Virginia · 2026 Regular Session

SB160 Firearms; purchase, etc., after assault & battery of family or household member or intimate partner.

Direction

Firearms purchase background checksAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 90%

Expands the list of misdemeanor convictions that trigger a 3-year prohibition on purchasing, possessing or transporting firearms, so more restrictions on firearm access for those with such convictions.

Any person who knowingly and intentionally purchases, possesses, or transports any firearm following a misdemeanor conviction for an offense that occurred on or after July 1, 2026, for (i) the offense of assault and battery against an intimate partner or (ii) an offense substantially similar to clause (i) under the laws of any other state or of the United States is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Firearms otherAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 85%

Adds intimate-partner assault and battery to the list of predicate misdemeanors that create a temporary (3-year) prohibition on purchasing, possessing or transporting firearms, so more restrictions on firearm access for those with such convictions.

Any person prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm pursuant to subsection A shall be prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm for three years following the date of the conviction at which point the person convicted of such offense shall no longer be prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm pursuant to subsection A.

✓ 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: 2026-04-10: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0528)
Filed: 2026-01-07
Sponsor: Russet Perry D

Read official text (Chaptered)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill amends § 18.2-308.1:8 to expand the predicate offenses triggering a 3-year ban on firearm purchase/possession/transport to include misdemeanor assault and battery against an intimate partner (in addition to family/household members), with the prohibition automatically lifting after 3 years unless another disqualifier applies. This directly restricts the firearms axis by creating new temporary disqualifications. No other listed topics are substantively addressed.

Related bills

HB217 Assault firearms & certain ammunition feeding devices; purchase, sale, etc., prohibited, penalties.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
SB749 Assault firearms & certain ammunition feeding devices; purchase, sale, etc., prohibited, penalties.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
HB1015 Firearms, etc.; carrying concealed weapon by persons convicted of misdemeanor hate crime prohibited.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
HB1525 Firearms, certain; definitions, possession, transportation, or purchase by certain persons, penalty.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law

Hearings and calendar

2026-01-26 08:00 · Hearing · Senate Courts of Justice Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building
2026-01-28 19:00 · Hearing · Senate Courts of Justice Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building
2026-02-04 09:00 · Hearing · Senate Finance and Appropriations Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building
2026-02-19 00:00 · Hearing · House Labor and Commerce Hearing House Committee Room A - 008
2026-02-20 08:00 · Hearing · House Public Safety Hearing House Committee Room A - 008

Votes

Date	Chamber	Motion	Yea-Nay
2026-01-28	S	Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)	8-6	Passed
2026-02-04	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)	10-5	Passed
2026-02-05	S	Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)	40-0	Passed
2026-02-09	S	Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A)	22-18	Passed
2026-02-20	H	Reported from Public Safety with substitute (13-Y 7-N)	13-7	Passed
2026-02-25	H	Passed House with substitute (64-Y 34-N 0-A)	64-34	Passed
2026-02-27	S	House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)	21-18	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2026-01-07
Comm Sub 2026-02-21
Enrolled 2026-03-04
Chaptered 2026-04-10

History (35 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-04-10		Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0528)
2026-04-10		Approved by Governor-Chapter 528 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-03-10		Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-10	S	Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-05	S	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB160)
2026-03-04	S	Signed by President
2026-03-04	H	Signed by Speaker
2026-03-04	S	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB160)
2026-03-04	S	Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB160ER)
2026-03-04	S	Enrolled
2026-02-27	S	House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-02-25	H	Passed House with substitute (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
2026-02-25	H	Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-02-25	H	committee substitute agreed to
2026-02-25	H	Read third time
2026-02-24	H	Read second time
2026-02-23	S	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/23/2026 10:43 am)
2026-02-21	H	Committee substitute printed 26108346D-H1
2026-02-20	H	Reported from Public Safety with substitute (13-Y 7-N)
2026-02-19	H	Referred from Labor and Commerce and referred to Public Safety (Voice Vote)
2026-02-12	H	Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
2026-02-12	H	Read first time
2026-02-12	H	Placed on Calendar
2026-02-09	S	Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-02-06	S	Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
2026-02-06	S	Read second time
2026-02-05	S	Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
2026-02-05	S	Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-05	S	Rules suspended
2026-02-04	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
2026-01-28	S	Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)
2026-01-25	S	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB160)
2026-01-12	S	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/12/2026 11:19 am)
2026-01-07	S	Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-01-07	S	Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100142D