The People's Ledger
← All Virginia bills

SB496Introduced in the Senate

Handguns in unattended motor vehicle; definitions, penalty.

Passed

Introduced by Dave Marsden, District 35

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

Firearm in unattended motor vehicle; penalty. Creates a Class 4 misdemeanor for any person who, when leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle, fails to securely store such handgun in a locked hard-sided container, including a locked container that is affixed to the vehicle's interior by steel cable, bolt, or welding. The bill provides that such locked container includes a locked glove compartment or a locked center console. The bill contains certain exemptions, including an exemption for a person who reports the theft or loss of such firearm to a law-enforcement agency as provided in relevant law. This bill is identical to HB 110.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0561)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

8 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) · March 14, 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 Head3No
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104067D

  2. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB496)

  4. Senate committee offered

  5. Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 5-N)

  6. Read first time

  7. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  8. Rules suspended

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

  10. Passed by for the day

  11. Read second time

  12. Committee substitute printed 26106227D-S1

  13. Passed by for the day

  14. Read second time

  15. Passed by for the day

  16. Read second time

  17. Passed by for the day

  18. Read second time

  19. Passed by for the day

  20. Read second time

  21. Motion to recommit to Courts of Justice agreed to

  22. Recommitted to Courts of Justice

  23. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB496)

  24. Senate committee offered

  25. Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (9-Y 6-N)

  26. Read second time

  27. Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to

  28. Floor offered Senator Marsden Amendments

  29. Senator Marsden Amendments withdrawn

  30. Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to

  31. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute as amended (Voice Vote)

  32. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB496)

  33. Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A)

  34. Placed on Calendar

  35. Read first time

  36. Referred to Committee on Public Safety

  37. Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 7-N)

  38. Committee substitute printed 26108965D-H1

  39. Read second time

  40. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB496)

  41. Read third time

  42. committee substitute agreed to

  43. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  44. Passed House with substitute (63-Y 36-N 0-A)

  45. House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

  46. House insisted on substitute

  47. House requested conference committee

  48. Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  49. Conferees appointed by Senate

  50. Senate Conferees: Marsden, Surovell, Obenshain

  51. Conferees appointed by House

  52. House Conferees: Laufer, Clark, Morefield

  53. Conferees appointed by House

  54. House Conferees: Laufer, Simon, Morefield

  55. House Conferees: Laufer, Simon, Morefield

  56. Conference Report released

  57. Conference Report released

  58. Senate requested second conference committee (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  59. Second conferees appointed by Senate

  60. Senate Conferees: Marsden, Surovell, Obenshain

  61. Second Conference Report released

  62. House acceded to request for second conference committee

  63. Conferees appointed by House

  64. House Conferees: Laufer, Simon, Morefield

  65. Conference report agreed to by House (60-Y 36-N 0-A)

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

  67. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB496)

  68. Enrolled

  69. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB496ER)

  70. Signed by President

  71. Signed by Speaker

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

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

  74. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB496)

  75. Approved by Governor-Chapter 561 (effective 7/1/2026)

  76. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0561)

Verify the information

Our commitment to neutrality

We provide factual information only. We never tell you which politicians or bills to support, and we do not rank, score, or endorse anyone.