HB907 • 2026

Security requirements for dealers in firearms; civil penalty.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-4202 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 54.1-4201.3, relating to security requirements for dealers in firearms; civil penalty.</p>

Firearms

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Shin
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: Failed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Security Rules for Gun Dealers

This law sets security requirements for gun dealers who sell from a store and have a federal license, including video cameras, alarms, and physical barriers to protect firearms.

What This Bill Does

Requires gun dealers selling from retail stores with a federal license to install security features like video cameras, alarms, and physical barriers to protect firearms.
Limits the operation of gun dealers outside business hours unless all firearms are stored in secure vaults, safes, or rooms that meet specific requirements.
Creates a civil penalty up to $1,000 for violating these security rules.

Who It Names or Affects

Gun dealers who sell from retail stores and have a federal license issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Terms To Know

retail mercantile establishment: A place where merchandise is displayed, held, stored, or offered for sale to the public.
civil penalty: A fine imposed by law for breaking a rule, but not considered a criminal offense.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not apply if security features become temporarily inoperable and it is not the dealer's fault.
This law will start on January 1, 2028.

Bill History

2026-02-18 House
Left in Committee Public Safety
2026-02-06 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB907)
2026-01-13 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105240D
2026-01-13 Public Safety
Referred to Committee on Public Safety

Official Summary Text

Security requirements for dealers in firearms; civil penalty.
Prohibits dealers in firearms operating from a retail mercantile establishment, as defined in the bill, and holding a valid federal firearms license issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from conducting business or storing firearms at a location unless certain

security requirements specified in the bill are met. The bill creates a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000 for violations of such security requirements. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2028.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend and reenact §
54.1-4202
of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
54.1-4201.3
, relating to security requirements for dealers in firearms; civil
penalty
.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
54.1-4202
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
54.1-4201.3
as follows:

§
54.1-4201.3
. Security requirements for
dealers in firearms
;
civil
penalties.

A.
For purposes of this section, "
retail mercantile establishment" means any place where merchandise is displayed, held
, stored
,
or offered for sale to the public. "Retail mercantile establishment"
does
not include any location that also serves as a
private
residence.

B.
No

dealer in firearms

operating from
a
retail mercantile establishment
and
holding a valid federal firearms license iss
ued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms

and Explosives
may conduct business and store firearms at a location unless:

1.
The premises on which the
dealer in firearms
operates is equipped with security features, including:

E
quipment capable of filming and recording video footage inside and outside buildings
where firearms are stored;

A
t least one of the following
security
features designed to prevent unauthorized entry
is
installed on all exterior doors and windows of all buildings where firearms are stored:

(1) Bars;

(2) Security screens;

(3) Commercial grade metal doors;

(4)
Grates; or

(5) Other physical barriers approved by the
Superintendent of State Police
;

c. A burglary alarm system that is continually monitored; and

d. If practicable, physical barriers designed to prevent the use of motor vehicles to breach a
ny
buildings where firearms are stored; or

2. Outside business hours, the
dealer in firearms
locks all firearms stored on the premises in
a (i)
vault;
(ii)
safe; or
(iii)
room or building that meets the requirements under
subdivision 1.

C
.
A person who violates th
e provisions of

sub
section
A
is sub
ject to a civil penalty not exceeding $1,0
00.

This subsection does not ap
ply if the security features required pursuant to subsection
B
become temporarily inoperable at no fault of the dealer in firearms.

§
54.1-4202
. Penalties for violation of the provisions of this chapter.

Any
Notwithstanding
the provisions of
§
54.1-420
1
.
3
,
any
person convicted of a first offense for willfully violating the provisions of this chapter
shall be
is
guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor
. Any
and any
person convicted of a second or subsequent offense under the provisions of this chapter
shall be
is
guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

2. That the provisions of this act shall become effective on January 1, 2028.