HB 1525 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Firearms, certain; definitions, possession, transportation, or purchase by certain persons, penalty.

Summary

Possession, transportation, or purchase of certain firearms by certain persons; penalty. Provides additional exceptions, outlined in the bill, for persons younger than 18 years of age to possess or transport handguns or assault firearms anywhere in the Commonwealth. The bill also makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for persons younger than 21 years of age to purchase a handgun or assault firearm anywhere in the Commonwealth.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Vetoed

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 27, 2026 Vetoed Apr 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Courts of Justice Substitute → Governor Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised from a Senate version to a Governor's substitute, which significantly redefined key terms by referencing existing statutes rather than listing them in full. The most critical change is the addition of new exemptions for military cadets and active law enforcement officers, expanding who can legally possess firearms. The bill also added an emergency clause to ensure immediate enforcement upon passage.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include specific exemptions for cadets and active law enforcement officers, while the definition of prohibited firearms was narrowed by deferring to existing code sections.

DEFINITION

The definitions for 'assault firearm' and 'handgun' were changed to reference existing sections of the Code of Virginia instead of providing full definitions within the bill text.

ELIGIBILITY

New exemptions were added allowing Corps of Cadets members and Reserve Officers' Training Corps participants to possess firearms during training or ceremonial activities.

A new exemption was added for active duty law enforcement officers performing their duties or participating in Trooper Basic Academy sessions.

TIMELINE

An emergency clause was added, stating that the law takes effect immediately upon passage.

ENFORCEMENT

A new provision was added directing the Department of State Police to administer and enforce a specific related statute.

Public Safety Substitute → Courts of Justice Substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from a House Substitute to a Senate Substitute, changing the committee origin from Public Safety to Courts of Justice. The text includes significant formatting errors and inconsistencies, such as the word 'younger' appearing twice ('under younger than'), conflicting definitions for 'handgun' and 'assault firearm' between the House and Senate versions, and disjointed exemption clauses. These changes suggest a need for further reconciliation between chambers before the bill can be enacted.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on restricting firearm possession and purchase for minors, but the conflicting definitions and exemption rules between the House and Senate versions create uncertainty about who is covered and where the laws apply.

TECHNICAL

The bill header changed from 'House Substitute' to 'Senate Substitute,' indicating the bill has moved to the Senate for further review.

The text contains numerous formatting artifacts, line breaks, and disjointed sentences that indicate the document is a work-in-progress draft rather than a finalized version.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'assault firearm' was altered in the Senate version to include 'handgun' alongside 'rifle,' whereas the House version only listed 'rifle or pistol.'

The definition of 'handgun' was simplified in the Senate version by removing the phrase 'pistol or revolver,' creating a potential conflict with the House version's specific list.

REQUIREMENT

The Senate version contains a grammatical error stating it is unlawful for a person 'under younger than 18 years,' which is redundant and unclear.

EXEMPTIONS

The exemptions for minors were rewritten in the Senate version, changing conditions for being on another's property and adding an age requirement of 'at least 21 years' for accompanying adults in hunting and shooting ranges.

ENFORCEMENT

The Senate version removed specific exemptions for military cadets and law enforcement academy participants that were present in the House version.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 26, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Feb 26, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

19 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 11, 2026

Vetoed

Governor's recommendation received by House

executive

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1525ER)

lower

Mar 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference report agreed to by House (60-Y 37-N 0-A)

lower

Mar 14, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Conference Report released

legislature

Mar 6, 2026

Committee

Senate requested conference committee

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Senate insisted on amendments (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (58-Y 37-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Public Safety with substitute (14-Y 8-N)

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

House subcommittee offered

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Public Safety

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Introduced

Unanimous consent to introduce

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Introduced

Presented and ordered printed 26106114D

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors