HB 19 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Firearms; purchase, etc., after assault & battery of family or household member or intimate partner.

Summary
Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearm; assault and battery of a family or household member or intimate partner; penalty. Adds to the definition of "family or household member," as such definition relates to juvenile and domestic relations district court, 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 as determined by the length, nature, frequency, and type of interaction between the individuals involved in the relationship. The bill also adds to the definition of "family or household member," as such definition relates to a person's purchase, possession, or transportation of a firearm following an assault and battery of a family or household member, any individual who cohabits or who, within the previous 12 months, cohabitated with the person. Finally, the bill 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, 2026, 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.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Dec 22, 2025 Signed Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill was finalized and assigned Chapter 527 for the 2026 session. The text indicates that the law was approved on April 10, 2026, and it amends sections of the Code of Virginia regarding firearm possession and penalties for domestic violence. The provided text contains only the final approval details and does not include the specific substantive changes to the laws themselves.
TIMELINE

The bill was formally approved and assigned Chapter 527 for the 2026 legislative session.

The approval date for the bill is set as April 10, 2026.

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

How they voted

390
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
41
Key actions
14
Committee
10
Apr 10, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 527 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB19ER)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute (22-Y 18-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 (61-Y 35-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Committee
Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Public Safety and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
Assigned HPS sub: Firearms
lower
Dec 22, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
lower
1 primary · 12 co-sponsors

Sponsors