2021 Passed State Firearm Legislation

Virginia HB1992

Title: Firearms; purchase, etc., following conviction for assault and battery of a family member.

Description: Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearms following conviction for assault and battery of a family or household member; penalties. Prohibits a person who has been convicted of assault and battery of a family or household member, as defined in the bill, from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm. The prohibition expires three years after the date of conviction, at which point the person's firearms rights are restored, unless he receives another disqualifying conviction. A person who violates the provisions of the bill is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearms following conviction for assault and battery of a family or household member; penalties. Prohibits a person who has been convicted of assault and battery of a family or household member, as defined in the bill, from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm. The prohibition expires three years after the date of conviction, at which point the person's firearms rights are restored, unless he receives another disqualifying conviction. A person who violates the provisions of the bill is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0555)

Last Action Date: April 15, 2021

Virginia HB2295

Title: Firearm; carrying within Capitol Square and the surrounding area, state-owned bldgs.

Description: Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square and the surrounding area, into a building owned or leased by the Commonwealth, etc.; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a person to carry any firearm or explosive material within (i) the Capitol of Virginia; (ii) Capitol Square and the surrounding area; (iii) any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof; or (iv) any office where employees of the Commonwealth or agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties. The bill provides exceptions for the following individuals while acting in the conduct of such person's official duties: any law-enforcement officer, any authorized security personnel, any active military personnel, any fire marshal when such fire marshal has been granted police powers, or any member of a cadet corps while such member is participating in an official ceremonial event for the Commonwealth. The prohibitions of the bill that apply to any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any office where state employees are performing official duties do not apply to retired law-enforcement officials visiting a gun range owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any of the following while acting in the conduct of official duties: a bail bondsman, an employee of the Department of Corrections or a state juvenile correctional facility, an employee of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, or an employee of the Department of Wildlife Resources. Such prohibitions also do not apply to an individual carrying a weapon into a courthouse who is statutorily exempt, any property owned or operated by a public institution of higher education, any state park, or any magistrate acting in the conduct of the magistrate's official duties. The bill requires that notice of the provisions prohibiting the carrying of such firearms or explosive material be posted at each of the public entrances to Capitol Square and the other locations where such firearms and explosive material are prohibited in the bill. The bill provides that any firearm or explosive material carried in violation of these provisions is subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeiture to the Commonwealth.

Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0548)

Last Action Date: April 7, 2021

Virginia HB2081

Title: Polling places; prohibited activities, unlawful possession of a firearm, penalty.

Description: Polling places; prohibited activities; unlawful possession of a firearm; penalty. Prohibits any person from knowingly possessing a firearm within 40 feet of any building, or part thereof, used as a polling place, including one hour before and one hour after its use as a polling place, except for (i) a qualified law-enforcement officer or retired law-enforcement officer, (ii) any person occupying his own private property that falls within 40 feet of the polling place, or (iii) a licensed armed security officer whose employment or performance of his duties occurs within 40 feet of the polling place. The bill further provides that no person shall knowingly possess a firearm within 40 feet of a meeting place for the local electoral board while the electoral board meets to ascertain the results of an election or any place used as the setting for a recount. A violation of the provisions of the bill is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0459)

Last Action Date: March 31, 2021

Virginia HB1909

Title: School board building or property, certain; establishment of gun-free zone permitted.

Description: Certain school board property; establishment of gun-free zone permitted. Permits any school board to deem any non-school zone building or property that it owns or leases where employees of such school board are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties as a gun-free zone and prohibit any individual from knowingly possessing, purchasing, transferring, carrying, storing, or transporting firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof while such individual is upon such property, except certain individuals such as law-enforcement officers and qualified retired law-enforcement officers. Certain school board property; establishment of gun-free zone permitted. Permits any school board to deem any non-school zone building or property that it owns or leases where employees of such school board are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties as a gun-free zone and prohibit any individual from knowingly possessing, purchasing, transferring, carrying, storing, or transporting firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof while such individual is upon such property, except certain individuals such as law-enforcement officers and qualified retired law-enforcement officers.

Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0439)

Last Action Date: March 30, 2021

Virginia HB2310

Title: Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence.

Description: Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence; emergency. Provides that any applicant for a concealed handgun permit who completed an online course to demonstrate competence with a handgun and contacted the circuit court clerk's office prior to January 1, 2021, but was prohibited from appearing in person at a circuit court clerk's office because of COVID-19 restrictions is eligible to apply for such permit through April 30, 2021. The bill contains an emergency clause. Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence; emergency. Provides that any applicant for a concealed handgun permit who completed an online course to demonstrate competence with a handgun and contacted the circuit court clerk's office prior to January 1, 2021, but was prohibited from appearing in person at a circuit court clerk's office because of COVID-19 restrictions is eligible to apply for such permit through April 30, 2021. The bill contains an emergency clause.

Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0085)

Last Action Date: March 11, 2021

Virginia HB2128

Title: Firearms, certain; sale, etc., criminal history record information check delay increased to 5 days.

Description: Sale or transfer of firearms; criminal history record information check delay. Increases from three business days to five business days the time provided for the Department of State Police to complete a background check before a firearm may be transferred. If a dealer who has otherwise fulfilled all requirements is told by the State Police that a response will not be available by the end of the dealer's fifth business day, the dealer may complete the sale or transfer without being deemed in violation.

Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0031)

Last Action Date: February 25, 2021

Virginia HB2310

Title: Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence.

Description: Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence; emergency. Provides that any applicant for a concealed handgun permit who completed an online course to demonstrate competence with a handgun and contacted the circuit court clerk's office prior to January 1, 2021, but was prohibited from appearing in person at a circuit court clerk's office because of COVID-19 restrictions is eligible to apply for such permit through April 30, 2021. The bill contains an emergency clause. Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence; emergency. Provides that any applicant for a concealed handgun permit who completed an online course to demonstrate competence with a handgun and contacted the circuit court clerk's office prior to January 1, 2021, but was prohibited from appearing in person at a circuit court clerk's office because of COVID-19 restrictions is eligible to apply for such permit through April 30, 2021. The bill contains an emergency clause.

Last Action: Continued to 2021 Sp. Sess. 1 in Judiciary (14-Y 0-N)

Last Action Date: February 5, 2021

Virginia HB2128

Title: Firearms; criminal history record information check delay increased to five days.

Description: Sale or transfer of firearms; criminal history record information check delay. Increases from three business days to five business days the time provided for the Department of State Police to complete a background check before a firearm may be transferred. If a dealer who has otherwise fulfilled all requirements is told by the State Police that a response will not be available by the end of the dealer's fifth business day, the dealer may complete the sale or transfer without being deemed in violation.

Last Action: Continued to 2021 Sp. Sess. 1 in Judiciary (14-Y 0-N)

Last Action Date: February 5, 2021