Virginia · 2026 Regular Session

SB727 Assault firearms; carrying in public areas prohibited, exceptions, penalty.

Direction

Firearms carryAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 90%

Expands the prohibition on carrying assault firearms (as newly defined) to all public places statewide, rather than only in certain localities, so less ability to carry such firearms in public.

It is unlawful for any person to carry an assault firearm as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2 on or about his person on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Firearms weapon accessory restrictionsAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 80%

Broadens the definition of prohibited firearms for the carry ban from specific semi-automatic rifles/pistols and shotguns with high-capacity magazines or certain features to any 'assault firearm' as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2, so more restrictions on those firearms.

carry [deleted: a loaded (a) semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol 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 (b) shotgun with a magazine that will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered] an assault firearm as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2

✓ 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 (CHAP1025)
Filed: 2026-01-19
Sponsor: Michael Jones D + 2 cosponsors (2 D)

Read official text (Chaptered)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill amends an existing carry prohibition by expanding its geographic scope from named localities to all public places statewide and by replacing a specific list of high-capacity or featured firearms with the broader term 'assault firearm' as defined elsewhere in statute; it also narrows some exemptions (e.g., removing licensed security guards and concealed-handgun-permit holders). These changes increase restrictions on carrying the covered firearms in public. No other listed topics are substantively addressed.

Related bills

HB1035 Public schools; school security and discipline, employment of school security officers, training.Expands gun access No change to gun access Committee
HB926 Outdoor shooting of firearm on property without reasonable care; prohibition, penalty.Restricts gun access No change to gun access Committee
HB229 Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
HB217 Assault firearms & certain ammunition feeding devices; purchase, sale, etc., prohibited, penalties.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
2026-02-04 09:00 · Hearing · Senate Finance and Appropriations Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building
2026-02-27 08:00 · Hearing · House Public Safety Hearing House Committee Room A - 008

Votes

Date	Chamber	Motion	Yea-Nay
2026-01-26	S	Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)	9-5	Passed
2026-02-04	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)	10-5	Passed
2026-02-05	S	Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)	40-0	Passed
2026-02-09	S	Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)	21-19	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 (55-Y 41-N 0-A)	55-41	Passed
2026-03-06	S	House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)	21-19	Passed
2026-04-22	H	House concurred in Governor's recommendation (59-Y 38-N 0-A)	59-38	Passed
2026-04-22	S	Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)	21-18	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2026-01-19
Comm Sub 2026-01-28
Comm Sub 2026-02-05
Comm Sub 2026-03-02
Enrolled 2026-03-12
Comm Sub 2026-04-14
Enrolled 2026-04-22
Chaptered 2026-04-22

History (49 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-04-22		Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1025)
2026-04-22		Approved by Governor-Chapter 1025 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-22	S	Signed by President
2026-04-22	H	Signed by Speaker
2026-04-22	S	Reenrolled bill text (SB727ER2)
2026-04-22	S	Reenrolled
2026-04-22		Governor's recommendation adopted
2026-04-22	H	House concurred in Governor's recommendation (59-Y 38-N 0-A)
2026-04-22	S	Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-04-11		Governor's recommendation received by Senate
2026-03-14		Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-14	S	Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
2026-03-12	S	Signed by President
2026-03-12	H	Signed by Speaker
2026-03-12	S	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB727)
2026-03-12	S	Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB727ER)
2026-03-12	S	Enrolled
2026-03-06	S	House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-03-04	S	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB727)
2026-03-04	H	Passed House with substitute (55-Y 41-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
2026-03-02	H	Committee substitute printed 26108968D-H1
2026-02-27	H	Reported from Public Safety with substitute (14-Y 8-N)
2026-02-12	S	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB727)
2026-02-12	H	Referred to Committee on Public Safety
2026-02-12	H	Read first time
2026-02-12	H	Placed on Calendar
2026-02-09	S	Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-02-06	S	Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
2026-02-06	S	Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to
2026-02-06	S	Courts of Justice Substitute rejected
2026-02-06	S	Read second time
2026-02-05	S	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/5/2026 4:42 pm)
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
2026-02-05	S	Committee substitute printed 26106399D-S2
2026-02-04	S	Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)
2026-01-29	S	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/29/2026 4:37 pm)
2026-01-28	S	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB727)
2026-01-28	S	Committee substitute printed 26106280D-S1
2026-01-26	S	Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
2026-01-26	S	Incorporates SB312 (Ebbin)
2026-01-23	S	Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/23/2026 11:55 am)
2026-01-19	S	Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-01-19	S	Presented and ordered printed 26104545D