Virginia Plan to Reduce Gun Violence Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced
Summary
Reduce gun violence by tightening firearm rules. This bill would restrict private transfers and handgun purchases, ban untraceable “ghost” guns and define and limit assault weapons, and create grant programs for extreme-risk and domestic-relations firearm relinquishment.
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- Families and children: creates a crime for recklessly leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm that endangers someone under 18, punishable by up to 1 year in jail. It also creates a "covered caregiver" offense that can carry felony penalties.
- Gun owners and dealers: requires a licensed dealer to take possession before most private transfers and generally bars buying more than one handgun in 30 days. It would ban "ghost" guns and require serial-numbered frames and receivers, with those rules taking effect one year after enactment.
- States, Tribes, and courts: creates Department of Justice COPS grant programs to fund extreme-risk protection order and domestic-relations relinquishment systems and gives preference to jurisdictions that adopt qualifying laws. It sets required ERPO court procedures, requires reporting to federal background-check and crime databases, and mandates full faith and credit across States and Tribes.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 7 mixed.
New criminal rules for child access
If enacted, the bill would make it a crime to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm where it could endanger someone under 18. It would also create a separate offense for a caregiver who willfully lets a child at risk gain access to a firearm after receiving notice or knowing of pending violent felony charges. Penalties range up to 1 year in jail and a $2,500 fine for reckless storage, and up to 10 years in prison and fines for the caregiver offense. The storage and caregiver rules would include narrow defenses.
New assault-weapon rules and minors ban
If enacted, the bill would create a federal definition of "assault weapon," including many semi‑automatic guns with fixed magazines over 15 rounds and listed features. It would add assault weapons to enhanced federal penalties for violent and drug offenses. The bill would also bar anyone under 18 from possessing assault weapons, with narrow exceptions for parental consent, supervised shooting ranges, hunting, official training, and law enforcement cadets. These changes would take effect one year after enactment.
Ban on ghost guns and serial numbers
If enacted, the bill would ban firearms that cannot be detected by walk‑through metal detectors or X‑ray scans. It would also ban possession or transfer of completed or unfinished frames and receivers that lack a valid serial number. The Attorney General would make a "Security Exemplar" test device for detector calibration. These rules would take effect one year after enactment.
Domestic violence firearm relinquishment help
If enacted, the bill would provide DOJ grant support to States and Tribes that enact qualifying domestic‑violence firearm relinquishment laws. Qualifying laws would require people under protective orders to surrender or transfer firearms or let law enforcement remove them, with processes to confirm and securely store surrendered firearms. The Attorney General would give affirmative preference for certain grants in fiscal years 2026–2030.
Federal rules and grants for ERPOs
If enacted, the bill would set minimum due‑process rules for state and tribal extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs). Petitions would be sworn, courts would hold hearings within 30 days, ex parte orders would be time‑limited (generally 30 days), and courts would require surrender or removal of firearms and notify the Department of Justice and NICS. The bill would also provide federal grants and give award preference to qualifying States and Tribes for certain fiscal years to help implement ERPOs.
New no-gun zones and disqualifications
If enacted, the bill would make it unlawful to knowingly possess firearms on the grounds of colleges and within 1,000 feet of certain mental‑health facilities, with specific exceptions for private property, locked storage in vehicles, official law enforcement, approved programs, and permitted hunting traversals. The bill would also add certain misdemeanor hate‑crime and qualifying misdemeanor stalking convictions, and people subject to qualifying court orders, to federal firearm disqualifications, subject to due‑process conditions.
New rule for private gun transfers
If enacted, unlicensed people generally would not be allowed to transfer a firearm to another unlicensed person unless a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer first takes possession and follows federal transfer rules. Narrow exceptions would cover law enforcement, certain family and estate transfers, short emergency loans, and some range or hunting transfers. The rule would take effect 180 days after enactment. The Attorney General could make implementing rules but could not force dealers to facilitate transfers or cap dealer fees.
Required lost or stolen gun reports
If enacted, you would have to report a lost or stolen firearm that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce to local or state law enforcement within 48 hours of discovery. Antique firearms are excluded. Good‑faith reports would be protected, but knowingly false reports or cases involving negligent storage would not. Violations could bring a civil fine up to $250. States must send these reports to the National Crime Information Center. The bill would also require certain grant applicants to spend at least 5 percent of awards on lost/stolen firearm data unless certified compliant. These rules would take effect 180 days after enactment.
One-handgun per 30 days rule
If enacted, most people who are not licensed importers, manufacturers, or dealers would be barred from buying more than one handgun in any 30‑day period. Exceptions would include holders of a State enhanced background‑check certificate, law enforcement, military on duty, certain correctional facilities and private security companies, and antiques or curios. The rule would take effect 180 days after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
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.gov