SB 891 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Firearms; five day waiting period, penalty.

Summary
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. The amendments to the Code of Virginia in the bill are identical to the amendments to the Code of Virginia in HB 2631.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2025
Vetoed
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 3, 2025 Vetoed Mar 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 4 edits · Feb 20, 2025
MODERATE
This bill enrolls a version of SB 891 that establishes a 5-day waiting period and criminal background check requirement for firearm purchases from licensed dealers in Virginia. The enrolled version contains the same substantive policy provisions as the introduced version, including requirements for consent forms, identification verification, and penalties for violations, though the formatting and layout have been adjusted to reflect official legislative approval.
Scope change
No substantive change in scope; the enrolled version maintains the same applicability to firearm dealers and purchasers in Virginia as the introduced version.
TECHNICAL

Formatting and layout changes occurred during the legislative process, including spacing adjustments, page numbering, and the addition of official enrollment markers ("ENROLLED" and "Approved"), but no substantive policy language was altered.

TIMELINE

The bill status changed from "Introduced" (January 8, 2025) to "Enrolled" (officially approved), indicating the legislation has been signed into law and is now effective.

FISCAL

The enrolled version confirms the $2 fee for in-state transactions and $5 fee for out-of-state transactions will be collected by dealers and deposited into a special fund for the State Police to cover background check costs.

ENFORCEMENT

Penalties for violations are established, including Class 6 felonies for dealers who willfully sell firearms in violation of the waiting period or background check requirements, and Class 1 misdemeanors for purchasers who fail to comply.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2025

How they voted

390
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Jan 23, 2025
D Democratic21
20 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Apr 2, 2025
Vetoed
Senate sustained Governor's veto
upper
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Vetoed
Vetoed by Governor
executive
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB891ER)
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House (50-Y 47-N)
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Public Safety (11-Y 10-N)
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
lower
Jan 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 18-N)
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)
upper
Jan 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors