Virginia · 2026 Regular Session

HB1524 Assault firearms; carrying in public areas prohibited, exceptions, penalty.

Direction

Firearms carryAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 90%

Expands the list of locations where carrying assault firearms is banned to all public areas statewide, so more restrictions on carrying assault firearms.

It is unlawful for any person to carry an assault firearm as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2 on or about his person on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Firearms weapon accessory restrictionsAI label

No change to gun access model confidence 70%

Removes the prior specific definition of prohibited loaded firearms based on magazine capacity, folding stock or silencer and replaces it with a reference to the separate statutory definition of 'assault firearm,' so the scope of restricted weapons may change but remains a weapons restriction.

carry an assault firearm as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Firearms preemption sanctuaryAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 80%

Repeals the prior geographic limit that applied the carry ban only in certain named cities and counties, thereby extending the statewide preemption of local variation and applying a uniform statewide prohibition on carrying assault firearms in public areas.

on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

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

Stage: Law · step 6 of 6

Last action: 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1101)
Filed: 2026-01-27
Sponsor: Garrett McGuire D

Read official text (Chaptered)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill amends an existing statute to prohibit carrying assault firearms (as newly cross-referenced to § 18.2-308.2:2) in all public places statewide, removing the prior restriction of the ban to only certain localities and deleting the old magazine-capacity-based definition of prohibited firearms. This expands the geographic scope of the carry prohibition (restricts firearms/carry) while replacing the weapon description with a statutory cross-reference (neutral on weapon-accessory-restrictions). The change from locality-specific to uniform statewide application also affects preemption by cod

Related bills

HB1035 Public schools; school security and discipline, employment of school security officers, training.Expands gun access No change to gun access Committee
HB926 Outdoor shooting of firearm on property without reasonable care; prohibition, penalty.Restricts gun access No change to gun access Committee
HB778 Pop-up events; local enhanced enforcement actions.Restricts gun access Committee
HB229 Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law

Hearings and calendar

2026-02-13 08:00 · Hearing · House Public Safety Hearing House Committee Room A - 008
2026-02-23 08:00 · Hearing · Senate Courts of Justice Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building
2026-02-25 09:00 · Hearing · Senate Finance and Appropriations Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building

Votes

Date	Chamber	Motion	Yea-Nay
2026-02-13	H	Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N)	13-7	Passed
2026-02-17	H	Read third time and passed House (54-Y 41-N 0-A)	54-41	Passed
2026-02-23	S	Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)	9-5	Passed
2026-02-25	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)	10-5	Passed
2026-02-26	S	Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)	40-0	Passed
2026-03-02	S	Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)	21-19	Passed
2026-03-04	H	Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 95-N 0-A)	0-95	Failed
2026-03-06	S	Senate insisted on amendments (40-Y 0-N 0-A)	40-0	Passed
2026-03-13	S	Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)	21-18	Passed
2026-03-13	H	Conference report agreed to by House (55-Y 38-N 0-A)	55-38	Passed
2026-04-22	H	House concurred in Governor's recommendation (59-Y 40-N 0-A)	59-40	Passed
2026-04-22	S	Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)	21-18	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2026-01-27
Comm Sub 2026-02-25
Comm Sub 2026-03-13
Enrolled 2026-03-30
Comm Sub 2026-04-14
Enrolled 2026-04-22
Chaptered 2026-04-22

History (59 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-04-22		Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1101)
2026-04-22		Approved by Governor-Chapter 1101 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-22	S	Signed by President
2026-04-22	H	Signed by Speaker
2026-04-22	H	Reenrolled bill text (HB1524ER2)
2026-04-22	H	Reenrolled
2026-04-22		Governor's recommendation adopted
2026-04-22	S	Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-04-22	H	House concurred in Governor's recommendation (59-Y 40-N 0-A)
2026-04-15	H	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/15/2026 7:24 am)
2026-04-11		Governor's recommendation received by House
2026-04-01	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)
2026-03-31		Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31	H	Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31	H	Signed by Speaker
2026-03-30	S	Signed by President
2026-03-30	H	Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1524ER)
2026-03-30	H	Enrolled
2026-03-18	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)
2026-03-13	H	Conference report agreed to by House (55-Y 38-N 0-A)
2026-03-13	S	Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-03-13	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)
2026-03-13	H	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/13/2026 2:57 pm)
2026-03-13	H	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/13/2026 2:06 pm)
2026-03-13	H	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/13/2026 1:57 pm)
2026-03-13		Conference Report released
2026-03-11	H	House Conferees: McGuire, Simon, Wilt
2026-03-11	H	Conferees appointed by House
2026-03-10	S	Senate Conferees: Jones, Surovell, Peake
2026-03-10	S	Conferees appointed by Senate
2026-03-09	H	House acceded to request
2026-03-06	S	Senate requested conference committee
2026-03-06	S	Senate insisted on amendments (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-04	H	Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 95-N 0-A)
2026-03-02	S	Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-03-02	S	Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
2026-03-02	S	Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
2026-02-27	S	Passed by for the day
2026-02-27	S	Read third time
2026-02-26	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)
2026-02-26	S	Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-26	S	Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-26	S	Rules suspended
2026-02-25	H	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/25/2026 12:55 pm)
2026-02-25	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
2026-02-25	S	Committee substitute printed 26108452D-S1
2026-02-23	S	Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
2026-02-18	S	Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-02-18	S	Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-17	H	Read third time and passed House (54-Y 41-N 0-A)
2026-02-16	H	Read second time and engrossed
2026-02-15	H	Read first time
2026-02-13	H	Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N)
2026-02-03	H	Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms
2026-01-28	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)
2026-01-28	H	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/28/2026 9:43 am)
2026-01-27	H	Referred to Committee on Public Safety
2026-01-27	H	Unanimous consent to introduce
2026-01-27	H	Presented and ordered printed 26105949D

HB1524 Assault firearms; carrying in public areas prohibited, exceptions, penalty.

Direction

Related bills

Hearings and calendar

Votes

Sponsors

Text versions