Restricts gun access model confidence 95%
Prohibits the importation, sale, manufacture, purchase, or transfer of assault firearms (with exceptions for pre-2026 owners and certain others), so fewer people can acquire them.
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
Restricts gun access model confidence 90%
Expands the list of disqualifying convictions (now including violations of the new assault-firearm ban) that prevent a person from purchasing a firearm or obtaining a concealed-handgun permit, and requires background checks on transfers of certain firearms.
Any person who knowingly and intentionally purchases, possesses, or transports any firearm following a misdemeanor conviction for a violation of § 18.2-287.4:1 is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text
Restricts gun access model confidence 85%
Adds a three-year prohibition on purchasing, possessing, or transporting firearms after a conviction for violating the assault-firearm ban, and updates multiple related statutes on disqualifications, dealer sales, and disposition of surrendered firearms to reference the new prohibitions.
Any person convicted of a violation of § 18.2-287.4:1 or this section shall be prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm for three years following the date of such conviction at which point the person convicted of such offense shall no longer be prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm pursuant to this section.
✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text
Stage: Law · step 6 of 6
Why the model tagged it this way: The bill enacts a broad ban on the purchase, sale, manufacture, import, and transfer of assault firearms and updates background-check and disqualification provisions to enforce it, with limited grandfathering and exceptions; all changes increase restrictions on access to these firearms and related penalties.
| Date | Chamber | Motion | Yea-Nay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-29 | H | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) | 7-3 | Passed |
| 2026-01-30 | H | Reported from Public Safety with substitute (13-Y 6-N) | 13-6 | Passed |
| 2026-02-05 | H | Read third time and passed House (58-Y 34-N 0-A) | 58-34 | Passed |
| 2026-02-25 | S | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N) | 9-6 | Passed |
| 2026-03-04 | S | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N) | 10-5 | Passed |
| 2026-03-05 | S | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) | 39-0 | Passed |
| 2026-03-09 | S | Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) | 21-19 | Passed |
| 2026-03-11 | H | Senate substitute agreed to by House (60-Y 35-N 0-A) | 60-35 | Passed |
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-14 | Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1106) | |
| 2026-05-14 | Approved by Governor-Chapter 1106 (effective 7/1/2026) | |
| 2026-04-23 | Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026 | |
| 2026-04-23 | H | Communicated to Governor |
| 2026-04-23 | H | Passed by for the day |
| 2026-04-22 | H | Passed by for the day |
| 2026-04-14 | H | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/14/2026 4:33 pm) |
| 2026-04-11 | Governor's recommendation received by House | |
| 2026-04-03 | H | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/3/2026 1:26 pm) |
| 2026-04-01 | H | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB217) |
| 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 (HB217ER) |
| 2026-03-30 | H | Enrolled |
| 2026-03-11 | H | Senate substitute agreed to by House (60-Y 35-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-09 | S | Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-09 | S | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute |
| 2026-03-09 | S | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to |
| 2026-03-09 | S | Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-03-09 | S | Read third time |
| 2026-03-06 | S | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-03-05 | H | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB217) |
| 2026-03-05 | S | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-03-05 | S | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-05 | S | Rules suspended |
| 2026-03-05 | H | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/5/2026 8:55 am) |
| 2026-03-05 | S | Committee substitute printed 26109164D-S2 |
| 2026-03-04 | S | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N) |
| 2026-03-03 | H | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB217) |
| 2026-02-27 | H | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/27/2026 3:48 pm) |
| 2026-02-27 | S | Committee substitute printed 26108593D-S1 |
| 2026-02-25 | S | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N) |
| 2026-02-25 | S | Senate committee offered |
| 2026-02-10 | H | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB217) |
| 2026-02-06 | S | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 2026-02-06 | S | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) |
| 2026-02-05 | H | Read third time and passed House (58-Y 34-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-04 | H | Engrossed by House - committee substitute |
| 2026-02-04 | H | committee substitute agreed to |
| 2026-02-04 | H | Read second time |
| 2026-02-03 | H | Read first time |
| 2026-02-02 | H | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/2/2026 10:25 am) |
| 2026-02-02 | H | Committee substitute printed 26106682D-H1 |
| 2026-01-30 | H | Reported from Public Safety with substitute (13-Y 6-N) |
| 2026-01-29 | H | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) |
| 2026-01-29 | H | House subcommittee offered |
| 2026-01-24 | H | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB217) |
| 2026-01-16 | H | Assigned HPS sub: Firearms |
| 2026-01-14 | H | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB217) |
| 2026-01-08 | H | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/8/2026 5:09 pm) |
| 2026-01-07 | H | Referred to Committee on Public Safety |
| 2026-01-07 | H | Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100315D |