# Virginia SB727: Assault firearms; carrying in public areas prohibited, exceptions, penalty. Virginia SB727, Assault firearms; carrying in public areas prohibited, exceptions, penalty., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Michael J. Jones (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (House concurred in Governor's recommendation (59-Y 38-N 0-A)) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB727-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB727 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Assault firearms; carrying in public areas prohibited, exceptions, penalty. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-19 - Last action: 2026-04-22, House concurred in Governor's recommendation (59-Y 38-N 0-A) - Sponsor: Michael J. Jones (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 12 (250 yes, 153 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 1 ## Summary Carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited in the Commonwealth; penalty. Prohibits the carrying of certain semi-automatic center-fire rifles, pistols, and shotguns or any firearm modified to be operable as an assault firearm on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, or public right-of-way or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public, with certain exceptions. Under current law, the prohibition on carrying certain shotguns and semi-automatic center-fire rifles and pistols applies to a narrower range of firearms, only in certain localities, and only when such firearms are loaded. A violation of this prohibition is a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill incorporates SB 312. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Virginia bans public assault firearm carrying: cost, medium. Virginia law prohibits carrying assault firearms, as defined in state law, in public places such as streets and parks. The amended text removes locality limits and listed exemptions, but does not detail other referenced exceptions. Violations are Class 1 misdemeanors. The Virginia Criminal Sentenci… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Michael J. Jones (Democratic), Senate ## 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 | 59 | 38 | | | 2026-03-06 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 21 | 19 | | | 2026-03-04 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 55 | 41 | | | 2026-02-27 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute | pass | 14 | 8 | | | 2026-02-09 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 | | | 2026-02-06 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-06 | Senate | Courts of Justice Substitute rejected | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-04 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 10 | 5 | | | 2026-01-26 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 9 | 5 | | ## Actions (49) - 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (59-Y 38-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1025) (Governor) - 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (SB727ER2) (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1025 (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) - 2026-04-11: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor) - 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 (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB727) (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB727ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-06: House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB727) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Passed House with substitute (55-Y 41-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-04: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House) - 2026-03-04: committee substitute agreed to (House) - 2026-03-04: Read third time (House) - 2026-03-03: Read second time (House) - 2026-03-02: Committee substitute printed 26108968D-H1 (House) - 2026-02-27: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (14-Y 8-N) (House) - 2026-02-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB727) (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House) - 2026-02-12: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-12: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-02-09: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Courts of Justice Substitute rejected (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/5/2026 4:42 pm) (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Committee substitute printed 26106399D-S2 (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/29/2026 4:37 pm) (Senate) - 2026-01-28: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB727) (Senate) - 2026-01-28: Committee substitute printed 26106280D-S1 (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Incorporates SB312 (Ebbin) (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/23/2026 11:55 am) (Senate) - 2026-01-19: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate) - 2026-01-19: Presented and ordered printed 26104545D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225050.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225049.PDF) - Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220714.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220713.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-04-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219662.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219661.PDF) - Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219654.HTML) - Enrolled, 2026-03-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202799.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202798.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188306.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188305.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128671.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128670.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099246.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099245.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092184.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092183.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/1225050.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225049.PDF) - [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220714.HTML) - [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220713.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219662.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219661.PDF) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219654.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202799.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202798.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188306.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188305.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128671.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128670.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099246.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099245.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092184.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092183.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-SB727-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).