HB 969 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Center; work group to develop policy, etc., to establish.

Summary

Secretary of Public Safety; firearm violence. Directs the Secretary of Public Safety to convene a work group to develop policy and legislative recommendations to establish the Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Center. The bill allows the work group to (i) meet both in-person and virtually, (ii) have small group breakouts for the purpose of advancing work in a timely and efficient manner, and (iii) collaborate with experts and other representatives as needed. The bill requires the work group to report its findings and any legislative and policy recommendations to the General Assembly by December 15, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 364.

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 13, 2026 Vetoed Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Courts of Justice Substitute → Governor Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from a Senate Substitute that established a permanent Office of Safer Communities with specific duties to a Governor Substitute that replaces the permanent office creation with a temporary work group. The new version directs the Secretary of Public Safety to convene a diverse group of stakeholders to develop policy and legislative recommendations for establishing a future 'Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Center' by December 15, 2026, rather than immediately creating the office and its funding structure.

Scope change

The scope shifted from an immediate mandate to create a permanent state office with defined responsibilities to a preliminary step of forming a work group to study and recommend the creation of a new center.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the mandate to immediately create the Office of Safer Communities within the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

Removed the requirement for the Department to develop a restructuring plan and report it by November 1, 2026.

Added a requirement for the Secretary of Public Safety to convene a work group with specific members from various agencies, universities, and advocacy groups.

FISCAL

Removed the authorization for the Office to manage appropriated funds, accept grants, and provide grants to local agencies.

TIMELINE

Set a new deadline of December 15, 2026, for the work group to submit findings and legislative recommendations.

SCOPE

Changed the primary goal from implementing firearm violence prevention programs to developing a plan for a new 'Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Center'.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 39

Mar 5, 2026

D Democratic20

19 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

Key actions

Committee

Apr 13, 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 (HB969ER)

lower

Mar 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 35-N 0-A)

lower

Mar 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 13, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Conference Report released

legislature

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Senate requested conference committee

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Mar 4, 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 6-N)

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (61-Y 35-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Public Safety with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

House committee offered

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Public Safety

lower

1 primary · 22 co-sponsors