Virginia · 2026 Regular Session

HB871 Firearms; storage in residence where minor or person prohibited from possessing is present, penalty.

Direction

Firearms storage minorsAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 90%

Requires owners to lock up firearms when a minor or prohibited person is known to be present in the residence, so more restrictions on unsecured firearm storage.

Any person who possesses a firearm in a residence where such person knows that a minor or a person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm is present shall store such firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet that is inaccessible to such minor or prohibited person, or shall render such firearm incapable of being fired by use of a gun locking device appropriate to that firearm and specific to this purpose.

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Firearms otherAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 80%

Requires firearm dealers to post a notice about the new storage requirements, so more restrictions on unsecured firearm storage.

Every dealer, as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2, shall post in a conspicuous manner at the premises of such dealer a notice stating: "Any person who possesses a firearm in a residence where such person knows that a minor or a person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm is present shall store such firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet that is inaccessible to such minor or prohibited person, or shall render such firearm incapable of being fired by use of a gun locking device appropriate to that firearm and specific to this purpose. A violation of this law is a Class 2 M

✓ 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 (CHAP1074)
Filed: 2026-01-13
Sponsor: Mark Downey D + 13 cosponsors (13 D)

Read official text (Chaptered)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill enacts a new storage mandate for firearms in homes where a minor or prohibited person is known to be present, with a criminal penalty for violations, plus a dealer notice requirement; both provisions increase restrictions on how firearms may be kept unsecured.

Related bills

SB348 Firearms; storage in residence where minor or person prohibited from possessing is present, penalty.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
HB110 Handguns in unattended motor vehicle; definitions, penalty.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
SB496 Handguns in unattended motor vehicle; definitions, penalty.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
HB201 School boards; safe storage of prescription drugs and firearms in the household.Restricts gun access Law

Hearings and calendar

2026-01-29 16:00 · Hearing · House Public Safety: Firearms Hearing House North Subcommittee Room - 200
2026-01-30 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
2026-01-30	H	Reported from Public Safety (14-Y 7-N)	14-7	Passed
2026-01-29	H	Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (3-Y 3-N)	3-3	Failed
2026-01-29	H	Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N)	6-4	Passed
2026-02-05	H	Read third time and passed House (60-Y 37-N 0-A)	60-37	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 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 agreed to by House (60-Y 34-N 0-A)	60-34	Passed
2026-04-22	H	House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 36-N 0-A)	64-36	Passed
2026-04-22	H	House concurred in Governor's recommendation (63-Y 37-N 0-A)	63-37	Passed
2026-04-22	S	Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)	21-18	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2026-01-13
Comm Sub 2026-02-23
Enrolled 2026-03-11
Enrolled 2026-04-22
Chaptered 2026-04-22

History (45 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-04-22		Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1074)
2026-04-22		Approved by Governor-Chapter 1074 (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 (HB871ER2)
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 37-N 0-A)
2026-04-22	H	Reconsideration of Governor's recommendation agreed to
2026-04-22	H	House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 36-N 0-A)
2026-04-11		Governor's recommendation received by House
2026-03-14		Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-14	H	Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
2026-03-12	H	Signed by Speaker
2026-03-11	S	Signed by President
2026-03-11	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB871)
2026-03-11	H	Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB871ER)
2026-03-11	H	Enrolled
2026-03-04	H	Senate substitute agreed to by House (60-Y 34-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	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	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
2026-02-24	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB871)
2026-02-23	S	Committee substitute printed 26108451D-S1
2026-02-23	S	Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
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 (60-Y 37-N 0-A)
2026-02-04	H	Read second time and engrossed
2026-02-03	H	Read first time
2026-01-30	H	Reported from Public Safety (14-Y 7-N)
2026-01-29	H	Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N)
2026-01-29	H	Reconsidered by Public Safety (Voice Vote)
2026-01-29	H	Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (3-Y 3-N)
2026-01-29	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB871)
2026-01-23	H	Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms
2026-01-13	H	Referred to Committee on Public Safety
2026-01-13	H	Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101397D