Virginia Plan to Reduce Gun Violence Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced
Summary
Establishes a federal framework that would restrict certain firearms and tighten transfer and safety rules. It would also create model extreme risk and domestic‑violence relinquishment systems and fund grants to help States and Tribes implement them.
Show full summary
- Families and children: New rules would make it a crime to leave a loaded, unsecured firearm where a person under 18 could access it, with penalties up to 1 year in prison. The bill would also ban causing or enabling a child to get a firearm after official notice, with penalties up to 10 years.
- Gun owners and dealers: Licensed dealers would have to take possession and perform background checks for many unlicensed transfers. Non‑licensed purchasers would generally be limited to buying one handgun in any 30‑day period. The bill would ban many unserialized "ghost" guns and require serial numbers and detectability standards.
- States, Tribes, and law enforcement: The bill would offer grants and preferences to jurisdictions that adopt its Extreme Risk Protection Order and relinquishment templates. It would require timely reporting of ERPOs and relinquishment orders to the background check system and permit law enforcement to retain or contract storage for removed firearms.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 9 costs, 0 mixed.
Ban on undetectable and unserialized guns
If enacted, the bill would ban making, selling, transferring, or possessing firearms or frames/receivers that cannot be detected by metal detectors or common X-ray screening, after certain parts are removed. It would also ban possession or transfer of completed or unfinished frames or receivers that lack a valid serial number. The Attorney General would provide a test object for detector calibration. These rules would take effect one year after enactment.
More disqualifications for gun ownership
If enacted, the bill would expand federal gun-possession disqualifications to include people convicted of certain misdemeanor stalking crimes, certain misdemeanor hate crimes that involve force or credible threats, and people subject to qualifying court orders that find them dangerous. Some procedural limits apply, and pardoned or set-aside convictions do not count unless they preserve the disability. These changes would update NICS and related statutes to block future purchases where applicable.
New assault-weapon rules and penalties
If enacted, the bill would add a broad federal definition of "assault weapon" for many semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns and insert that term into federal penalties. Those changes would take effect one year after enactment. The bill would also make it unlawful for anyone under 18 to possess an assault weapon, with listed exceptions such as being at home with a parent, at a range or class with an adult, lawful hunting while accompanied by an adult, and official training duties. Violations by minors could bring fines and up to one year in jail.
Grants to support extreme risk orders
If enacted, the bill would direct the COPS Office to run a grant program to help States and Tribes adopt extreme risk protection order (ERPO) laws that meet a federal model. Grants could pay for training, staff, court and police protocols, data systems, and public awareness. Qualifying jurisdictions must allocate at least 25% of each grant to law-enforcement training. The Attorney General would favor qualifying States and Tribes for certain discretionary Justice grants in fiscal years 2024–2028.
Caregiver and child gun‑access rules
If enacted, the bill would make it a federal crime for a caregiver to let a child under 18 gain firearm access after the caregiver has been notified that the child poses a risk or after the caregiver knows the child faces violent-felony charges or findings. The bill also makes it unlawful to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured gun where a child could access it, with exceptions for secure storage or carrying on the person. Caregivers who violate the rule could face fines and up to 10 years in prison; reckless unsecured-storage violations carry up to one year and fines up to $2,500. The minors' possession rules and the unsecured-storage rule take effect 180 days after enactment (caregiver-offense timing follows the bill).
Domestic‑violence surrender and funding
If enacted, courts issuing qualifying domestic-violence orders that limit firearm possession would require the prohibited person to surrender guns to law enforcement or transfer them to a legal owner. If the person does not, police may remove the firearms. Surrendered or removed guns may be held by police or placed in secure contract storage until the person regains eligibility. The bill would also create federal grants to help States and Tribes set up these relinquishment systems, with grantees required to spend at least 25% of grant funds on police training.
Gun bans on campuses and treatment zones
If enacted, the bill would make it unlawful to knowingly possess a firearm on the grounds of a college or within 1,000 feet of a mental-healthcare facility, for guns that have moved in interstate commerce. The bill lists exceptions, such as private property not part of the institution, verified licensed carriers, police on duty, unloaded guns locked in vehicles, and authorized programs or employment. The rule would limit carrying guns in these places and clarify exceptions.
New rules for private gun sales
If enacted, most private gun sales between unlicensed people would require a licensed dealer, importer, or manufacturer to take possession of the gun first and run a federal background check. This would start 180 days after enactment. Dealers would have to follow regular transfer rules and must give buyers a notice that private transfers need the check, and buyers must sign a form acknowledging that notice. The Attorney General could make rules but could not force dealers to help, make private sellers keep transfer records, or cap fees dealers charge. That means buyers or sellers could face out-of-pocket dealer facilitation fees.
One-handgun-per-30-day limit
If enacted, people who are not licensed dealers, importers, or manufacturers would generally be allowed to buy only one handgun every 30 days. This rule would take effect 180 days after enactment. The bill lists exemptions, such as police, active military, licensed private security, certified enhanced-check holders, correctional facilities, and collectors of antiques or registered curios and relics.
Required lost or stolen gun reports
If enacted, the bill would require you to report to local police within 48 hours when you discover that a non-antique gun that moved in interstate commerce has been lost or stolen. Good-faith reporters get immunity for resulting acts except for false reports or reckless storage. Failing to report could bring a civil penalty up to $250. Police would have to enter reported lost or stolen guns into the national database.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in