# Virginia HB217: Assault firearms & certain ammunition feeding devices; purchase, sale, etc., prohibited, penalties.

Virginia HB217, Assault firearms & certain ammunition feeding devices; purchase, sale, etc., prohibited, penalties., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Dan I. Helmer (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-14 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1106)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB217-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB217
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Assault firearms & certain ammunition feeding devices; purchase, sale, etc., prohibited, penalties.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-07
- Last action: 2026-05-14, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1106)
- Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 12 (217 yes, 108 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 7

## Summary

Purchase, sale, transfer, etc., of assault firearms and certain ammunition feeding devices prohibited; penalties. Creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, or transfers an assault firearm, as that term is defined in the bill with some exceptions, and prohibits a person who has been convicted of such violation from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm for a period of three years from the date of conviction. The bill provides that an assault firearm does not include any firearm that is an antique firearm, has been rendered permanently inoperable, or is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action. The bill also prohibits the sale of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, as that term is defined in the bill. The bill provides that any person who willfully and intentionally (i) sells an assault firearm to another person or (ii) purchases an assault firearm from another person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and that any person who imports, sells, barters, transfers, or purchases a large capacity ammunition feeding device is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill is identical to SB 749.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Localities can simplify voluntary firearm buybacks: benefit, low. Virginia localities and their agents can join voluntary assault-firearm buyback or give-back programs without first passing an authorizing ordinance. The surrendered firearm must meet the law’s assault-firearm definition. Participation remains voluntary.
- Certain convictions block firearm access: cost, high. Convictions under the listed assault-firearm or firearm-possession laws block buying, possessing, or transporting firearms for three years after conviction. Other legal bars can continue after those three years. Knowing and intentional violations after an assault-firearm conviction are Class 1 misd…
- Gun buyers face assault firearm limits: cost, high. Beginning July 1, 2026, the law bans most importing, making, selling, buying, and transferring of assault firearms. Violations are Class 1 misdemeanors, including willful and intentional sales or purchases for money or other value. Covered weapons include specified semi-automatic rifles, pistols, a…
- Gun owners face large magazine limits: cost, high. Beginning July 1, 2026, importing, selling, bartering, transferring, or buying covered ammunition feeding devices is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Covered devices hold more than 15 rounds or can readily be restored or converted to do so. Attached tubular devices usable only with .22 caliber rimfire ammuni…
- Gun buyers face checks and fees: cost, medium. Most firearm sales for money or other value require a licensed dealer to verify a State Police background-check clearance. Dealers can keep an additional fee of up to $15. Willful and intentional sales or purchases without required verification are Class 1 misdemeanors. Exceptions include specified…
- Minors face firearm limits and forfeiture: cost, medium. People under 18 cannot knowingly and intentionally possess or transport handguns or assault firearms; violations are Class 1 misdemeanors. Exceptions cover specified homes or property with required permission, supervised ranges or classes, lawful hunting, and military or National Guard duties. Fire…
- Some noncitizens face dealer firearm bans: cost, medium. Virginia dealers cannot sell, rent, trade, or transfer assault firearms from their inventory to certain noncitizens. The restriction covers recipients who are neither U.S. citizens nor lawfully admitted permanent residents.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-11 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 60 | 35 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 10 | 5 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 9 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 58 | 34 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute | pass | 13 | 6 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 7 | 3 |   |

## Actions (54)

- 2026-05-14: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1106) (Governor)
- 2026-05-14: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1106 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-23: Passed by for the day (House)
- 2026-04-23: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-04-23: Communicated to Governor (House)
- 2026-04-22: Passed by for the day (House)
- 2026-04-14: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/14/2026 4:33 pm) (House)
- 2026-04-11: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2026-04-03: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/3/2026 1:26 pm) (House)
- 2026-04-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB217) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB217ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Senate substitute agreed to by House (60-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-09: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB217) (House)
- 2026-03-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/5/2026 8:55 am) (House)
- 2026-03-05: Committee substitute printed 26109164D-S2 (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB217) (House)
- 2026-02-27: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/27/2026 3:48 pm) (House)
- 2026-02-27: Committee substitute printed 26108593D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB217) (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 (58-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-04: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-02: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/2/2026 10:25 am) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Committee substitute printed 26106682D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (13-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-01-29: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-01-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB217) (House)
- 2026-01-16: Assigned HPS sub: Firearms (House)
- 2026-01-14: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB217) (House)
- 2026-01-08: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/8/2026 5:09 pm) (House)
- 2026-01-07: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2026-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100315D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-05-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225668.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225667.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-04-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219401.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219400.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219397.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212107.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212106.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195941.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195940.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186516.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186515.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181673.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181672.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105597.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105596.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103782.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103781.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103651.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103650.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083134.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083133.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/1225668.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225667.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219401.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219400.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219397.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212107.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212106.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195941.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195940.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186516.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186515.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181673.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181672.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105597.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105596.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103782.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103781.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103651.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103650.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083134.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083133.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB217-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).