The Virginia General Assembly is in the midst of final considerations for a swath of bills that could come into effect as soon as July 1st. Many bills, ranging from gun control to healthcare, have already passed both houses and received the requisite signature from Governor Spanberger. Yet, with thousands of bills being signed in this session alone, it’s often difficult for Virginians to have an idea of where their state is headed on certain issues. As part of a new series — General Assembly in Action — The Jefferson Independent will provide concise coverage about the bills passed and how they’ll affect everyday Virginians.
One of the Democratic Party’s biggest campaign promises was to address gun control. Virginia’s previous Governor, Glenn Youngkin, vetoed 30 gun control-related bills in 2024, effectively halting Democratic efforts. However, the General Assembly this year has passed a slew of bills aimed at tackling the issue. In 2025, there were 1,237 gun deaths in VA, with approximately 60% of deaths being suicides and 38% homicides. Gun violence in general ranks 33rd for the state across the US. Gun control advocates and a Democrat-controlled legislature hope that their legislation can help accelerate the overall decline in deaths since 2022.
Senate Bill 749 and House Bill 217 make one of the most sweeping changes to VA gun laws long sought by VA democrats. Under the terms of the bill, assault firearms are now fully banned in the state, along with other firearm attachments such as large magazines and silencers. Going forward, possessing a firearm equipped with a magazine holding more than 20 rounds of ammunition will count as a class one misdemeanor. Bills such as HB1525 will also make the dramatic change of increasing the legal age to purchase a handgun or assault weapon from 18 to 21.
On the other hand, HB40 attempts to tackle the issue of ghost guns. While regulated in a limited way before, the new legislation makes the manufacture of any gun capable of bypassing firearm detection devices a class five felony, along with the ban of firearm frames or parts that don’t have a traceable serial number. Legislature also addressed the role of guns in domestic violence with HB93, which expands the regulations surrounding the surrender of firearms for people convicted of crimes or subject to protective orders barring them from possession. SB496 also requires the storage of guns in secure containers when leaving a vehicle unattended.
As of April 13, more than 20 of these gun-related bills were signed into law by Governor Spanberger. Some bills, including ones mentioned in this article, were sent back to the legislature with requested revisions from the Governor. However, given the Democrats’ trifecta across the House, Senate, and Executive, the majority of these bills will likely pass as part of a historic overhaul of Virginia’s gun laws.
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