# Virginia SB78: Firearms-related offenses; increases mandatory minimum sentence, penalty.

Virginia SB78, Firearms-related offenses; increases mandatory minimum sentence, penalty., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-01-26 (Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 5-N)) (as of 2026-11-07).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB78-2026
- As of: 2026-11-07
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB78
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Firearms-related offenses; increases mandatory minimum sentence, penalty.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-12-26
- Last action: 2026-01-26, Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 5-N)
- Sponsor: J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Courts of Justice
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (9 yes, 5 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Firearms-related offenses; mandatory minimum sentences; penalty. Increases from five to 10 years for a second or subsequent offense the mandatory minimum sentence for use or display of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-01-26 | Senate | Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice | pass | 9 | 5 |   |

## Actions (4)

- 2026-01-26: Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-06: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/6/2026 2:15 pm) (Senate)
- 2025-12-26: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2025-12-26: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100465D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-12-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082134.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082133.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB20: Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB329: Va. Residential Landlord & Tenant/Manufactured Home Lot Rental Acts; retaliatory conduct prohibited. (became law)
- SB253: Electric utilities; pilot programs for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- SB226: Compost and other products containing organic soil amendments; waste disposal infrastructure, etc. (signed)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082134.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082133.PDF)

## Related
- [HB20: Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB20-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [HB329: Va. Residential Landlord & Tenant/Manufactured Home Lot Rental Acts; retaliator…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB329-2026)
- [SB253: Electric utilities; pilot programs for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB253-2026)
- [SB226: Compost and other products containing organic soil amendments; waste disposal i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB226-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB78-2026 (as of 2026-11-07).