# Virginia HB21: Firearm industry members; creates standards of responsible conduct, civil liability. Virginia HB21, Firearm industry members; creates standards of responsible conduct, civil liability., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Dan I. Helmer (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-10 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0529)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB21-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB21 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Firearm industry members; creates standards of responsible conduct, civil liability. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-12-22 - Last action: 2026-04-10, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0529) - Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 10 (226 yes, 109 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary Firearm industry members; standards of responsible conduct; civil liability. Creates standards of responsible conduct for firearm industry members and requires such members to establish and implement reasonable controls regarding the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, and marketing of the firearm industry member's firearm-related products, as those terms are defined in the bill. Such reasonable controls include reasonable procedures, safeguards, and business practices that are designed to (i) prevent the sale or distribution of a firearm-related product to a straw purchaser, a firearm trafficker, a person prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, or a person who the firearm industry member has reasonable cause to believe is at substantial risk of using a firearm-related product to harm themselves or unlawfully harm another or of unlawfully possessing or using a firearm-related product; (ii) prevent the loss of a firearm-related product or theft of a firearm-related product from a firearm industry member; (iii) ensure that the firearm industry member complies with all provisions of state and federal law and does not otherwise promote the unlawful manufacture, sale, possession, marketing, or use of a firearm-related product; (iv) prevent the installation and use of an auto sear on firearm-related products; and (v) ensure that the firearm industry member does not engage in an act or practice in violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill also provides that a firearm industry member may not knowingly create, maintain, or contribute to a public nuisance, as defined in the bill, through the sale, manufacturing, importing, or marketing of a firearm-related product. The bill creates a civil cause of action for the Attorney General or a local county, city, or town attorney to enforce the provisions of the bill or for any person who has been injured as a result of a firearm industry member's violation to seek an injunction and to recover costs and damages. The bill also allows the Attorney General to issue a civil investigative demand if he has reasonable cause to believe that any person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any violation of such standards of responsible conduct. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - New safety rules for gun industry: benefit, medium. Firearm businesses must set and follow reasonable controls in making, selling, and marketing their products. Controls must block straw buyers and traffickers, stop sales to banned people, prevent theft and loss, and avoid unlawful ads or auto sears. It is illegal to knowingly create or add to a pub… - Stronger enforcement by Virginia officials: benefit, medium. The Attorney General and local attorneys can sue firearm businesses that appear to break this law. Courts can issue injunctions, order abatement of nuisances at the industry’s expense, and award compensatory and punitive damages and attorney fees. The Attorney General can issue civil investigative… - You can sue gun businesses: mixed, medium. If you are hurt because a firearm business broke this law, you can sue. You can ask the court to stop the harm and award compensatory and punitive damages, plus your attorney fees and costs. You do not have to prove the business meant to cause a public nuisance. You must file within two years after… - Which gun products and sellers are covered: mixed, medium. The law defines key terms so it is clear who and what is covered. It defines firearm, firearm accessory, unfinished frame or receiver, frame, receiver, straw purchaser, firearm trafficker, public nuisance, reasonable controls, and firearm industry member. These meanings guide who must follow the ru… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-05 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 62 | 36 | | | 2026-03-03 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 21 | 19 | | | 2026-02-26 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-26 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-25 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 10 | 5 | | | 2026-02-23 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 9 | 5 | | | 2026-02-05 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 62 | 35 | | | 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute | pass | 15 | 6 | | | 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 7 | 3 | | ## Actions (38) - 2026-04-10: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0529) (Governor) - 2026-04-10: Approved by Governor-Chapter 529 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-03-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB21) (House) - 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (House) - 2026-03-12: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB21ER) (House) - 2026-03-12: Enrolled (House) - 2026-03-12: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-05: Senate substitute agreed to by House (62-Y 36-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB21) (House) - 2026-03-03: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Committee substitute printed 26108624D-S1 (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-13: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB21) (House) - 2026-02-06: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-04: committee substitute agreed to (House) - 2026-02-04: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House) - 2026-02-04: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-03: Read first time (House) - 2026-01-30: Committee substitute printed 26106578D-H1 (House) - 2026-01-30: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 6-N) (House) - 2026-01-29: House subcommittee offered (House) - 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) (House) - 2026-01-16: Assigned HPS sub: Firearms (House) - 2025-12-22: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House) - 2025-12-22: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100319D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218314.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218313.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201035.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201034.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181256.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181255.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104664.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103768.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104663.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103767.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103559.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103558.PDF) - Introduced, 2025-12-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082006.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082005.PDF) ## Related bills - HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed) - HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed) - HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed) - HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed) ## Sources - [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218314.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218313.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201035.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201034.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181256.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181255.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104664.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103768.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104663.PDF) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103767.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103559.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103558.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082006.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082005.PDF) ## Related - [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026) - [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026) - [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026) - [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026) - [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026) - [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB21-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).