PolicyWinds
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Virginia · 2026 Regular Session

HB1427 Handguns; limitation on purchases, exemption.

Direction

Firearms purchase background checksAI label

Expands gun access model confidence 90%

Removes the one-handgun-per-30-days limit (and its enhanced background check exception process) that had been in subsection R, so the background check requirement for handgun purchases is no longer tied to any purchase-frequency restriction.

[deleted: R. Except as provided in subdivisions 1 and 2, it shall be unlawful for any person who is not a licensed firearms dealer to purchase more than one handgun within any 30-day period. ...]

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Firearms otherAI label

Expands gun access model confidence 90%

Repeals the statutory prohibition on purchasing more than one handgun in a 30-day period (with listed exceptions), allowing unrestricted numbers of handgun purchases after a standard background check.

[deleted: R. Except as provided in subdivisions 1 and 2, it shall be unlawful for any person who is not a licensed firearms dealer to purchase more than one handgun within any 30-day period. For the purposes of this subsection, "purchase" does not include the exchange or replacement of a handgun by a seller for a handgun purchased from such seller by the same person seeking the exchange or replacement within the 30-day period immediately preceding the date of exchange or replacement. A violation of this subsection is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.]

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

  1. Filed (completed)
  2. Committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both
  5. Governor
  6. Law

Status: Died (session ended)

Last action
2026-02-18: Left in Committee Public Safety
Filed
2026-01-22
Committee
Public Safety
Sponsor
Tim Griffin R

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill strikes the entire former subsection R that imposed a one-handgun-per-30-days limit (with an enhanced-check exemption process and listed exceptions), thereby removing that restriction on handgun purchases while leaving the rest of the background-check regime for firearm transfers unchanged.

Related bills

Hearings and calendar

Votes

DateChamberMotionYea-Nay
2026-02-05HSubcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 3-N)7-3Passed

Sponsors

Text versions

History (6 actions)
DateChamberAction
2026-02-18HLeft in Committee Public Safety
2026-02-05HSubcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 3-N)
2026-02-03HAssigned HMPPS sub: Firearms
2026-01-26HFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1427)
2026-01-22HReferred to Committee on Public Safety
2026-01-22HPresented and ordered printed 26104865D