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HB1524Introduced in the House of Delegates

Assault firearms; carrying in public areas prohibited, exceptions, penalty.

Passed

Introduced by Garrett McGuire, District 17

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.

Official description

Carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty. Prohibits the carrying of an assault firearm, as defined in relevant law, on or about his person 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 firearms 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 is identical to SB 727.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1101)

April 22, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

7 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026

21

Yes

18

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3Absent
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Presented and ordered printed 26105949D

  2. Unanimous consent to introduce

  3. Referred to Committee on Public Safety

  4. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/28/2026 9:43 am)

  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)

  6. Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms

  7. Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N)

  8. Read first time

  9. Read second time and engrossed

  10. Read third time and passed House (54-Y 41-N 0-A)

  11. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  12. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  13. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)

  14. Committee substitute printed 26108452D-S1

  15. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

  16. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/25/2026 12:55 pm)

  17. Rules suspended

  18. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  19. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  20. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)

  21. Read third time

  22. Passed by for the day

  23. Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

  24. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  25. Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  26. Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 95-N 0-A)

  27. Senate insisted on amendments (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  28. Senate requested conference committee

  29. House acceded to request

  30. Conferees appointed by Senate

  31. Senate Conferees: Jones, Surovell, Peake

  32. Conferees appointed by House

  33. House Conferees: McGuire, Simon, Wilt

  34. Conference Report released

  35. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/13/2026 1:57 pm)

  36. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/13/2026 2:06 pm)

  37. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/13/2026 2:57 pm)

  38. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)

  39. Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  40. Conference report agreed to by House (55-Y 38-N 0-A)

  41. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)

  42. Enrolled

  43. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1524ER)

  44. Signed by President

  45. Signed by Speaker

  46. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  47. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  48. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)

  49. Governor's recommendation received by House

  50. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/15/2026 7:24 am)

  51. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (59-Y 40-N 0-A)

  52. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  53. Governor's recommendation adopted

  54. Reenrolled

  55. Reenrolled bill text (HB1524ER2)

  56. Signed by Speaker

  57. Signed by President

  58. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1101 (effective 7/1/2026)

  59. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1101)

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