Restricts gun access model confidence 90%
Raises the minimum age to purchase handguns and assault firearms from 18 to 21, so fewer young adults can legally buy those firearms.
It is unlawful for any person younger than 21 years of age to knowingly and intentionally purchase a handgun or assault firearm anywhere in the Commonwealth.
✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text
Restricts gun access model confidence 80%
Removes the home/property exception and the written-permission exception for persons under 18 possessing or transporting handguns or assault firearms, so more restrictions on carrying by minors.
The provisions of subsection B shall not apply to: 1. Any person while present in his home or on the property of his parent, grandparent, or legal guardian and possessing the firearm with the consent of his parent, grandparent, or legal guardian who owns such firearm;
✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text
Restricts gun access model confidence 85%
Updates and retains the ban on possession or transport of assault firearms (defined to include certain semi-automatic rifles/pistols with large magazines, folding stocks, or silencers) by persons under 18, so continued restrictions on those weapons for minors.
"Assault firearm" means the same as that term is defined in § 18.2-308.2:2.
✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text
Stage: Law · step 6 of 6
Why the model tagged it this way: The bill raises the purchase age for handguns and assault firearms to 21 (new subsection C), narrows the exceptions allowing under-18s to possess or transport those firearms (revised subsection E removes prior home, property, and permission exceptions), and retains the core prohibition on under-18 possession/transport of handguns and assault firearms while updating definitions and exceptions. All changes increase restrictions on firearm access for those under 21; no provisions expand access, preempt local rules, create red-flag orders, or address other listed topics.
| Date | Chamber | Motion | Yea-Nay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-06 | H | Reported from Public Safety with substitute (14-Y 8-N) | 14-8 | Passed |
| 2026-02-05 | H | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) | 7-3 | Passed |
| 2026-02-12 | H | Read third time and passed House (58-Y 37-N 0-A) | 58-37 | 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 (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 |
| 2026-03-14 | H | Conference report agreed to by House (60-Y 37-N 0-A) | 60-37 | Passed |
| 2026-03-14 | S | Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) | 21-18 | Passed |
| 2026-04-22 | H | House concurred in Governor's recommendation (63-Y 36-N 0-A) | 63-36 | Passed |
| 2026-04-22 | S | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) | 21-18 | Passed |
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-22 | Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1102) | |
| 2026-04-22 | Approved by Governor-Chapter 1102 (Effective 4/22/2026) | |
| 2026-04-22 | S | Signed by President |
| 2026-04-22 | H | Signed by Speaker |
| 2026-04-22 | H | Reenrolled bill text (HB1525ER2) |
| 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 (63-Y 36-N 0-A) |
| 2026-04-11 | Governor's recommendation received by House | |
| 2026-04-07 | H | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/7/2026 1:37 pm) |
| 2026-04-03 | H | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1525) |
| 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 (HB1525ER) |
| 2026-03-30 | H | Enrolled |
| 2026-03-17 | H | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1525) |
| 2026-03-14 | S | Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-14 | H | Conference report agreed to by House (60-Y 37-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-14 | Conference Report released | |
| 2026-03-14 | H | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/14/2026 12:23 pm) |
| 2026-03-11 | H | House Conferees: McGuire, Simon, Oates |
| 2026-03-11 | H | Conferees appointed by House |
| 2026-03-10 | S | Senate Conferees: Surovell, Deeds, Stanley |
| 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 (HB1525) |
| 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 12:44 pm) |
| 2026-02-25 | S | Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) |
| 2026-02-25 | S | Committee substitute printed 26108455D-S1 |
| 2026-02-23 | S | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N) |
| 2026-02-13 | S | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 2026-02-13 | S | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) |
| 2026-02-12 | H | Read third time and passed House (58-Y 37-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-11 | H | Engrossed by House - committee substitute |
| 2026-02-11 | H | committee substitute agreed to |
| 2026-02-11 | H | Read second time |
| 2026-02-10 | H | Read first time |
| 2026-02-09 | H | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1525) |
| 2026-02-06 | H | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/6/2026 2:03 pm) |
| 2026-02-06 | H | Committee substitute printed 26107217D-H1 |
| 2026-02-06 | H | Reported from Public Safety with substitute (14-Y 8-N) |
| 2026-02-05 | H | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) |
| 2026-02-05 | H | House subcommittee offered |
| 2026-02-03 | H | Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms |
| 2026-01-29 | H | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/29/2026 4:49 pm) |
| 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 26106114D |