Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc., P.O. Box 513, Newington, VA 22122
804-639-0600 • 703-372-3285 • 757-271-3705 • 540-446-5783
VCDL 2024 Legislation Tracking Tool
VCDL 2024 Legislation Tracking Tool
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Bills We Strongly Support
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Bills We Support
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Firearm safety device tax credit; definition of firearm safety device. Expands the definition of "firearm safety device" as it relates to the firearm safety device tax credit to include any device that, when installed on a firearm, is designed to prevent the firearm from being operated without first deactivating the device. The provisions of the bill are effective for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2024. This bill incorporates HB 945. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill adds any locking or deactivation device to the list of items, such as gun safes, that are eligible for a tax credit once per year, at face value. | 12/18/23 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101243D 12/18/23 House: Referred to Committee on Finance 01/18/24 House: Assigned Finance sub: Subcommittee #1 01/29/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (8-Y 0-N) 01/29/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Public Safety 01/31/24 House: Reported from Finance with amendment(s) (19-Y 2-N) 01/31/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/31/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N) 02/02/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (22-Y 0-N) 02/02/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24106936D-H1 02/02/24 House: Incorporates HB945 (Lopez) 02/06/24 House: Read first time 02/07/24 House: Read second time 02/07/24 House: Committee on Finance amendment rejected 02/07/24 House: Committee on Public Safety substitute agreed to 24106936D-H1 02/07/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB35H1 02/08/24 House: Read third time and passed House (73-Y 25-N) 02/08/24 House: VOTE: Passage (73-Y 25-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/26/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N) 02/27/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 02/28/24 Senate: Read third time 02/28/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 02/29/24 Senate: Read third time 02/29/24 Senate: Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N) 03/06/24 House: Enrolled 03/06/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB35ER) 03/06/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/07/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 04/05/24 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 522 (effective 7/1/24 - see bill) 04/05/24 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0522) | ||
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Bills We Strongly Oppose
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Purchase, sale, transfer, etc., of assault firearms and certain ammunition feeding devices prohibited; penalty. Creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, or transfers an assault firearm, as that term is defined in the bill, and prohibits a person who has been convicted of such violation from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm for a period of three years from the date of conviction. The bill provides that an assault firearm does not include any firearm that is an antique firearm, has been rendered permanently inoperable, is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action, or was manufactured before July 1, 2024. The bill also prohibits the sale of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, as that term is defined in the bill. The bill provides that any person who willfully and intentionally (i) sells an assault firearm to another person or (ii) purchases an assault firearm from another person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and that any person who imports, sells, barters, or transfers a large capacity ammunition feeding device is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person younger than 21 years of age to import, sell, manufacture, purchase, possess, transport, or transfer an assault firearm regardless of the date of manufacture of such assault firearm. This bill is identical to SB 2. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill prohibits the sale, possession, transfer, and transport of an 'assault firearm' made on or after July 1, 2024. It also prohibits sales, possession, transfer, and transport of an 'assault firearm' to anyone under the age of 21. Magazines that hold more than 10 rounds and were made on or after July 1, 2024 are prohibited. The U.S. Supreme Court has said in both DC v Heller, and recently The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v Bruen, that any firearm 'in common use' is protected by the Second Amendment. The guns and magazines targeted by this bill are among the most common guns and magazines in the United States making this bill unconstitutional. | 11/20/23 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101034D 11/20/23 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/13/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N) 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 01/19/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (11-Y 9-N) 01/19/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 01/21/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 01/24/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 3-N) 01/29/24 House: Reported from Appropriations with substitute (11-Y 10-N) 01/29/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24105958D-H1 01/31/24 House: Read first time 02/01/24 House: Read second time 02/01/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24105958D-H1 02/01/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB2H1 02/02/24 House: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 49-N) 02/02/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 49-N) 02/05/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/05/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/19/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (8-Y 4-N) 02/19/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24107889D-S1 02/19/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/27/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 02/27/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/28/24 Senate: Read third time 02/28/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 02/28/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24107889D-S1 02/28/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB2S1 02/28/24 Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (20-Y 19-N) 03/01/24 House: Senate substitute agreed to by House 24107889D-S1 (50-Y 47-N) 03/01/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (50-Y 47-N) 03/07/24 House: Enrolled 03/07/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2ER) 03/07/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/08/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Purchase, sale, transfer, etc., of assault firearms and certain ammunition feeding devices prohibited; penalty. Creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, or transfers an assault firearm, as that term is defined in the bill, and prohibits a person who has been convicted of such violation from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm for a period of three years from the date of conviction. The bill provides that an assault firearm does not include any firearm that is an antique firearm, has been rendered permanently inoperable, is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action, or was manufactured before July 1, 2024. The bill also prohibits the sale of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, as that term is defined in the bill. The bill provides that any person who willfully and intentionally (i) sells an assault firearm to another person or (ii) purchases an assault firearm from another person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and that any person who imports, sells, barters, or transfers a large capacity ammunition feeding device is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person younger than 21 years of age to import, sell, manufacture, purchase, possess, transport, or transfer an assault firearm regardless of the date of manufacture of such assault firearm. This bill is identical to HB 2. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill prohibits the sale, possession, transfer, and transport of an 'assault firearm' made on or after July 1, 2024. It also prohibits sales, possession, transfer, and transport of an 'assault firearm' to anyone under the age of 21. Magazines that hold more than 10 rounds and were made on or after July 1, 2024 are prohibited. The U.S. Supreme Court has said in both DC v Heller, and recently The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v Bruen, that any firearm 'in common use' is protected by the Second Amendment. The guns and magazines targeted by this bill are among the most common guns and magazines in the United States making this bill unconstitutional. | 11/20/23 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100411D 11/20/23 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/22/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) 01/22/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 01/31/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendments (10-Y 5-N) 02/01/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/02/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 02/05/24 Senate: Read second time 02/05/24 Senate: Reading of amendments waived 02/05/24 Senate: Committee amendments agreed to 02/05/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended SB2E 02/05/24 Senate: Printed as engrossed 24100411D-E 02/06/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 02/07/24 Senate: Pending question, not ordered (18-Y 22-N) 02/07/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/13/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/13/24 House: Read first time 02/13/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 02/16/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24107815D-H1 02/20/24 House: Motion to refer to committee agreed to 02/20/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 02/21/24 House: Reported from Appropriations (12-Y 10-N) 02/23/24 House: Read second time 02/26/24 House: Passed by for the day 02/27/24 House: Passed by for the day 02/28/24 House: Read third time 02/28/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24107815D-H1 02/28/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB2H1 02/28/24 House: Passed House with substitute (51-Y 49-N) 02/28/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 49-N) 03/01/24 Senate: House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Title replaced 24107815D-H1 03/06/24 Senate: Enrolled 03/06/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB2ER) 03/06/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/07/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 Senate: Passed in enrolled form rejected (21-Y 19-N) 04/17/24 Senate: Requires 2/3 members present 04/17/24 Senate: Senate sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Firearm transfers to another person from a prohibited person. Provides that a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm because such person is subject to a protective order or has been convicted of an assault and battery of a family or household member may transfer a firearm owned by such prohibited person to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm, provided that such person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm is 21 years of age or older and does not reside with the person who is subject to the protective order. Under current law, there is no requirement that such transferee cannot be younger than 21 years of age and cannot reside with such prohibited person. The bill also provides that such prohibited person who transfers, sells, or surrenders a firearm pursuant to the provisions of the bill shall inform the clerk of the court of the name and address of the transferee, the federally licensed firearms dealer, or the law-enforcement agency in possession of the firearm and shall provide a copy of such form to the transferee. The bill also provides that a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm because such person is subject to a protective order or has been convicted of an assault and battery of a family or household member shall be advised that a law-enforcement officer may obtain a search warrant to search for any firearms from such person if such law-enforcement officer has reason to believe that such person has not relinquished all firearms in his possession. This bill is identical to SB 47. VCDL Comments This bill requires a person with a protective order against them or a person with a domestic violence conviction to surrender, sell, or turn their guns over to someone 21-years-old or older and someone who does not live with them. It requires the person to be advised that if a police officer believes they have not turned over all their guns, that the officer can get a search warrant to look for any such guns. There are multiple problems with the bill as written. If a husband and wife co-own a shotgun for home defense, for example, and the husband gets a protective order issued against him, the wife would no longer have access to that co-owned shotgun. That punishes the wife and needlessly endangers her life. There is also the question of not allowing a person 18 to 20-years-old to retain the guns. A person in that age range can legally possess rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Why can.t young adults be used to hold the guns? | 12/21/23 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104087D 12/21/23 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/15/24 House: Referred from Courts of Justice by voice vote 01/15/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N) 01/19/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (11-Y 9-N) 01/23/24 House: Read first time 01/24/24 House: Read second time and engrossed 01/25/24 House: Passed by for the day 01/26/24 House: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 44-N) 01/26/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 44-N) 01/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 01/29/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/14/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (6-Y 5-N) 02/16/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) 02/19/24 Senate: Read third time 02/19/24 Senate: Passed Senate (20-Y 18-N) 02/21/24 House: Enrolled 02/21/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB46ER) 02/21/24 House: Signed by Speaker 02/24/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/01/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 1, 2024 03/01/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 8, 2024 03/08/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 03/09/24 House: Passed by until Reconvene, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Firearm transfers to another person from a prohibited person. Provides that a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm because such person is subject to a protective order or has been convicted of an assault and battery of a family or household member may transfer a firearm owned by such prohibited person to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm, provided that such person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm is 21 years of age or older and does not reside with the person who is subject to the protective order. Under current law, there is no requirement that such transferee cannot be younger than 21 years of age and cannot reside with such prohibited person. The bill also provides that such prohibited person who transfers, sells, or surrenders a firearm pursuant to the provisions of the bill shall inform the clerk of the court of the name and address of the transferee, the federally licensed firearms dealer, or the law-enforcement agency in possession of the firearm and shall provide a copy of such form to the transferee. The bill also provides that a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm because such person is subject to a protective order or has been convicted of an assault and battery of a family or household member shall be advised that a law-enforcement officer may obtain a search warrant to search for any firearms from such person if such law-enforcement officer has reason to believe that such person has not relinquished all firearms in his possession. This bill is identical to HB 46. VCDL Comments This bill requires a person with a protective order against them or a person with a domestic violence conviction to surrender, sell, or turn their guns over to someone 21-years-old or older and someone who does not live with them. It requires the person to be advised that if a police officer believes they have not turned over all their guns, that the officer can get a search warrant to look for any such guns. There are multiple problems with the bill as written. If a husband and wife co-own a shotgun for home defense, for example, and the husband gets a protective order issued against him, the wife would no longer have access to that co-owned shotgun. That punishes the wife and needlessly endangers her life. There is also the question of not allowing a person 18 to 20-years-old to retain the guns. A person in that age range can legally possess rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Why can.t young adults be used to hold the guns? | 12/21/23 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104086D 12/21/23 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/22/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) 01/23/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 01/24/24 Senate: Read second time and engrossed 01/25/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (23-Y 17-N) 01/25/24 Senate: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) 01/25/24 Senate: Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/13/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/13/24 House: Read first time 02/13/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/20/24 House: Read second time 02/21/24 House: Read third time 02/21/24 House: Passed House (52-Y 47-N) 02/21/24 House: VOTE: Passage (52-Y 47-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Enrolled 02/26/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB47ER) 02/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 02/28/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/01/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 1, 2024 03/01/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 8, 2024 03/08/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 03/09/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 04/17/24 Senate: Passed in enrolled form rejected (21-Y 19-N) 04/17/24 Senate: Requires 2/3 members present 04/17/24 Senate: Senate sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty. Prohibits the carrying of certain semi-automatic center-fire rifles and shotguns on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, or public right-of-way or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public, with certain exceptions. Under current law, the current prohibition on carrying certain shotguns and semi-automatic center-fire rifles and pistols applies to a narrower range of firearms, only in certain localities, and only when such firearms are loaded. This bill is identical to HB 175. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill bans the carry of 1) a semiautomatic centerfire rifle or pistol that has a fixed magazine that holds more than 10 rounds or 2) a semiautomatic centerfire rifle or pistol that accepts a detachable magazine of any size and has any of a variety of cosmetic features or 3) a semi-automatic shotgun with any of a variety of cosmetic features, on or about a person on a public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, in a park, or in any place open to the public. It doesn.t matter if the firearm is unloaded. Concealed handgun permit holders and licensed security guards are no longer exempt from this code section, even though neither one has caused any legal issues by carrying such loaded firearms publicly for over a decade. Of course, the government, our servant, exempts itself from all this nonsense. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that citizens have the right to carry firearms outside of their homes and in public, so this bill is unconstitutional on its face. | 01/03/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100968D 01/03/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/22/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) 01/22/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 01/31/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N) 01/31/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24105953D-S1 02/01/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/02/24 Senate: Read second time 02/02/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 02/02/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24105953D-S1 02/02/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB99S1 02/05/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/13/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/13/24 House: Read first time 02/13/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 02/16/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24107774D-H1 02/20/24 House: Read second time 02/21/24 House: Read third time 02/21/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24107774D-H1 02/21/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB99H1 02/21/24 House: Passed House with substitute (52-Y 48-N) 02/21/24 House: VOTE: Passage (52-Y 48-N) 02/23/24 Senate: House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N) 02/23/24 Senate: Title replaced 24107774D-H1 02/28/24 Senate: Enrolled 02/28/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB99ER) 02/28/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/02/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 Senate: Passed in enrolled form rejected (21-Y 19-N) 04/17/24 Senate: Requires 2/3 members present 04/17/24 Senate: Senate sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Manufacture, import, sale, transfer, or possession of plastic firearms and unfinished frames or receivers and unserialized firearms prohibited; penalties. Creates a Class 5 felony for any person who knowingly manufactures or assembles, imports, purchases, sells, transfers, or possesses any firearm that, after removal of all parts other than a major component, as defined in the bill, is not detectable as a firearm when subjected to inspection by the types of detection devices, including X-ray machines, commonly used at airports, government buildings, schools, correctional facilities, and other locations for security screening. The bill updates language regarding the types of detection devices that are used at such locations for detecting plastic firearms. Under current law, it is unlawful to manufacture, import, sell, transfer, or possess any plastic firearm and a violation is punishable as a Class 5 felony. VCDL Comments This bill makes unfinished firearm frames and receivers and unserialized commercially made firearms unlawful to purchase, sell, or transfer unless serialized. Even a chunk of aluminum, if sold to the public to become a frame or receiver once completed, must be serialized under this bill. The bill doesn.t make an exception for the millions of firearms made before 1968 that were unserialized nor does it grandfather in existing homemade firearms. This bill is unconstitutional, as there was no analog in the history or traditions of firearms with any such limitations at the time the Bill of Rights was adopted. Homemade guns have been legal since before the United States existed. | 01/03/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104102D 01/03/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/22/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N) 01/22/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24105790D-S1 01/22/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 01/31/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/01/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/02/24 Senate: Read second time 02/02/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 02/02/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24105790D-S1 02/02/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB100S1 02/05/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/13/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/13/24 House: Read first time 02/13/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/20/24 House: Read second time 02/21/24 House: Read third time 02/21/24 House: Passed House (52-Y 48-N) 02/21/24 House: VOTE: Passage (52-Y 48-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Enrolled 02/26/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB100ER) 02/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 02/28/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Senate: Governor's recommendation received by Senate 03/27/24 Senate: Governor's substitute printed 24109224D-S2 04/17/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 04/17/24 Senate: Communicated to Governor 04/17/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 17, 2024 05/17/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor | ||
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Manufacture, import, sale, transfer, or possession of plastic firearms and unfinished frames or receivers and unserialized firearms prohibited; penalties. Creates a Class 5 felony for any person who knowingly manufactures or assembles, imports, purchases, sells, transfers, or possesses any firearm that, after removal of all parts other than a major component, as defined in the bill, is not detectable as a firearm when subjected to inspection by the types of detection devices, including X-ray machines, commonly used at airports, government buildings, schools, correctional facilities, and other locations for security screening. The bill updates language regarding the types of detection devices that are used at such locations for detecting plastic firearms. Under current law, it is unlawful to manufacture, import, sell, transfer, or possess any plastic firearm and a violation is punishable as a Class 5 felony. The bill also creates a Class 1 misdemeanor, which is punishable as a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense, making it unlawful for any person to knowingly possess a firearm or any completed or unfinished frame or receiver that is not imprinted with a valid serial number or to knowingly import, purchase, sell, offer for sale, or transfer ownership of any completed or unfinished frame or receiver, unless the completed or unfinished frame or receiver (i) is deemed to be a firearm pursuant to federal law and (ii) is imprinted with a valid serial number. The bill creates a Class 1 misdemeanor, which is punishable as a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense, making it unlawful for any person to manufacture or assemble, cause to be manufactured or assembled, import, purchase, sell, offer for sale, or transfer ownership of any firearm that is not imprinted with a valid serial number. The portions of the bill prohibiting unfinished frames or receivers and unserialized firearms have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025; however, the portions of the bill prohibiting the knowing possession of a firearm or any completed or unfinished frame or receiver that is not imprinted with a valid serial number have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025. This bill is identical to SB 100. VCDL Comments This bill makes unfinished firearm frames and receivers and unserialized commercially made firearms unlawful to purchase, sell, or transfer unless serialized. Even a chunk of aluminum, if sold to the public to become a frame or receiver once completed, must be serialized under this bill. The bill doesn't make an exception for the millions of firearms made before 1968 that were unserialized nor does it grandfather in existing homemade firearms. This bill is unconstitutional, as there was no analog in the history or traditions of firearms with any such limitations at the time the Bill of Rights was adopted. Homemade guns have been legal since before the United States existed. | 01/03/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104103D 01/03/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/13/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 01/19/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 9-N) 01/19/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24105692D-H1 01/19/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 01/21/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 01/24/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N) 01/29/24 House: Reported from Appropriations (12-Y 9-N) 01/31/24 House: Read first time 02/01/24 House: Read second time 02/01/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24105692D-H1 02/01/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB173H1 02/02/24 House: Read third time and passed House (52-Y 48-N) 02/02/24 House: VOTE: Passage (52-Y 48-N) 02/05/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/05/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/19/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (8-Y 5-N) 02/19/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24107868D-S1 02/19/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 03/01/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24107868D-S1 03/01/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB173S1 03/01/24 Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N) 03/04/24 House: Senate substitute agreed to by House 24107868D-S1 (52-Y 44-N 1-A) 03/04/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (52-Y 44-N 1-A) 03/07/24 House: Enrolled 03/07/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB173ER) 03/07/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/08/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 House: Governor's recommendation received by House 03/27/24 House: Governor's substitute printed 24109222D-H2 04/17/24 House: Speaker ruled Governor's amendments not germane 04/17/24 House: Communicated to Governor 04/17/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 17, 2024 05/17/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor | ||
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Carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty. Prohibits the carrying of certain semi-automatic center-fire rifles and shotguns on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, or public right-of-way or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public, with certain exceptions. Under current law, the current prohibition on carrying certain shotguns and semi-automatic center-fire rifles and pistols applies to a narrower range of firearms, only in certain localities, and only when such firearms are loaded. This bill is identical to SB 99. VCDL Comments This bill bans the carry of 1) a semiautomatic centerfire rifle or pistol that has a fixed magazine that holds more than 10 rounds or 2) a semiautomatic centerfire rifle or pistol that accepts a detachable magazine of any size and has any of a variety of cosmetic features or 3) a semi-automatic shotgun with any of a variety of cosmetic features, on or about a person on a public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, in a park, or in any place open to the public. It doesn't matter if the firearm is unloaded. Concealed handgun permit holders and licensed security guards are no longer exempt from this code section, even though neither one has caused any legal issues by carrying such loaded firearms publicly for over a decade. Of course, the government, our servant, exempts itself from all this nonsense. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that citizens have the right to carry firearms outside of their homes and in public, so this bill is unconstitutional on its face. | 01/03/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102977D 01/03/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/13/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 3-N) 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 02/02/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/02/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 02/02/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 02/07/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 3-N) 02/07/24 House: Reported from Appropriations with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 02/07/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24107266D-H1 02/09/24 House: Read first time 02/12/24 House: Read second time 02/12/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24107266D-H1 02/12/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB175H1 02/13/24 House: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 48-N) 02/13/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 48-N) 02/14/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/14/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/26/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (8-Y 4-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24108242D-S1 02/26/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 03/01/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24108242D-S1 03/01/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB175S1 03/01/24 Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (20-Y 19-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N) 03/04/24 House: Senate substitute agreed to by House 24108242D-S1 (51-Y 47-N) 03/04/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (51-Y 47-N) 03/07/24 House: Enrolled 03/07/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB175ER) 03/07/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/08/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Storage of firearms in a residence where a minor or person prohibited from possessing a firearm is present; penalty. Requires 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 to store such firearm and the ammunition for such firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet that is inaccessible to such minor or prohibited person. The bill provides that a violation is a Class 4 misdemeanor. The bill exempts (i) any person in lawful possession of a firearm who carries such firearm on or about his person and (ii) the storage of antique firearms and provides that the lawful authorization of a minor to access a firearm is not a violation of the bill's provisions. The bill also requires firearm dealers to post a notice stating such firearm storage requirements and the penalty for improperly storing such firearms. This bill is identical to SB 368. VCDL Comments This bill requires all firearms in a home, that are not being carried on or about the owner, to be in a locked container and the ammunition to be locked in a separate container if there is someone in the home who is under 18 years of age or if there is a prohibited person in the home. This one-size-fits-all bill does not take into account the many minors under the age of 18 who are thoroughly familiar with firearms and have been trained in handling firearms safely by their parents. In fact, minors under the age of 18 have used firearms to stop violent home invasions or other serious crimes taking place in their home. There is already a law against letting someone under the age of 14 get access to a gun that was stored in a careless manner. | 01/03/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104245D 01/03/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/13/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N) 01/26/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 01/30/24 House: Read first time 01/31/24 House: Read second time and engrossed 02/01/24 House: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 49-N) 02/01/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 49-N) 02/02/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/02/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/19/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (8-Y 5-N) 02/19/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Reading of amendments waived 03/01/24 Senate: Committee amendments agreed to 03/01/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended 03/01/24 Senate: Passed Senate with amendments (21-Y 19-N) 03/04/24 House: Senate amendments agreed to by House (51-Y 47-N) 03/04/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (51-Y 47-N) 03/07/24 House: Enrolled 03/07/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB183ER) 03/07/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/08/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Substantial risk orders; substantial risk factors and considerations. Provides various factors that a judge or magistrate must consider for the purpose of determining probable cause prior to issuing an emergency substantial risk order or a substantial risk order. The bill provides that such factors shall include whether the person who is subject to the order (i) committed any acts of violence or criminal offenses resulting in injury to himself or another person within the six months prior to the filing of the petition; (ii) made any threats or used any physical force against another person that resulted in injury within the six months prior to the filing of the petition; (iii) violated any provision of a protective order issued or was arrested for stalking within the six months prior to the filing of the petition; (iv) was convicted of any offense that would prohibit such person from possessing a firearm; (v) engaged in any conduct within the year prior to the filing of the petition that demonstrated a pattern of violent acts or threats to another person, including any acts or threats made against family members, neighbors, coworkers, or toward schools or students or government buildings or employees; (vi) committed any acts of violence or criminal offenses against an animal within the six months prior to the filing of the petition; (vii) made any attempt or threat of suicide or any act, attempted act, or threat of self-harm that caused or may have caused serious bodily injury; or (viii) recently acquired a firearm or ammunition, with evidence of such recent acquisition provided by the petitioner. The bill also outlines various other factors that a judge or magistrate may consider for the purpose of issuing an emergency substantial risk order or a substantial risk order. The bill also provides that possession includes actual access or the potential to readily access a firearm for the purposes of finding if a person possesses a firearm or if such firearm shall be voluntarily relinquished. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill expands the items a judge shall consider and may consider for ESROs and SROs. ESROs and SROs are unconstitutional due to their lack of due process before a person's civirights are taken away. But this bill is also unconstitutional because it confiscates the firearms of third parties living in the same home, even if those firearms are locked away from the target of the SRO. Someone living with a felon can keep their guns as long as the felon doesn't have access to them. Why would this be any different? | 01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102865D 01/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/31/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (9-Y 6-N) 02/02/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) 02/05/24 Senate: Read second time 02/05/24 Senate: Reading of amendments waived 02/05/24 Senate: Committee amendments #'s 2, 3 and 4 agreed to 02/05/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended SB258E 02/05/24 Senate: Printed as engrossed 24102865D-E 02/06/24 Senate: Engrossment reconsidered by Senate (39-Y 0-N) 02/06/24 Senate: Reading of amendment waived 02/06/24 Senate: Committee amendment #1 agreed to 02/06/24 Senate: Reengrossed by Senate as amended SB258E2 02/06/24 Senate: Printed as reengrossed 24102865D-E2 02/06/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 02/06/24 Senate: Passed Senate (21-Y 18-N) 02/13/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/13/24 House: Read first time 02/13/24 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/16/24 House: Referred from Courts of Justice by voice vote 02/16/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/19/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/22/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 3-N) 02/23/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 9-N) 02/27/24 House: Read second time 02/28/24 House: Read third time 02/28/24 House: Passed House (52-Y 47-N) 02/28/24 House: VOTE: Passage (52-Y 47-N) 03/04/24 Senate: Enrolled 03/04/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB258ER) 03/04/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/07/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 Senate: Passed in enrolled form rejected (21-Y 19-N) 04/17/24 Senate: Requires 2/3 members present 04/17/24 Senate: Senate sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Purchase of firearms; waiting period; penalty. Provides that no person shall sell a firearm unless at least five days have elapsed from the time the prospective purchaser completes the written consent form to have a licensed dealer obtain criminal history record information, with exceptions enumerated in relevant law. This bill incorporates SB 55 and SB 551 and is identical to HB 1195. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill requires that a person must wait five days before a purchased or rented firearm can be transferred to them. Gun sales, both private and commercial, will require a buyer to make two trips to a dealer to get the firearm, and such trips could be lengthy. The bill will also do severe harm to gun shows, as most are only two days long and would therefore require all purchasers to travel to a gun store, possibly across the state, to pick up the firearm. There are many sad cases where someone who urgently needed a firearm for self-defense was murdered while in the waiting period. California has a 10-day waiting period, with plenty of mass murders and a violent crime rate double that of Virginia in 2022. Virginia has the 9th lowest crime rate in the U.S. (https://www.statista.com/statistics/200445/reportedviolent- crime-rate-in-the-us-states/). So much for the promise to citizens that the system would be an 'instant check.' | 01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104597D 01/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/22/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N) 01/22/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24106020D-S1 01/22/24 Senate: Incorporates SB55 (Salim) 01/22/24 Senate: Incorporates SB551 (Deeds) 01/22/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 01/31/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/01/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/02/24 Senate: Read second time 02/02/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 02/02/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24106020D-S1 02/02/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB273S1 02/05/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/13/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/13/24 House: Read first time 02/13/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/20/24 House: Read second time 02/21/24 House: Read third time 02/21/24 House: Passed House (51-Y 49-N) 02/21/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 49-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Enrolled 02/26/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB273ER) 02/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 02/28/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 Senate: Passed in enrolled form rejected (21-Y 19-N) 04/17/24 Senate: Requires 2/3 members present 04/17/24 Senate: Senate sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Firearm industry members; standards of responsible conduct; civil liability. Creates standards of responsible conduct for firearm industry members and requires such members to establish and implement reasonable controls regarding the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, and marketing of the firearm industry member's firearm-related products, as those terms are defined in the bill. Such reasonable controls include reasonable procedures, safeguards, and business practices that are designed to (i) prevent the sale or distribution of a firearm-related product to a straw purchaser, a firearm trafficker, a person prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, or a person who the firearm industry member has reasonable cause to believe is at substantial risk of using a firearm-related product to harm themselves or unlawfully harm another or of unlawfully possessing or using a firearm-related product; (ii) prevent the loss of a firearm-related product or theft of a firearm-related product from a firearm industry member; (iii) ensure that the firearm industry member complies with all provisions of state and federal law and does not otherwise promote the unlawful manufacture, sale, possession, marketing, or use of a firearm-related product; and (iv) ensure that the firearm industry member does not engage in an act or practice in violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill also provides that a firearm industry member may not knowingly or recklessly create, maintain, or contribute to a public nuisance, as defined in the bill, through the sale, manufacturing, importing, or marketing of a firearm-related product. The bill creates a civil cause of action for the Attorney General or a local county or city attorney to enforce the provisions of the bill or for any person who has been injured as a result of a firearm industry member's violation to seek an injunction and to recover costs and damages. This bill is identical to SB 491. VCDL Comments This bill allows a highly regulated industry, the firearms industry, to be sued civilly for a variety of already illegal actions. It also holds the manufacturers and sellers of even the most benign of firearm accessories, like a butt stock or a gun case, liable to a civil lawsuit if it doesn't 'properly' protect that item from theft or misuse by a criminal! How could a firearm accessory seller reasonably know if they were selling a gun sling to a prohibited person? This bill is designed to have a chilling effect on all aspects of the firearms industry. At a time when the federal government is pulling FFL licenses for even the tiniest paperwork mistakes, this bill is just piling on with more ways to destroy the firearm industry. | 01/05/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104492D 01/05/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 3-N) 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/02/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/02/24 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/02/24 House: Assigned Courts sub: Civil 02/05/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N) 02/09/24 House: Reported from Courts of Justice (12-Y 10-N) 02/11/24 House: Read first time 02/12/24 House: Read second time and engrossed 02/13/24 House: Read third time and passed House (50-Y 48-N) 02/13/24 House: VOTE: Passage (50-Y 48-N) 02/14/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/14/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/26/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (8-Y 5-N) 02/27/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 02/28/24 Senate: Read third time 02/28/24 Senate: Reading of amendments waived 02/28/24 Senate: Committee amendments agreed to 02/28/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended 02/28/24 Senate: Passed Senate with amendments (20-Y 19-N) 03/01/24 House: Senate amendments agreed to by House (49-Y 47-N) 03/01/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (49-Y 47-N) 03/07/24 House: Enrolled 03/07/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB318ER) 03/07/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/08/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Purchase of certain firearms; age requirement; penalty. Prohibits any person under 21 years of age from purchasing a handgun or assault firearm, with exceptions for the purchase of an assault firearm by a law-enforcement officer, correctional officer, jail officer, or member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the Virginia National Guard, or the National Guard of any other state. Accordingly, the bill prohibits a licensed dealer from selling, renting, trading, or transferring from his inventory a handgun or assault firearm to any person under 21 years of age. A violation of either prohibition is a Class 6 felony. The bill also expands the definition of "assault firearm" as the term applies to criminal history record information checks. This bill is identical to HB 1174. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase any kind of firearm. It also redefines the term 'assault firearm' to cover morefirearms, including standard, ubiquitous Glock handguns. This bill is unconstitutional. Courts have ruled the 2nd Amendment covers those 18 and older. | 01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104749D 01/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/31/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N) 01/31/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24106617D-S1 01/31/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/07/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/08/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Read second time 02/09/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 02/09/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24106617D-S1 02/09/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB327S1 02/12/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 02/13/24 Senate: Floor substitute printed 24107682D-S2 (Salim) 02/13/24 Senate: Engrossment reconsidered by Senate (40-Y 0-N) 02/13/24 Senate: Committee substitute reconsidered (40-Y 0-N) 02/13/24 Senate: Committee substitute rejected 24106617D-S1 02/13/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 02/13/24 Senate: Substitute by Senator Salim agreed to 24107682D-S2 02/13/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute SB327S2 02/13/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/13/24 Senate: Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/15/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/15/24 House: Read first time 02/15/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 02/16/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24107825D-H1 02/20/24 House: Read second time 02/21/24 House: Read third time 02/21/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24107825D-H1 02/21/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB327H1 02/21/24 House: Passed House with substitute (52-Y 48-N) 02/21/24 House: VOTE: Passage (52-Y 48-N) 02/23/24 Senate: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 39-N) 02/26/24 House: House insisted on substitute 02/26/24 House: House requested conference committee 02/28/24 Senate: Senate acceded to request (21-Y 18-N) 02/28/24 Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate 02/28/24 Senate: Senators: Salim, Deeds, Jordan 02/29/24 House: Conferees appointed by House 02/29/24 House: Delegates: Sickles, McClure, Ennis 03/05/24 Conference: Amended by conference committee 03/06/24 Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N) 03/06/24 House: Conference report agreed to by House (51-Y 48-N) 03/06/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (51-Y 48-N) 03/25/24 Senate: Enrolled 03/25/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB327ER) 03/25/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/27/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 27, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 04/17/24 Senate: Senate sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearm; assault and battery of a family or household member or intimate partner; penalties. Adds to the existing definition of "family or household member" a person's intimate partner, defined in the bill as an individual who, within the previous 12 months, was in a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship with the person. The bill also provides that 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, 2024, for the offense of assault and battery against an intimate partner or an offense substantially similar under the laws of any other state or of the United States is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill is identical to SB 642. VCDL Comments This bill makes battery in a 'dating relationship' a misdemeanor and takes away the right to purchase, possess, or transport a firearm for three years. Misdemeanors should never take away a civil right. This will also not stand up to court challenge under the Supreme Court.s Bruen decision as there was no history or tradition of taking away a person.s right to keep and bear arms over misdemeanor battery of anyone. | 01/06/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104469D 01/06/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 3-N) 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 02/02/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 02/02/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24106143D-H1 02/02/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 02/04/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 02/07/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N) 02/07/24 House: Reported from Appropriations (13-Y 9-N) 02/09/24 House: Read first time 02/12/24 House: Read second time 02/12/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24106143D-H1 02/12/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB362H1 02/13/24 House: Read third time and passed House (53-Y 46-N) 02/13/24 House: VOTE: Passage (53-Y 46-N) 02/14/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/14/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/26/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (8-Y 5-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24108243D-S1 02/26/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 03/01/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24108243D-S1 03/01/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB362S1 03/01/24 Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N) 03/04/24 House: Senate substitute agreed to by House 24108243D-S1 (52-Y 46-N) 03/04/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (52-Y 46-N) 03/07/24 House: Enrolled 03/07/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB362ER) 03/07/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/08/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Storage of firearms in a residence where a minor or person prohibited from possessing a firearm is present; penalty. Requires 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 to store such firearm and the ammunition for such firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet that is inaccessible to such minor or prohibited person. The bill provides that a violation is a Class 4 misdemeanor. The bill exempts (i) any person in lawful possession of a firearm who carries such firearm on or about his person and (ii) the storage of antique firearms and provides that the lawful authorization of a minor to access a firearm is not a violation of the bill's provisions. The bill also requires firearm dealers to post a notice stating such firearm storage requirements and the penalty for improperly storing such firearms. This bill is identical to HB 183. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill requires all firearms in a home, that are not being carried on or about the owner, to be in a locked container and the ammunition to be locked in a separate container if there is someone in the home who is under 18 years of age or if there is a prohibited person in the home. This one-size-fits-all bill does not take into account the many minors under the age of 18 who are thoroughly familiar with firearms and have been trained in handling firearms safely by their parents. In fact, minors under the age of 18 have used firearms to stop violent home invasions or other serious crimes taking place in their home. There is already a law against letting someone under the age of 14 get access to a gun that was stored in a careless manner. | 01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104295D 01/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/29/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (9-Y 6-N) 01/30/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 01/31/24 Senate: Read second time 01/31/24 Senate: Reading of amendments waived 01/31/24 Senate: Committee amendments agreed to 01/31/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended SB368E 01/31/24 Senate: Printed as engrossed 24104295D-E 02/01/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/13/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/13/24 House: Read first time 02/13/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/20/24 House: Read second time 02/21/24 House: Read third time 02/21/24 House: Passed House (51-Y 49-N) 02/21/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 49-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Enrolled 02/26/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB368ER) 02/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 02/28/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 Senate: Passed in enrolled form rejected (21-Y 19-N) 04/17/24 Senate: Requires 2/3 members present 04/17/24 Senate: Senate sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square or building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; exemptions; public institutions of higher education; penalty. Limits the exemption from the prohibition on the carrying of any firearm or explosive material within any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or agency thereof or any office where employees of the Commonwealth or any agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties that currently applies to any property owned or operated by a public institution of higher education to instead apply to any individual within a building owned or operated by a public institution of higher education who possesses a weapon as part of such public institution of higher education's curriculum or activities or as part of any organization authorized by such public institution of higher education to conduct its programs or activities within such building, as such uses are approved through the law-enforcement or public safety unit of such institution. This bill is identical to HB 454. VCDL Comments This bill restricts firearms at public institutions of higher education by requiring such firearms be part of an authorized program or activity inside a building. A solution in search of a problem. Higher education students are adults and have a right to self-defense. | 01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100412D 01/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/29/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N) 01/29/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24105565D-S1 01/29/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/07/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/08/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Read second time 02/09/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 02/09/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24105565D-S1 02/09/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB383S1 02/12/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/15/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/15/24 House: Read first time 02/15/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/20/24 House: Read second time 02/21/24 House: Read third time 02/21/24 House: Passed House (52-Y 48-N) 02/21/24 House: VOTE: Passage (52-Y 48-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Enrolled 02/26/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB383ER) 02/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 02/28/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 Senate: Passed in enrolled form rejected (21-Y 19-N) 04/17/24 Senate: Requires 2/3 members present 04/17/24 Senate: Senate sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Firearm in unattended motor vehicle; civil penalty. Provides that no person shall leave, place, or store a handgun in an unattended motor vehicle, as defined in the bill, when such handgun is visible to any person who is outside such motor vehicle. The bill provides that any person violating such prohibition is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $500 and such unattended motor vehicle may be subject to removal for safekeeping. This bill is identical to HB 1462. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill creates a $500 civil penalty and subjects a vehicle to towing if a person leaves a handgun in an unattended vehicle and that vehicle is either unlocked or the handgun is not in a locked container. This bill punishes the innocent victim of breaking and entering. The car owner should not be considered to be at fault even if a criminal opens an unlocked car door. It is the criminal who is solely to blame. And it is absurd that the victim is punished if he did lock the car but did not lock the gun up in some other compartment or container, too. Punish criminals and stop harassing good people. | 01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100642D 01/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/22/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) 01/23/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 01/24/24 Senate: Read second time and engrossed 01/25/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/13/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/13/24 House: Read first time 02/13/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/20/24 House: Read second time 02/21/24 House: Read third time 02/21/24 House: Passed House (51-Y 49-N) 02/21/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 49-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Enrolled 02/26/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB447ER) 02/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 02/28/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 04/17/24 Senate: Senate sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square or building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; exemptions; public institutions of higher education; penalty. Limits the exemption from the prohibition on the carrying of any firearm or explosive material within any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or agency thereof or any office where employees of the Commonwealth or any agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties that currently applies to any property owned or operated by a public institution of higher education to instead apply to any individual within a building owned or operated by a public institution of higher education who possesses a weapon as part of such public institution of higher education's curriculum or activities or as part of any organization authorized by such public institution of higher education to conduct its programs or activities within such building, as such uses are approved through the law-enforcement or public safety unit of such institution. This bill is identical to SB 383. VCDL Comments This bill restricts firearms at public institutions of higher education by requiring such firearms be part of an authorized program or activity inside a building. A solution in search of a problem. Higher education students are adults and have a right to self-defense. | 01/08/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103011D 01/08/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 01/19/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 9-N) 01/19/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24105639D-H1 01/19/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 01/21/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 01/24/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N) 01/29/24 House: Reported from Appropriations (11-Y 10-N) 01/31/24 House: Read first time 02/01/24 House: Read second time 02/01/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24105639D-H1 02/01/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB454H1 02/02/24 House: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 48-N) 02/02/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 48-N) 02/05/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/05/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/14/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (6-Y 5-N) 02/14/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 03/07/24 House: Enrolled 03/07/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB454ER) 03/07/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/08/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states. Provides that the Superintendent of State Police, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, shall determine whether states meet the statutory qualifications for Virginia to recognize the concealed handgun permit of a person from another state. Under current law, any out-of-state permit is recognized in the Commonwealth provided that (i) the issuing authority provides the means for instantaneous verification of the validity of all such permits or licenses issued within that state, accessible 24 hours a day; (ii) the permit or license holder carries a photo identification issued by a government agency of any state or by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Department of State and displays the permit or license and such identification upon demand by a law-enforcement officer; and (iii) the permit or license holder has not previously had a Virginia concealed handgun permit revoked. The bill also provides that a Virginia resident who has not been issued a valid resident concealed handgun permit may not use a concealed handgun or concealed weapon permit or license issued by another state to carry a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth. VCDL Comments This bill severely restricts concealed handgun permit recognition with other states. Currently, Virginia honors permits from all other states, which, in turn, allows Virginians to be able to carry in most of those states. And permit holders from other states have been carrying in Virginia without incident for years. This bill is an unjust and demeaning slap in the face to law-abiding Virginia gun owners, as it will reduce the number of states where a Virginia permit holder can carry a handgun for self-defense. It is a solution in search of a problem that destroys an extremely successful law. | 01/08/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104641D 01/08/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N) 01/19/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 9-N) 01/23/24 House: Read first time 01/24/24 House: Read second time and engrossed 01/25/24 House: Passed by for the day 01/26/24 House: Read third time and passed House (50-Y 45-N) 01/26/24 House: VOTE: Passage (50-Y 45-N) 01/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 01/29/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/26/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (9-Y 5-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 03/04/24 Senate: Read third time 03/04/24 Senate: Reading of amendment waived 03/04/24 Senate: Committee amendment agreed to 03/04/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended 03/04/24 Senate: Passed Senate with amendment (20-Y 19-N) 03/05/24 House: Senate amendment agreed to by House (50-Y 49-N) 03/05/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (50-Y 49-N) 03/25/24 House: Enrolled 03/25/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB466ER) 03/25/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/27/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 27, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Firearm industry members; standards of responsible conduct; civil liability. Creates standards of responsible conduct for firearm industry members and requires such members to establish and implement reasonable controls regarding the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, and marketing of the firearm industry member's firearm-related products, as those terms are defined in the bill. Such reasonable controls include reasonable procedures, safeguards, and business practices that are designed to (i) prevent the sale or distribution of a firearm-related product to a straw purchaser, a firearm trafficker, a person prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, or a person who the firearm industry member has reasonable cause to believe is at substantial risk of using a firearm-related product to harm themselves or unlawfully harm another or of unlawfully possessing or using a firearm-related product; (ii) prevent the loss of a firearm-related product or theft of a firearm-related product from a firearm industry member; (iii) ensure that the firearm industry member complies with all provisions of state and federal law and does not otherwise promote the unlawful manufacture, sale, possession, marketing, or use of a firearm-related product; and (iv) ensure that the firearm industry member does not engage in an act or practice in violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill also provides that a firearm industry member may not knowingly or recklessly create, maintain, or contribute to a public nuisance, as defined in the bill, through the sale, manufacturing, importing, or marketing of a firearm-related product. The bill creates a civil cause of action for the Attorney General or a local county or city attorney to enforce the provisions of the bill or for any person who has been injured as a result of a firearm industry member's violation to seek an injunction and to recover costs and damages. This bill is identical to HB 318. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill allows a highly regulated industry, the firearms industry, to be sued civilly for a variety of already illegal actions. It also holds the manufacturers and sellers of even the most benign of firearm accessories, like a butt stock or a gun case, liable to a civil lawsuit if it doesn't 'prope protect that item from theft or misuse by a criminal! How could a firearm accessory seller reasonably know if they were selling a gun sling to a prohibited person? This bill is designed to have a chilling effect on all aspects of the firearms industry. At a time when the federal government is pulling FFL licenses for even the tiniest paperwork mistakes, this bill is just piling on with more ways to destroy the firearm industry. | 01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104526D 01/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/29/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (9-Y 6-N) 01/29/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/07/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/08/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Printed as engrossed 24104526D-E 02/09/24 Senate: Read second time 02/09/24 Senate: Reading of amendments waived 02/09/24 Senate: Committee amendments agreed to 02/09/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended SB491E 02/12/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/15/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/15/24 House: Read first time 02/15/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/20/24 House: Read second time 02/21/24 House: Read third time 02/21/24 House: Passed House (51-Y 49-N) 02/21/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 49-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Enrolled 02/26/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB491ER) 02/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 02/28/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 04/17/24 Senate: Senate sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Weapons; possession or transportation; hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to knowingly possess in or transport into the building of any hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services in the Commonwealth, including an emergency department or other facility rendering emergency medical care, any (i) firearm or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) knife, except a pocket knife having a folding metal blade of less than three inches; or (iii) other dangerous weapon, including explosives and stun weapons. The bill also provides that notice of such prohibitions shall be posted conspicuously at the public entrance of any hospital and no person shall be convicted of the offense if such notice is not posted, unless such person had actual notice of the prohibitions. The bill provides that any such firearm, knife, explosive, or weapon shall be subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeited to the Commonwealth and specifies exceptions to the prohibition. This bill is identical to HB 861. VCDL Comments This bill prohibits firearms in facilities that provide mental health services or developmental services, including hospitals, emergencydepartments, or emergency medical care facilities, if they offer such services. Disarming visitors and guests, including concealed handgun permit holders, at such facilities violates their right to protect themselves in an emergency. A U.S. District Court in the 2nd Circuit has restrained enforcement of just such a law for beingunconstitutional under New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v Bruen Supreme Court ruling. | 01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101827D 01/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/31/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N) 01/31/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24106820D-S1 01/31/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/07/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/08/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Read second time 02/09/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 02/09/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24106820D-S1 02/09/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB515S1 02/12/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/15/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/15/24 House: Read first time 02/15/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/20/24 House: Read second time 02/21/24 House: Read third time 02/21/24 House: Passed House (52-Y 48-N) 02/21/24 House: VOTE: Passage (52-Y 48-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Enrolled 02/26/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB515ER) 02/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 02/28/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Senate: Governor's recommendation received by Senate 03/27/24 Senate: Governor's substitute printed 24109218D-S2 04/17/24 Senate: Senate rejected Governor's recommendation (19-Y 21-N) 04/17/24 Senate: Communicated to Governor 04/17/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 17, 2024 05/17/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill removes firearm courses offered by the National Rifle Association or the United States Concealed Carry Association or their instructors from the list of courses that satisfy the training requirement to get a concealed handgun permit, among other things. The NRA has been known for its top-notch firearm training since its inception. The bill also requires all courses to have a range session in which at least ten rounds of ammunition are fired. This bill will make it harder and more expensive for a person to get training, which is not a good thing, and it is clearly a mean-spirited vendetta against the National Rifle Association, as it even removes the option of someone getting an NRA license plate! Another solution to a non-existent problem. | 01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104570D 01/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/22/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) 01/22/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 01/31/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/01/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/02/24 Senate: Read second time and engrossed 02/05/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/13/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/13/24 House: Read first time 02/13/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/19/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/22/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 by voice vote 02/23/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 9-N) 02/23/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24108226D-H1 02/27/24 House: Read second time 02/28/24 House: Read third time 02/28/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24108226D-H1 02/28/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB522H1 02/28/24 House: Passed House with substitute (51-Y 49-N) 02/28/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 49-N) 03/01/24 Senate: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N) 03/04/24 House: House insisted on substitute 03/04/24 House: House requested conference committee 03/05/24 Senate: Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N) 03/05/24 Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate 03/05/24 Senate: Senators: Williams Graves, Carroll Foy, Peake 03/06/24 House: Conferees appointed by House 03/06/24 House: Delegates: Simon, Helmer, Webert 03/09/24 Senate: No further action taken 03/09/24 Senate: Failed to pass in Senate | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill prevents home-based gun dealers from operating with 1.5 miles of any elementary or middle school. This bill will put most home-based firearms dealers out of business for no reason. Firearms dealers are highly regulated and such a business operating out of a home is not going to have a storefront that even indicates guns are available there. How many convenience stores that sell alcohol or vaping products are within 1.5 miles of a school? Children can wander into a convenience store, but not a home-based gun business. This bill is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104573D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N) 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns 01/26/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 01/26/24 House: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns 01/30/24 House: Assigned CC & T sub: Subcommittee #1 02/02/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N) 02/02/24 House: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (12-Y 10-N) 02/06/24 House: Read first time 02/07/24 House: Read second time and engrossed 02/08/24 House: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 47-N) 02/08/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 47-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/26/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) 02/27/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 02/28/24 Senate: Read third time 02/28/24 Senate: Passed Senate (20-Y 19-N) 03/05/24 House: Enrolled 03/05/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB585ER) 03/05/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/07/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Substantial risk orders; training program. Directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish a Substantial Risk Order Training Program for the purposes of training law-enforcement agencies and other public institutions throughout the Commonwealth to use and implement the substantial risk order law. The bill states that the programming shall provide training regarding proper procedures to follow, the circumstances under which the law can be used, the benefits to public safety from proper use of the law, and the harm that may ensue from the law not being used when lawfully available. The Program shall also include efforts to educate the public on and increase awareness of the substantial risk order law. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill creates a Substantial Risk Order (Red Flag) Training Program. This program is designed to encourage the use of SROs and does not train people on the harm the misuse of SROs can inflict on someone's civil rights and personal safety. It also doesn't address the importance ousing Temporary Detention Orders instead of SROs to get help for a person having a mental health crisis or who is suicidal. | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24105028D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Public Safety 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (4-Y 2-N) 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 01/26/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 01/26/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (12-Y 10-N) 01/26/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 01/31/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 3-N) 02/02/24 House: Reported from Appropriations with substitute (13-Y 9-N) 02/02/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24106557D-H1 02/06/24 House: Read first time 02/07/24 House: Read second time 02/07/24 House: Committee on Public Safety amendments rejected 02/07/24 House: Committee on Appropriations substitute agreed to 24106557D-H1 02/07/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB637H1 02/08/24 House: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 46-N) 02/08/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 46-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/26/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 03/04/24 Senate: Read third time 03/04/24 Senate: Passed Senate (20-Y 19-N) 03/07/24 House: Enrolled 03/07/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB637ER) 03/07/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/08/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearm; assault and battery of a family or household member or intimate partner; penalties. Adds to the existing definition of "family or household member" a person's intimate partner, defined in the bill as an individual who, within the previous 12 months, was in a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship with the person. The bill also provides that 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, 2024, for the offense of assault and battery against an intimate partner or an offense substantially similar under the laws of any other state or of the United States is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill incorporates SB 319. This bill is identical to HB 362. VCDL Comments This bill makes battery in a 'datingrelationship' a misdemeanor and takes away the right to purchase, possess, or transport a firearm for three years. Misdemeanors should never take away a civil right. This will also not stand up to court challenge under the Supreme Court's Bruen decision as there was no history or tradition of taking away a person's right to keep and bear arms over misdemeanor battery of anyone. | 01/11/24 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 24105186D 01/11/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/05/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N) 02/05/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24107066D-S1 02/05/24 Senate: Incorporates SB319 (Salim) 02/05/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/07/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/08/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Read second time 02/09/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 02/09/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24107066D-S1 02/09/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB642S1 02/12/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/15/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/15/24 House: Read first time 02/15/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/16/24 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/16/24 House: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 02/16/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24107834D-H1 02/20/24 House: Read second time 02/21/24 House: Read third time 02/21/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24107834D-H1 02/21/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB642H1 02/21/24 House: Passed House with substitute (52-Y 47-N 1-A) 02/21/24 House: VOTE: Passage (52-Y 47-N 1-A) 02/23/24 Senate: House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 17-N) 02/23/24 Senate: Title replaced 24107834D-H1 02/28/24 Senate: Enrolled 02/28/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB642ER) 02/28/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/02/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 Senate: Passed in enrolled form rejected (22-Y 18-N) 04/17/24 Senate: Requires 2/3 members present 04/17/24 Senate: Senate sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Demonstrated competence for a concealed handgun permit; firearms instructors and safety programs. Requires that any course, class, or training to demonstrate competence with a handgun as required to obtain a concealed handgun permit must include a live fire shooting exercise conducted on a range, including the expenditure of a minimum of 10 rounds of ammunition, and provides that no course, class, or training that does not include such live fire shooting exercise meets the requirements to obtain a concealed handgun permit. The bill removes references to the National Rifle Association (the NRA) and the United States Concealed Carry Association from the Code that allow the organizations to certify ranges and instructors and for courses offered by them to serve as proof of demonstrated competence in firearms safety and training for the purpose of obtaining a concealed handgun permit or receiving training as a minor in the use of pneumatic guns. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025. VCDL Comments This bill removes firearm courses offered by the National Rifle Association or the United States Concealed Carry Association or their instructors from the list of courses that satisfy the training requirement to get a concealed handgun permit, among other things. The NRA has been known for its top-notch firearm training since its inception. The bill also requires all courses to have a range session in which at least ten rounds of ammunition are fired. This bill will make it harder and more expensive for a person to get training, which is not a good thing, and it is clearly a mean-spirited vendetta against the National Rifle Association, as it even removes the option of someone getting an NRA license plate! Another solution to a non-existent problem. | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104454D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/19/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N) 02/02/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/06/24 House: Read first time 02/07/24 House: Read second time 02/07/24 House: Amendments by Delegate Hope agreed to 02/07/24 House: Engrossed by House as amended HB797E 02/07/24 House: Printed as engrossed 24104454D-E 02/08/24 House: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 46-N) 02/08/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 46-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/26/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendment (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 03/04/24 Senate: Read third time 03/04/24 Senate: Reading of amendment waived 03/04/24 Senate: Committee amendment agreed to 03/04/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended 03/04/24 Senate: Passed Senate with amendment (20-Y 19-N) 03/05/24 House: Senate amendment agreed to by House (50-Y 49-N) 03/05/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (50-Y 49-N) 03/25/24 House: Enrolled 03/25/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB797ER) 03/25/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/27/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 27, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearm following an assault and battery or stalking violation; prohibition period; penalty. Prohibits a person who has been convicted of assault and battery, assault and battery of a family or household member, or stalking from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm. The prohibition expires five years after the date of conviction, at which point the person's firearm rights are restored, unless he receives another disqualifying conviction. A person who violates the provisions of the bill is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also extends from three years to five years the existing prohibition period for persons convicted of assault and battery of certain family or household members. VCDL Comments This bill takes away a person's civil right to purchase, possess, or transport a firearm for a misdemeanor conviction of simple assault, assault and battery, and stalking for five years. No misdemeanor, which by definition is a minor crime, should ever be used to take away anyone's civil rights. | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104514D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/19/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N) 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 02/02/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/02/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 02/02/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 02/07/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N) 02/07/24 House: Reported from Appropriations (13-Y 9-N) 02/09/24 House: Read first time 02/12/24 House: Read second time and engrossed 02/13/24 House: Read third time and passed House (52-Y 47-N) 02/13/24 House: VOTE: Passage (52-Y 47-N) 02/14/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/14/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/26/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 03/04/24 Senate: Read third time 03/04/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 03/05/24 Senate: Read third time 03/05/24 Senate: Amendment by Senator Perry agreed to 03/05/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended 03/05/24 Senate: Defeated by Senate (20-Y 20-N) 03/05/24 Senate: Chair votes No 03/05/24 Senate: Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) 03/05/24 Senate: Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N) 03/06/24 House: Senate amendment agreed to by House (50-Y 47-N) 03/06/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (50-Y 47-N) 03/25/24 House: Enrolled 03/25/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB798ER) 03/25/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/27/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 27, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Concealed handgun permit applications; fingerprints required by local governments. Requires an applicant for a concealed handgun permit or a renewal of such permit to submit fingerprints as part of the application. The bill provides that any demonstrated administrative costs associated with such fingerprints taken shall be the responsibility of and shall be assessed to the applicant. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025. VCDL Comments This bill adds fingerprinting as a requirement for getting a concealed handgun permit.This will increase the cost of getting a permit, put a burden on new and renewing applicants to appear at a police station during working hours, and is totally unnecessary. The previous fingerprinting requirement was repealed well over a decade ago and permit holders continue to be the most law-abiding of Virginia'citizens. Another bill intended to make it harder for citizens to get a concealed carry permit. | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104511D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/19/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (6-Y 4-N) 02/02/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (12-Y 10-N) 02/06/24 House: Read first time 02/07/24 House: Read second time 02/07/24 House: Committee amendment agreed to 02/07/24 House: Engrossed by House as amended HB799E 02/07/24 House: Printed as engrossed 24104511D-E 02/08/24 House: Read third time and passed House (50-Y 47-N) 02/08/24 House: VOTE: Passage (50-Y 47-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/26/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendment (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 03/04/24 Senate: Read third time 03/04/24 Senate: Reading of amendment waived 03/04/24 Senate: Committee amendments agreed to 03/04/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended 03/04/24 Senate: Passed Senate with amendment (20-Y 19-N) 03/05/24 House: Senate amendment agreed to by House (50-Y 49-N) 03/05/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (50-Y 49-N) 03/25/24 House: Enrolled 03/25/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB799ER) 03/25/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/27/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 27, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Weapons; possession or transportation; hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to knowingly possess in or transport into the building of any hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services in the Commonwealth, including an emergency department or other facility rendering emergency medical care, any (i) firearm or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) knife, except a pocket knife having a folding metal blade of less than three inches; or (iii) other dangerous weapon, including explosives and stun weapons. The bill also provides that notice of such prohibitions shall be posted conspicuously at the public entrance of any hospital and no person shall be convicted of the offense if such notice is not posted, unless such person had actual notice of the prohibitions. The bill provides that any such firearm, knife, explosive, or weapon shall be subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeited to the Commonwealth and specifies exceptions to the prohibition. This bill is identical to SB 515. VCDL Comments This bill prohibits firearms in facilities that provide mental health services or developmental services, including hospitals, emergencydepartments, or emergency medical care facilities, if they offer such services. Disarming visitors and guests, including concealed handgun permit holders, at such facilities violates their right to protect themselves in an emergency. A U.S. District Court in the 2nd Circuit has restrained enforcement of just such a law for beingunconstitutional under New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v Bruen Supreme Court ruling. | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101429D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/19/24 House: Referred from Courts of Justice by voice vote 01/19/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/23/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 3-N) 02/02/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 02/02/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24106763D-H1 02/02/24 House: Incorporates HB23 (Laufer) 02/06/24 House: Read first time 02/07/24 House: Read second time 02/07/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24106763D-H1 02/07/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB861H1 02/08/24 House: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 46-N) 02/08/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 46-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/19/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (7-Y 4-N) 02/19/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 03/04/24 Senate: Read third time 03/04/24 Senate: Defeated by Senate (19-Y 19-N) 03/04/24 Senate: Chair votes No 03/04/24 Senate: Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N) 03/04/24 Senate: Passed Senate (20-Y 19-N) 03/08/24 House: Enrolled 03/08/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB861ER) 03/08/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/09/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 House: Governor's recommendation received by House 03/27/24 House: Governor's substitute printed 24109201D-H2 04/17/24 House: House rejected Governor's recommendation (0-Y 98-N) 04/17/24 House: VOTE: REJECTED (0-Y 98-N) 04/17/24 House: Communicated to Governor 04/17/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 17, 2024 05/17/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor | ||
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Elections administration; certain activities or conduct prohibited at polling places applicable to locations for absentee voting in person; prohibited possession of firearm within 100 feet of certain locations. Clarifies that the provisions of law prohibiting certain activities or conduct in and around a polling place shall also apply to locations where absentee voting in person is available. The bill also prohibits any person, with certain exceptions, from (i) knowingly carrying any firearm and (ii) knowingly doing so within 100 feet of the entrance of a polling place, the building used by the local electoral board to meet to ascertain election results, the building used to conduct a recount of an election, and other additional locations used for voting-related and elections-related activities. Under current law, this prohibition applies within 40 feet of such entrances. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill prohibits firearms within 100 feet of electoral board, voter registration, or voter satellite buildings or within 100 feet of a drop-off location or an absentee voter precinct. This bill creates a confusing array of locations where guns are prohibited and makes it likely to entrap unsuspecting gun owners. | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100563D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections 01/26/24 House: Assigned P & E sub: Election Administration 01/29/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 3-N) 02/02/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24106402D-H1 02/02/24 House: Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 02/06/24 House: Read first time 02/07/24 House: Read second time 02/07/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24106402D-H1 02/07/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB939H1 02/08/24 House: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 47-N) 02/08/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 47-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections 02/27/24 Senate: Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (8-Y 7-N) 02/27/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24108142D-S1 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Passed by for the day 03/04/24 Senate: Read third time 03/04/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 03/04/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24108142D-S1 03/04/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB939S1 03/04/24 Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (20-Y 19-N) 03/05/24 House: Senate substitute agreed to by House 24108142D-S1 (51-Y 49-N) 03/05/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (51-Y 49-N) 03/25/24 House: Enrolled 03/25/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB939ER) 03/25/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/27/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 27, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Purchase of certain firearms; age requirement; penalty. Prohibits any person under 21 years of age from purchasing a handgun or assault firearm, with exceptions for the purchase of an assault firearm by a law-enforcement officer, correctional officer, jail officer, or member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the Virginia National Guard, or the National Guard of any other state. Accordingly, the bill prohibits a licensed dealer from selling, renting, trading, or transferring from his inventory a handgun or assault firearm to any person under 21 years of age. A violation of either prohibition is a Class 6 felony. The bill also expands the definition of "assault firearm" as the term applies to criminal history record information checks. This bill is identical to SB 327. | 01/10/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101081D 01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/19/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 4-N) 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 01/26/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24106297D-H1 01/26/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 01/26/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 01/26/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 01/31/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (4-Y 3-N) 02/02/24 House: Reported from Appropriations (12-Y 10-N) 02/06/24 House: Read first time 02/07/24 House: Read second time 02/07/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24106297D-H1 02/07/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB1174H1 02/08/24 House: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 46-N) 02/08/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 46-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/19/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (8-Y 5-N) 02/19/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24107870D-S1 02/19/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 03/01/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24107870D-S1 03/01/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB1174S1 03/01/24 Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N) 03/04/24 House: Senate substitute rejected by House 24107870D-S1 (0-Y 98-N) 03/04/24 House: VOTE: REJECTED (0-Y 98-N) 03/05/24 Senate: Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N) 03/05/24 Senate: Senate requested conference committee 03/06/24 House: House acceded to request 03/06/24 House: Conferees appointed by House 03/06/24 House: Delegates: Sickles, McClure, Ennis 03/07/24 Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate 03/07/24 Senate: Senators: Salim, Deeds, Jordan 03/07/24 Conference: Amended by conference committee 03/07/24 House: Conference report agreed to by House (52-Y 45-N) 03/07/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (52-Y 45-N) 03/08/24 Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N) 03/25/24 House: Enrolled 03/25/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1174ER) 03/25/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/27/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 27, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Purchase of firearms; waiting period; penalty. Provides that no person shall sell a firearm unless at least five days have elapsed from the time the prospective purchaser completes the written consent form to have a licensed dealer obtain criminal history record information, with exceptions enumerated in relevant law. This bill is identical to SB 273. VCDL Comments This bill requires that a person must wait five days before a purchased or rented firearm can be transferred to them. Gun sales, both private and commercial, will require a buyer to make two trips to a dealer to get the firearm, and such trips could be lengthy. The bill will also do severe harm to gun shows, as most are only two days long and would therefore require all purchasers to travel to a gun store, possibly across the state, to pick up the firearm. There are many sad cases where someone who urgently needed a firearm for self-defense was murdered while in the waiting period. California has a 10-day waiting period, with plenty of mass murders and a violent crime rate double that of Virginia in 2022. Virginia has the 9th lowest crime rate in the U.S. (https://www.statista.com/statistics/200445/reportedviolent- crime-rate-in-the-us-states/). So much for the promise to citizens that the system would be an 'instant check.' | 01/10/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104388D 01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/30/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N) 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 02/02/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 02/02/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 02/02/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 02/07/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N) 02/07/24 House: Reported from Appropriations (12-Y 10-N) 02/09/24 House: Read first time 02/12/24 House: Read second time 02/12/24 House: Motion to pass by Floor amendment by Delegate Gilbert agreed to (50-Y 48-N) 02/12/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (50-Y 48-N) 02/12/24 House: Engrossed by House 02/13/24 House: Read third time and passed House (50-Y 48-N) 02/13/24 House: VOTE: Passage (50-Y 48-N) 02/14/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/14/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/21/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) 02/21/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 03/07/24 House: Enrolled 03/07/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1195ER) 03/07/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/08/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Bills We Oppose
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School board policies; parental notification; safe storage of firearms in the household. Requires each local school board to develop and implement a policy to require the annual notification of the parent of each student enrolled in the local school division, to be sent by email and, if applicable, SMS text message within 30 calendar days succeeding the first day of each school year, of the parent's legal responsibility to safely store any firearm present in the household, risks associated with improperly stored firearms, statistics relating to firearm-related accidents, injuries, and death among youth, and other tips and strategies. The bill requires each school board to make such parental notification available in multiple languages on its website. This bill is identical to HB 498. VCDL Comments This bill requires schools to notify parents by text and on the school's website, with 30-days of the start of school, that the parents are responsible for making sure they have secured their firearms from their children, as required under 18.2-56.2. That part of this bill isacceptable as it is simply advising parents on current law. But the bill crosses the line into advocacy when it starts pushing firearm statistics, which are often misrepresented or misleading; tells parents to talk to other parentsabout guns; and even lectures parents on how to behave around their own children! Government should not be doing advocacy. | 01/08/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104957D 01/08/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/17/24 Senate: Rereferred from Courts of Justice (11-Y 0-N) 01/17/24 Senate: Rereferred to Education and Health 01/24/24 Senate: Assigned Education and Health Sub: Public Education 02/01/24 Senate: Reported from Education and Health (9-Y 6-N) 02/02/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) 02/05/24 Senate: Read second time and engrossed 02/06/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (23-Y 16-N) 02/13/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/13/24 House: Read first time 02/13/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education 02/15/24 House: Assigned Education sub: K-12 Subcommittee 02/20/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 2-N) 02/21/24 House: Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 8-N) 02/21/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24108005D-H1 02/23/24 House: Read second time 02/26/24 House: Read third time 02/26/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24108005D-H1 02/26/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB225H1 02/26/24 House: Passed House with substitute (53-Y 43-N) 02/26/24 House: VOTE: Passage (53-Y 43-N) 02/28/24 Senate: House substitute agreed to by Senate (20-Y 19-N) 02/28/24 Senate: Title replaced 24108005D-H1 03/04/24 Senate: Enrolled 03/04/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB225ER) 03/04/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/07/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Senate: Governor's recommendation received by Senate 04/17/24 Senate: Senate rejected Governor's recommendation (19-Y 21-N) 04/17/24 Senate: Communicated to Governor 04/17/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 17, 2024 05/17/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor | ||
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Firearm locking device required for purchase of a firearm; warning against accessibility to children; penalty. Requires any person who purchases a firearm to either (i) obtain or purchase from a licensed dealer a locking device for such firearm if a minor is present in such person's residence for 14 days or more in a calendar month or (ii) complete a certification statement on a form provided by the Department of State Police certifying that a minor is not present in such person's residence for 14 days or more in a calendar month, with exceptions enumerated in the bill. Accordingly, the bill provides that it is unlawful for any licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer to sell, deliver, or transfer any firearm to any person, other than a licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer, unless (a) the firearm is accompanied by a warning, in conspicuous and legible type in capital letters printed on a separate sheet of paper included within the packaging enclosing the firearm, that firearms should be locked and kept away from children and that there may be civil and criminal liability for failing to do so and (b) the transferee (1) obtains or purchases a locking device for such firearm if a minor is present in such person's residence for 14 days or more in a calendar month or (2) completes the certification statement. A violation of either provision is a Class 3 misdemeanor. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill requires a person to either purchase a locking device when they purchase a firearm or provide a sworn statement to the Virginia State Police saying they don.t live in a home with a minor. A dealer has to make sure the purchaser of a firearm doesn.t have any minors in the home, or the dealer will be required to sell the gun with a safety lock. This bill isn.t going to magically turn irresponsible people into responsible people, so it.s effect won.t be significant. Law-enforcement officers. duty weapons are exempted, but what about THEIR children? It is absolutely possible for a child to get access to an officer.s duty weapon when he is not on duty. Some examples: https://kdvr.com/news/problem-solvers/no-punishment-for-detective-after-teenage-son-uses-duty-weapon-to-shoot-homes/, https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2016/12/24/police-officer-toddler-son-shoots-self-fathers-gun-orig.cnn | 01/05/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101242D 01/05/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N) 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 01/26/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 01/26/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 10-N) 01/26/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 02/07/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N) 02/07/24 House: Reported from Appropriations (12-Y 10-N) 02/09/24 House: Read first time 02/12/24 House: Read second time and engrossed 02/13/24 House: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 48-N) 02/13/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 48-N) 02/14/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/14/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/28/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24108583D-S1 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N) 02/28/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 03/04/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 03/05/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/06/24 Senate: Read third time 03/06/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 03/06/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24108583D-S1 03/06/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB351S1 03/06/24 Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N) 03/07/24 House: Senate substitute rejected by House 24108583D-S1 (1-Y 98-N) 03/07/24 House: VOTE: REJECTED (1-Y 98-N) 03/07/24 Senate: Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N) 03/07/24 Senate: Senate requested conference committee 03/07/24 House: House acceded to request 03/07/24 Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate 03/07/24 Senate: Senators: Surovell, Boysko, Peake 03/07/24 House: Conferees appointed by House 03/07/24 House: Delegates: Clark, Simon, Ennis 03/08/24 Conference: Amended by conference committee 03/08/24 Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N) 03/08/24 House: Conference report agreed to by House (50-Y 46-N) 03/08/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (50-Y 46-N) 03/25/24 House: Enrolled 03/25/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB351ER) 03/25/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/27/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 27, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor 04/17/24 House: House sustained Governor's veto | ||
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Removing, altering, etc., serial number on firearm; selling, giving, etc., or possessing firearm with removed, altered, etc., serial number; penalties. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person, firm, association, or corporation to knowingly possess any pistol, shotgun, rifle, machine gun, or any other firearm, except for an antique firearm, that has a serial number that has been removed, altered, changed, destroyed, or obliterated in any manner. The bill also makes it a Class 6 felony for any person, firm, association, or corporation to knowingly sell, give, or distribute any pistol, shotgun, rifle, machine gun, or any other firearm, except for an antique firearm, that has a serial number that has been removed, altered, changed, destroyed, or obliterated in any manner. VCDL Comments This bill makes it illegal for a person, association, or corporation to knowingly possess or sell a firearm which has had the serial number removed, altered, changed, destroyed, or obliterated. Making it illegal to alter a serial number was recently struck down by a federal judge in neighboring West Virginia as unconstitutional, since serial numbers weren't even required on firearms until 1968. | 01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104269D 01/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/22/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) 01/22/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 01/31/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/01/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/02/24 Senate: Read second time and engrossed 02/05/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N) 02/13/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/13/24 House: Read first time 02/13/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/14/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/22/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 3-N) 02/23/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (12-Y 9-N) 02/27/24 House: Read second time 02/28/24 House: Read third time 02/28/24 House: Passed House (52-Y 47-N) 02/28/24 House: VOTE: Passage (52-Y 47-N) 03/04/24 Senate: Enrolled 03/04/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB363ER) 03/04/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/07/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Senate: Governor's recommendation received by Senate 04/17/24 Senate: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N) 04/17/24 House: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (51-Y 49-N) 04/17/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (51-Y 49-N) 04/17/24 Governor: Governor's recommendation adopted 04/17/24 Senate: Reenrolled 04/17/24 Senate: Reenrolled bill text (SB363ER2) 04/17/24 Senate: Signed by President as reenrolled 04/17/24 House: Signed by Speaker as reenrolled 04/17/24 House: Enacted, Chapter 786 (effective 7/1/24) 04/17/24 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0786) | ||
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School board policies; parental notification; safe storage of firearms in the household. Requires each local school board to develop and implement a policy to require the annual notification of the parent of each student enrolled in the local school division, to be sent by email and, if applicable, SMS text message within 30 calendar days succeeding the first day of each school year, of the parent's legal responsibility to safely store any firearm present in the household, risks associated with improperly stored firearms, statistics relating to firearm-related accidents, injuries, and death among youth, and other tips and strategies. The bill requires each school board to make such parental notification available in multiple languages on its website. This bill is identical to SB 225. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill requires schools to notify parents by text and on the school's website, with 30-days of the start of school, that the parents are responsible for making sure they have secured their firearms from their children, as required under 18.2-56.2. That part of this bill is acceptable as it is simply advising parents on current law. But the bill crosses the line into advocacy when it starts pushing firearm statistics, which are often misrepresented or misleading; tells parents to talk to other parentsabout guns; and even lectures parents on how to behave around their own children! Government should not be doing advocacy. | 01/08/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104999D 01/08/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education 01/19/24 House: Assigned Education sub: K-12 Subcommittee 01/23/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (5-Y 2-N) 01/24/24 House: Reported from Education with amendment(s) (13-Y 8-N) 01/26/24 House: Read first time 01/29/24 House: Read second time 01/29/24 House: Committee amendment agreed to 01/29/24 House: Engrossed by House as amended HB498E 01/29/24 House: Printed as engrossed 24104999D-E 01/30/24 House: Read third time and passed House (54-Y 45-N) 01/30/24 House: VOTE: Passage (54-Y 45-N) 01/31/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 01/31/24 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health 02/15/24 Senate: Reported from Education and Health (9-Y 6-N) 02/16/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) 02/19/24 Senate: Read third time 02/19/24 Senate: Passed Senate (22-Y 17-N) 02/22/24 House: Enrolled 02/22/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB498ER) 02/22/24 House: Signed by Speaker 02/25/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/01/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 1, 2024 03/01/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 8, 2024 03/08/24 House: Governor's recommendation received by House 03/09/24 House: Placed on Calendar 03/09/24 House: Passed by until Reconvene, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 04/17/24 House: House rejected Governor's recommendation paragraph #2 (0-Y 100-N) 04/17/24 House: VOTE: REJECTED (0-Y 100-N) 04/17/24 House: paragraph #3 ruled not germane 04/17/24 House: Communicated to Governor 04/17/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 17, 2024 05/17/24 Governor: Vetoed by Governor | ||
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Bills We Are Currently Neutral On
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Manufacture, importation, sale, etc., of auto sears; prohibition; penalty. Prohibits the manufacture, importation, sale or offer to sell, possession, transfer, or transportation of an auto sear, defined in the bill as a device, other than a trigger activator, for use in converting a semi-automatic firearm to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. A violation is punishable as a Class 6 felony. The bill also provides for the forfeiture of any auto sear concealed, possessed, transported, or carried in violation of the prohibition. This bill is identical to SB 210. VCDL Comments This bill makes "auto sears" including legally owned and registered auto sears illegal after July 1, 2024 - no grandfathering. Auto sears convert a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm. Auto sears are considered machine guns by themselves and are already illegal under federal law if they were made after 1986 or are not registered with the federal government. Legally owned auto sears, which are extremely expensive due to a very limited quantity that can be owned, are not being used to commit crimes. There is no reason to ban legally owned and federally registered auto sears. | 12/13/23 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101228D 12/13/23 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/13/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 01/19/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (20-Y 0-N) 01/19/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24105447D-H1 01/19/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 01/21/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 01/24/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N) 01/29/24 House: Reported from Appropriations (21-Y 0-N) 01/31/24 House: Read first time 02/01/24 House: Read second time 02/01/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24105447D-H1 02/01/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB22H1 02/02/24 House: Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (92-Y 0-N) 02/02/24 House: VOTE: Block Vote Passage (92-Y 0-N) 02/05/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/05/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/19/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (13-Y 0-N) 02/19/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24107867D-S1 02/19/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 03/01/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24107867D-S1 03/01/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB22S1 03/01/24 Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (27-Y 13-N) 03/04/24 House: Senate substitute agreed to by House 24107867D-S1 (89-Y 2-N) 03/04/24 House: VOTE: Adoption (89-Y 2-N) 03/07/24 House: Enrolled 03/07/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB22ER) 03/07/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/08/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 163 (effective 7/1/24) 03/26/24 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0163) | ||
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Abuse and neglect of children; causing or enabling child to gain possession of a firearm; penalty. Creates a Class 5 felony for any parent, guardian, or other person who is 18 years of age or older and is responsible for the care of a child under the age of 18 whose willful act or omission causes or enables that child to gain possession of a firearm (i) after having received notice of a preliminary determination, pursuant to relevant law, that such child poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others or (ii) when such parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the care of the child knows or reasonably should know that such child has been charged with, either by warrant or petition, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent of a violent juvenile felony. VCDL Comments This bill makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a gun owner to allow a minor to possess a firearm and that firearm is then either used unlawfully, possessed in a school zone, or intentionally or negligently used to cause bodily injury to the minor or to another person. It is also a Class 1 misdemeanor if a firearm owner knows there is a minor in the home, doesn.t secure a firearm, the a minor gets access to the firearm, takes that firearm outside the home, and the firearm is either used in an unlawful manner, possessed in a school zone, or used to cause bodily injury to the minor or another person. It is a Class 5 felony if the gun owner provides a firearm to a minor, or allows a minor to get access to an unsecured firearm, knowing either the minor in the home has been determined to be a moderate to imminent threat risk by a school or the minor has been charged with, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent of a juvenile felony. There are too many ways that a parent could be unreasonably charged under this bill. For example, there is no exception for self-defense. There are plenty of cases where minors have used guns to stop home invaders or stop a violent attack on a family member. The term .close proximity. is vague as is the standard for school-initiated threat assessment. This bill really applies to minors aged 14 to 17, as 18.2-56.2 already covers those age 14 and under. We don.t hold parents of 14 to 17-year-olds responsible if their minor steals a car and goes joy riding, commits a robbery, or burglarizes a home. The minor is held responsible for their actions and the adults are charged only if they conspired with the minor to commit the crime. | 12/19/23 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101071D 12/19/23 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/31/24 House: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal 02/02/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 3-N) 02/09/24 House: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 02/09/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24107583D-H1 02/11/24 House: Read first time 02/12/24 House: Read second time 02/12/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24107583D-H1 02/12/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB36H1 02/13/24 House: Read third time and passed House (55-Y 43-N) 02/13/24 House: VOTE: Passage (55-Y 43-N) 02/14/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/14/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/26/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (12-Y 0-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/28/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) 02/29/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 03/01/24 Senate: Read third time 03/01/24 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) 03/07/24 House: Enrolled 03/07/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB36ER) 03/07/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/08/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 161 (effective 7/1/24) 03/26/24 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0161) | ||
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Abuse and neglect of children; causing or enabling child to gain possession of a firearm; penalty. Creates a Class 5 felony for any parent, guardian, or other person who is 18 years of age or older and is responsible for the care of a child under the age of 18 whose willful act or omission causes or enables that child to gain possession of a firearm (i) after having received notice of a preliminary determination, pursuant to relevant law, that such child poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others or (ii) when such parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the care of the child knows or reasonably should know that such child has been charged with, either by warrant or petition, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent of a violent juvenile felony. VCDL Comments This bill makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a gun owner to allow a minor to possess a firearm and that firearm is then either used unlawfully, possessed in a school zone, or intentionally or negligently used to cause bodily injury to the minor or to another person. It is also a Class 1 misdemeanor if a firearm owner knows there is a minor in the home, doesn.t secure a firearm, the a minor gets access to the firearm, takes that firearm outside the home, and the firearm is either used in an unlawful manner, possessed in a school zone, or used to cause bodily injury to the minor or another person. It is a Class 5 felony if the gun owner provides a firearm to a minor, or allows a minor to get access to an unsecured firearm, knowing either the minor in the home has been determined to be a moderate to imminent threat risk by a school or the minor has been charged with, convicted of, or adjudicated delinquent of a juvenile felony. There are too many ways that a parent could be unreasonably charged under this bill. For example, there is no exception for self-defense. There are plenty of cases where minors have used guns to stop home invaders or stop a violent attack on a family member. The term .close proximity. is vague as is the standard for school-initiated threat assessment. This bill really applies to minors aged 14 to 17, as 18.2-56.2 already covers those age 14 and under. We don.t hold parents of 14 to 17-year-olds responsible if their minor steals a car and goes joy riding, commits a robbery, or burglarizes a home. The minor is held responsible for their actions and the adults are charged only if they conspired with the minor to commit the crime. | 12/19/23 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100621D 12/19/23 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/31/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (13-Y 0-N 2-A) 01/31/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24106369D-S1 01/31/24 Senate: Substitute bill reprinted 24106369D-S1 01/31/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/08/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 1-N) 02/08/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24107464D-S2 02/09/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) 02/12/24 Senate: Read second time 02/12/24 Senate: Courts of Justice Committee substitute rejected 24106369D-S1 02/12/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 02/12/24 Senate: Finance and Appropriations Committee substitute agreed to 24107464D-S2 02/12/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB44S2 02/13/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (27-Y 13-N) 02/15/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/15/24 House: Read first time 02/15/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 9-N) 02/20/24 House: Read second time 02/21/24 House: Read third time 02/21/24 House: Passed House (55-Y 43-N) 02/21/24 House: VOTE: Passage (55-Y 43-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Enrolled 02/26/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB44ER) 02/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 02/28/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 162 (effective 7/1/24) 03/26/24 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0162) | ||
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Manufacture, importation, sale, etc., of auto sears; prohibition; penalty. Prohibits the manufacture, importation, sale or offer to sell, possession, transfer, or transportation of an auto sear, defined in the bill as a device, other than a trigger activator, for use in converting a semi-automatic firearm to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. A violation is punishable as a Class 6 felony. The bill also provides for the forfeiture of any auto sear concealed, possessed, transported, or carried in violation of the prohibition. This bill is identical to HB 22. VCDL Comments This bill makes 'auto sears' including legally owned and registered auto sears illegal after July 1, 2024 '� no grandfathering. Auto sears convert a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm. Auto sears are considered machine guns by themselves and are already illegal under federal law if they were made after 1986 or are not registered with the federal government. Legally owned auto sears, which are extremely expensive due to a very limited quantity that can be owned, are not being used to commit crimes. There is no reason to ban legally owned and federally registered auto sears. | 01/08/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101801D 01/08/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/22/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (11-Y 4-N) 01/22/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24106016D-S1 01/22/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 01/31/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 3-N) 02/01/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/02/24 Senate: Read second time 02/02/24 Senate: Reading of substitute waived 02/02/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24106016D-S1 02/02/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB210S1 02/05/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (28-Y 12-N) 02/13/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/13/24 House: Read first time 02/13/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/16/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (22-Y 0-N) 02/16/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24107820D-H1 02/20/24 House: Read second time 02/21/24 House: Read third time 02/21/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24107820D-H1 02/21/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB210H1 02/21/24 House: Passed House with substitute (89-Y 2-N) 02/21/24 House: VOTE: Passage (89-Y 2-N) 02/23/24 Senate: House substitute agreed to by Senate (28-Y 11-N) 02/23/24 Senate: Title replaced 24107820D-H1 02/28/24 Senate: Enrolled 02/28/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB210ER) 02/28/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/02/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 03/26/24 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 164 (effective 7/1/24) 03/26/24 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0164) | ||
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Public schools; certain local school divisions; youth and community violence prevention; Community Builders Pilot Program established; report. Establishes the Community Builders Pilot Program for the purpose of reducing youth involvement in behaviors that lead to gun violence and increasing community engagement among public school students by providing to students who are entering the eighth grade and enrolled in Roanoke City Public Schools and Petersburg City Public Schools opportunities during the school year after regular school hours and during the summer months for community engagement, workforce development, postsecondary education exploration, and social-emotional education and development. The bill provides that the school boards of Roanoke City Public Schools and Petersburg City Public Schools shall be responsible for the administration of the Program and are directed to collect data and report to the Governor and relevant committees of the General Assembly by November 1 of each year on the progress of the Program. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 626. VCDL Comments This bill creates a Community Builders Program and Fund to reduce youth involvement that leads to 'gun violence.' Words mean things. By focusing only on violence through the misuse of firearms, the program isn't concerned with violence using knives, clubs, bats, etc. Reducing youth violence is laudable and the bill would be fine if it just focused on all kinds of violence and not make it just about guns. | 01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104736D 01/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health 01/24/24 Senate: Assigned Education and Health Sub: Public Education 02/01/24 Senate: Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N) 02/01/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations 02/07/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) 02/08/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Read second time and engrossed 02/09/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 02/09/24 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) 02/15/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/15/24 House: Read first time 02/15/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education 02/19/24 House: Reported from Education with substitute (21-Y 1-N) 02/19/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24107862D-H1 02/21/24 House: Read second time 02/22/24 House: Read third time 02/22/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24107862D-H1 02/22/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB484H1 02/22/24 House: Passed House with substitute (89-Y 10-N) 02/22/24 House: VOTE: Passage (89-Y 10-N) 02/26/24 Senate: House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) 02/26/24 Senate: Title replaced 24107862D-H1 02/29/24 Senate: Enrolled 02/29/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB484ER) 02/29/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/03/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/11/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024 03/11/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 04/02/24 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 357 (effective 7/1/24) 04/02/24 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0357) | ||
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Public schools; certain local school divisions; youth and community violence prevention; Community Builders Pilot Program established; report. Establishes the Community Builders Pilot Program for the purpose of reducing youth involvement in behaviors that lead to gun violence and increasing community engagement among public school students by providing to students who are entering the eighth grade and enrolled in Roanoke City Public Schools and Petersburg City Public Schools opportunities during the school year after regular school hours and during the summer months for community engagement, workforce development, postsecondary education exploration, and social-emotional education and development. The bill provides that the school boards of Roanoke City Public Schools and Petersburg City Public Schools shall be responsible for the administration of the Program and are directed to collect data and report to the Governor and relevant committees of the General Assembly by November 1 of each year on the progress of the Program. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 484. VCDL Comments This bill creates a Community Builders Program and Fund to reduce youth involvement that leads to 'gun violence.' Words mean things. By focusing only on violence through the misuse of firearms, the program isn't concerned with violence using knives, clubs, bats, etc. Reducing youth violence is laudable and the bill would be fine if it just focused on all kinds of violence and not make it just about guns. | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104516D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Rules 01/26/24 House: Referred from Rules by voice vote 01/26/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education 01/29/24 House: Assigned Education sub: K-12 Subcommittee 01/30/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N) 01/30/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 01/31/24 House: Reported from Education (21-Y 0-N) 01/31/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 01/31/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Elementary & Secondary Education 02/05/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (8-Y 0-N) 02/07/24 House: Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N) 02/09/24 House: Read first time 02/12/24 House: Read second time 02/12/24 House: Committee amendments agreed to 02/12/24 House: Engrossed by House as amended HB626E 02/12/24 House: Printed as engrossed 24104516D-E 02/13/24 House: Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (99-Y 0-N) 02/13/24 House: VOTE: Block Vote Passage (99-Y 0-N) 02/14/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/14/24 Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules 03/01/24 Senate: Reported from Rules (13-Y 0-N) 03/04/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) 03/05/24 Senate: Read third time 03/05/24 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) 03/25/24 House: Enrolled 03/25/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB626ER) 03/25/24 Senate: Signed by President 03/26/24 House: Signed by Speaker 03/27/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 27, 2024 03/27/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024 04/02/24 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 299 (effective 7/1/24) 04/02/24 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0299) | ||
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Bills That Have Been Rolled Into Other Bills, Continued to Next Year, Withdrawn or Killed
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VCDL Comments This bill updates Virginia.s knife laws to remove the remaining restrictions on carrying concealed dirks, bowie knives, stiletto knives, and razors. There is no clear definition of these knives and that could ensnare otherwise law-abiding citizens who carry a knife every day for work in a restaurant, on a farm, in a factory, for recreation, like hunting, fishing, camping, or for many other legitimate reasons. Most people carry a knife of some kind every single day. It is fundamentally unjust to expect citizens to try to figure out if the knife they carry everyday meets some nebulous prohibition in Virginia law. It is mostly minorities who are arrested for this victimless crime. With strong bipartisan support, the past two sessions have seen repeal of bans on automatically opening knives (switchblades) enacted. It is time to finish this effort by removing the last remaining bans on concealed carry of knives. | 12/06/23 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101763D 12/06/23 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/19/24 House: Tabled in Public Safety (12-Y 9-N) | ||
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Firearm locking device required for sale or transfer of handguns; child safety warning required; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer to sell, deliver, or transfer any handgun to any person, other than a licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer, unless the transferee is provided with a locking device for such handgun and the handgun is accompanied by a warning, in conspicuous and legible type in capital letters printed on a label affixed to the gun and on a separate sheet of paper included within the packaging enclosing the handgun, that handguns should be locked and kept away from children and that there may be civil and criminal liability for failing to do so. The bill provides exceptions for law-enforcement and governmental agencies. This bill was incorporated into HB 158. VCDL Comments This bill requires gun dealers to provide a handgun locking-device for handgun sales, along with a warning message in the box and on a warning label affixed to the handgun. None of this is necessary as federal law already requires a locking device be supplied by dealers for handgun purchases. The federal government also provides a safety brochure that is required to be available to purchasers. Is the State going provide the stickers and warning papers to dealers, so they don.t have to bear the additional cost for those items? Should the taxpayer have to bear this unnecessary expense? This bill would also add an additional cost for a locking device to those doing a private sale under the current Universal Background Check requirement. Oddly, the bill exempts sales to law enforcement. Since this bill is supposed to be about safety, are law enforcement families not worthy of being protected, too? | 12/07/23 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101659D 12/07/23 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/13/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends incorporating (HB158-McClure) by voice vote 01/26/24 House: Incorporated by Public Safety (HB158-McClure) by voice vote | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill repeals the prohibition on the otherwise lawful carrying of firearms by a concealed handgun permit holder in the Capitol, General Assembly Building, Capitol Square, and property that is owned or leased by the Commonwealth, such as rest stops, DMV, and ABC stores. Permit holders have been lawfully carrying in all those places for decades without incident and have a natural right to be able to defend themselves there. | 12/09/23 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102389D 12/09/23 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/19/24 House: Passed by indefinitely in Public Safety (12-Y 9-N) | ||
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Weapons; possession or transportation; facility that provides mental health services or developmental services; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to possess in or transport into any facility that provides mental health services or developmental services in the Commonwealth, including a hospital or an emergency department or other facility rendering emergency medical care, any (i) firearm or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) knife, except a pocket knife having a folding metal blade of less than three inches; or (iii) other dangerous weapon, including explosives and stun weapons. The bill provides that any such firearm, knife, explosive, or weapon is subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and specifies exceptions to the prohibition. VCDL Comments This bill prohibits firearms in facilities that provide mental health services or developmental services, including hospitals, emergency departments, or emergency medical care facilities, if they offer such services. Disarming visitors and guests, including concealed handgun permit holders, at such facilities violates their right to protect themselves in an emergency. A U.S. District Court in the 2nd Circuit has restrained enforcement of just such a law for being unconstitutional under New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v Bruen Supreme Court ruling. | 12/14/23 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103473D 12/14/23 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/13/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends incorporating (HB861-Hernandez) by voice vote 02/02/24 House: Incorporated by Public Safety (HB861-Hernandez) by voice vote | ||
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Purchase of firearms; waiting period; penalty. Provides that no person shall sell a firearm unless at least three days have elapsed from the time the prospective purchaser completes the written consent form to have a licensed dealer obtain criminal history record information, with exceptions enumerated in relevant law. This bill was incorporated into SB 273. VCDL Comments This bill requires that a person must wait three days before a purchased or rented firearm can be transferred to them. Gun sales, both private and commercial, will require a buyer to make two trips to a dealer to get the firearm, and such trips could be lengthy. The bill will also do severe harm to gun shows, as most are only two days long and would therefore require all purchasers to travel to a gun store, possibly across the state, to pick up the firearm. There are many sad cases where someone who urgently needed a firearm for self-defense was murdered while in the waiting period. California has a 10-day waiting period, with plenty of mass murders and a violent crime rate double that of Virginia in 2022. Virginia has the 9th lowest crime rate in the U.S. (https://www.statista.com/statistics/200445/reported-violent-crime-rate-in-the-us-states/). So much for the promise to citizens that the system would be an 'instant check.' | 12/22/23 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103771D 12/22/23 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/22/24 Senate: Incorporated by Courts of Justice (SB273-Subramanyam) (15-Y 0-N) | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill adds off-duty law-enforcement officers to those who can carry in state agency buildings and offices. | 12/26/23 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103135D 12/26/23 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/31/24 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill makes it illegal for a concealed handgun permit holder to carry a concealed handgun onto the premises of any restaurant or club which sells alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption. This is a classic example of a solution looking for a problem to solve. Virginia.s 680,000 permit holders, as well as hundreds of thousands of non-resident permit holders visiting Virginia, have been peaceably carrying concealed handguns in restaurants and clubs that serve alcohol since 2010. | 12/26/23 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103837D 12/26/23 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/31/24 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) 02/02/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) 02/05/24 Senate: Read second time and engrossed 02/06/24 Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 18-N) 02/13/24 House: Placed on Calendar 02/13/24 House: Read first time 02/13/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/14/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/22/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 3-N) 03/04/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill changes a concealed handgun permit to a concealed weapon permit. This change gives permit holders more options to self-defense by allowing the carry of less-lethal weapons. Florida and some other states have concealed weapon permits. Virginia had a concealed weapon permit until 1995. | 01/01/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102417D 01/01/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/22/24 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill takes away a person's right to possess, purchase, or transport a handgun for 5 years for a second offense of misdemeanor drunk driving and adds a prohibition for possessing a handgun to an existing prohibition on purchasing or transporting of a handgun for 5 years for a second offense of misdemeanor illegal drug possession. A person should not lose any of their basic civil rights for a misdemeanor, which is a minor crime by definition, regardless of the reasons for the misdemeanor. There is also no nexus between driving and handgun ownership. While trying to reduce drunk driving is a laudable goal, if it is so dangerous as to take away a person.s civil rights, then make the second offense a felony and the problem is solved. | 01/01/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101123D 01/01/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/13/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 4-N) 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 01/19/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 9-N) 01/19/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24105638D-H1 01/19/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 01/21/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 01/24/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N) 01/29/24 House: Reported from Appropriations (11-Y 10-N) 01/31/24 House: Read first time 02/01/24 House: Read second time 02/01/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24105638D-H1 02/01/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB113H1 02/02/24 House: Passed by for the day 02/05/24 House: Passed by for the day 02/06/24 House: Motion to rerefer to committee agreed to 02/06/24 House: Rereferred to Appropriations 02/13/24 House: Left in Appropriations | ||
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Firearm locking device required for sale or transfer of firearm; warning against accessibility to children; penalty. Makes it a Class 3 misdemeanor for any licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer to sell, deliver, or transfer any firearm to any person other than a licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer unless the transferee is provided with a locking device for that firearm and the firearm is accompanied by a warning, in conspicuous and legible type in capital letters printed on a separate sheet of paper included within the packaging enclosing the firearm, that firearms should be locked and kept away from children and that there may be civil and criminal liability for failing to do so. The bill provides exceptions for law-enforcement and governmental agencies. This bill incorporates HB 12. VCDL Comments This bill requires gun dealers to provide a handgun locking-device for handgun sales, along with a warning message in the box and on a warning label affixed to the handgun. None of this is necessary as federal law already requires a locking device be supplied by dealers for handgun purchases. The federal government also provides a safety brochure that is required to be available to purchasers. Is the State going to provide the stickers and warning papers to dealers, so they don't have to bear the additional cost for those items? Should the taxpayer have to bear this unnecessary expense? This bill would also add an additional cost for a locking device to those doing a private sale under the current Universal Background Check requirement. Oddly, the bill exempts sales to law enforcement. Since this bill is supposed to be about safety, are law enforcement families not worthy of being protected, too? | 01/02/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101536D 01/02/24 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/15/24 House: Referred from Courts of Justice by voice vote 01/15/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 4-N) 01/26/24 House: Incorporates HB12 (Jones) 01/26/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 01/26/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24106293D-H1 01/30/24 House: Read first time 01/31/24 House: Read second time 01/31/24 House: Committee substitute agreed to 24106293D-H1 01/31/24 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB158H1 02/01/24 House: Read third time and passed House (51-Y 49-N) 02/01/24 House: VOTE: Passage (51-Y 49-N) 02/02/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed 02/02/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/28/24 Senate: Continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N) | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill increases some penalties for the intentional misuse of firearms to commit serious crimes. But this begs the question, why aren't all aggravated crimes treated the same when it comes to sentencing? | 01/08/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102842D 01/08/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/29/24 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill adds a criminal provision for carrying a concealed firearm while committing a violent crime. | 01/08/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102031D 01/08/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/29/24 Senate: Incorporated by Courts of Justice (SB203-Diggs) (14-Y 0-N) | ||
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Sale, transfer, etc., of certain firearms and firearm magazines; Virginia Firearm Buy-Back Program and Fund established; penalties. Provides that, unless otherwise prohibited by law, any person may import, sell, transfer, manufacture, or purchase an authorized rifle, defined in the bill, in accordance with the relevant provisions of law. The bill makes it a Class 6 felony for any person to import, sell, transfer, manufacture, or purchase a restricted rifle or large-capacity firearm magazine, both defined in the bill, with certain exceptions. The bill also provides that a person is civilly liable for injuries to person or property or wrongful death of another caused by a third party if it can be shown that the civil defendant sold or transferred a restricted rifle or large-capacity firearm magazine in violation of the provisions of the bill to the person who committed the crime resulting in such injury or death. VCDL Comments This bill requires that a person must wait three days before a purchased or rented firearm can be transferred to them. The bill makes it illegal to sell, purchase, or transfer semi-automatic firearms as well as magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. The bill also creates a gun buy up scheme. The ban on sales or transfers of semi-automatic firearms and magazines that hold more than 10 rounds is unconstitutional under NYRPA v. Bruen, as both are in common use and there is no historical analog to those restrictions. The buy-up program is misnamed a 'buy-back' program (the Commonwealth never owned the firearms, so it cannot buy back something it never owned or sold). The bill requires all such turned in firearms (except machine guns, short barreled rifles and shotguns) to be destroyed, instead of offering them to Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) at auction, which would put funds back in the Commonwealth.s coffers. That said, buying up firearms or other lawfully held property is not a business the Commonwealth should be in. Is the Commonwealth going to buy up, and then destroy, used automobiles so they can't be used by drunk drivers? Under this bill gun sales, both private and commercial, will require a buyer to make two trips to a dealer to get the firearm, and such trips could be lengthy. The bill will also do severe harm to gun shows, as most are only two days long and would therefore require all purchasers to travel to a gun store, possibly across the state, to pick up the firearm. There are many sad cases where someone who urgently needed a firearm for self-defense was murdered while in the waiting period. California has a 10-day waiting period, with plenty of mass murders and a violent crime rate double that of Virginia in 2022. Virginia has the 9th lowest crime rate in the U.S. (https://www.statista.com/statistics/200445/reported-violent-crime-rate-in-the-us-states/). | 01/05/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100015D 01/05/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 2-N) 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 02/02/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 02/02/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24106921D-H1 02/02/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 02/02/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 02/07/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 by voice vote 02/07/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Appropriations by voice vote | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill allows a person to store firearms in their motor vehicle in a publicly or privately-owned parking lot, traffic circle, or other means of vehicular ingress or egress to property that is open to the public. When a person has a firearm in their vehicle, they need to be able to leave that firearm in their vehicle if they cannot take it with them onto public or private property. The firearm must be left in the vehicle and the property must be open to the public. | 01/05/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102808D 01/05/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (6-Y 4-N) 02/13/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill adds gun safes sold by commercial retailers as eligible for an existing tax credit. Currently only gun safes sold by federal firearms licensees are eligible. This will give gun owners more diversity in gun safe models, availability, and cost. | 01/05/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102281D 01/05/24 House: Referred to Committee on Finance 01/18/24 House: Assigned Finance sub: Subcommittee #1 01/22/24 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (5-Y 3-N) 02/13/24 House: Left in Finance | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill takes firearm courses offered by the National Rifle Association and the United States Concealed Carry Association and any of either one's instructors off the list of courses that satisfy the training requirement to get a concealed handgun permit. The NRA has been known for its top-notch firearm training since its inception. The USCCA offers similar training courses. This bill, which seems like a personal vendetta against the NRA and the USCCA, would make it significantly harder and more expensive for permit applicants to get the training required by Virginia. If the goal is the get as many people trained as possible, this bill will do just the opposite. | 01/05/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102857D 01/05/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (6-Y 3-N) 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 02/02/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (12-Y 10-N) 02/02/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 02/02/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 02/07/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 by voice vote 02/07/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Appropriations by voice vote | ||
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Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearm following an assault and battery against a person in a dating relationship with the alleged offender, penalty. Provides that 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, 2024, for the offense of assault and battery against a person in a dating relationship, as defined in the bill, with the alleged offender or an offense substantially similar under the laws of any other state or of the United States is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill was incorporated into SB 642. VCDL Comments This bill makes battery in a 'datinrelationship' a misdemeanor and takes away the right to purchase, possess, or transport a firearm for three years. Misdemeanors should never take away a civil right. This will also not stand up to court challenge under the Supreme Court's Bruen decision as there was no history or tradition of taking away a person's right to keep and bear arms over misdemeanor battery of anyone. | 01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103937D 01/10/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/10/24 Senate: Moved from Judiciary to Courts of Justice due to a change of the committee name 01/22/24 Senate: Incorporated by Courts of Justice (SB642-Perry) (15-Y 0-N) | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill would bring 'Constitutional Carry' to Virginia. It allows someone without a concealed handgun permit, but who would qualify for one, to carry a concealed handgun anywhere they could lawfully open carry a handgun. Twenty-seven states now have Constitutional Carry, none have repealed it, and more states are expected to follow suit this year. Neighboring Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia are all Constitutional Carry states. | 01/08/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103283D 01/08/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/13/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill allows someone protected by a protective order, and not otherwise prohibited, to carry a concealed handgun without needing a concealed handgun permit for 45 days after the order is issued, or until the order expires or is dissolved, whichever comes first. If the protected person applies for a concealed handgun permit during this period, the permit process will be expedited, and the person can continue to carry a concealed handgun until the permit is approved. This bill provides a person under an unexpected threat to be able to discretely carry a handgun to protect themselves in case the protective order is violated, and the protected person is in danger. It also provides a disincentive for the target of the protective order to violate that order with the intent to do harm. | 01/08/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103373D 01/08/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (6-Y 4-N) 02/13/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill creates a new type of concealed handgun permit, called an enhanced concealed handgun permit. In addition to classroom training, the enhanced permit courses will require the applicant to shoot a minimum of 100 rounds of ammunition. A person with an enhanced concealed handgun permit can carry anywhere a law-enforcement officer may carry a firearm. Currently there are seven states with enhanced permits: Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and neighboring Tennessee. | 01/08/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103554D 01/08/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/16/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/18/24 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (8-Y 2-N) 02/13/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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Purchase of firearms; waiting period; penalty. Provides that no person shall sell a firearm unless at least two days have elapsed from the time the prospective purchaser completes the written consent form to have a licensed dealer obtain criminal history record information, with exceptions enumerated in relevant law. This bill is incorporated into SB 273. VCDL Comments This bill requires that a person must wait two days before a purchased or rented firearm can be transferred to them. Gun sales, both private and commercial, will require a buyer to make two trips to a dealer to get the firearm, and such trips could be lengthy. The bill will also do severe harm to gun shows, as most are only two days long and would therefore require all purchasers to travel to a gun store, possibly across the state, to pick up the firearm. There are many sad cases where someone who urgently needed a firearm for self-defense was murdered while in the waiting period. California has a 10- day waiting period, with plenty of mass murders and a violent crime rate double that of Virginia in 2022. Virginia has the 9th lowest crime rate in the U.S. (https://www.statista.com/statistics/200445/reportedviolent- crime-rate-in-the-us-states/). So much for the promise to citizens that the system would be an 'instant check.' | 01/10/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100413D 01/10/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/22/24 Senate: Incorporated by Courts of Justice (SB273-Subramanyam) (15-Y 0-N) | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill increases some penalties for the intentional misuse of firearms to commit serious crimes. But this begs the question, why aren't all aggravated crimes treated the same when it comes to sentencing? | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102840D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 02/13/24 House: Left in Courts of Justice | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill exempts highway rest areas from the state agency gun ban. Rest areas are open to the public 24 hours a day and have no special security. Since this gun ban on rest areas has been in place, 4 people were shot in a rest area on I-81: https://www.foxnews.com/us/virginia-rest-stop-shootinghospital- suspect-found-dead-police. People have been stabbed at rest stops: https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/crime/sheriff-17-year-old-stabbed-at-virginia-rest-stop/291- 504255229 and https://patch.com/virginia/manassas/suicide-linked-manassas-rest-area-stabbing-statepolice. According to the website used by the Virginia State Police for criminal statistics, https://va.beyond2020.com/, there were 66 rest area crimes in 2020, 57 in 2021, and 82 in 2022. Those crimes include aggravated assault, negligent manslaughter, kidnapping/abduction, forceable rape, forceable sodomy, and forceable fondling. | 01/10/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102648D 01/10/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/29/24 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill creates a state agency named the Virginia Center for Firearm Violence and Prevention. The agency would only be targeting violence committed using firearms and ignoring the root causes of crime, as well as all the other ways violence is inflicted on victims '� knives, blunt objects, hands and feet, etc. Half of violent crimes are not committed with a firearm! The term 'FirearViolence' in the name of the agency gives away the true agenda: 'firearviolence' is a term coined bthe gun-control lobby to blame guns, which are inanimate objects, and not the criminals that misuse guns. If a police officer shoots someone, the officer gets the blame, not his gun. But, if a criminal shoots someone, the gun gets the blame and not the criminal. No one says, 'tire iron violence' or 'hand and feeviolence.' Instead we just call it 'violent crime.' But there is an agenda with firearms, so the rules and commonsense get thrown out the window. | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100875D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/02/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 9-N) 02/02/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24106946D-H1 02/02/24 House: Incorporates HB1181 (Laufer) 02/02/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 02/02/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 02/07/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 by voice vote 02/07/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Appropriations by voice vote | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill repeals 'Red Flag' Substantial Risk Orders (SROs). SROs don't get anyhelp for a person in crisis, they only confiscate that person's firearms. This does nothing to prevent the person from committing suicide or harming others. SROs also do not give a person a chance to defend the accusation against them for two weeks. Justice and Due Process delayed is justice and Due Process denied. Virginia's Temporary Detention Orders have existed for years and DO get a person in crisis help and they only take away a person's right to possess firearms after it is determined by medical experts that the person actually does need help. | 01/11/24 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 24104108D 01/11/24 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice 01/22/24 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 6-N) | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill exempts highway rest areas from the state agency gun ban. Rest areas are open to the public 24 hours a day and have no special security. Since this gun ban on rest areas has been in place, 4 people were shot in a rest area on I-81: https://www.foxnews.com/us/virginia-rest-stopshooting- hospital-suspect-found-dead-police. People have been stabbed at rest stops: https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/crime/sheriff-17-year-old-stabbed-at-virginia-rest-stop/291- 504255229 and https://patch.com/virginia/manassas/suicide-linked-manassas-rest-area-stabbing-statepolice. According to the website used by the Virginia State Police for criminal statistics, https://va.beyond2020.com/, there were 66 rest area crimes in 2020, 57 in 2021, and 82 in 2022. Those crimes include aggravated assault, negligent manslaughter, kidnapping/abduction, forceable rape, forceable sodomy, and forceable fondling. | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102326D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/22/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (6-Y 4-N) 02/13/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill makes it a Class 6 felony to possesses a pneumatic gun, such as an Airsoft gun, on school property. The pneumatic gun can be left in a vehicle if it is unloaded and in a closedcontainer. CHP holders can have a loaded,concealed pneumatic gun in their vehicle as long as the CHP holder stays in the vehicle. This bill is a solution in search of a problem and treats BB guns as if they are firearms, which they are not. | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104704D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/19/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (7-Y 4-N) 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations 01/26/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety 01/26/24 House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 01/26/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24106299D-H1 01/26/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations 01/31/24 House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 3-N) 02/02/24 House: Reported from Appropriations with substitute (12-Y 10-N) 02/02/24 House: Committee substitute printed 24106359D-H2 02/06/24 House: Read first time 02/07/24 House: Motion to rerefer to committee agreed to 02/07/24 House: Rereferred to Public Safety 02/13/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill allows a person to store their firearm and ammunition in their private motor vehicles in public parking areas owned by the Commonwealth, with exceptions for jails, prisons, and detention centers. | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102722D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/19/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (6-Y 4-N) 02/13/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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Firearm safety device tax credit; definition of firearm safety device. Expands the definition of "firearm safety device" as it relates to the firearm safety device tax credit to include any device that, when installed on a firearm, is designed to prevent the firearm from being operated without first deactivating the device. This bill was incorporated into HB 35. Full text:VCDL Comments This bill expands the existing tax credit once per year, at face value, for the purchase of any locking firearm safety-device to include devices that prevent the firearm from firing until disengaged. Currently only devices used to store a firearm are covered. | 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101557D 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/19/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends incorporating (HB35-Clark) by voice vote 02/02/24 House: Incorporated by Public Safety (HB35-Clark) by voice vote | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill allows someone without a concealed handgun permit, but who would qualify for one, to carry a concealed handgun anywhere they could lawfully open carry a handgun. Twenty-seven states now have Constitutional Carry, none have repealed it, and more states are expected to follow suit this year. Neighboring Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia are all Constitutional Carry states. | 01/10/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100648D 01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/13/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill sets 90 days as the maximum number of days that the Virginia State Police can take when processing a non-resident concealed handgun permit. Currently there is no limit and people have had to wait well over 6 to 8 months to get a permit issued! If the permit has not yet been approved after 90 days, then the permit is issued at that point. If the applicant is later found to be disqualified, the permit is revoked, and the applicant has to return it. As a reference, residents pay a maximum of $50 and the permit must be issued in 45 days. The non-resident permit fee is $100. | 01/10/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102592D 01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/19/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 01/25/24 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (6-Y 4-N) 02/13/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program and Fund; firearm and ammunition tax. Establishes the Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program (the Program) and redirects funds from the Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund (the Fund) to support such program. The bill requires the Program be administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (the Department) to distribute grants to localities and organizations for the purpose of improving public health and safety by supporting effective violence reduction initiatives in communities that are disproportionately impacted by violence, particularly homicides, shootings, and aggravated assaults. The bill provides that funds may also be used to finance the hiring of counselors in public elementary and secondary schools and research initiatives that have the objective of reducing gun violence. VCDL Comments This bill creates a 5% tax on firearms and ammunition to fund a Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program. Since this program is supposed to be for public safety, it should be paid for out of the general fund. Placing the burden on lawful gun-owners who have nothing to do with criminal behavior in the Commonwealth is both wrong and unfair. | 01/10/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104613D 01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 02/02/24 House: Incorporated by Public Safety (HB602-Price) by voice vote | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill removes the fee to get a resident concealed handgun permit. Since one should not have to pay a fee to exercise a right, such as a poll tax, the fee should be covered by the general fund. | 01/10/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102242D 01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/19/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/13/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill any school board employee approved by the school board and training from the DCJS can carry a firearm on school property. The more good people with guns on school property, the safer the school will be. Utah allows anyone with a concealed carry permit to carry in their schools and has had zero school shootings. | 01/10/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102525D 01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/22/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (7-Y 1-N) 02/13/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill allows someone protected by a protective order, and not otherwise prohibited, to carry a concealed handgun without needing a concealed handgun permit for 45 days after the order is issued, or until the order expires or is dissolved, whichever comes first. If the protected person applies for a concealed handgun permit during this period, the permit process will be expedited, and the person can continue to carry a concealed handgun until the permit is approved. The protected person can carry anywhere a police officer can carry. This bill provides a person under an unexpected threat to be able to discretely carry a handgun to protect themselves in case the protective order is violated, and the protected person is in danger. It also provides a disincentive for the target of the protective order to violate that order with the intent to do harm. | 01/10/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102159D 01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/26/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 with substitute by voice vote 02/02/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Public Safety by voice vote | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill adds off-duty law-enforcement officers to those who can carry in state agency buildings and offices. | 01/11/24 House: Presented and ordered printed 24104703D 01/11/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/22/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (6-Y 3-N) 02/13/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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VCDL Comments This bill removes a requirement for a weekly report from gun dealers that is no longer needed. | 01/11/24 House: Presented and ordered printed 24104090D 01/11/24 House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety 01/22/24 House: Assigned PS sub: Firearms 02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (6-Y 3-N) 02/13/24 House: Left in Public Safety | ||
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