HB1524 • 2026

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

An Act to amend and reenact § 18.2-287.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty.

Crime Firearms

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: McGuire
Last action: 2026-04-22
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact cost of enforcing the law cannot be determined, as per § 30-19.1:4 of Virginia's Code.

Prohibiting Carrying Assault Firearms in Public Areas

This law makes it illegal to carry assault firearms in public places and sets penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

Makes it against the law to carry an assault firearm, as defined by § 18.2-308.2:2 of Virginia's Code, on or about a person in any public place such as streets, roads, alleys, sidewalks, public rights-of-way, and parks.
Allows certain individuals, including police officers and military personnel when performing official duties, to carry these firearms legally.
Specifies that hunters can still use assault firearms while hunting legally.
Violating this law is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Who It Names or Affects

People who own or carry assault firearms in public areas
Law enforcement and military personnel

Terms To Know

Assault firearm: A type of gun that can hold more than a certain number of bullets, has special features like a folding stock, or is designed to use a silencer.
Class 1 misdemeanor: A serious crime that can lead to jail time and fines.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact cost of enforcing this law cannot be determined.
This law applies broadly across public areas but does not specify all localities explicitly, relying on the definition provided in § 18.2-308.2:2.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1524AC

2026-03-13 • Conference

Conference Report

Plain English: JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT We, the conferees, appointed by the respective bodies to consider and report upon the disagreeing vote on House Bill No.

JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT We, the conferees, appointed by the respective bodies to consider and report upon the disagreeing vote on House Bill No.
1524 , report as follows: A.
We recommend that the Senate Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (26108452D) be rejected.
B.

HB1524G

2026-04-11 • Governor

Governor's Recommendation

Plain English: (HB1524) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION I approve the general purpose of this bill, but I am returning it without my signature with the request that the attached Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (26110168D) be accepted.

(HB1524) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION I approve the general purpose of this bill, but I am returning it without my signature with the request that the attached Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (26110168D) be accepted.

HB1524H1

2026-03-13 • Conference

Conference Report Substitute

Plain English: 2026 SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 26109726D HOUSE BILL NO.

2026 SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 26109726D HOUSE BILL NO.
1524 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Joint Conference Committee on March 13, 2026) (Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate McGuire) A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-287.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1.
That § 18.2-287.4 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: § 18.2-287.4 .

HB1524H2

2026-04-14 • Governor

Governor Substitute

Plain English: 2026 SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 26110168D HOUSE BILL NO.

2026 SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 26110168D HOUSE BILL NO.
1524 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Governor on April 13, 2026) (Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate McGuire) A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-287.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1.
That § 18.2-287.4 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: § 18.2-287.4 .

Bill History

2026-04-22 Governor
Governor's recommendation adopted
2026-04-22 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-04-22 Senate
Signed by President
2026-04-22 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 1101 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-22 House
Reenrolled
2026-04-22 House
Reenrolled bill text (HB1524ER2)
2026-04-22 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1101)
2026-04-22 House
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (59-Y 40-N 0-A)
2026-04-22 Senate
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-04-15 House
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/15/2026 7:24 am)
2026-04-11 Governor
Governor's recommendation received by House
2026-04-01 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)
2026-03-31 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-31 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-30 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-30 House
Enrolled
2026-03-30 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1524ER)
2026-03-18 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)
2026-03-13 Conference
Conference Report released
2026-03-13 House
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/13/2026 1:57 pm)
2026-03-13 House
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/13/2026 2:06 pm)
2026-03-13 House
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/13/2026 2:57 pm)
2026-03-13 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)
2026-03-13 Senate
Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-03-13 House
Conference report agreed to by House (55-Y 38-N 0-A)
2026-03-11 House
Conferees appointed by House
2026-03-11 House
House Conferees: McGuire, Simon, Wilt
2026-03-10 Senate
Senate Conferees: Jones, Surovell, Peake
2026-03-10 Senate
Conferees appointed by Senate
2026-03-09 House
House acceded to request
2026-03-06 Senate
Senate requested conference committee
2026-03-06 Senate
Senate insisted on amendments Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-04 House
Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 95-N 0-A)
2026-03-02 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-02 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-02 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
2026-03-02 Courts of Justice
Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
2026-03-02 Senate
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-02-27 Senate
Read third time
2026-02-27 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-27 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-26 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-26 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-26 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-26 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-26 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-26 Courts of Justice
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)
2026-02-25 Finance and Appropriations
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
2026-02-25 Courts of Justice
Committee substitute printed 26108452D-S1
2026-02-25 Courts of Justice
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/25/2026 12:55 pm)
2026-02-23 Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
2026-02-18 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-18 Courts of Justice
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-02-17 House
Read third time and passed House (54-Y 41-N 0-A)
2026-02-16 House
Read second time and engrossed
2026-02-15 House
Read first time
2026-02-13 Public Safety
Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N)
2026-02-03 Firearms
Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms
2026-01-28 House
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/28/2026 9:43 am)
2026-01-28 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1524)
2026-01-27 House
Presented and ordered printed 26105949D
2026-01-27 House
Unanimous consent to introduce
2026-01-27 Public Safety
Referred to Committee on Public Safety

Official Summary Text

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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend and reenact §
18.2-287.4
of the Code of Virginia, relating to carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
18.2-287.4
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
18.2-287.4
. Carrying loaded firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty.
It
shall be
is
unlawful for any person to carry
a loaded (a) semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol that expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine that will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock or (b) shotgun with a magazine that will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered
an assault firearm as defined in §
18.2-308.2:2
on or about his person on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public
in the Cities of Alexandria, Chesapeake, Fairfax, Falls Church, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, or Virginia Beach or in the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Henrico, Loudoun, or Prince William
.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to law-enforcement officers
, licensed security guards

in the performance of their official duties
, military personnel in the performance of their
lawful
official
duties,
or any person having a valid concealed handgun permit
any member of a cadet corps who is recognized by a public institution of higher education while such member is in the performance of sanctioned military training or such member is participating in an official ceremonial event for the Commonwealth,
or
to
any person actually engaged in lawful hunting or lawful recreational shooting activities at an established shooting range or shooting contest. Any person violating the provisions of this section
shall be
is
guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
The exemptions set forth in
§§
§
18.2-308
and
18.2-308.016
shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the provisions of this section.
2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to §
30-19.1:4
of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 725 of the Acts of Assembly of 2025 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to §
30-19.1:4
of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.