Bill
Bill > HB40
summary
Introduced
12/23/2025
12/23/2025
In Committee
02/25/2026
02/25/2026
Crossed Over
03/04/2026
03/04/2026
Passed
03/11/2026
03/11/2026
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Manufacture, importation, sale, transfer, or possession of plastic firearms and unfinished frames or receivers and unserialized firearms prohibited; penalties. Creates a Class 5 felony for any person who knowingly manufactures or assembles, imports, purchases, sells, transfers, or possesses any firearm that, after removal of all parts other than a major component, as defined in the bill, is not detectable as a firearm when subjected to inspection by the types of detection devices, including X-ray machines, commonly used at airports, government buildings, schools, correctional facilities, and other locations for security screening. The bill updates language regarding the types of detection devices that are used at such locations for detecting plastic firearms. Under current law, it is unlawful to manufacture, import, sell, transfer, or possess any plastic firearm and a violation is punishable as a Class 5 felony.The bill also creates a Class 1 misdemeanor, which is punishable as a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense, for any person to knowingly possess a firearm or any completed or unfinished frame or receiver that is not imprinted with a valid serial number or to knowingly import, purchase, sell, offer for sale, or transfer ownership of any completed or unfinished frame or receiver, unless the completed or unfinished frame or receiver (i) is deemed to be a firearm pursuant to federal law and (ii) is imprinted with a valid serial number. The bill also creates a Class 1 misdemeanor, which is punishable as a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense, for any person to manufacture or assemble, cause to be manufactured or assembled, import, purchase, sell, offer for sale, or transfer ownership of any firearm that is not imprinted with a valid serial number. The provisions of the bill prohibiting unfinished frames or receivers and unserialized firearms have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027; however, the provisions of the bill prohibiting the knowing possession of a firearm or any completed or unfinished frame or receiver that is not imprinted with a valid serial number have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 323.
AI Summary
This bill prohibits the manufacture, import, sale, transfer, or possession of plastic firearms that are not detectable by common security screening devices like X-ray machines, and also prohibits the possession of any firearm, or completed or unfinished frame or receiver (parts used to build a firearm), that does not have a valid serial number. It defines "major component" as a key part of a firearm like the slide, cylinder, frame, receiver, or barrel, and clarifies that "unfinished frame or receiver" refers to parts that can be readily completed into a firearm component. The bill makes violations of the plastic firearm prohibition a Class 5 felony, and violations related to unserialized firearms or frames/receivers a Class 1 misdemeanor, escalating to a Class 4 felony for repeat offenses. Importantly, the prohibitions on unfinished frames/receivers and unserialized firearms will take effect on January 1, 2027, while the prohibition on possessing unserialized items will take effect on July 1, 2027, with several exceptions for law enforcement, federal licensees, and antique firearms.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Justice
Sponsors (10)
Marcus Simon (D)*,
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D),
Rae Cousins (D),
J.R. Henson (D),
Fernando Martinez (D),
Marcia Price (D),
Sam Rasoul (D),
Holly Seibold (D),
Virgil Thornton (D),
Kathy Tran (D),
Last Action
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (on 03/14/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB40 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB40) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1205971.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB40/text/HB40ER |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB40) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1184805.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB40/text/HB40S1 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/25/2026 12:50 pm) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1180248.PDF |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB40) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084973.PDF |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/6/2026 2:07 pm) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082659.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB40/text/HB40 |
Loading...