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VA HB40

VA HB40
Plastic firearms or receivers, etc.; transfer, etc., prohibited, penalties.


summary

Introduced
12/23/2025
In Committee
02/25/2026
Crossed Over
03/04/2026
Passed
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)

Last Action

Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (on 03/14/2026)

bill text


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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
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