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Virginia · 2025 Regular Session · Bill

HB 1597: Firearms; secure storage, penalties.

Passed both chambers Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 1597 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 3, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Firearms; secure storage, penalties. Primary sponsor: Michael Feggans (Democratic). It lists 18 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (February 24, 2025): Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1597).

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Secure storage of firearms; penalties. Creates a Class 4 misdemeanor for any person who fails to securely store a firearm on any premises where such person knows, or reasonably should know, that a minor or a person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm is, or is likely to be, present. The bill increases the penalty to a Class 1 misdemeanor if a minor or a person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm obtains such firearm. The bill includes certain exceptions and requires firearms dealers to post a notice stating firearm storage requirements and the penalty for improperly storing such firearms. The bill also creates a Class 4 misdemeanor for any person who fails to report to law enforcement the theft or loss of a firearm from a vehicle and a Class 1 misdemeanor if another person obtains such firearm. Finally, the bill requires the Superintendent of State Police, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Health, to create a public awareness campaign on the importance of the secure storage of firearms by January 1, 2026.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 19

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Michael FeggansPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse97
Alex AskewCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse95
Elizabeth Bennett-ParkerCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate39
Destiny LeVere BollingCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse80
Katrina CallsenCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse54
Nadarius ClarkCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse84
Laura Jane CohenCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse15
Rae CousinsCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse79
Debra GardnerCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse76
Dan HelmerCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse10
J.R. HensonCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse19
Karen Keys-GamarraCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse7
Amy LauferCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse55
Marty MartinezCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse29
Cia PriceCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse85
Atoosa ReaserCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse27
David ReidCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse28
J.J. SinghCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse26
Kathy TranCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse18

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1597)
  2. Failed to Pass from conference
  3. No further action taken
  4. Delegates: Feggans, Simon, Taylor
  5. Conferees appointed by House
  6. Senators: Marsden, Boysko, Stuart
  7. Conferees appointed by Senate
  8. House acceded to request
  9. Senate requested conference committee
  10. Senate insisted on substitute (36-Y 3-N)
  11. Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 97-N)
  12. Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 18-N)

Showing 12 most recent of 40 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source