# Virginia SB495: Substantial risk orders; eligible petitioners, court jurisdiction, constr. possession of firearms.

Virginia SB495, Substantial risk orders; eligible petitioners, court jurisdiction, constr. possession of firearms., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0699)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB495-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB495
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Substantial risk orders; eligible petitioners, court jurisdiction, constr. possession of firearms.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0699)
- Sponsor: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 7 (147 yes, 65 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Substantial risk orders; eligible petitioners; substantial risk factors and considerations; court jurisdiction; constructive possession of firearms; penalty. Expands the list of persons eligible to file a petition for an emergency substantial risk order. The bill provides various factors that a judge or magistrate shall consider for the purpose of determining whether to issue an emergency substantial risk order or a substantial risk order. The bill expands court jurisdiction over substantial risk orders from circuit courts to juvenile and domestic relations district courts and general district courts and requires petitions against minors to be filed in juvenile and domestic relations district courts. The bill requires a copy of the order to be served on the parent or guardian of the minor at any address where the minor resides or the local board of social services in the case where the minor is the subject of a dependency or court-approved out-of-home placement. The bill also provides the process for which firearms not owned by the subject of a petition are returned to the lawful owner of such firearms. The bill provides that any emergency substantial risk order or substantial risk order issued remains in full force and effect pending any appeal. Lastly, the bill provides that any person that makes a materially false statement or representation to a court during the petitioning process is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill is identical to HB 901.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More courts hear firearm risk cases: benefit, medium. Circuit, general district, and juvenile court judges, as well as magistrates, can issue emergency firearm risk orders. They must hold an oral hearing and find probable cause of a near-future injury risk from firearm possession or acquisition. Juvenile and domestic relations district courts can hear…
- More people can seek firearm restrictions: benefit, medium. More people can ask for a court order restricting someone's firearm access because of a safety risk. They include certain licensed medical and mental-health professionals, certified evaluators, and local community services board designees. Immediate family members, household members, and intimate p…
- Firearm owners gain limited transfer options: mixed, low. People whose firearms were surrendered under a substantial risk order, or their legal representatives, can request court-approved transfers. The recipient must be at least 21, live apart from the person under the order, and legally possess or transport firearms. Both people must attend the hearing.…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-23 | House | Passed House with amendment | pass | 63 | 34 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | Senate | Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 9 | 5 |   |

## Actions (34)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0699) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 699 (effective 7/1/2026) (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 (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB495) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB495ER) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-25: House amendments agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Passed House with amendment (63-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-23: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2026-02-23: committee amendments agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-23: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-20: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-18: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-02-13: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB495) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Committee substitute printed 26107130D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB495) (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104571D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222259.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222258.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181975.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181974.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178745.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-18: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169320.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132613.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132612.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127777.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127776.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090533.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090531.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/1222259.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222258.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181975.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181974.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178745.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169320.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132613.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132612.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127777.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127776.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090533.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090531.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-SB495-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).