SB 727: Assault firearms, loaded; carrying in public areas prohibited in the Commonwealth, penalty. - Virginia

Public Safety Substitute → Governor Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a House Substitute to a Senate Substitute, indicating it has been reviewed and amended by the Governor's office. The substantive language regarding prohibited firearms and penalties remains largely consistent, though the Senate version consolidates some definitions and removes specific technical clauses found in the House draft.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding prohibited firearms remains effectively the same, but the Senate version simplifies the list of prohibited items by referencing an existing definition for 'assault firearm' rather than listing every characteristic individually.

DEFINITION

The Senate version replaces the detailed list of prohibited rifle and pistol characteristics with a reference to the statutory definition of 'assault firearm' found in § 18.2-308.2:2.

The Senate version removes the specific prohibition on semi-automatic shotguns with detachable magazines or high fixed magazine capacity, relying instead on the general 'assault firearm' definition.

TECHNICAL

The Senate version removes the specific exemption for law enforcement and concealed carry permit holders from the general list, likely because these exemptions are covered by a separate reference to other sections of the code.

The Senate version removes the specific clause regarding belt-fed ammunition devices from the list of prohibited items.

The Senate version removes the specific clause regarding firearms modified to be operable as assault firearms, as this is covered by the general definition.

The Senate version removes the specific clause regarding the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission's fiscal impact requirement, likely because the Governor's office determined the fiscal impact was negligible or already accounted for.

Finance and Appropriations Substitute → Public Safety Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from a Senate Finance version to a House Public Safety version, resulting in significant changes to the definition of prohibited firearms. The House version adds a new category banning semi-automatic pistols with specific tactical features (like brace tubes or shrouds) and lowers the magazine capacity limit for rifles and pistols from 20 rounds to 10 rounds. The House version also removes the specific exemption for members of cadet corps participating in official events.

Scope change

The scope of prohibited firearms was expanded to include modified pistols, and the threshold for magazine capacity was lowered, making the law stricter.

REQUIREMENT

The magazine capacity limit for semi-automatic center-fire rifles and pistols was reduced from more than 20 rounds to more than 10 rounds.

A new prohibition was added for semi-automatic center-fire pistols equipped with tactical features such as brace tubes, arm braces, or shrouds designed to be fired from the shoulder.

The definition of prohibited firearms was updated to explicitly include semi-automatic center-fire pistols with specific tactical modifications, whereas the previous version did not list pistols as a separate category with these features.

ELIGIBILITY

The exemption allowing members of cadet corps to carry firearms during official ceremonial events or sanctioned military training was removed.

Courts of Justice Substitute → Finance and Appropriations Substitute · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was resubstituted by the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, changing the committee name and dates in the header. The substantive policy change is a modification to the magazine capacity limit for semi-automatic pistols, raising the threshold from 20 rounds to 15 rounds, which makes it easier for individuals to be charged with carrying an assault firearm.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding prohibited firearms was narrowed slightly for pistols by increasing the magazine capacity limit, while the scope for rifles and shotguns remained unchanged.

REQUIREMENT

The maximum legal magazine capacity for semi-automatic center-fire pistols was increased from 20 rounds to 15 rounds.

TECHNICAL

The header was updated to reflect the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations instead of the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice, along with updated dates and bill tracking numbers.

Enrolled → Courts of Justice Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was reformatted from an 'Enrolled' version to a 'Senate Substitute' version, indicating it has been amended by the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice. While the core text of the assault firearm restrictions remains largely identical, the Senate version removed a specific list of cities and counties from the scope of the shotgun magazine capacity ban (Subdivision 4) and altered the reference to modified firearms in Subdivision 6.

Scope change

The geographic scope of the ban on shotguns with magazines holding more than seven rounds was narrowed by removing the specific list of cities and counties (Alexandria, Chesapeake, Fairfax, etc.) where this restriction previously applied, potentially making the ban statewide or subject to different enforcement mechanisms not explicitly detailed in this text.

SCOPE

Subdivision 4 was modified to remove the specific list of Cities and Counties where the ban on shotguns with magazines holding more than seven rounds applies, changing the geographic applicability of this specific restriction.

DEFINITION

Subdivision 6 was modified to change the reference for modified firearms from 'subdivisions 1 through 5' to 'subdivisions 1 through 4', reflecting the deletion of the local jurisdiction shotgun ban.

TECHNICAL

The document header was changed from 'Enrolled' to 'Senate Substitute', and the text was renumbered and re-spaced to reflect the Senate Committee's amendments.

Introduced → Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 12, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and enrolled, changing its title from 'carrying loaded firearms' to 'carrying assault firearms.' The core definition of prohibited weapons was expanded to include specific semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns with features like detachable magazines, folding stocks, or threaded barrels, while retaining a separate ban on high-capacity magazines for shotguns. Exemptions were updated to include members of university cadet corps during sanctioned training or ceremonial events, and a fiscal impact statement was added to estimate the cost of increased prison time.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a general ban on loaded firearms with high-capacity magazines to a more specific ban on 'assault firearms' defined by their mechanical features, alongside a continued ban on high-capacity shotgun magazines.

DEFINITION

The definition of prohibited weapons was rewritten to explicitly list semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns with specific characteristics such as detachable magazines, folding stocks, thumbhole stocks, and threaded barrels, replacing the previous generic 'loaded' language for these items.

ELIGIBILITY

A new exemption was added for members of university cadet corps who are recognized by a public institution of higher education while performing sanctioned military training or participating in official ceremonial events.

FISCAL

A fiscal impact statement was added to the enrolled version, estimating a minimum cost of $50,000 for the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission due to potential increases in prison time.

REQUIREMENT

The ban on shotguns was clarified to prohibit those with fixed magazines exceeding seven rounds or revolving cylinders, in addition to the ban on detachable magazines with high capacity.

Assault firearms, loaded; carrying in public areas prohibited in the Commonwealth, penalty.

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