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SB348 • 2026

Firearms; storage in residence where minor or person prohibited from possessing is present, penalty.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-308.7:1, relating to storage of firearms in a residence where a minor or person prohibited from possessing a firearm is present; penalty.

Children Crime Firearms
Enacted

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Firearms; storage in residence where minor or person prohibited from possessing is present, penalty.

Storage of firearms in a residence where a minor or person prohibited from possessing a firearm is present; penalty.

What This Bill Does

  • 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 and the ammunition for such firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet that is inaccessible to such minor or prohibited person.
  • Under the bill, any person who violates this provision is guilty of a Class 4 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.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

SB348G

2026-04-11 • Governor

Governor's Recommendation

Plain English: (SB348) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.

  • (SB348) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.
  • Line 14, enrolled, after such firearm strike the remainder of line 14 and through firearm on line 15 2.
  • Line 16, enrolled, after person insert , or shall render such firearm incapable of being fired by use of a gun locking device appropriate to that firearm and specific to this purpose 3.
  • Line 18, enrolled, after Class strike the remainder of line 18 insert 2 4.
SB348AS1

2026-01-29 • Committee

Courts of Justice Amendment

Plain English: 1/29/2026 (SB348) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE COURTS OF JUSTICE 1.

  • 1/29/2026 (SB348) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE COURTS OF JUSTICE 1.
  • Line 17, introduced strike all of lines 17 and 18 COURTS OF JUSTICE 2.
  • Line 26, introduced, after on strike or about
SB348AS2

2026-02-11 • Member

Senator Boysko Amendments

Plain English: 2/11/2026 SB 348 SEN.

  • 2/11/2026 SB 348 SEN.
  • BOYSKO 1.
  • Line 22, engrossed, after in a strike the remainder of line 22 SEN.
  • BOYSKO 2.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-22 Governor

    Governor's recommendation adopted

  2. 2026-04-22 House

    Signed by Speaker

  3. 2026-04-22 Senate

    Signed by President

  4. 2026-04-22 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 1006 (effective 7/1/2026)

  5. 2026-04-22 Senate

    Reenrolled

  6. 2026-04-22 Senate

    Reenrolled bill text (SB348ER2)

  7. 2026-04-22 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1006)

  8. 2026-04-22 Senate

    Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  9. 2026-04-22 House

    House concurred in Governor's recommendation (63-Y 35-N 0-A)

  10. 2026-04-11 Governor

    Governor's recommendation received by Senate

  11. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  12. 2026-03-10 Governor

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

  13. 2026-02-27 House

    Signed by Speaker

  14. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by President

  15. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Enrolled

  16. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB348ER)

  17. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB348)

  18. 2026-02-25 House

    Reengrossed by House as amended

  19. 2026-02-25 House

    Read third time

  20. 2026-02-25 House

    Passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)

  21. 2026-02-24 House

    Read second time

  22. 2026-02-20 Public Safety

    Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N)

  23. 2026-02-17 House

    Placed on Calendar

  24. 2026-02-17 Public Safety

    Referred to Committee on Public Safety

  25. 2026-02-17 House

    Read first time

  26. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB348)

  27. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Reengrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)

  28. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Rules suspended

  29. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Reading of amendments waived

  30. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Read third time

  31. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  32. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Engrossment reconsidered by Senate

  33. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)

  34. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Senator Boysko Amendments agreed to

  35. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

  36. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  37. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  38. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Floor offered

  39. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Floor offered

  40. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  41. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  42. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB348)

  43. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Read second time

  44. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)

  45. 2026-02-06 Courts of Justice

    Courts of Justice Amendments rejected

  46. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

  47. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  48. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  49. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  50. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  51. 2026-02-04 Finance and Appropriations

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

  52. 2026-01-29 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB348)

  53. 2026-01-26 Courts of Justice

    Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)

  54. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105124D

  55. 2026-01-13 Courts of Justice

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Official Summary Text

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 and the ammunition for such firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet that is inaccessible to such minor or prohibited person. Under the bill, any person who violates this provision is guilty of a Class 4 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 HB 871.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
18.2-308.7:1
, relating to storage of firearms in a residence where a minor or person prohibited from possessing a firearm is present; penalty.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
18.2-308.7:1
as follows:
§
18.2-308.7:1
. Storage of firearms; penalty.
A. For purposes of this section:
"Firearm" means the same as that term is defined in §
18.2-308.2:2
.
"Minor" means an individual younger than 18 years of age who is not authorized to use or possess a firearm under §
18.2-308.7
.
B. 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 shall render such firearm incapable of being fired by use of a gun locking device appropriate to that firearm and specific to this purpose
. A firearm may be stored loaded, provided that (i) such firearm is stored in a storage device

with a combination lock, coded lock, or biometric lock

and (ii) no minor or prohibited person is an authorized user for the lock of such storage device. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) any person in lawful possession of a firearm who is carrying such firearm on his person or (ii) the storage of any antique firearm as defined in §
18.2-308.2:2
.
D. Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing any person from lawfully authorizing a minor to access a firearm in accordance with §
18.2-56.2
.
E. Every dealer, as defined in §
18.2-308.2:2
, shall post in a conspicuous manner at the premises of such dealer a notice stating: "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 shall render such firearm incapable of being fired by use of a gun locking device appropriate to that firearm and specific to this purpose
. A violation of this law is a Class 2 misdemeanor."