# Virginia HB702: Local law-enforcement agencies; firearm give-back or sell-back programs.

Virginia HB702, Local law-enforcement agencies; firearm give-back or sell-back programs., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joshua G. Cole (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB702-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB702
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Local law-enforcement agencies; firearm give-back or sell-back programs.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-22, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Joshua G. Cole (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 13 (316 yes, 165 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Local law-enforcement agencies; firearm give-back or buy-back programs. Allows for any county or city law-enforcement agency and any town law-enforcement agency to develop policies and procedures to implement either a firearm give-back program or a firearm buy-back program by January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter. The bill enumerates several requirements to be included in such policies. The bill also requires local law-enforcement agencies to submit an annual report to the Department of State Police. The bill states that proceeds generated from the sale or auction of a returned firearm shall be deposited into the locality's general fund or used solely for the administration of the locality's firearm give-back program or firearm buy-back program.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Local firearm returns gain privacy protections: benefit, low. Virginia county and city law-enforcement agencies must set policies for voluntary firearm give-back or sell-back programs by January 1, 2028. They must review and renew these policies each year; town agencies may adopt similar programs. Policies must say when and where people can return firearms, a…
- Returned firearms face testing and disposal rules: mixed, low. Agencies must conduct forensic tests on returned firearms and may keep firearms used in crimes as evidence. They must return firearms found to be lost or stolen to their original owners. Otherwise, destruction is required within 90 days after officials determine a firearm is neither evidence nor ne…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Joshua G. Cole (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 63 | 36 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 59 | 34 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 9 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 62 | 34 | 1 |
| 2026-02-06 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 5 | 2 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute and referred to Appropriations | pass | 15 | 6 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations | pass | 7 | 3 |   |

## Actions (47)

- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (63-Y 36-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1067) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (HB702ER2) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (House)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1067 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-12: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB702) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB702ER) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-04: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB702) (House)
- 2026-02-27: Senate substitute agreed to by House (59-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Committee substitute printed 26108462D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB702) (House)
- 2026-02-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Read third time and passed House (62-Y 34-N 1-A) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-11: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-11: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-10: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-01-30: Committee substitute printed 26106538D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Public Safety with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-01-30: Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety (House)
- 2026-01-29: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-01-22: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-20: Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102339D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225393.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225392.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219886.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219885.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219338.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191162.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191161.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179106.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179105.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103981.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103764.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103980.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103763.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103223.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103222.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094591.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094590.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085540.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085539.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/1225393.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225392.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219886.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219885.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219338.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191162.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191161.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179106.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179105.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103981.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103764.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103980.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103763.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103223.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103222.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094591.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094590.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085540.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085539.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-HB702-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).