# Virginia HB1597: Firearms; secure storage, penalties.

Virginia HB1597, Firearms; secure storage, penalties., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Michael B. Feggans (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-24 (Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1597)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1597-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1597
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Firearms; secure storage, penalties.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-03
- Last action: 2025-02-24, Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1597)
- Sponsor: Michael B. Feggans (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (177 yes, 186 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Secure storage of firearms; penalties. Creates a Class 4 misdemeanor for any person who fails to securely store a firearm on any premises where such person knows, or reasonably should know, that a minor or a person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm is, or is likely to be, present. The bill increases the penalty to a Class 1 misdemeanor if a minor or a person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm obtains such firearm. The bill includes certain exceptions and requires firearms dealers to post a notice stating firearm storage requirements and the penalty for improperly storing such firearms. The bill also creates a Class 4 misdemeanor for any person who fails to report to law enforcement the theft or loss of a firearm from a vehicle and a Class 1 misdemeanor if another person obtains such firearm. Finally, the bill requires the Superintendent of State Police, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Health, to create a public awareness campaign on the importance of the secure storage of firearms by January 1, 2026.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Michael B. Feggans (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-19 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute | pass | 36 | 3 |   |
| 2025-02-18 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 0 | 97 |   |
| 2025-02-17 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2025-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-12 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 10 | 5 |   |
| 2025-02-10 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 50 | 48 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute | pass | 12 | 9 |   |
| 2025-01-13 | House | Referred from Courts of Justice and referred to Public Safety (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (40)

- 2025-02-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1597) (House)
- 2025-02-22: Failed to Pass from conference (House)
- 2025-02-22: No further action taken (House)
- 2025-02-20: Delegates: Feggans, Simon, Taylor (House)
- 2025-02-20: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2025-02-20: Senators: Marsden, Boysko, Stuart (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: House acceded to request (House)
- 2025-02-19: Senate insisted on substitute (36-Y 3-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Senate requested conference committee (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 97-N) (House)
- 2025-02-17: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 18-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Reading of substitute waived (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Courts of Justice Substitute rejected (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Committee substitute printed 25107313D-S2 (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Committee substitute printed 25107187D-S1 (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Read third time and passed House (50-Y 48-N) (House)
- 2025-02-03: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2025-02-03: Public Safety Substitute agreed to (House)
- 2025-02-03: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-02: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-31: Impact statement from VCSC (HB1597) (House)
- 2025-01-31: Committee substitute printed 25105219D-H1 (House)
- 2025-01-31: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 9-N) (House)
- 2025-01-14: Assigned PS sub: Firearms (House)
- 2025-01-13: Referred from Courts of Justice and referred to Public Safety (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2025-01-03: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-01-03: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103182D (House)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2025-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049247.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047821.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047820.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049246.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1045996.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047486.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1045995.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047485.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-31: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1036836.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1036835.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1021735.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1021734.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012241.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012240.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049247.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047821.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047820.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1049246.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1045996.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047486.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1045995.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047485.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1036836.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1036835.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1021735.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1021734.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012241.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012240.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1597-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).