HB871Introduced in the House of Delegates
Firearms; storage in residence where minor or person prohibited from possessing is present, penalty.
Introduced by Mark Downey, District 69
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Storage of firearms in a residence where a minor or person prohibited from possessing a firearm is present; penalty. Provides that any person who possesses a firearm in a residence where such person knows that a minor or a person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm is present shall store such firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet that is inaccessible to such minor or prohibited person, or renders such firearm incapable of being fired by use of a gun locking device appropriate to that firearm and specific to this purpose. Under the bill, any person who violates this provision is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. The bill also requires any dealer, as that term is defined in current law, to post a written notice informing the public of the penalty imposed for failure to comply with the bill's provisions. This bill is identical to SB 348.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1074)
April 22, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
7 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
5 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
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | No |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | No |
| Chris Head | 3 | Absent |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | No |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | No |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | No |
| William Stanley | 7 | No |
| Mark Peake | 8 | No |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101397D
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB871)
Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (3-Y 3-N)
Reconsidered by Public Safety (Voice Vote)
Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N)
Reported from Public Safety (14-Y 7-N)
Read first time
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (60-Y 37-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
Committee substitute printed 26108451D-S1
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB871)
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
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
Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Senate substitute agreed to by House (60-Y 34-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB871ER)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB871)
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Governor's recommendation received by House
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 36-N 0-A)
Reconsideration of Governor's recommendation agreed to
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (63-Y 37-N 0-A)
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
Governor's recommendation adopted
Reenrolled
Reenrolled bill text (HB871ER2)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Approved by Governor-Chapter 1074 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1074)
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