VirginiaHandguns in unattended motor vehicle; definitions, penalty.
What it does
Firearm in unattended motor vehicle; penalty. Creates a Class 4 misdemeanor for any person who, when leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle, fails to securely store such handgun in a locked hard-sided container, including a locked container that is affixed to the vehicle's interior by steel cable, bolt, or welding. The bill provides that such locked container includes a locked glove compartment or a locked center console.
More detail
The bill contains certain exemptions, including an exemption for a person who reports the theft or loss of such firearm to a law-enforcement agency as provided in relevant law. This bill is identical to HB 110.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0561)Latest
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 561 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Apr 7Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB496)
- Mar 31Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 31Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Minor
- Mar 31Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 30Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB496ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 17Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB496)
- Mar 14Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Minor
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded S Senate requested second conference committee. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Adopt Conference Committee Report R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 14Conference report agreed to by House (60-Y 36-N 0-A)Minor
- Mar 14House Conferees: Laufer, Simon, Morefield
- Mar 14Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 14House acceded to request for second conference committee
- Mar 14Second Conference Report released
- Mar 14Senate Conferees: Marsden, Surovell, Obenshain
- Mar 14Second conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 14Senate requested second conference committee (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Minor
- Mar 14Conference Report released
- Mar 14Conference Report released
- Mar 13House Conferees: Laufer, Simon, Morefield
- Mar 13House Conferees: Laufer, Simon, Morefield
- Mar 13Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 12House Conferees: Laufer, Clark, Morefield
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 10Senate Conferees: Marsden, Surovell, Obenshain
- Vote recorded Accede Conference Committee R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 10Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 9House requested conference committeeMinor
- Mar 9House insisted on substituteMajor
- Mar 6House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
- Vote recorded Concur House Substitute R. Result: fail.Upper
- Mar 4Passed House with substitute (63-Y 36-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 4committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Mar 4Read third timeMinor
- Mar 4Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB496)
- Mar 3Read second timeMinor
- Mar 2Committee substitute printed 26108965D-H1Major
- Feb 27Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 7-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Public Safety with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 19Referred to Committee on Public SafetyMinor
- Feb 19Read first timeMinor
- Feb 19Placed on Calendar
- Feb 16Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 16Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB496)
- Feb 13Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute as amended (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 13Courts of Justice Amendments agreed toMajor
- Feb 13Senator Marsden Amendments withdrawnMajor
- Feb 13Floor offered Senator Marsden Amendments
- Feb 13Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
- Feb 13Read second timeMinor
- Feb 11Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (9-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Senate committee offered
- Feb 5Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB496)
- Feb 3Recommitted to Courts of Justice
- Feb 3Motion to recommit to Courts of Justice agreed to
- Feb 3Read second timeMinor
- Feb 2Passed by for the day
- Feb 2Read second timeMinor
- Jan 30Passed by for the day
- Jan 30Read second timeMinor
- Jan 29Passed by for the day
- Jan 29Read second timeMinor
- Jan 28Passed by for the day
- Jan 28Committee substitute printed 26106227D-S1Major
- Jan 28Read second timeMinor
- Jan 27Passed by for the day
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 27Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Jan 27Rules suspended
- Jan 27Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Jan 27Read first timeMinor
- Jan 26Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 26Senate committee offered
- Jan 20Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB496)
- Jan 13Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104067DIntroduced