Virginia · 2026 Regular Session

SB643 Firearms, certain; possession, transportation, or purchase by certain persons, penalty.

Direction

Firearms weapon accessory restrictionsAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 85%

Expands the definition of 'assault firearm' to include certain semi-automatic handguns and rifles equipped with magazines over 20 rounds, folding stocks, or designed for silencers, and raises the age limit for possession/transport of handguns and assault firearms from under 18 to under 21 while also

"Assault firearm" means any (i) semi-automatic centerfire rifle or handgun that expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine that will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock or (ii) shotgun with a magazine that will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered.

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Firearms purchase background checksAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 80%

Prohibits purchase of handguns or assault firearms by anyone under 21 (previously only under 18 for possession/transport), so fewer people under 21 can legally buy these 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

Firearms carryAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 75%

Removes exceptions allowing under-18s to possess handguns or assault firearms in their own home/property or on others' property with permission, narrowing where minors can legally carry or possess them.

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

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

Status: Died (session ended)

Last action: 2026-03-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB643)
Filed: 2026-01-14
Sponsor: Scott Surovell D + 1 cosponsor (1 D)

Read official text (Comm Sub)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill amends Virginia's § 18.2-308.7 to broaden the 'assault firearm' definition (adding handguns and specific features), raise the purchase age to 21, make possession/transport unlawful under 18 (previously under 18 with some exceptions), remove several exceptions for home/property possession and transport to ranges/hunting, add new exceptions for cadets and active officers, and set violations as Class 1 misdemeanors. All changes impose more limits on access, possession, purchase, and carry of specified firearms by younger persons, with no provisions expanding access.

Related bills

HB926 Outdoor shooting of firearm on property without reasonable care; prohibition, penalty.Restricts gun access No change to gun access Committee
HB1035 Public schools; school security and discipline, employment of school security officers, training.Expands gun access No change to gun access Committee
HB217 Assault firearms & certain ammunition feeding devices; purchase, sale, etc., prohibited, penalties.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
HB229 Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.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
2026-02-05 19:00 · Hearing · Senate Finance and Appropriations Hearing Senate Finance & Appropriations Room, Room 1300, General Assembl
2026-02-26 16:00 · Hearing · House Public Safety: Firearms Hearing House North Subcommittee Room - 200
2026-02-27 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 with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)	9-6	Passed
2026-02-05	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)	10-5	Passed
2026-02-09	S	Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)	40-0	Passed
2026-02-16	S	Engrossment reconsidered by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)	40-0	Passed
2026-02-16	S	Committee substitute reconsidered (40-Y 0-N 0-A)	40-0	Passed
2026-02-16	S	Senator Surovell Substitute agreed to (21-Y 19-N 0-A)	21-19	Passed
2026-02-17	S	Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)	21-19	Passed
2026-02-26	H	Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)	7-3	Passed
2026-02-27	H	Reported from Public Safety with substitute (14-Y 8-N)	14-8	Passed
2026-03-04	H	Passed House with substitute (61-Y 37-N 0-A)	61-37	Passed
2026-03-06	S	House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)	0-40	Failed
2026-03-10	S	Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)	40-0	Passed
2026-03-14	H	Conference report agreed to by House (59-Y 37-N 0-A)	59-37	Passed
2026-03-14	S	Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)	21-18	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2026-01-14
Comm Sub 2026-01-26
Comm Sub 2026-01-30
Comm Sub 2026-02-09
Comm Sub 2026-02-16
Comm Sub 2026-02-27
Comm Sub 2026-02-27
Comm Sub 2026-03-14
Comm Sub 2026-03-14

History (65 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-03-24	S	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB643)
2026-03-14	S	Different conference report agreed to by each chamber (failed)
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 (59-Y 37-N 0-A)
2026-03-14	S	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/14/2026 4:28 pm)
2026-03-14	S	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/14/2026 12:42 pm)
2026-03-14		Conference Report released
2026-03-14		Conference Report released
2026-03-12	H	House Conferees: McGuire, Simon, Oates
2026-03-12	H	Conferees appointed by House
2026-03-10	S	Senate Conferees: Surovell, Srinivasan, Stuart
2026-03-10	S	Conferees appointed by Senate
2026-03-10	S	Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-09	H	House requested conference committee
2026-03-09	H	House insisted on substitute
2026-03-06	S	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB643)
2026-03-06	S	House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
2026-03-04	H	Passed House with substitute (61-Y 37-N 0-A)
2026-03-04	H	Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-03-04	H	committee substitute agreed to
2026-03-04	H	Read third time
2026-03-03	H	Read second time
2026-02-27	S	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/27/2026 3:32 pm)
2026-02-27	H	Committee substitute printed 26108805D-H1
2026-02-27	H	Reported from Public Safety with substitute (14-Y 8-N)
2026-02-26	H	Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)
2026-02-24	H	Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms
2026-02-24	H	Referred to Committee on Public Safety
2026-02-24	H	Read first time
2026-02-24	H	Placed on Calendar
2026-02-17	S	Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-02-17	S	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/17/2026 8:45 am)
2026-02-16	S	Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute
2026-02-16	S	Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
2026-02-16	S	Senator Surovell Substitute agreed to (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-02-16	S	Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)
2026-02-16	S	Floor offered Senator Surovell Substitute
2026-02-16	S	Floor substitute printed 26108027D-S3 (Surovell)
2026-02-16	S	Finance and Appropriations Substitute rejected
2026-02-16	S	Committee substitute reconsidered (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-16	S	Engrossment reconsidered by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-13	S	Passed by for the day
2026-02-12	S	Passed by for the day
2026-02-12	S	Read third time
2026-02-11	S	Passed by for the day
2026-02-10	S	Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
2026-02-10	S	Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
2026-02-10	S	Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)
2026-02-10	S	Read second time
2026-02-09	S	Passed by for the day
2026-02-09	S	Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
2026-02-09	S	Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-09	S	Rules suspended
2026-02-09	S	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/9/2026 10:03 am)
2026-02-09	S	Committee substitute printed 26107394D-S2
2026-02-08	S	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB643)
2026-02-05	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)
2026-01-30	S	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/30/2026 1:17 pm)
2026-01-30	S	Committee substitute printed 26106156D-S1
2026-01-28	S	Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)
2026-01-28	S	Incorporates SB797 (Carroll Foy)
2026-01-26	S	Senate committee offered
2026-01-20	S	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/20/2026 4:34 pm)
2026-01-14	S	Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-01-14	S	Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104904D

SB643 Firearms, certain; possession, transportation, or purchase by certain persons, penalty.

Direction

Related bills

Hearings and calendar

Votes

Sponsors

Text versions