a firearm to either (i) obtain or purchase from a licensed dealer a locking device for such firearm if a minor is present in such person's residence for 14 days or more in a calendar month or (ii) complete a certification statement on a form provided by the Department of State Police certifying that a minor is not present in such person's residence for 14 days or more in a calendar month, with exceptions enumerated in the bill. Accordingly, the bill provides that it is unlawful for any licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer to sell, deliver, or transfer any firearm to any person, other than a licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer, unless (a) the firearm is accompanied by a warning, in conspicuous and legible type in capital letters printed on a separate sheet of paper included within the packaging enclosing the firearm, that firearms should be locked and kept away from children and that there may be civil and criminal liability for failing to do so and (b) the transferee (1) obtains or purchases a locking device for such firearm if a minor is present in such person's residence for 14 days or more in a calendar month or (2) completes the certification statement. A violation of either provision is a Class 3 misdemeanor. Firearm locking device required for purchase of a firearm; warning against accessibility to children; penalty. Requires any person who purchases a firearm to either (i) obtain or purchase from a licensed dealer a locking device for such firearm if a minor is present in such person's residence for 14 days or more in a calendar month or (ii) complete a certification statement on a form provided by the Department of State Police certifying that a minor is not present in such person's residence for 14 days or more in a calendar month, with exceptions enumerated in the bill. Accordingly, the bill provides that it is unlawful for any licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer to sell, deliver, or transfer any firearm to any person, other than a licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer, unless (a) the firearm is accompanied by a warning, in conspicuous and legible type in capital letters printed on a separate sheet of paper included within the packaging enclosing the firearm, that firearms should be locked and kept away from children and that there may be civil and criminal liability for failing to do so and (b) the transferee (1) obtains or purchases a locking device for such firearm if a minor is present in such person's residence for 14 days or more in a calendar month or (2) completes the certification statement. A violation of either provision is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Session: 2024 Regular Session
Last Action: House sustained Governor's veto
Last Action Date: April 17, 2024
Sponsors
Note: the first sponsor listed is normally the primary sponsor. If a sponsor's name is a hyperlink you can click on it to 'follow the money'.
24 sponsors: Nadarius Clark (D); Dan Helmer (D); Bonita Anthony (D); Katrina Callsen (D); Betsy Carr (D); Laura Jane Cohen (D); Joshua Cole (D); Kelly Convirs-Fowler (D); Jackie Glass (D); Rozia Henson (D); Phil Hernandez (D); Patrick Hope (D); Karen Keys-Gamarra (D); Destiny LeVere Bolling (D); Alfonso Lopez (D); Michelle Maldonado (D); Marty Martinez (D); Marcia Price (D); Sam Rasoul (D); Holly Seibold (D); Irene Shin (D); Shelly Simonds (D); Jeion Ward (D); Rodney Willett (D);
Percentage of House Of Delegates sponsoring bill: 24% (24 of 100)
History
| Chamber | Date | Action |
| House | Apr 17, 2024 | House sustained Governor's veto |
| Mar 27, 2024 | Governor: Vetoed by Governor | |
| Mar 27, 2024 | Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 | |
| House | Mar 27, 2024 | Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 27, 2024 |
| House | Mar 26, 2024 | Signed by Speaker |
| House | Mar 25, 2024 | Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB351ER) |
| Senate | Mar 25, 2024 | Signed by President |
| House | Mar 25, 2024 | Enrolled |
| House | Mar 8, 2024 | Conference report agreed to by House (50-Y 46-N) |
| House | Mar 8, 2024 | VOTE: Adoption (50-Y 46-N) |
| Senate | Mar 8, 2024 | Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N) |
| Mar 8, 2024 | Conference: Amended by conference committee | |
| House | Mar 7, 2024 | VOTE: REJECTED (1-Y 98-N) |
| House | Mar 7, 2024 | Delegates: Clark, Simon, Ennis |
| House | Mar 7, 2024 | Conferees appointed by House |
| Senate | Mar 7, 2024 | Senators: Surovell, Boysko, Peake |
| Senate | Mar 7, 2024 | Conferees appointed by Senate |
| House | Mar 7, 2024 | House acceded to request |
| Senate | Mar 7, 2024 | Senate requested conference committee |
| House | Mar 7, 2024 | Senate substitute rejected by House 24108583D-S1 (1-Y 98-N) |
| Senate | Mar 7, 2024 | Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N) |
| Senate | Mar 6, 2024 | Committee substitute agreed to 24108583D-S1 |
| Senate | Mar 6, 2024 | Read third time |
| Senate | Mar 6, 2024 | Reading of substitute waived |
| Senate | Mar 6, 2024 | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB351S1 |
| Senate | Mar 6, 2024 | Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N) |
| Senate | Mar 5, 2024 | Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) |
| Senate | Mar 4, 2024 | Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) |
| Senate | Feb 28, 2024 | Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations |
| Senate | Feb 28, 2024 | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N) |
| Senate | Feb 28, 2024 | Committee substitute printed 24108583D-S1 |
| Senate | Feb 14, 2024 | Constitutional reading dispensed |
| Senate | Feb 14, 2024 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| House | Feb 13, 2024 | VOTE: Passage (51-Y 48-N) |
| House | Feb 13, 2024 | Read third time and passed House (51-Y 48-N) |
| House | Feb 12, 2024 | Read second time and engrossed |
| House | Feb 9, 2024 | Read first time |
| House | Feb 7, 2024 | Reported from Appropriations (12-Y 10-N) |
| House | Feb 7, 2024 | Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N) |
| House | Jan 26, 2024 | Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) |
| House | Jan 26, 2024 | Referred to Committee on Appropriations |
| House | Jan 26, 2024 | Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety |
| House | Jan 25, 2024 | Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N) |
| House | Jan 25, 2024 | Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations |
| House | Jan 16, 2024 | Assigned PS sub: Firearms |
| House | Jan 5, 2024 | Referred to Committee on Public Safety |
| House | Jan 5, 2024 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101242D |
Texts
| Type | Date | State Link | Text |
| Enrolled | Mar 25, 2024 | state link | bill text |
| Comm Sub | Feb 28, 2024 | state link | bill text |
| Prefiled | Jan 5, 2024 | state link | bill text |
Amendments
| Title | Description | Date | State Link | Text | Adopted |
| Governors veto explanation | Governors veto explanation | Mar 27, 2024 | State Link | amendment text | No |
| Conference amendments | Conference amendments | Mar 8, 2024 | State Link | amendment text | No |
Votes - Click on description to view vote roll call
| Description | Vote Date | Yea Votes | Nay Votes | No Votes | Absent | Passed |
| House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N) | 01/25/2024 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Yes |
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| House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) | 01/26/2024 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Yes |
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| House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N) | 02/7/2024 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | Yes |
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| House: Reported from Appropriations (12-Y 10-N) | 02/7/2024 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Yes |
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| House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 48-N) | 02/13/2024 | 51 | 48 | 0 | 1 | Yes |
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| Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N) | 02/28/2024 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | Yes |
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| Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) | 03/4/2024 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | Yes |
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| Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) | 03/5/2024 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Yes |
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| Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N) | 03/6/2024 | 21 | 19 | 0 | 0 | Yes |
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| House: VOTE: REJECTED (1-Y 98-N) | 03/7/2024 | 1 | 98 | 0 | 1 | No |
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| Senate: Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N) | 03/7/2024 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Yes |
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| Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N) | 03/8/2024 | 21 | 19 | 0 | 0 | Yes |
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| resort votes by: party yeas nays name | ||||||
| House: VOTE: Adoption (50-Y 46-N) | 03/8/2024 | 50 | 46 | 0 | 4 | Yes |
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Link: link to state bill page
