VirginiaSB272026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Firearm industry members; creates standards of responsible conduct, civil liability.

Sponsored By: Jennifer D. Carroll Foy (Democratic)

Became Law

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.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Injured people can sue the gun industry

If you are injured by a violation, you can sue a firearm industry member. You can seek an order to stop the conduct, compensatory and punitive money damages, and your attorney fees and costs. You do not have to prove the company meant to create a public nuisance or to harm the public. You must file within two years after your claim accrues. You may file where the acts happened, where a defendant lived or has its main office, or where you live.

New safety rules for gun industry

The law sets safety rules for the gun industry in Virginia. Gun makers, sellers, distributors, importers, and marketers must use reasonable controls to stop straw buys, trafficking, theft, and unlawful use, and to follow state and federal law. They may not, by unlawful or unreasonable conduct, knowingly create or add to a public nuisance through making, selling, importing, or marketing gun products. Covered products include guns, ammunition, parts such as unfinished frames or receivers, and accessories sold, made, marketed, or reasonably expected to be used in Virginia. Breaking these duties counts as a public nuisance under this law.

Prosecutors can enforce gun industry rules

The Attorney General or a local prosecutor can sue industry members who break this law. They can ask for court orders to stop the conduct, abatement at the company’s expense, restitution, damages, and attorney fees. The Attorney General can also issue civil investigative demands when there is reasonable cause to believe a violation happened or is about to happen.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 265 • No: 175

House vote 3/5/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 62 • No: 36

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 20 • No: 19

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Senate acceded to request

Yes: 29 • No: 9

Senate vote 2/18/2026

House substitute rejected by Senate

Yes: 0 • No: 38

House vote 2/16/2026

Passed House with substitute

Yes: 61 • No: 36

House vote 2/13/2026

Reported from Public Safety with substitute

Yes: 13 • No: 7

Senate vote 2/9/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 19

Senate vote 2/6/2026

Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/5/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/5/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/4/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 10 • No: 5

Senate vote 1/28/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 9 • No: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0530)

    4/10/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 530 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/10/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB27)

    3/16/2026Senate
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/14/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026Senate
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/12/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB27ER)

    3/11/2026Senate
  8. Enrolled

    3/11/2026Senate
  9. Signed by President

    3/11/2026Senate
  10. Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 36-N 0-A)

    3/5/2026House
  11. Conference report agreed to by Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A)

    3/5/2026Senate
  12. Conference Report released

    3/5/2026
  13. recommended by conference committee Conference Report

    3/5/2026
  14. House Conferees: Helmer, Simon, Phillips

    2/24/2026House
  15. Conferees appointed by House

    2/24/2026House
  16. Senate acceded to request (29-Y 9-N 0-A)

    2/23/2026Senate
  17. Senate Conferees: Carroll Foy, Deeds, Sturtevant

    2/23/2026Senate
  18. Conferees appointed by Senate

    2/23/2026Senate
  19. House requested conference committee

    2/19/2026House
  20. House insisted on substitute

    2/19/2026House
  21. House substitute rejected by Senate

    2/18/2026Senate
  22. Passed House with substitute (61-Y 36-N 0-A)

    2/16/2026House
  23. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/16/2026House
  24. committee substitute agreed to

    2/16/2026House
  25. Read third time

    2/16/2026House

Bill Text

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