136 total bills, 72 anti-gun bills,
22 pro-gun bills for this session
Proposed Virginia Firearm Legislation
136 total bills, 72 anti-gun bills,
22 pro-gun bills for this session
2013 Session2014 Session2015 Session2016 Session2017 Session2018 Session2019 Session2020 Session2021 Session2022 Session2023 Session2024 Session2025 Session
Filter: Click on bill number for details. jump to upper chamber
note: Legislation carries over from even-numbered to odd-numbered years. When a bill is carried over, legislators have until early December to consider and vote on the legislation. All bills considered for carryover must have been in a committee at sine die, and addressed and passed by the committee by the December deadline.
Title: Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks, penalty.
Description: Firearm sales; criminal history record information checks; penalty. Requires a background check for any firearm sale and directs the Department of State Police (the Department) to establish a process for transferors to obtain such a background check from licensed firearms dealers. A person who sells a firearm to another person without obtaining the required background check is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also provides that a purchaser who receives a firearm from another person without obtaining the required background check is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill removes the provision that makes background checks of prospective purchasers or transferees at firearms shows voluntary. The bill also provides that the Department shall have three business days to complete a background check before a firearm may be transferred.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1111)
Last Action Date: April 10, 2020
Title: Firearms; reporting those lost or stolen, civil penalty.
Description: Reporting lost or stolen firearms; civil penalty. Requires that, if a firearm is lost or stolen from a person who lawfully possessed it, such person shall report the loss or theft of the firearm to any local law-enforcement agency or the Department of State Police within 48 hours after such person discovers the loss or theft or is informed by a person with personal knowledge of the loss or theft. The bill requires the relevant law-enforcement agency to enter the report information into the National Crime Information Center. A violation is punishable by a civil penalty of not more than $250. The bill provides that a person who, in good faith, reports the loss or theft is immune from criminal or civil liability for acts or omissions that result from the loss or theft. The immunity does not apply to a person who knowingly gives a false report. The bill does not apply to the loss or theft of an antique firearm.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0743)
Last Action Date: April 6, 2020
Title: Gun Violence Awareness Day; designating as June 1, 2020, and each succeeding year thereafter.
Description: Gun Violence Awareness Day. Designates June 1, in 2020 and in each succeeding year, as Gun Violence Awareness Day in Virginia.
Last Action: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ10ER)
Last Action Date: March 3, 2020
Title: Gun violence in communities; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study effects.
Description: Study; JLARC; effects of gun violence on communities; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the social, physical, emotional, and economic effects of gun violence on communities across the Commonwealth.
Last Action: Left in Rules
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms; DCJS, study enforcemt. of law prohibiting individual subject to certain protective orders.
Description: Study; DCJS; enforcement of the law prohibiting individuals subject to permanent protective orders for family abuse from possessing firearms while such order is in effect; report. Directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services to study the enforcement of the law prohibiting individuals subject to permanent protective orders for family abuse from possessing firearms while such order is in effect.
Last Action: Left in Rules
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Children; allowing access to firearms by children, recklessly leaving loaded, unsecured firearm.
Description: Allowing access to firearms by children; recklessly leaving loaded, unsecured firearm in manner that endangers child under 14; penalty. Increases from a Class 3 misdemeanor to a Class 6 felony the penalty for recklessly leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any person under the age of 14. The bill contains technical amendments.
Last Action: Incorporated by Public Safety
Last Action Date: January 24, 2020
Title: Firearms; purchase, possession, and transporting following certain convictions.
Description: Purchase, possession, and transport of firearms following certain convictions; permit to restore rights; penalty. Prohibits a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor violation of assault and battery of a family or household member from possessing or transporting a firearm. A person who violates this provision is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill provides for a process by which a person convicted of such crime may petition the circuit court for a reinstatement of his right to possess or transport a firearm.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Marijuana; legalization of simple possession, penalties.
Description: Marijuana; legalization of simple marijuana possession; Marijuana; legalization of simple marijuana possession; penalties. Eliminates criminal penalties for possession of marijuana for persons who are 21 years of age or older. The bill also decriminalizes marijuana possession for persons under 21 years of age and provides a civil penalty of no more than $100 for possession of (i) two and one-half ounces or less of marijuana or (ii) 12 or fewer marijuana plants and a civil penalty of no more than $500 for possession of more than (a) two and one-half ounces of marijuana or (b) 12 marijuana plants. Under current law, a first offense is punishable by a maximum fine of $500 and a maximum jail sentence of 30 days, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also modifies several other criminal penalties related to marijuana. The bill establishes a regulatory scheme for the regulation of marijuana cultivation facilities, marijuana manufacturing facilities, marijuana secure transporters, marijuana testing facilities, retail marijuana stores, and marijuana microbusinesses by the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill imposes an additional tax of 10 percent on retail marijuana and retail marijuana products sold by retail marijuana stores and microbusinesses and directs the first $20 million of such revenues, after expenses of the Board are paid, to the Veterans Treatment Fund, established in the bill. The remaining tax receipts will be distributed to the localities in which the businesses operate, toward the state's share of Standards of Quality basic aid payments, and to the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund. The bill also expands the legal medical uses of marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinol from only cancer and glaucoma to any use to alleviate the symptoms of any diagnosed condition or disease determined by the
Last Action: Continued to 2021 in Courts of Justice by voice vote
Last Action Date: February 5, 2020
Title: Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence.
Description: Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence. Removes the option for concealed handgun permit applicants to demonstrate competence with a handgun by completing an electronic, video, or online course conducted by a state-certified or National Rifle Association-certified firearms instructor. The bill does not affect any in-person means of satisfying the requirement to demonstrate competence with a handgun under current law.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: License plates, special; bearing the legend STOP GUN VIOLENCE, revenue-sharing provisions.
Description: Special license plate bearing the legend STOP GUN VIOLENCE; revenue-sharing provisions. Provides that the special license plate bearing the legend STOP GUN VIOLENCE will remain nonrevenue-sharing. Current law provides that such special license plate will become revenue-sharing on July 1, 2020.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0426)
Last Action Date: March 23, 2020
Title: Carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required.
Description: Carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required. Allows any person who is otherwise eligible to obtain a resident concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun without a permit anywhere he may lawfully carry a handgun openly within the Commonwealth.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearm-free zones designated by the Commonwealth or a locality; waiver of sovereign immunity.
Description: Firearm-free zones designated by the Commonwealth or a locality; waiver of sovereign immunity. Provides that (i) if the Commonwealth designates any property owned by it or (ii) if any locality designates such locality or any part of such locality as a firearm-free zone, the Commonwealth or such locality waives its sovereign immunity as it relates to any injuries sustained by persons lawfully present in such firearm-free zone.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearm purchases; proof of demonstration of competence with a firearm.
Description: Firearm purchases; proof of demonstration of competence with a firearm. Provides that any person purchasing from a dealer a firearm shall demonstrate competence with a firearm as provided in the statute governing proof of demonstration of competence with a handgun for the purposes of obtaining a concealed handgun permit. The bill also prohibits a firearms dealer from selling, renting, trading, or transferring from his inventory any firearm to any person until he has been furnished with proof that the prospective has demonstrated competence with a firearm.
Last Action: Stricken from House calendar
Last Action Date: January 9, 2020
Title: Carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required.
Description: Carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required. Allows any person who is otherwise eligible to obtain a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun without a permit anywhere he may lawfully carry a handgun openly within the Commonwealth.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Forfeiture of property used in connection with the commission of crimes; finding of guilt required.
Description: Forfeiture of property used in connection with the commission of crimes; finding of guilt required. Requires that any action for the forfeiture of property used in connection with the commission of a crime be stayed until the person whose property is the subject of the forfeiture action has been found guilty of the crime authorizing the forfeiture, regardless of whether he has been sentenced. The bill provides that property may be forfeited even though no finding of guilt is made if (i) the forfeiture is ordered by the court pursuant to a plea agreement or (ii) the owner has not submitted a written demand for the return of the property within 21 days from the date the stay terminates.
Last Action: Incorporated by Courts of Justice
Last Action Date: January 31, 2020
Title: Unrestorably incompetent defendant; competency report.
Description: Unrestorably incompetent defendant; competency report. Provides that in cases where a defendant is likely to remain incompetent for the foreseeable future due to an ongoing and irreversible medical condition and prior medical or educational records are available to support the diagnosis, a competency report may recommend that the court find the defendant unrestorably incompetent to stand trial, and the court may proceed with the disposition of the case based on such recommendation. Under current law, the defendant is required to undergo treatment to restore his competency before the court can find a defendant unrestorably incompetent to stand trial. The bill also provides that such person who is found unrestorably incompetent to stand trial shall be prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1121)
Last Action Date: April 10, 2020
Title: Firearms; transfer, criminal history record check delay.
Description: Transfer of firearms; criminal history record check delay; penalty. Increases from the end of the next business day to within five business days the time in which State Police must advise a dealer if its records indicate that a firearms buyer or transferee is prohibited from possessing or transporting a firearm and the time after which a dealer may complete the sale or transfer without a response from the State Police. The bill removes the option in current law that a dealer may immediately complete the sale or transfer if he is advised by the State Police that a response will not be available within the required timeframe.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence, effective date.
Description: Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence. Removes the option for concealed handgun permit applicants to demonstrate competence with a handgun by completing an electronic, video, or online course conducted by a state-certified or National Rifle Association-certified firearms instructor. The bill does not affect any in-person means of satisfying the requirement to demonstrate competence with a handgun under current law. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2021.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0390)
Last Action Date: March 23, 2020
Title: Juveniles; trial as adult.
Description: Juveniles; trial as adult. Increases from 14 years of age to 16 years of age the minimum age at which a juvenile can be tried as an adult in circuit court for a felony.
Last Action: Left in Courts of Justice
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Ammunition for a firearm on school property; Class 1 misdemeanor for possession, penalty.
Description: Possession of ammunition on school property; penalty. Provides that a person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor if he knowingly possesses ammunition for a firearm upon (i) the property of any public, private, or religious elementary, middle, or high school, including buildings and grounds; (ii) that portion of any property open to the public and then exclusively used for school-sponsored functions or extracurricular activities while such functions or activities are taking place; or (iii) any school bus owned or operated by any such school.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks, penalty.
Description: Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks; penalty. Requires a background check for any firearm transfer and requires the Department of State Police to establish a process for transferors of firearms to obtain such a check from licensed firearms dealers. A transferor who fails to obtain a required background check and sells the firearm to another person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill exempts transfers (i) between immediate family members; (ii) that occur by operation of law; (iii) by the executor or administrator of an estate or by the trustee of a testamentary trust; (iv) at firearms shows in accordance with law; (v) that are part of a buyback or give-back program; (vi) of antique firearms; (vii) that occur at a shooting range, shooting gallery, or any other area designed for the purpose of target shooting or for use during target practice, a firearms safety or training course or class, a shooting competition, or any similar lawful activity; or (viii) that are temporary transfers that (a) occur within the continuous presence of the owner of the firearm or (b) are necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm. The bill removes the provision that makes background checks of prospective purchasers or transferees at firearms shows voluntary.
Last Action: Incorporated by Public Safety
Last Action Date: January 24, 2020
Title: Place of religious worship; carrying dangerous weapon.
Description: Carrying dangerous weapon to place of religious worship. Repeals the code section related to carrying dangerous weapons in places of worship.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms, ammunition, etc.; control by localities by governing possession, etc., within locality.
Description: Control of firearms by localities. Authorizes any locality by ordinance to prohibit the possession or carrying of firearms, ammunition, or components or any combination thereof in (i) any building, or part thereof, owned or used by such locality for governmental purposes; (ii) any public park owned or operated by the locality; (iii) any recreation or community center facility; or (iv) any public street, road, alley, sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit. Provisions limiting the authority of localities and state governmental entities to bring lawsuits against certain firearms manufacturers and others are also repealed. The bill also provides that any firearm received by the locality pursuant to a gun buy-back program shall be destroyed by the locality unless the person surrendering such firearm requests in writing that such surrendered firearm be sold. The provisions of the bill do not apply to the activities of a Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program operated at a public or private institution of higher education or (ii) any intercollegiate athletics program operated by a public or private institution of higher education and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or any club sports team recognized by a public or private institution of higher education where the sport engaged in by such program or team involves the use of a firearm. The bill contains technical amendments.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1205)
Last Action Date: April 22, 2020
Title: Gun Violence Survivor Assistance Fund and Grant Program; established.
Description: Gun Violence Survivor Assistance Fund and Grant Program. Establishes the Gun Violence Survivor Assistance Fund and Grant Program, to be administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services for the purpose of providing grants to gun violence survivors who are in need of financial assistance to make accessibility adaptations to their homes to accommodate a disability resulting from a gun violence-related injury.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Transfer of multiple firearms; report to the Department of State Police.
Description: Transfer of multiple firearms; report to the Department of State Police. Requires any dealer who sells, trades, or transfers more than two firearms to an individual in a single transaction to report such transaction to the Department of State Police. The bill also provides that the State Police shall maintain multiple firearms transaction records for 12 months. Current law states that State Police shall maintain multiple handgun transaction records for 12 months.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms, certain; penalty.
Description: Prohibited public carrying of certain firearms; penalty. Prohibits the carrying of a loaded shotgun or rifle in places open to the public in certain cities and counties. Current law prohibits the carrying in such locations of certain loaded firearms with high-capacity magazines, silencers, folding stock, or long ammunition or a loaded shotgun with a magazine that will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered. The bill also eliminates a current exception to the prohibition on carrying such firearms in places open to the public for persons having a valid concealed handgun permit.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Manufacture, import, sale, transfer, or possession of undetectable firearms; penalty.
Description: Manufacture, import, sale, transfer, or possession of undetectable firearms; penalty. Creates a Class 5 felony for any person who manufactures, imports, sells, transfers, or possesses any firearm that, after removal of all parts other than a major component, defined in the bill, is not detectable as a firearm by the types of detection devices, including X-ray machines, commonly used at airports for security screening. The bill updates language regarding the types of detection devices that are used at airports for detecting plastic firearms.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Appeal of involuntary admission order; possession of firearms, penalty.
Description: Appeal of involuntary admission order; possession of firearms; penalty. Provides that a person who is involuntarily admitted or ordered to mandatory outpatient treatment may not purchase, possess, or transport a firearm until his right to do so is restored by a court regardless of the outcome of any appeal of that order. A violation of this prohibition is a Class 1 misdemeanor. A third or subsequent offense is punishable as a Class 6 felony.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms; purchase, possession, and transportation, fugitives, penalty.
Description: Purchase, possession, and transportation of firearms; fugitives; penalty. Provides that it is a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person who is a fugitive to purchase, possess, or transport a firearm. The bill also updates the criminal history record information check form to inquire if the applicant is a fugitive, as defined in the bill.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms; possession or transportation following certain crimes.
Description: Possession or transportation of firearms following convictions for certain misdemeanor crimes; restoration of rights; penalty. Prohibits a person who has been convicted of assault and battery when the person intentionally selects the person against whom a simple assault is committed because of his race, religious conviction, color, or national origin from possessing or transporting a firearm. A person who violates this provision is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill provides for a process by which a person convicted of such crimes may petition the circuit court for a reinstatement of his right to possess or transport a firearm.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Minors; allowing access to firearms, Class 6 felony, etc.
Description: Allowing access to firearms by minors; penalty. Provides that any person who negligently leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any person under the age of 18 is guilty of a Class 6 felony. Current law provides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of 14 is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Last Action: Incorporated by Public Safety
Last Action Date: January 24, 2020
Title: Marijuana; decriminalization of simple marijuana possession, penalty.
Description: Marijuana; decriminalization of simple marijuana possession; penalty. Decriminalizes simple marijuana possession and provides a civil penalty of no more than $50 for a first violation, $100 for a second violation, and $250 for a third or subsequent violation. Current law imposes a maximum fine of $500 and a maximum 30-day jail sentence for a first offense, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill provides that the suspended sentence/substance abuse screening provisions and driver's license suspension provisions apply only to criminal violations or to civil violations by a juvenile. The bill provides that a court may suspend a driver's license for a civil violation committed by an adult. A civil violation will be treated as a conviction for prohibitions on the purchase or transport of a handgun and disqualification for a concealed handgun permit.
Last Action: Incorporated by Courts of Justice
Last Action Date: February 5, 2020
Title: Indoor shooting ranges; prohibited in buildings not owned or leased by the Commonwealth.
Description: Indoor shooting ranges; prohibited in buildings not owned or leased by the Commonwealth or federal government; exceptions; civil penalty. Prohibits the operation of an indoor shooting range, defined in the bill, in any building not owned or leased by the Commonwealth or federal government unless (i) fewer than 50 employees work in the building or (ii) (a) at least 90 percent of the users of the indoor shooting range are law-enforcement officers or federal law-enforcement officers, (b) the indoor shooting range maintains a log of each user's name, phone number, address, and the law-enforcement agency where such user is employed, and (c) the indoor shooting range verifies each user's identity and address by requiring all users to present a government-issued photo-identification card. The bill provides that any person that violates the provisions of this section is subject to a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $100,000 for the initial violation and $5,000 per day for each day of violation thereafter.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Carrying or storing firearms in motor vehicles and vessels; exceptions, penalty.
Description: Carrying or storing firearms in motor vehicles and vessels; exceptions; penalty. Provides that any person possessing or storing a firearm in a motor vehicle or vessel shall secure such firearm in a locked container, other than a glove box, that is not within the dominion and control of or readily accessible for prompt and immediate use by any person within the motor vehicle. The bill provides exceptions for law-enforcement officers, licensed security guards, military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties, or any person having a valid concealed handgun permit. A violation is punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500. The bill also removes the current exception for carrying a concealed weapon for any person who may lawfully possess a firearm and is carrying a handgun while in a personal, private motor vehicle or vessel and such handgun is secured in a container or compartment in the vehicle or vessel.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Out-of-state concealed handgun permits; reciprocity.
Description: Out-of-state concealed handgun permits; reciprocity. Out-of-state concealed handgun permits; reciprocity. Reinstates the prior law providing that the holder of an out-of-state concealed handgun permit who is at least 21 years of age is authorized to carry a concealed handgun in Virginia if the other state (i) has a 24-hour-a-day means of verification of the validity of the permits issued in that state and (ii) has requirements and qualifications that are adequate to prevent possession of a permit by persons who would be denied a permit in Virginia. Under current law, the holder of an out-of-state concealed handgun permit who is at least 21 years of age is authorized to carry a concealed handgun in Virginia if (a) the other state has a means of verification of the validity of the permits issued in that state, accessible 24 hours a day, if available; (b) the person carries a government-issued photo identification and displays it upon demand of a law-enforcement officer; and (c) the person has not previously had a Virginia concealed handgun permit revoked. The bill states that the Attorney General shall (1) determine whether states meet the requirements and qualifications of the bill, (2) maintain a registry of such states, and (3) make the registry available to law-enforcement officers for investigative purposes. The bill further requires the Attorney General to review the determinations of whether states meet the requirements and qualifications of the bill and update the registry accordingly every two years. The bill removes the requirement for the Superintendent of State Police to enter into agreements for reciprocal recognition with other states that require an agreement to be in place before the state will recognize a Virginia concealed handgun permit as valid in the state and provides that the Attorney General may enter into agreements for reciprocal recognition with any state qualifying for recognition. The bill also reinstates the recognition of certain Maryland concealed handgun permits and eliminates the requirement that the Superintendent of State Police enter into agreements for reciprocal recognition of concealed handgun permits or licenses with other states where
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Place of religious worship; carrying dangerous weapon.
Description: Carrying dangerous weapon to place of religious worship; repeal. Repeals the code section related to carrying dangerous weapons in places of worship.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Weapons; carrying into building owned or leased by the Commonwealth, penalty.
Description: Carrying weapon into building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; penalty. Makes it a Class 3 misdemeanor for a person to transport any (i) gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) frame, receiver, muffler, silencer, missile, projectile, or ammunition designed for use with a dangerous weapon; or (iii) other dangerous weapon into a building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof, where employees of the Commonwealth or agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties. A third or subsequent violation is punishable as a misdemeanor, and such offender may be confined in jail not more than 30 days and fined not more than $500, either or both. The bill provides exceptions for law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, magistrates, court officers, judges, city or county treasurers, commissioners or deputy commissioners of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, authorized security personnel, and active military personnel while in the conduct of such individuals' official duties. The bill requires that notice of the provisions prohibiting the carrying of such weapons be posted at each public entrance to all buildings owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Family day homes, licensed, etc.; storage of unloaded firearms in a locked container, cabinet, etc.
Description: Family day homes; storage of firearms. Requires that during hours of operation, all firearms in a licensed family day home, registered family day home, or family day home approved by a family day system be stored unloaded in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet, and that all ammunition be stored in a separate locked container, compartment, or cabinet. The bill requires that the key or combination to such locked containers, compartments, or cabinets be inaccessible to all children in the home.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0910)
Last Action Date: April 9, 2020
Title: Concealed handguns; carrying with a permit by employees of any agency of the Commonwealth, etc.
Description: Carrying concealed handgun with a permit; employees of any agency of the Commonwealth or political subdivision thereof. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law or any rule, regulation, or workplace policy to the contrary, an employee of any agency of the Commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof with a valid concealed handgun permit may possess or carry a concealed handgun at his workplace. The bill provides, however, that any agency of the Commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof may prohibit employees from possessing or carrying a concealed handgun at their workplace only if such agency of the Commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof has employed law-enforcement officers or armed security officers to provide protection at such workplace, and such officers are stationed within the workplace building during operating hours.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms; removal from persons posing substantial risk of injury to himself, etc., penalties.
Description: Firearms; removal from persons posing substantial risk; penalties. Creates a procedure by which any attorney for the Commonwealth or law-enforcement officer may apply to a general district court, circuit court, or juvenile and domestic relations district court judge or magistrate for an emergency substantial risk order to prohibit a person who poses a substantial risk of injury to himself or others from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm. Upon service of an emergency substantial risk order, the person who is subject to the order shall be given the opportunity to voluntarily relinquish any firearm. An emergency substantial risk order shall expire on the fourteenth day following issuance of the order. The bill requires a court hearing in the circuit court for the jurisdiction where the order was issued within 14 days from issuance of an emergency substantial risk order to determine whether a substantial risk order should be issued. Seized firearms shall be retained by a law-enforcement agency for the duration of an emergency substantial risk order or a substantial risk order or, for a substantial risk order and with court approval, may be transferred to a third party 21 years of age or older chosen by the person from whom they were seized. The bill allows the complainant of the original warrant to file a motion for a hearing to extend the substantial risk order prior to its expiration. The court may extend the substantial risk order for a period not longer than 180 days. The bill provides that persons who are subject to a substantial risk order, until such order has been dissolved by a court, are guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor for purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm; are disqualified from having a concealed handgun permit; and may not be employed by a licensed firearms dealer. The bill also provides that a person who transfers a firearm to a person he knows has been served with a warrant or who is the subject of a substantial risk order is guilty of a Class 4 felony. The bill creates a computerized substantial risk order registry for the entry of orders issued pursuant to provisions in the bill.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0887)
Last Action Date: April 8, 2020
Title: Carrying a concealed handgun; consumption of alcohol in a public park, penalty.
Description: Carrying a concealed handgun; consumption of alcohol in a public park; penalty. Prohibits a person who carries a concealed handgun onto the premises of any public park or other public space when alcoholic beverages have been approved for sale or consumption therein from consuming an alcoholic beverage while on the premises. A violation of this provision is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Handguns; limitation on purchases, penalty.
Description: Purchase of handguns; limitation on handgun purchases; penalty. Prohibits any person who is not a licensed firearms dealer from purchasing more than one handgun in a 30-day period and establishes such an offense as a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill exempts from this provision (i) persons who have been issued a certificate by the Department of State Police under certain circumstances and with an enhanced background check, (ii) law-enforcement agencies and officers, (iii) state and local correctional facilities, (iv) licensed private security companies, (v) persons who hold a valid Virginia concealed handgun permit, (vi) persons whose handgun has been stolen or irretrievably lost or who are trading in a handgun, (vii) purchases of handguns in a private sale, and (viii) purchases of antique firearms.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0991)
Last Action Date: April 9, 2020
Title: Firearms; recklessly allowing access to certain persons, penalty.
Description: Recklessly allowing access to firearms to certain persons; penalty. Provides that any person who (i) sells, barters, gives, or furnishes; (ii) has in his possession or under his control with the intent of selling, bartering, giving, or furnishing; or (iii) recklessly allows access to any firearm to any person he knows or has reason to believe is prohibited from possessing or transporting a firearm is guilty of a Class 4 felony. Under current law, such prohibition applies only to a person who (a) sells, barters, gives, or furnishes or (b) has in his possession or under his control with the intent of selling, bartering, giving, or furnishing any firearm to any person he knows is prohibited from possessing or transporting a firearm.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Protective orders; possession of firearms, surrender or transfer of firearms, penalty.
Description: Protective orders; possession of firearms; surrender or transfer of firearms; penalty. Provides that a court shall order a person subject to a permanent protective order (i.e., a protective order with a maximum duration of two years) to (i) within 24 hours, surrender any firearm possessed by such person to a designated local law-enforcement agency or sell or transfer any firearm possessed by such person to a dealer or to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm and (ii) certify in writing that such person does not possess any firearms or that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred and file such certification with the clerk of the court that entered the protective order within 48 hours after being served with a protective order. The bill provides that any person who fails to certify in writing in accordance with this section that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred or that such person does not possess any firearms is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill provides procedures for designating a local law-enforcement agency to receive and store firearms, as well as a process to retrieve such surrendered firearms. The bill also makes it a Class 4 felony for any person to sell, barter, give, or furnish any firearm to any person he knows is prohibited from possessing or transporting a firearm who is the subject to a permanent protective order.
Last Action: Incorporated by Public Safety
Last Action Date: January 24, 2020
Title: Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemption for certain gun safes.
Description: Sales tax exemption; gun safes. Establishes an exemption from retail sales tax for a gun safe with a selling price of $1,500 or less. The bill defines "gun safe" as a safe or vault that is (i) commercially available, (ii) secured with a digital or dial combination locking mechanism or biometric locking mechanism, and (iii) designed for the storage of a firearm or of ammunition for use in a firearm. Under the bill, "gun safe" does not include a glass-faced cabinet.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0507)
Last Action Date: March 27, 2020
Title: Restricted firearm ammunition; penalty.
Description: Manufacture, import, sale, transfer, or possession of restricted firearm ammunition; penalty. Makes it a Class 5 felony to manufacture, import, sell, transfer, or possess any restricted firearm ammunition, defined in current law as bullets, projectiles, or other types of ammunition that are (i) Teflon coated or coated with a similar product; (ii) commonly known as "KTW" bullets or "French Arcanes"; or (iii) cartridges containing bullets coated with a plastic substance with other than lead or lead alloy cores, jacketed bullets with other than lead or lead alloy cores, or cartridges of which the bullet itself is wholly composed of a metal or metal alloy other than lead, but the definition does not include shotgun shells or solid plastic bullets. The bill provides exceptions to the prohibition and provides that any restricted ammunition possessed in violation of the law shall be forfeited to the Commonwealth.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms; prohibition on possession, purchase, or transport following certain convictions.
Description: Prohibition on possession, purchase, or transport of firearms following certain misdemeanor convictions; penalties. Prohibits a person who has been convicted of stalking, sexual battery, assault and battery of a family or household member, brandishing a firearm, or two or more convictions of assault and battery from possessing or transporting a firearm. A person who violates this provision is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor or, upon a third or subsequent conviction of this or certain other firearms offenses, is guilty of a Class 6 felony.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Alcoholic beverage control; interdiction of intoxicated driver, etc.
Description: Alcoholic beverage control; interdiction; habitual drunkard; repeal. Repeals the provision allowing a court to enter an order of interdiction prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages to any person who has shown himself to be a habitual drunkard. The bill also repeals the provision that disqualifies habitual drunkards from being able to obtain a concealed handgun permit.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0150)
Last Action Date: March 4, 2020
Title: Firearms, certain; possession, purchase, etc., in certain localities.
Description: Possession, purchase, and transport of certain firearms in certain localities; withholding state funds. Allows a person to lawfully possess, purchase, or transport a firearm or firearms magazine that he would otherwise be lawfully permitted to possess, purchase, or transport on January 1, 2020, while he is in a locality that has adopted or enforced any ordinance, resolution, or motion that declares such locality a sanctuary for Second Amendment rights. The bill also provides that no funds payable by the Commonwealth to a locality for any and all purposes shall be withheld from a locality solely on the basis of such locality adopting or enforcing any ordinance, resolution, or motion that declares such locality a sanctuary for Second Amendment rights.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Public schools; firearm safety education program.
Description: Public schools; firearm safety education program. Requires local school boards to provide firearm safety education programs for students in high school. The bill requires the Board of Education to establish curriculum guidelines for the program, in consultation with the Department of State Police, and requires that the program be taught by a school resource officer, other law-enforcement officer, or a United States Armed Forces instructor. The bill prohibits the use of firearms in the program. Current law allows local school boards to provide a firearm safety education program for students in the elementary grades and does not specify who may instruct such program.
Last Action: Left in Education
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms and ammunition; imposes additional sales and use tax, use of proceeds.
Description: Additional state sales tax on firearms and ammunition; use of proceeds; Student Mental Health and Safety Fund and Program. Imposes an additional sales and use tax on the retail sale of firearms and ammunition. The amount of the tax shall be 10 percent minus the amount of tax imposed by all other sales and use taxes levied by the Commonwealth. Revenues from the tax shall be deposited in the Student Mental Health and Safety Fund (the Fund), which is established by the bill. In addition to the Fund, the bill creates the Student Mental Health and Safety Program (the Program). The Program and Fund shall provide grants on a competitive basis to public school divisions for the purpose of funding full-time school counselor positions at a ratio of 250:1 or better, school social worker positions at a ratio of 400:1 or better, and school psychologists at a ratio of 500:1 or better.
Last Action: Continued to 2021 in Finance by voice vote
Last Action Date: February 5, 2020
Title: Assault firearms, certain firearm magazines, etc.; prohibiting sale, transport, etc., penalties.
Description: Prohibiting sale, transport, etc., of assault firearms, certain firearm magazines, silencers, and trigger activators; penalties. Expands the definition of "assault firearm" and prohibits any person from importing, selling, transferring, manufacturing, purchasing, or transporting an assault firearm. A violation is a Class 6 felony. The bill prohibits a dealer from selling, renting, trading, or transferring from his inventory an assault firearm to any person. The bill makes it a Class 6 felony to import, sell, transfer, manufacture, purchase, possess, or transport silencers, and trigger activators, all defined in the bill. The bill makes it a Class 6 felony to import, sell, transfer, manufacture, purchase, or transport a large-capacity firearm magazine, as defined in the bill, and a Class 1 misdemeanor to possess such large-capacity firearm magazine. Any person who legally owns a large-capacity firearm magazine, silencer, or trigger activator on July 1, 2020, may retain possession until January 1, 2021. During that time, such person shall (i) render the large-capacity firearm magazine, silencer, or trigger activator inoperable; (ii) remove the large-capacity firearm magazine, silencer, or trigger activator from the Commonwealth; (iii) transfer the large-capacity firearm magazine, silencer, or trigger activator to a person outside the Commonwealth who is not prohibited from possessing it; or (iv) surrender the large-capacity firearm magazine, silencer, or trigger activator to a state or local law-enforcement agency.
Last Action: Continued to 2021 in Judiciary (10-Y 5-N)
Last Action Date: February 17, 2020
Title: Firearms; restoration of rights of persons convicted of violent felonies.
Description: Firearms; restoration of rights of persons convicted of violent felonies. Provides that a person who has been convicted of an act of violence or a violent felony may not petition for a restoration order that unconditionally authorizes possessing, transporting, or carrying a firearm, ammunition for a firearm, or a stun weapon until one year after his civil rights have been restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority. The bill further provides that if such person is convicted of a violent misdemeanor, defined in the bill, after his civil rights have been restored, then he may not petition for such order until two years after the date of conviction.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Protective orders; possession of firearms, surrender or transfer of firearms, penalty.
Description: Protective orders; possession of firearms; surrender or transfer of firearms; penalty. Prohibits any person subject to a permanent protective order (i.e., a protective order with a maximum duration of two years) from knowingly possessing a firearm while the order is in effect, provided that for a period of 24 hours after being served with a protective order such person may continue to possess such firearm for the purposes of selling or transferring it to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm. A violation of this provision is a Class 6 felony. The bill also provides that a court shall order a person subject to a permanent protective order to (i) within 24 hours, surrender any firearm possessed by such person to a designated local law-enforcement agency or sell or transfer any firearm possessed by such person to a dealer or to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm and (ii) certify in writing that such person does not possess any firearms or that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred and file such certification with the clerk of the court that entered the protective order within 48 hours after being served with a protective order. The bill provides that the willful failure of any person to certify in writing that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred or that such person does not possess any firearms shall constitute contempt of court. The bill provides procedures for designating a local law-enforcement agency to receive and store firearms, as well as a process to return such surrendered firearms. The bill also makes it a Class 4 felony for any person to sell, barter, give, or furnish any firearm to any person he knows is prohibited from possessing or transporting a firearm who is subject to a permanent protective order.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1221)
Last Action Date: April 22, 2020
Title: Concealed weapons; sling bow.
Description: Carrying concealed weapons; sling bow. Replaces "slingshot" with "sling bow" in the list of weapons a person is prohibited from carrying concealed. The bill also removes the Harbormaster of the City of Hopewell from the list of individuals who, while in the discharge of their official duties, or while in transit to or from such duties, are exempted from the prohibition on carrying a concealed weapon.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0142)
Last Action Date: March 4, 2020
Title: Weapons; possession in Capitol Square and legislative buildings, penalties.
Description: Possession of weapons; Capitol Square and legislative buildings; penalties. Prohibits the possession of a (i) firearm or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) frame, receiver, muffler, silencer, missile, projectile, or ammunition designed for use with a dangerous weapon; or (iii) other dangerous weapon, including explosives, stun weapons, or any weapon currently prohibited from being carried concealed while in (a) the Capitol of Virginia, (b) Capitol Square, (c) any other building owned or leased by the Commonwealth and used predominantly for the conduct of the business of the General Assembly, or (d) any other building where the General Assembly is meeting in session. The prohibition does not apply to law-enforcement officers, authorized security personnel, or active-duty military personnel in the performance of such person's lawful duties. A first offense is punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor and a second or subsequent offense is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms or other weapons; unauthorized to possess on school property.
Description: Firearms or other weapons on school property. Provides that no school board may authorize or designate any person to possess a firearm on school property other than those persons expressly authorized by statute. The bill also clarifies that no exemption exists for a special conservator of the peace to possess a firearm or other weapon on school property.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1037)
Last Action Date: April 10, 2020
Title: Minors; allowing access to firearms, Class 1 misdemeanor.
Description: Allowing access to firearms by minors; penalty. Provides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any person under the age of 14 is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Current law provides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of 14 is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0742)
Last Action Date: April 6, 2020
Title: Protective orders; issuance upon convictions for certain felonies, penalty.
Description: Protective orders; issuance upon convictions for certain felonies; penalty. Authorizes a court to issue a protective order upon convicting a defendant for a felony offense of (i) violating a protective order, (ii) homicide, (iii) kidnapping, (iv) assaults and bodily woundings, (v) extortion, or (vi) criminal sexual assault. The bill provides that the duration of such protective order can be for any period of time, including up to the lifetime of the defendant, that the court deems necessary to protect the health and safety of the victim and may only prohibit (a) acts of family abuse or of violence, force, or threat against the victim or criminal offenses that may result in injury to the person or property of the victim and (b) such contacts by the defendant with the victim as the court deems necessary for the health or safety of the victim. The bill provides that a violation of a protective order issued upon conviction of one of the enumerated offenses is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Last Action: Continued to 2021 in Courts of Justice by voice vote
Last Action Date: February 5, 2020
Title: Firearms dealer; employees.
Description: Employees of a firearms dealer. Provides that no person, corporation, or proprietorship licensed as a firearms dealer shall employ any person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Under current law, such restriction is limited to persons employed as a seller for the transfer of firearms.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms; purchase, possession, etc., following certain convictions, penalty.
Description: Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearms following conviction for assault and battery of a family or household member; permit to restore rights; penalties. Prohibits a person who has been convicted of stalking, sexual battery, assault and battery of a family or household member, or assault and battery when the person intentionally selects the person against whom a simple assault is committed because of his race, religious conviction, color, or national origin from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm. A person who violates this provision is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill provides for a process by which a person convicted of such crime may petition the circuit court for a reinstatement of his right to possess or transport a firearm and the factors a court shall consider in determining such reinstatement. This bill incorporated
Last Action: Continued to 2021 in Judiciary (12-Y 3-N)
Last Action Date: February 24, 2020
Title: Dangerous weapons; prohibits possessing or transporting in local government buildings.
Description: Local government buildings; dangerous weapons; penalty. Prohibits the possession or transport of (i) guns or other weapons designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) frames, receivers, mufflers, silencers, missiles, projectiles, or ammunition designed for use with a dangerous weapon; or (iii) certain other dangerous weapons in any building owned or used by a locality for governmental purposes in the Commonwealth. A violation is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Currently, the possession or transport of such weapons is prohibited in any courthouse.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms; control in local government buildings, waiver of sovereign immunity.
Description: Control of firearms in local government buildings; waiver of sovereign immunity. Provides that any locality that adopts an ordinance or policy that generally prohibits firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof in any building owned or used by such locality for governmental purposes shall waive its sovereign immunity protection with regard to any civil claim for damages brought by an individual who claims his injuries are the result, at least in part, of such ordinance or policy. In such instance, a locality will be subject to an ordinary negligence standard for its invitees.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms, loaded; carrying in public while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.
Description: Carrying loaded firearms in public while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs; penalties. Provides that it is a Class 1 misdemeanor for a person under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs to carry a loaded firearm on or about his person in a public place and that a person found guilty of such act is ineligible to apply for a concealed handgun permit for a period of five years. Current law provides that such prohibition applies only to persons permitted to carry a concealed handgun.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms ordinances; applicability to property located in multiple localities.
Description: Firearms ordinances; applicability to property located in multiple localities. Allows a landowner whose property, including multiple contiguous parcels, spans two or more localities to elect to have the firearms ordinances of the locality in which the largest portion of the contiguous parcel lies apply to anyone hunting on the property. The bill requires any landowner making such an election to notify the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The bill satisfies the reenactment requirement of Chapter 830 of the Acts of Assembly of 2019.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms ordinances; property in multiple localities, affirmative defense.
Description: Firearms ordinances; property in multiple localities; affirmative defense. Provides that a hunter on private property that is owned by a particular landowner and spans two or more localities with differing firearms ordinances shall have an affirmative defense to a charge of violating such an ordinance in the second locality if he was in compliance at all times with the counterpart ordinance in the first locality.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearms; regulation by localities, workplace rules, limitation.
Description: Regulation of firearms by localities; workplace rules; limitation. Prohibits a locality from adopting a workplace rule that restricts employees who possess a valid concealed handgun permit from carrying a concealed handgun in their place of employment.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Place of religious worship; carrying dangerous weapon.
Description: Carrying dangerous weapons to places of worship; repeal. Repeals the code section related to carrying dangerous weapons in places of worship.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Gun safes; exemption from sales tax for sales of safes.
Description: Exemption from sales tax for sales of gun safes. Provides a tax exemption for the purchase of gun safes with a price of $1,000 or less.
Last Action: Left in Finance
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund; created.
Description: Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund. Establishes the Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund to be administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services for the purpose of supporting gun violence intervention and prevention programs, including street outreach, hospital-based violence intervention, and group violence intervention programs.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1129)
Last Action Date: April 10, 2020
Title: Handguns; limitation on purchases, penalty.
Description: Purchase of handguns; limitation on handgun purchases; penalty. Prohibits any person who is not a licensed firearms dealer from purchasing more than one handgun in a 30-day period and establishes such an offense as a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill exempts from this provision (i) persons who have been issued a certificate by the Department of State Police under certain circumstances and with an enhanced background check, (ii) law-enforcement agencies and officers, (iii) state and local correctional facilities, (iv) licensed private security companies, (v) persons who hold a valid Virginia concealed handgun permit, (vi) persons whose handgun has been stolen or irretrievably lost or who are trading in a handgun, (vii) purchases of handguns in a private sale, and (viii) purchases of antique firearms.
Last Action: Incorporated by Public Safety
Last Action Date: January 24, 2020
Title: Weapons; carrying into building owned or used by the Commonwealth or political subdivision thereof.
Description: Carrying weapon into building owned or used by the Commonwealth or political subdivision thereof; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a first or second offense for a person to transport any (i) gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) frame, receiver, muffler, silencer, missile, projectile, or ammunition designed for use with a dangerous weapon; or (iii) other dangerous weapon into a building owned or used by the Commonwealth or any agency or political subdivision thereof for governmental purposes. The bill provides exceptions for law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, magistrates, court officers, judges, city or county treasurers, commissioners or deputy commissioners of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, authorized security personnel, and active military personnel while in the conduct of such individuals' official duties. The bill requires that notice of the provisions prohibiting the carrying of such weapons be posted at each public entrance to all buildings owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency or political subdivision thereof. A third or subsequent offense of this or certain other firearms offenses is punishable as a Class 6 felony.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Virginia long rifle; designating as the official firearm of the Commonwealth.
Description: Official emblems and designations; state firearm. Designates the Virginia long rifle as the official firearm of the Commonwealth.
Last Action: Left in Rules
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund and Grant Program; established.
Description: Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund and Grant Program; firearm and ammunition tax. Establishes the Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund (the Fund), to be administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (the Department), to distribute grants to localities and organizations for the purpose of improving public health and safety by supporting effective violence reduction initiatives in communities that are disproportionately impacted by violence, particularly homicides, shootings, and aggravated assaults. Funds may also be used to finance the hiring of counselors in public elementary and secondary schools and research initiatives that have the objective of reducing gun violence.
Last Action: Continued to 2021 in Finance by voice vote
Last Action Date: February 5, 2020
Title: Firearms; limitations on laws regarding the control thereof.
Description: Limitations on laws regarding the control of firearms. Limitations on laws regarding the control of firearms. Provides that any law, executive order, administrative regulation, local ordinance, or court order shall be considered an unlawful infringement on the right of the people to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by Article I, Section 13 of the Constitution of Virginia and the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States if such law, order, regulation, ordinance, or order (i) imposes any tax, fee, or stamp on any firearm, ammunition, or firearm component; (ii) requires the registration of any firearm, ammunition, or firearm component; (iii) requires any person to register as an owner of a firearm, ammunition, or firearms component; (iv) prohibits any person from possessing, using, or transferring a firearm who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm; or (v) requires any person to surrender his firearm, ammunition, or firearm component who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm. The bill also provides that any person who knowingly deprives or attempts to deprive another person of such other person's right to keep and bear arms by enforcing any law, executive order, administrative regulation, local ordinance, or court order that unlawfully infringes on a person's right to keep and bear arms, even acting under the color of any state law, shall be liable for an unlawful deprivation of a person's constitutional rights and such injured person shall be entitled to damages, including punitive damages, and in the discretion of the court to an award of the cost of the litigation and
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Firearm Safety Awareness Week; designating as last full week in September each year.
Description: Firearm safety. Designates the last full week in September each year as Firearm Safety Awareness Week in Virginia. The bill also creates a sales tax holiday the last weekend in September for firearm safety items.
Last Action: Tabled in Rules (10-Y 6-N)
Last Action Date: February 7, 2020
Title: Concealed handgun permit; local control of firearms.
Description: Local control of firearms; concealed handgun permit. Provides that any local ordinances that prohibit the possession, carrying, or transportation of any firearms, ammunition, or components or combination shall not apply to a person who has a valid concealed handgun permit.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: November 9, 2020
Title: Firearm sales; criminal history record information check, penalty.
Description: Firearm sales; criminal history record information check; penalty. Eliminates the Class 1 misdemeanor penalty for a person who purchases a firearm from another person without obtaining the required criminal history record information check. The bill also eliminates the question on the form provided to a firearm dealer by the Department of State Police asking whether a prospective purchaser of a firearm has ever been the subject of a mental health temporary detention order and subsequently agreed to a voluntary admission.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: November 9, 2020
Title: Marijuana; legalizes simple possession, etc.
Description: Possession of marijuana. Legalizes simple possession of marijuana. Current law provides a civil penalty of no more than $25 for the simple possession of marijuana. The bill also provides that simple possession of marijuana or its use by a child younger than 18 years of age may constitute conduct that presents a serious threat to the well-being of a child for the purposes of defining a "child in need of services." The bill also prohibits any law-enforcement officer from lawfully searching or seizing any person, place, or thing solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana and states that no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding. Additionally, the bill allows a person to petition for expungement of convictions, adjudications, and deferred disposition dismissals for marijuana possession when all court costs and fines and orders of restitution have been paid. The bill also removes marijuana paraphernalia from the definition of drug paraphernalia and eliminates the criminal penalty for the sale of or possession with the intent to sell such paraphernalia. The bill contains technical amendments.
Last Action: Left in Courts of Justice
Last Action Date: November 9, 2020
Title: Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks, penalty.
Description: Firearm transfers; criminal history record information Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks; penalty. Requires a background check for any firearm transfer and requires the Department of State Police to establish a process for transferors of firearms to obtain such a check from licensed firearms dealers. A transferor who fails to obtain a required background check and sells the firearm to another person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill exempts transfers (i) between immediate family members; (ii) that occur by operation of law; (iii) by the executor or administrator of an estate or by the trustee of a testamentary trust; (iv) at firearms shows in accordance with law; (v) that are part of a buyback or give-back program; (vi) of antique firearms; (vii) that occur at a shooting range, shooting gallery, or any other area designed for the purpose of target shooting or for use during target practice, a firearms safety or training course or class, a shooting competition, or any similar lawful activity; or (viii) that are temporary transfers that (a) occur within the continuous presence of the owner of the firearm or (b) are necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm. The bill removes the provision that makes background checks of prospective purchasers or transferees at firearms shows voluntary.
Last Action: Incorporated by Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2020
Title: Capitol Square; possessing or transporting a weapon within Square, penalty.
Description: Possessing or transporting a weapon within Capitol Square; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a person to possess or transport any (i) gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) frame, receiver, muffler, silencer, missile, projectile, or ammunition designed for use with a dangerous weapon; or (iii) other dangerous weapon within Capitol Square, which includes the state-owned buildings that border its boundary streets. A dangerous weapon includes a bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, machete, razor, slingshot, spring stick, fighting chain, throwing star, and oriental dart or any weapon of like kind. The bill provides exceptions for law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, magistrates, court officers, judges, county or city treasurers, commissioners or deputy commissioners of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, authorized security personnel, and active military personnel while in the conduct of such individuals' official duties. The bill requires that notice of the provisions prohibiting the possessing or transporting of such weapons be posted at each public entrance to Capitol Square. The bill provides that any weapon or item possessed or transported in violation of these provisions is subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeiture to the Commonwealth.
Last Action: Continued to 2021 in Judiciary (12-Y 0-N)
Last Action Date: February 3, 2020
Title: Trigger activators; prohibition, penalty.
Description: Trigger activators; prohibition; penalty. Prohibits the manufacture, importation, sale or offer to sell, possession, transfer, or transportation of a trigger activator, defined in the bill as a device designed to allow a semi-automatic firearm to shoot more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger by harnessing the recoil energy of any semi-automatic firearm to which it is affixed so that the trigger resets and continues firing without additional physical manipulation of the trigger by the shooter. A violation is punishable as a Class 6 felony.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0527)
Last Action Date: March 31, 2020
Title: Weapons; carrying into building owned or leased by the Commonwealth, penalty.
Description: Carrying weapon into building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a person to transport any (i) gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) frame, receiver, muffler, silencer, missile, projectile, or ammunition designed for use with a dangerous weapon; or (iii) other dangerous weapon into a building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof, where employees of the Commonwealth or agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties. The bill provides exceptions for law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, magistrates, court officers, judges, city or county treasurers, commissioners or deputy commissioners of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, authorized security personnel, and active military personnel while in the conduct of such individuals' official duties. The bill requires that notice of the provisions prohibiting the carrying of such weapons be posted at each public entrance to all buildings owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof.
Last Action: Continued to 2021 in Judiciary (12-Y 0-N)
Last Action Date: February 3, 2020
Title: Assault firearms and certain firearm magazines; prohibiting sale, transport, etc., penalties.
Description: Prohibiting sale, transport, etc., of assault firearms and certain firearm magazines; penalties. Expands the definition of "assault firearm" and prohibits any person from importing, selling, transferring, manufacturing, purchasing, possessing, or transporting an assault firearm. A violation is a Class 6 felony. The bill prohibits a dealer from selling, renting, trading, or transferring from his inventory an assault firearm to any person. The bill also prohibits a person from carrying a shotgun with a magazine that will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered in a public place; under existing law, this prohibition applies only in certain localities. The bill makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to import, sell, barter, or transfer any firearm magazine designed to hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
Last Action: Stricken at the request of Patron in Judiciary (9-Y 0-N)
Last Action Date: January 13, 2020
Title: Firearms; criminal history record information checks, age requirement, penalty.
Description: Firearms; criminal history record information checks; age Firearms; criminal history record information checks; age requirement; penalty. Provides that a person must be at least 21 years old, or must be at least 18 years old by the effective date of the bill, to purchase a firearm. The bill requires a background check for any firearm transfer and requires the Department of State Police to establish a process for transferors of firearms to obtain such a check from licensed firearms dealers. A transferor who fails to obtain a required background check and transfers the firearm to another person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill exempts certain transfers from the required background check. The bill removes the provision that makes background checks of prospective purchasers or transferees at firearms shows voluntary. The bill also provides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any person under the age of 18 is guilty of a Class 6 felony and that it is a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age 18 to use a firearm except when the person is under the supervision of an adult. Current law provides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of 14 is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and it is a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age 12 to use a firearm except when the person is under the supervision of an adult. The bill also raises the age from 18 to 21 for any person to knowingly and intentionally possess or transport a handgun or assault firearm anywhere in the
Last Action: Stricken at the request of Patron in Judiciary (12-Y 0-N)
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Handguns; limitation on purchases, penalty.
Description: Purchase of handguns; limitation on handgun purchases; Purchase of handguns; limitation on handgun purchases; penalty. Prohibits any person who is not a licensed firearms dealer from purchasing more than one handgun in a 30-day period and establishes such an offense as a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill exempts from this provision (i) persons who have been issued a certificate by the Department of State Police under certain circumstances and with an enhanced background check, (ii) law-enforcement agencies and officers, (iii) state and local correctional facilities, (iv) licensed private security companies, (v) persons who hold a valid Virginia concealed handgun permit, (vi) persons whose handgun has been stolen or irretrievably lost or who are trading in a handgun, (vii) purchases of handguns in a private sale, and (viii) purchases of antique firearms.
Last Action: Incorporated by Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2020
Title: Firearms, ammunition, etc.; control by localities by governing possession, etc., within locality.
Description: Control of firearms by localities; permitted events. Authorizes any locality by ordinance to prohibit the possession or carrying of firearms, ammunition, or components or any combination thereof in (i) any building, or part thereof, owned or used by such locality for governmental purposes; (ii) any public park owned or operated by the locality; (iii) any recreation or community center facility; or (iv) any public street, road, alley, sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit. Provisions limiting the authority of localities and state governmental entities to bring lawsuits against certain firearms manufacturers and others are also repealed. The bill also provides that any firearm received by the locality pursuant to a gun buy-back program shall be destroyed by the locality unless the person surrendering such firearm requests in writing that such surrendered firearm be sold. The provisions of the bill do not apply to the activities of a Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program operated at a public or private institution of higher education or (ii) any intercollegiate athletics program operated by a public or private institution of higher education and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or any club sports team recognized by a public or private institution of higher education where the sport engaged in by such program or team involves the use of a firearm. The bill contains technical amendments.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1247)
Last Action Date: April 22, 2020
Title: Firearms; joint subcommittee to study issues related thereto and safety in the Commonwealth.
Description: Study; joint subcommittee to study issues related to firearms and safety in the Commonwealth; report. Establishes a two-year joint subcommittee to study numerous issues related to firearms, firearms safety, violence, and Second Amendment rights. The resolution directs the joint subcommittee to file an interim report after November 2020 and a final report after November 2021.
Last Action: Failed to report by voice vote by voice vote
Last Action Date: January 31, 2020
Title: Carrying a concealed handgun; consumption of alcohol in a public park, penalty.
Description: Carrying a concealed handgun; consumption of alcohol in a public park; penalty. Prohibits a person who carries a concealed handgun onto the premises of any public park or other public space when alcoholic beverages have been approved for sale or consumption therein from consuming an alcoholic beverage while on the premises. A violation of this provision is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Last Action: Stricken at the request of Patron in Judiciary (13-Y 0-N)
Last Action Date: January 15, 2020
Title: Paramilitary activities; penalty.
Description: Paramilitary activities; penalty. Provides that a person is guilty of unlawful paramilitary activity if such person brandishes a firearm or any air-operated or gas-operated weapon or any object similar in appearance while assembled with one or more persons for the purpose of and with the intent to intimidate any person or group of persons. Such unlawful paramilitary activity is punishable as a Class 5 felony.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0601)
Last Action Date: April 2, 2020
Title: Firearms; reporting those lost or stolen, civil penalty.
Description: Reporting lost or stolen firearms; civil penalty. Requires that, if a firearm is lost or stolen from a person who lawfully possessed it, such person shall report the loss or theft of the firearm to any local law-enforcement agency or the Department of State Police within 24 hours after such person discovers the loss or theft or is informed by a person with personal knowledge of the loss or theft. The bill requires the relevant law-enforcement agency to enter the report information into the National Crime Information Center. A violation is punishable by a civil penalty of not more than $250. The bill provides that a person who, in good faith, reports the loss or theft is immune from criminal or civil liability for acts or omissions that result from the loss or theft. The immunity does not apply to a person who knowingly gives a false report. The bill does not apply to the loss or theft of an antique firearm.
Last Action: Defeated by Senate (19-Y 21-N)
Last Action Date: February 11, 2020
Title: Handguns; limitation on purchases, penalty.
Description: Purchase of handguns; limitation on handgun purchases; penalty. Prohibits any person who is not a licensed firearms dealer from purchasing more than one handgun in a 30-day period and establishes such an offense as a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill exempts from this provision (i) persons who have been issued a certificate by the Department of State Police under certain circumstances and with an enhanced background check, (ii) law-enforcement agencies and officers, (iii) state and local correctional facilities, (iv) licensed private security companies, (v) persons who hold a valid Virginia concealed handgun permit, (vi) persons whose handgun has been stolen or irretrievably lost or who are trading in a handgun, (vii) purchases of handguns in a private sale, and (viii) purchases of antique firearms.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0992)
Last Action Date: April 9, 2020
Title: Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks, penalty.
Description: Firearm sales; criminal history record information checks; penalty. Requires a background check for any firearm sale and directs the Department of State Police (the Department) to establish a process for transferors to obtain such a background check from licensed firearms dealers. A person who sells a firearm to another person without obtaining the required background check is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also provides that a purchaser who receives a firearm from another person without obtaining the required background check is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill removes the provision that makes background checks of prospective purchasers or transferees at firearms shows voluntary. The bill also provides that the Department shall have three business days to complete a background check before a firearm may be transferred.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1112)
Last Action Date: April 10, 2020
Title: Firearms; possession on school property.
Description: Firearms on school property. Adds public, private, or religious preschools and licensed child day centers that are not operated at the residence of the provider or of any of the children to the list of schools where possessing a firearm on school property or on a school bus is prohibited. The provisions of the bill regarding child day centers and preschools only apply during the regular operating hours of such child day center or preschool and shall not apply to any person (i) whose residence is on the property of a child day center or a private or religious preschool and (ii) who possesses a firearm or other prohibited weapon while in his residence . Under current law, the list of such schools only includes public, private, or religious elementary, middle, or high schools. The bill also provides that a licensed child day center or religious or private preschool may hire an armed security officer to provide security services.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1249)
Last Action Date: April 22, 2020
Title: Minors; allowing access to firearms, penalty.
Description: Allowing access to firearms by minors; penalty. Provides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any person under the age of 18 is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Current law provides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of 14 is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Last Action: Stricken at the request of Patron in Judiciary (14-Y 0-N)
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Protective orders; possession of firearms, penalty.
Description: Protective orders; possession of firearms; penalty. Provides that it is a Class 6 felony for a person who is subject to a permanent protective order (i.e., a protective order with a maximum duration of two years) for subjecting another person to an act of violence, force, or threat to possess a firearm while the order is in effect, which is equivalent to the existing penalty for possession of a firearm by a person subject to a permanent protective order for family abuse. The bill also provides that such person may continue to possess and transport a firearm for 24 hours after being served with the order for the purposes of selling or transferring the firearm to another person.
Last Action: Stricken at the request of Patron in Judiciary (14-Y 0-N)
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Public schools; Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety to study firearm safety education.
Description: Study; Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety; firearm safety education in the Commonwealth's public schools; report. Requests the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety, in collaboration with the Department of Education, to study, develop, and recommend best practices for firearm safety education in the Commonwealth's public schools.
Last Action: Left in Appropriations
Last Action Date: March 3, 2020
Title: Firearms; brandishing, etc., at a law-enforcement officer, penalty.
Description: Brandishing a firearm; law-enforcement officer; penalty. Provides for a six-month mandatory minimum sentence upon conviction of a person for pointing, holding, or brandishing a firearm or air-operated or gas-operated weapon or object similar in appearance at someone who the person knows or has reason to know is a law-enforcement officer in such manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another.
Last Action: Passed by indefinitely in Judiciary (7-Y 6-N 1-A)
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Stolen firearms; penalties.
Description: Stolen firearms; penalties. Creates or enhances penalties for crimes related to larceny of a firearm or use of a stolen firearm during the commission of a felony. The bill provides that it is (i) a Class 3 felony with a five-year mandatory minimum sentence to commit larceny of a firearm with the intent to sell or distribute and (ii) a Class 5 felony with a two-year mandatory minimum sentence to sell or distribute, attempt to sell or distribute, or possess with the intent to sell or distribute a stolen firearm. The bill adds a one-year mandatory minimum sentence to the crime of receiving a stolen firearm, which is a Class 6 felony. Finally, the bill increases the mandatory minimum sentences for possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, if such firearm was stolen, from three years to five years for a first offense and from five years to 10 years for a second or subsequent offense.
Last Action: Passed by indefinitely in Judiciary (9-Y 5-N)
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Firearms; use or display while committing felony, penalty.
Description: Use or display of firearm in committing felony; penalty. Increases from three to five years for a first offense and from five to 10 years for a second or subsequent offense the mandatory minimum sentences for use or display of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies.
Last Action: Passed by indefinitely in Judiciary (9-Y 6-N)
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Discharging firearm; penalty.
Description: Discharging firearm; penalty. Imposes a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of three years for violations of (i) maliciously discharging a firearm within or at an occupied building or dwelling house; (ii) willfully discharging a firearm within or at any school building, upon the buildings or grounds of any school, or upon any public property within 1,000 feet of the property line of a school; and (iii) intentionally discharging a firearm while in or on a motor vehicle so as to create risk of death or injury to another person. The bill also imposes a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one year for violations of (a) unlawfully, but not maliciously, discharging a firearm within or at an occupied building or dwelling house and (b) willfully discharging a firearm in a public place when such discharge results in bodily injury to another person. The bill imposes a mandatory minimum term of confinement in jail of 90 days for violations of willfully discharging a firearm in a public place when such discharge does not result in bodily injury to another person.
Last Action: Passed by indefinitely in Judiciary (9-Y 6-N)
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Public schools; firearm safety education program.
Description: Public schools; firearm safety education program. Requires local school boards to provide firearm safety education programs for students in all grades. The bill requires (i) the Board of Education to establish curriculum guidelines for the program, in consultation with the Department of Criminal Justice Services; (ii) school boards to offer a minimum of two hours of instruction consistent with such guidelines; and (iii) that the program be taught by a school resource officer, other law-enforcement officer, or a United States Armed Forces instructor. The bill prohibits the use of firearms in the program. Current law allows local school boards to provide a firearm safety education program for students in the elementary grades and does not specify who may instruct such program.
Last Action: Stricken at request of patron in Education and Health (13-Y 0-N)
Last Action Date: January 30, 2020
Title: Protective orders; issuance upon convictions for certain felonies, penalty.
Description: Protective orders; issuance upon convictions for certain felonies; penalty. Authorizes a court to issue a protective order upon convicting a defendant for an act of violence and upon the request of the victim or the attorney for the Commonwealth on behalf of the victim. The bill provides that the duration of such protective order can be for any reasonable period of time, including up to the lifetime of the defendant, that the court deems necessary to protect the health and safety of the victim. The bill provides that a violation of a protective order issued upon a conviction for an act of violence is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1005)
Last Action Date: April 9, 2020
Title: Firearms; removal from persons posing substantial risk of injury to himself, etc., penalties.
Description: Firearms; removal from persons posing substantial risk; penalties. Creates a procedure by which any attorney for the Commonwealth or law-enforcement officer may apply to a general district court, circuit court, or juvenile and domestic relations district court judge or magistrate for an emergency substantial risk order to prohibit a person who poses a substantial risk of injury to himself or others from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm. Upon service of an emergency substantial risk order, the person who is subject to the order shall be given the opportunity to voluntarily relinquish any firearm. An emergency substantial risk order shall expire on the fourteenth day following issuance of the order. The bill requires a court hearing in the circuit court for the jurisdiction where the order was issued within 14 days from issuance of an emergency substantial risk order to determine whether a substantial risk order should be issued. Seized firearms shall be retained by a law-enforcement agency for the duration of an emergency substantial risk order or a substantial risk order or, for a substantial risk order and with court approval, may be transferred to a third party 21 years of age or older chosen by the person from whom they were seized. The bill allows the complainant of the original warrant to file a motion for a hearing to extend the substantial risk order prior to its expiration. The court may extend the substantial risk order for a period not longer than 180 days. The bill provides that persons who are subject to a substantial risk order, until such order has been dissolved by a court, are guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor for purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm; are disqualified from having a concealed handgun permit; and may not be employed by a licensed firearms dealer. The bill also provides that a person who transfers a firearm to a person he knows has been served with a warrant or who is the subject of a substantial risk order is guilty of a Class 4 felony. The bill creates a computerized substantial risk order registry for the entry of orders issued pursuant to provisions in the bill.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0888)
Last Action Date: April 8, 2020
Title: Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund; created, moneys accruing to Fund, etc.
Description: Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund. Establishes the Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund to be administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services for the purpose of supporting violence intervention and prevention programs, including street outreach, hospital-based violence intervention, and group violence intervention programs.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0818)
Last Action Date: April 7, 2020
Title: Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence, effective date.
Description: Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence. Removes the option for concealed handgun permit applicants to demonstrate competence with a handgun by completing an electronic, video, or online course conducted by a state-certified or National Rifle Association-certified firearms instructor. The bill does not affect any in-person means of satisfying the requirement to demonstrate competence with a handgun under current law. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2021.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1130)
Last Action Date: April 10, 2020
Title: Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemption for certain gun safes.
Description: Sales tax exemption; gun safes. Establishes an exemption from retail sales tax for a gun safe with a selling price of $1,500 or less. The bill defines "gun safe" as a safe or vault that is (i) commercially available, (ii) secured with a digital or dial combination locking mechanism or biometric locking mechanism, and (iii) designed for the storage of a firearm or of ammunition for use in a firearm. Under the bill, "gun safe" does not include a glass-faced cabinet.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0191)
Last Action Date: March 6, 2020
Title: Public property, etc.; security on premises where firearms are prohibited.
Description: Security of public property. Provides that any property owned by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or used by a public body, where firearms have been prohibited by law shall have law-enforcement officers or armed security officers on the premises to provide security services.
Last Action: Passed by indefinitely in Judiciary (9-Y 6-N)
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Protective orders; possession of firearms, surrender or transfer of firearms, penalty.
Description: Protective orders; possession of firearms; surrender or transfer of firearms; penalty. Provides that a court shall order a person subject to a permanent protective order (i.e., a protective order with a maximum duration of two years) to (i) within 24 hours, surrender any firearm possessed by such person to a designated local law-enforcement agency, or sell or transfer any firearm possessed by such person to a dealer or to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm, and (ii) certify in writing that such person does not possess any firearms or that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred and file such certification with the clerk of the court that entered the protective order. The bill provides that any person who fails to certify in writing in accordance with this section that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred or that such person does not possess any firearms is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill provides procedures for designating a local law-enforcement agency to receive and store firearms, as well as a process to return such surrendered firearms. The bill also makes it a Class 4 felony for any person to sell, barter, give, or furnish any firearm to any person he knows is prohibited from possessing or transporting a firearm who is the subject to a permanent protective order.
Last Action: Incorporated by Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Virginia Voluntary Do Not Sell Firearms List; established, penalty.
Description: Establishment of the Virginia Voluntary Do Not Sell Firearms List; penalty. Creates the Virginia Voluntary Do Not Sell Firearms List (the List) that prohibits the possession, transportation, and sale of firearms to any person who voluntarily registers himself to be enrolled into the List. The List shall be maintained and updated by the Department of State Police. The bill makes it a Class 3 misdemeanor for any person enrolled into the List to purchase, possess, or transport a firearm. The bill disqualifies any person enrolled into the List from obtaining a concealed handgun permit and prohibits such person from being employed by a firearms dealer. The bill also makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person who sells, barters, gives, or furnishes, or has in his possession or under his control with the intent of selling, bartering, giving, or furnishing, any firearm to any person he knows is enrolled into the List. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2021.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1173)
Last Action Date: April 11, 2020
Title: Firearms; prohibition in chambers of local governing bodies.
Description: Control of firearms; chambers of local governing Control of firearms; chambers of local governing bodies. Allows a locality to adopt an ordinance that prohibits firearms, ammunition, or components or a combination thereof at any regular or special meeting of its local governing body, provided that notice of such prohibition is publicly posted and the meeting room is owned, operated or used by the locality.
Last Action: Incorporated by Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2020
Title: Protective orders; possession of firearms, surrender or transfer of firearms, penalty.
Description: Protective orders; possession of firearms; surrender or transfer of firearms; penalty. Prohibits any person subject to a permanent protective order (i.e., a protective order with a maximum duration of two years) from knowingly possessing a firearm while the order is in effect, provided that for a period of 24 hours after being served with a protective order such person may continue to possess such firearm for the purposes of selling or transferring it to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm. A violation of this provision is a Class 6 felony. The bill also provides that a court shall order a person subject to a permanent protective order to (i) within 24 hours, surrender any firearm possessed by such person to a designated local law-enforcement agency or sell or transfer any firearm possessed by such person to a dealer or to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm and (ii) certify in writing that such person does not possess any firearms or that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred and file such certification with the clerk of the court that entered the protective order within 48 hours after being served with a protective order. The bill provides that the willful failure of any person to certify in writing that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred or that such person does not possess any firearms shall constitute contempt of court. The bill provides procedures for designating a local law-enforcement agency to receive and store firearms, as well as a process to return such surrendered firearms. The bill also makes it a Class 4 felony for any person to sell, barter, give, or furnish any firearm to any person he knows is prohibited from possessing or transporting a firearm who is subject to a permanent protective order.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1260)
Last Action Date: April 22, 2020
Title: Firearms; purchase, possession, etc., following a conviction.
Description: Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearms following conviction for assault and battery of a family or household member; permit to restore rights; penalties. Prohibits a person who has been convicted of stalking, sexual battery, or assault and battery of a family or household member from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm. A person who violates this provision is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill provides for a process by which a person convicted of such crime may petition the circuit court for a reinstatement of his right to possess or transport a firearm and the factors a court shall consider in determining such reinstatement.
Last Action: Continued to 2021 in Judiciary (12-Y 0-N)
Last Action Date: February 3, 2020
Title: Firearms, ammunition, etc.; control by localities in local government buildings.
Description: Control of firearms by localities; local government Control of firearms by localities; local government buildings. Authorizes a locality to adopt an ordinance prohibiting firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof in any building owned or used by such locality for governmental purposes. The bill requires such ordinance to include a provision for security measures designed to reasonably prevent unauthorized access of such buildings by a person with a firearm, ammunition, or components or combination thereof. The bill requires a locality to post notice of any such prohibition at all entrances of buildings used for governmental purposes.
Last Action: Incorporated by Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2020
Title: Firearms; control by localities.
Description: Control of firearms by localities. Grants Control of firearms by localities. Grants localities authority to adopt or enforce an ordinance, resolution, or motion governing the possession, carrying, storage, or transporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof in the locality. Various provisions limiting such authority are repealed. Provisions limiting the authority of localities and state governmental entities to bring lawsuits against certain firearms manufacturers and others are also repealed.
Last Action: Incorporated by Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2020
Title: Hunting and firearms; local regulation.
Description: Local hunting and firearm regulation. Prohibits any city or county east of the Interstate 95 corridor from prohibiting otherwise lawful hunting of migratory game birds in the jurisdictional waters of the Commonwealth and provides that no stake or stationary waterfowl blind that is erected in such public waters shall be located less than 150 yards from any occupied residence, church, or commercial building, unless the owner gives written permission to locate the blind or stake closer to the residence, church, or commercial building.
Last Action: Passed by indefinitely in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (11-Y 1-N)
Last Action Date: January 28, 2020
Title: Firearms shows; mandatory background check.
Description: Firearms shows; mandatory background check. Requires the Department of State Police to perform a criminal history record information check on the prospective purchaser or transferee prior to the completion of any firearms transaction at a firearms show held in the Commonwealth. Current law requires the Department of State Police to be available at every firearms show held in the Commonwealth to perform criminal history record information checks but does not require such checks to be performed unless requested by a party involved in the transaction.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0828)
Last Action Date: April 7, 2020
Title: Minors; allowing access to firearms, Class 6 felony.
Description: Allowing access to firearms by minors; penalty. Provides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any person under the age of 18 is guilty of a Class 6 felony. Current law provides that any person who recklessly leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of 14 is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Last Action: Failed to report (defeated) in Judiciary (7-Y 8-N)
Last Action Date: February 3, 2020
Title: Family day homes, licensed, etc.; storage of unloaded firearms in a locked container, cabinet, etc.
Description: Family day homes; storage of firearms. Requires that during hours of operation, all firearms in a licensed family day home, registered family day home, or family day home approved by a family day system be stored unloaded in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet, and that all ammunition be stored in a separate locked container, compartment, or cabinet. The bill requires that the key or combination to such locked containers, compartments, or cabinets be inaccessible to all children in the home.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0911)
Last Action Date: April 9, 2020
Title: Firearms, certain; prohibition on carrying in public places.
Description: Prohibition on carrying of certain firearms in public places; County of Albemarle and City of Charlottesville; penalty. Adds the County of Albemarle and the City of Charlottesville to the list of localities in which it is unlawful for a person to carry certain firearms in public places.
Last Action: Stricken at the request of Patron in Judiciary (11-Y 0-N)
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Firearms; control by localities in local government buildings and parks.
Description: Control of firearms by localities; local government Control of firearms by localities; local government buildings and parks. Authorizes a locality to adopt an ordinance prohibiting firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof in any building owned or used by such locality for governmental purposes and in public parks owned by the locality. The bill requires such ordinance to include a provision for security measures designed to reasonably prevent unauthorized access of such buildings or parks by a person with a firearm, ammunition, or components or combination thereof. The bill requires a locality to post notice of any such prohibition at all entrances of buildings used for governmental purposes and at the main entrances to public parks owned by this locality.
Last Action: Incorporated by Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2020
Title: Game and Inland Fisheries, Department of; name change.
Description: Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; name change. Renames the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries as the Department of Wildlife Resources and the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries as the Board of Wildlife Resources.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0958)
Last Action Date: April 9, 2020
Title: Unrestorably incompetent defendant; competency report.
Description: Unrestorably incompetent defendant; competency report. Provides that in cases where a defendant is likely to remain incompetent for the foreseeable future due to an ongoing and irreversible medical condition and prior medical or educational records are available to support the diagnosis, a competency report may recommend that the court find the defendant unrestorably incompetent to stand trial, and the court may proceed with the disposition of the case based on such recommendation. Under current law, the defendant is required to undergo treatment to restore his competency before the court can find a defendant unrestorably incompetent to stand trial. The bill also provides that such person who is found unrestorably incompetent to stand trial shall be prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0299)
Last Action Date: March 11, 2020
Title: Firearms; mental health as disqualifier for possession, etc.
Description: Involuntary commitment and restoration of firearm rights. Responds to the holding in Paugh v. Henrico Area Mental Health and Developmental Services, Record No. 121562 (2013), in which the Supreme Court of Virginia held that on appeal by trial de novo in circuit court of an order of involuntary commitment by a district court, upon the circuit court's finding that the appellant no longer meets the criteria for involuntary commitment, the proper remedy is dismissal of the Commonwealth's petition for involuntary commitment, thereby rendering the original commitment order a nullity. As such, because the original petition would in effect never have existed, forfeiture of the right to possess a firearm as required by § 18.2-308.1:3 upon involuntary commitment would no longer be in effect. Section 18.2-308.1:3 requires that a person who has been involuntarily committed and seeks to have his firearm rights restored petition a district court for restoration of his firearm rights. The ruling in Paugh, by requiring dismissal of the original petition for commitment, removes that requirement even though on the date of the original commitment hearing the person did meet the criteria for commitment and was, in fact, involuntarily committed. The bill provides that, notwithstanding the outcome of any appeal (trial de novo on the petition for commitment) taken pursuant to § 37.2-821 or § 16.1-345.6, the appellant shall be required to seek restoration of his firearm rights. The bill also provides that, upon a finding by the circuit court that the appellant no longer meets the criteria for involuntary commitment or mandatory outpatient treatment, the court shall reverse the order of the district court but shall not dismiss the Commonwealth's petition. As a consequence of these changes, a person who is involuntarily committed would be required to petition for restoration of his firearm rights notwithstanding the reversal of the commitment order by a circuit court.
Last Action: Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1175)
Last Action Date: April 11, 2020
Title: School Guardian Fund and Program; created and established.
Description: School Guardian Fund and Program; establishment. Establishes the School Guardian Fund and requires the Virginia Center for School and Campus safety to establish and administer the School Guardian Program for the purpose of providing grants from the Fund on a competitive basis to school boards for the appointment or hiring of school guardians, which the bill defines as any individual, including any school resource officer, school security officer, or other school board employee, who is hired or appointed by a school board to carry a firearm on school property during normal school hours for school security purposes. The bill requires each such school guardian to receive an annual stipend of $500 for the performance of his duties. The bill requires the Center to (i) establish training and screening standards for such school guardians that include, at minimum, a requirement to receive a psychological screening and a drug screening prior to the commencement of school guardian duties and (ii) adopt such other rules and policies as it deems necessary for the administration of the Program, including rules and policies for grant applications and awards.
Last Action: Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (9-Y 6-N)
Last Action Date: February 6, 2020
Title: Handguns; leaving unattended in public, penalty.
Description: Leaving an unattended handgun in public; penalty. Makes it a Class 3 misdemeanor for a person to leave an unattended handgun in public view in any public place, including any public building or place where the public assemble, any street, highway, or other public conveyance, or any sidewalk abutting on any public street, alley, or lane of any town or city. The bill also provides that a second or subsequent violation is punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Last Action: Stricken at the request of Patron in Judiciary (11-Y 0-N)
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Marijuana; decriminalization of simple possession, penalty.
Description: Marijuana; decriminalization of simple marijuana possession; penalty. Decriminalizes simple marijuana possession and provides a civil penalty of no more than $50 for a first violation, $100 for a second violation, and $250 for a third or subsequent violation. Current law imposes a maximum fine of $500 and a maximum 30-day jail sentence for a first offense, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill provides that the suspended sentence/substance abuse screening provisions apply only to criminal violations or civil violations by a juvenile, and the driver's license suspension provisions apply only to criminal violations. A civil violation will be treated as a conviction for prohibitions on the purchase or transport of a handgun and disqualification for a concealed handgun permit.
Last Action: Incorporated by Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 29, 2020
Title: Firearms; carrying loaded into public areas, government buildings.
Description: Carrying loaded firearms. Prohibits carrying loaded firearms in government buildings.
Last Action: Committee substitute posted to LIS only 20105788D-S1
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Hunting with dogs; retrieval & trespass, discharge of firearm on road, civil & criminal penalties.
Description: Hunting with dogs; retrieval and trespass; discharge of firearm on road; civil and criminal penalties. Prohibits a dog owner from allowing his dog to run at large on the property of another after the landowner has given notice to the dog owner to keep dogs off the property. The bill provides for a civil penalty of $100 per dog enforced by animal control, conservation police, and other law-enforcement officers and a civil penalty of $250 per occurrence for a second or subsequent occurrence. The bill contains an exception to the penalty if the dog's owner or custodian releases the dog on property measuring 500 acres or more that is owned or leased by him or on which he has written permission to hunt.
Last Action: Passed by indefinitely in Judiciary (12-Y 1-N 1-A)
Last Action Date: January 29, 2020
Title: Carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required.
Description: Concealed handgun permits. Allows residents to carry concealed handguns without acquiring a concealed carry permit.
Last Action: Passed by indefinitely in Judiciary (9-Y 6-N)
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Firearms, certain; possession, purchase, and transport in certain localities.
Description: Possession, purchase, and transport of certain firearms in certain localities. Provides that a person may lawfully possess, purchase, or transport a firearm or firearms magazine that he would otherwise be lawfully permitted to possess, purchase, or transport on January 1, 2020, while he is in a locality that has adopted an ordinance, resolution, or motion that authorizes the possession, purchase, or transportation of such firearm or firearms magazine within such locality.
Last Action: Passed by indefinitely in Judiciary (9-Y 5-N)
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Governor's personal security staff; appropriation of funds for staff.
Description: Appropriation of funds for Governor's personal security staff. Provides that no funds shall be appropriated for the employment of any member of the Governor's personal security staff if the Governor takes any action to deny law-abiding citizens of the Commonwealth their right to carry, possess, or transport a firearm.
Last Action: Left in Finance and Appropriations
Last Action Date: February 12, 2020
Title: Firearm-free zones designated by the Commonwealth or a locality; regulation of weapons.
Description: Firearm-free zones designated by the Commonwealth or a locality; regulation of weapons; waiver of sovereign immunity. Provides that (i) if the Commonwealth designates any property owned by it as a firearm-free zone or (ii) if any locality designates such locality or any part of such locality as a firearm-free zone, the Commonwealth or such locality waives its sovereign immunity as it relates to any injuries sustained by persons lawfully present in such firearm-free zone. The bill further provides that if the Commonwealth or a locality adopts any ordinance, rule, policy, or regulation regulating weapons, the Commonwealth or locality assumes an affirmative duty to protect invitees lawfully on the premises of the Commonwealth or locality and establishes a waiver of sovereign immunity for any governmental entity or official responsible for such regulation.
Last Action: Passed by indefinitely in Judiciary (9-Y 5-N)
Last Action Date: January 22, 2020
Title: Volunteer school security officers; authorization by local school boards, etc.
Description: Authorization of volunteer school security officers by local school boards and private or religious schools. Authorizes volunteer school security officers to carry firearms at schools in performance of their duties.
Last Action: Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (9-Y 6-N)
Last Action Date: February 6, 2020
Title: Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence, changes effective date.
Description: Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence; effective date. Amends the delayed enactment clause for Chapter 390 and the delayed enactment clause for Chapter 1130 of the Acts of Assembly of 2020 so that the provisions of such chapters will take effect on July 1, 2021, instead of January 1, 2021. The bill has an emergency clause.
Last Action: Left in Public Safety
Last Action Date: November 9, 2020
Title: Concealed handgun permit; local control of firearms.
Description: Local control of firearms; concealed handgun permit. Provides that any local ordinances that prohibit the possession, carrying, or transportation of any firearms, ammunition, or components or combination shall not apply to a person who has a valid concealed handgun permit.
Last Action: Passed by indefinitely in Judiciary (9-Y 5-N)
Last Action Date: August 26, 2020
