HB21Introduced in the House of Delegates
Firearm industry members; creates standards of responsible conduct, civil liability.
Introduced by Dan Helmer, District 10
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
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. This bill is identical to SB 27.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0529)
April 10, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
House of DelegatesStage: Senate substitute agreed to by House (62-Y 36-N 0-A) · March 5, 2026
62
Yes
36
No
1
Absent or Not Voting
99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
See how each delegate voted
| Delegate | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Hope | 1 | Yes |
| Adele McClure | 2 | Yes |
| Alfonso Lopez | 3 | Yes |
| Charniele Herring | 4 | Yes |
| Kirk McPike | 5 | Yes |
| Richard Sullivan | 6 | Yes |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | 7 | Yes |
| Irene Shin | 8 | Yes |
| Karrie Delaney | 9 | Yes |
| Dan Helmer | 10 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100319D
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
Assigned HPS sub: Firearms
House subcommittee offered
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)
Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 6-N)
Committee substitute printed 26106578D-H1
Read first time
Read second time
committee substitute agreed to
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB21)
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)
Committee substitute printed 26108624D-S1
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed by for the day
Passed by for the day
Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB21)
Senate substitute agreed to by House (62-Y 36-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB21ER)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB21)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 529 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0529)
Verify the information
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