Virginia · 2025 Regular Session

HB1607 Purchase, sale, transfer, etc., of assault firearms and certain ammunition feeding devices prohibited; penalties.

Direction

Firearms weapon accessory restrictionsAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 95%

Prohibits the importation, sale, manufacture, purchase, possession, transport, or transfer of assault firearms (with exceptions for law enforcement and military) and certain large-capacity magazines, so less ability to buy, own or possess those firearms and accessories.

Any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, or transfers an assault firearm is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Firearms purchase background checksAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 90%

Expands the criminal history check requirement and age verification to transfers of assault firearms manufactured before July 1, 2025, and adds convictions under the new assault-firearm prohibitions as a disqualifier for firearm purchases and concealed-handgun permits, so more background-check and N

Any person purchasing from a dealer a firearm as defined in this section shall consent in writing... and if such firearm is an assault firearm manufactured before July 1, 2025, such person purchasing such assault firearm shall be 21 years of age or older.

⚠ Quote could not be matched to the bill text: treat this label with caution

Firearms carryAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 85%

Adds convictions for violations of the new assault-firearm prohibitions as a disqualifier for obtaining a concealed-handgun permit, so fewer people are eligible to carry concealed handguns.

An individual who is ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to § 18.2-308.1:1, 18.2-308.1:2, 18.2-308.1:3, 18.2-308.1:6, 18.2-308.1:7, 18.2-308.1:8, or 18.2-308.1:9

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Filed (completed)
Committee (completed)
Passed one chamber (completed)
Passed both (completed)
Governor
Law

Status: Vetoed

Last action: 2025-04-02: Requires 64 affirmative votes to override Governor's veto
Filed: 2025-01-03
Sponsor: Dan Helmer D + 24 cosponsors (24 D)

Read official text (Enrolled)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill enacts bans on assault firearms and certain ammunition feeding devices (with age and background-check expansions and new disqualifiers for permits and purchases), which restricts the firearms axis on weapon-accessory restrictions, purchase background checks, and carry; no provisions address transgender, abortion, or immigration-enforcement topics.

Related bills

HB926 Outdoor shooting of firearm on property without reasonable care; prohibition, penalty.Restricts gun access No change to gun access Committee
HB1035 Public schools; school security and discipline, employment of school security officers, training.Expands gun access No change to gun access Committee
HB217 Assault firearms & certain ammunition feeding devices; purchase, sale, etc., prohibited, penalties.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
HB229 Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law

Hearings and calendar

2025-01-17 08:00 · Hearing · House Public Safety Committee Hearing House Committee Room A - 008
2025-01-31 08:00 · Hearing · House Public Safety Committee Hearing House Committee Room A - 008
2025-02-10 08:00 · Hearing · Senate Courts of Justice Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building
2025-02-12 09:00 · Hearing · Senate Finance and Appropriations Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building

Votes

Date	Chamber	Motion	Yea-Nay
2025-01-31	H	Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 9-N)	12-9	Passed
2025-02-04	H	Passed House (50-Y 48-N)	50-48	Passed
2025-02-04	H	Read third time and passed House (52-Y 47-N)	52-47	Passed
2025-02-10	S	Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)	9-6	Passed
2025-02-12	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)	10-5	Passed
2025-02-13	S	Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N)	40-0	Passed
2025-02-14	S	Passed Senate (21-Y 15-N)	21-15	Passed
2025-04-02	H	House sustained Governor's veto (50-Y 46-N)	50-46	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2025-01-03
Enrolled 2025-02-19

History (28 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2025-04-02	H	Requires 64 affirmative votes to override Governor's veto
2025-04-02	H	House sustained Governor's veto (50-Y 46-N)
2025-03-24		Vetoed by Governor
2025-03-03		Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
2025-03-03	H	Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 3, 2025
2025-02-22	S	Signed by President
2025-02-20	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1607)
2025-02-19	H	Enrolled
2025-02-19	H	Signed by Speaker
2025-02-19	H	Enrolled
2025-02-14	S	Passed Senate (21-Y 15-N)
2025-02-14	S	Read third time
2025-02-13	S	Passed by for the day
2025-02-13	S	Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N)
2025-02-13	S	Rules suspended
2025-02-12	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
2025-02-10	S	Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)
2025-02-05	S	Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2025-02-05	S	Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2025-02-04	H	Passed House (50-Y 48-N)
2025-02-04	H	Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
2025-02-04	H	Read third time and passed House (52-Y 47-N)
2025-02-03	H	Read second time and engrossed
2025-02-02	H	Read first time
2025-01-31	H	Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 9-N)
2025-01-09	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1607)
2025-01-03	H	Referred to Committee on Public Safety
2025-01-03	H	Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25100326D