VirginiaPlastic firearms or receivers, etc., transfer, etc., prohibited; penalties.
What it does
Manufacture, importation, 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.
More detail
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, 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 also creates a Class 1 misdemeanor, which is punishable as a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense, 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 provisions of the bill prohibiting unfinished frames or receivers and unserialized firearms have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027; however, the provisions 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, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 40.
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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 10Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0532)Latest
- Apr 10Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter532 (Effective -see bill)Became Law
- Apr 1Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB323)
- 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 (SB323ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 14Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Minor
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt Conference Committee Report R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 14Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)Minor
- Mar 14Conference Report released
- Feb 24House Conferees: Simon, McPike, Phillips
- Feb 24Conferees appointed by House
- Feb 23Senate Conferees: Surovell, Jones, Obenshain
- Vote recorded Accede Conference Committee R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23Conferees appointed by Senate
- Feb 23Senate acceded to request (35-Y 3-N 0-A)
- Feb 19House requested conference committeeMinor
- Feb 19House insisted on substituteMajor
- Feb 18House substitute rejected by Senate
- Vote recorded Concur House Substitute R. Result: fail.Upper
- Feb 17Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/17/2026 9:51 am)
- Feb 16Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB323)
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Passed House with substitute (62-Y 35-N 0-A)Passed House
- Feb 16Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 16committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 16Read third timeMinor
- Feb 15Read second timeMinor
- Feb 13Committee substitute printed 26108019D-H1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Public Safety with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 13Reported from Public Safety with substitute (13-Y 7-N)Minor
- Feb 12Referred to Committee on Public SafetyMinor
- Feb 12Read first timeMinor
- Feb 12Placed on Calendar
- Feb 9Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 6Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
- Feb 6Read second timeMinor
- Feb 5Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 5Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 5Rules suspended
- Feb 4Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 26Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 20Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB323)
- Jan 20Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/20/2026 2:04 pm)
- Jan 13Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100243DIntroduced