SB 35 — Firearms, ammunition, etc.; control by localities by governing possession, etc., within locality.
Last action — Enacted, Chapter 1247 (effective 7/1/20)
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House of Delegates
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 18, 2019. Enacted.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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8 sponsors
1 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 11 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Control of firearms by localities; permitted events. Authorizes any locality by ordinance to prohibit the possession or carrying of firearms, ammunition, or components or any combination thereof in (i) any building, or part thereof, owned or used by such locality for governmental purposes; (ii) any public park owned by the locality; (iii) any recreation or community center facility; or (iv) any public street, road, alley, sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit. Provisions limiting the authority of localities and state governmental entities to bring lawsuits against certain firearms manufacturers and others are also repealed. The bill also provides that any firearm received by the locality pursuant to a gun buy-back program shall be destroyed by the locality unless the person surrendering such firearm requests in writing that such surrendered firearm be sold. The bill contains technical amendments. This bill incorporates SB 450, SB 505, SB 506, and SB 615. This bill is identical to HB 421.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
12 added · 22 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendments to Bill SB 35 clarify the language around firearm regulations related to public spaces. The updated version emphasizes that certain regulations are designed to specifically prevent unauthorized access to buildings and parks during events that require permits. These changes aim to enhance public safety by ensuring that appropriate security measures, like metal detectors and additional personnel, are in place at permitted events. This matters because clearer regulations help enforce safety while allowing for the responsible use of firearms in designated areas.
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SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version CHAPTERVIRGINIA 1247ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER An Act to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-915 and 15.2-915.5 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal § 15.2-915.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to control of firearms by localities.
[S 35] Approved April 22, 2020 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
View plain text versions (6)
- Enrolled Reenrolled bill text (SB35ER2) html April 22, 2020
- Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1247) View text Current html April 22, 2020
- Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB35ER) View text html March 05, 2020
- Committee Substitute Engrossed by House - committee substitute with amendment SB35H1 html February 21, 2020
- Committee Substitute Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB35S1 html January 13, 2020
- Impact statement from DHCD/CLG (SB35) View text html November 18, 2019
Action History
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Enacted, Chapter 1247 (effective 7/1/20)
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Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
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Signed by President as reenrolled
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Reenrolled bill text (SB35ER2)
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Reenrolled
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Governor's recommendation adopted
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VOTE: (48-Y 44-N)
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House concurred in Governor's recommendation (48-Y 44-N)
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Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N)
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Governor's recommendation received by Senate
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Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020
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Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 12, 2020
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Signed by President
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Signed by Speaker
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Enrolled
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House substitute with amendment agreed to by Senate (21-Y 17-N)
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Reconsideration of House substitute with amendment agreed to by Senate (36-Y 0-N)
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Title replaced 20108812D-H1
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House substitute with amendment agreed to by Senate (22-Y 16-N)
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VOTE: Passage (53-Y 46-N)
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Passed House with substitute with amendment (53-Y 46-N)
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Engrossed by House - committee substitute with amendment SB35H1
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Amendment by Delegate Price agreed to
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Committee substitute agreed to 20108812D-H1
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Passed by temporarily
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Read third time
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Read second time
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Reported from Public Safety with substitute (13-Y 9-N)
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Committee substitute printed 20108812D-H1
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Referred to Committee on Public Safety
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Read first time
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House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
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Placed on Calendar
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Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N)
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Ruling of Chair Sustained (21-Y 19-N)
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Chair rules that bill does not violate the single object rule
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Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB35S1
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Committee substitute agreed to 20105646D-S1
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Reading of substitute waived
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Read second time
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Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
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Impact statement from DHCD (SB35)
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Impact statement from DHCD/CLG (SB35)
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Committee substitute printed 20105646D-S1
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Incorporates SB506 (Edwards)
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Incorporates SB505 (Edwards)
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Incorporates SB450 (Edwards)
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Incorporates SB615 (Deeds)
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Reported from Judiciary with substitute (9-Y 5-N)
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Moved from Courts of Justice to Judiciary due to a change of the committee name
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Referred to Committee on the Judiciary
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Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20100476D
Sponsors
- Scott A. Surovell · Primary
- Barbara A. Favola · Cosponsor
- R. Creigh Deeds · Cosponsor
- Jennifer B. Boysko · Cosponsor
- Jennifer L. McClellan · Cosponsor
- Joseph D. Morrissey · Cosponsor
- Adam P. Ebbin · Cosponsor
- John S. Edwards · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 140 not signed on · 62 voted No
Sponsors (1)
Co-sponsors (7)
- Barbara A. Favola
- R. Creigh Deeds
- Jennifer B. Boysko
- Jennifer L. McClellan
- Joseph D. Morrissey
- Adam P. Ebbin
- Edwards, John S.
Not signed on (140)
140 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 140 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 21 | 18 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 21 | 18 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 53% | 45% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 47 | 44 | 0 | 8 |
| Total | 47 | 44 | 0 | 8 |
| % of votes cast | 47% | 44% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (99)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 22 | 16 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 22 | 16 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 55% | 40% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 36 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 36 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| % of votes cast | 90% | 0% | 0% | 10% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 21 | 17 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 21 | 17 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 53% | 43% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 52 | 46 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 52 | 46 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 53% | 46% | 0% | 1% |
How each member voted (99)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 59% | 41% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (22)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Alfonso H. Lopez | — | Yea |
| Batten, Amanda E. | — | Nay |
| Bourne, Jeffrey M. | — | Yea |
| Campbell, Ronnie R. | — | Nay |
| Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. | — | Yea |
| Coyner, Carrie E. | — | Nay |
| Dan I. Helmer | — | Yea |
| Davis, Glenn R. | — | Nay |
| Fariss, C. Matthew | — | Nay |
| Jenkins, Clinton L. | — | Yea |
| Joshua G. Cole | — | Yea |
| Kory, Kaye | — | Yea |
| Levine, Mark H. | — | Yea |
| Marcia S. "Cia" Price | — | Yea |
| Patrick A. Hope | — | Yea |
| Plum, Kenneth R. | — | Yea |
| Robinson, Roxann L. | — | Nay |
| Rush, Nick | — | Nay |
| Sam Rasoul | — | Yea |
| Shelly A. Simonds | — | Yea |
| Thomas C. Wright, Jr. | — | Nay |
| Tony O. Wilt | — | Nay |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 21 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 21 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 53% | 48% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Barker, George L. | — | Yea |
| Bell, John J. | — | Yea |
| Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" | — | Nay |
| Chase, Amanda F. | — | Nay |
| Cosgrove, John A., Jr. | — | Nay |
| Dunnavant, Siobhan S. | — | Nay |
| Edwards, John S. | — | Yea |
| Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. | — | Nay |
| Howell, Janet D. | — | Yea |
| Kiggans, Jennifer A. | — | Nay |
| Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. | — | Yea |
| Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" | — | Yea |
| McClellan, Jennifer L. | — | Yea |
| Morrissey, Joseph D. | — | Yea |
| Newman, Stephen D. | — | Nay |
| Norment, Thomas K., Jr. | — | Nay |
| Petersen, J. Chapman | — | Yea |
| Ruff, Frank M., Jr. | — | Nay |
| Saslaw, Richard L. | — | Yea |
| Spruill, Lionell, Sr. | — | Yea |
| Vogel, Jill Holtzman | — | Nay |
| Adam P. Ebbin | — | Yea |
| Barbara A. Favola | — | Yea |
| Bill DeSteph | — | Nay |
| Bryce E. Reeves | — | Nay |
| David R. Suetterlein | — | Nay |
| David W. Marsden | — | Yea |
| Ghazala F. Hashmi | — | Yea |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | — | Yea |
| Jeremy S. McPike | — | Yea |
| L. Louise Lucas | — | Yea |
| Mamie E. Locke | — | Yea |
| Mark D. Obenshain | — | Nay |
| Mark J. Peake | — | Nay |
| R. Creigh Deeds | — | Yea |
| Richard H. Stuart | — | Nay |
| Ryan T. McDougle | — | Nay |
| Scott A. Surovell | — | Yea |
| Todd E. Pillion | — | Nay |
| William M. Stanley, Jr. | — | Nay |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 21 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 21 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 53% | 48% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Barker, George L. | — | Yea |
| Bell, John J. | — | Yea |
| Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" | — | Nay |
| Chase, Amanda F. | — | Nay |
| Cosgrove, John A., Jr. | — | Nay |
| Dunnavant, Siobhan S. | — | Nay |
| Edwards, John S. | — | Yea |
| Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. | — | Nay |
| Howell, Janet D. | — | Yea |
| Kiggans, Jennifer A. | — | Nay |
| Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. | — | Yea |
| Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" | — | Yea |
| McClellan, Jennifer L. | — | Yea |
| Morrissey, Joseph D. | — | Yea |
| Newman, Stephen D. | — | Nay |
| Norment, Thomas K., Jr. | — | Nay |
| Petersen, J. Chapman | — | Yea |
| Ruff, Frank M., Jr. | — | Nay |
| Saslaw, Richard L. | — | Yea |
| Spruill, Lionell, Sr. | — | Yea |
| Vogel, Jill Holtzman | — | Nay |
| Adam P. Ebbin | — | Yea |
| Barbara A. Favola | — | Yea |
| Bill DeSteph | — | Nay |
| Bryce E. Reeves | — | Nay |
| David R. Suetterlein | — | Nay |
| David W. Marsden | — | Yea |
| Ghazala F. Hashmi | — | Yea |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | — | Yea |
| Jeremy S. McPike | — | Yea |
| L. Louise Lucas | — | Yea |
| Mamie E. Locke | — | Yea |
| Mark D. Obenshain | — | Nay |
| Mark J. Peake | — | Nay |
| R. Creigh Deeds | — | Yea |
| Richard H. Stuart | — | Nay |
| Ryan T. McDougle | — | Nay |
| Scott A. Surovell | — | Yea |
| Todd E. Pillion | — | Nay |
| William M. Stanley, Jr. | — | Nay |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 39 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 39 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 98% | 0% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (40)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Barker, George L. | — | Yea |
| Bell, John J. | — | Yea |
| Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" | — | Yea |
| Chase, Amanda F. | — | Yea |
| Cosgrove, John A., Jr. | — | Yea |
| Dunnavant, Siobhan S. | — | Yea |
| Edwards, John S. | — | Yea |
| Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. | — | Yea |
| Howell, Janet D. | — | Yea |
| Kiggans, Jennifer A. | — | Yea |
| Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. | — | Yea |
| Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" | — | Yea |
| McClellan, Jennifer L. | — | Yea |
| Morrissey, Joseph D. | — | Yea |
| Newman, Stephen D. | — | Yea |
| Norment, Thomas K., Jr. | — | Yea |
| Petersen, J. Chapman | — | Yea |
| Ruff, Frank M., Jr. | — | Yea |
| Saslaw, Richard L. | — | Yea |
| Spruill, Lionell, Sr. | — | Yea |
| Vogel, Jill Holtzman | — | Yea |
| Adam P. Ebbin | — | Yea |
| Barbara A. Favola | — | Yea |
| Bill DeSteph | — | Yea |
| Bryce E. Reeves | — | Yea |
| David R. Suetterlein | — | Yea |
| David W. Marsden | — | Yea |
| Ghazala F. Hashmi | — | Yea |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | — | Yea |
| Jeremy S. McPike | — | Yea |
| L. Louise Lucas | — | Yea |
| Mamie E. Locke | — | Yea |
| Mark D. Obenshain | — | Yea |
| Mark J. Peake | — | Yea |
| R. Creigh Deeds | — | Yea |
| Richard H. Stuart | — | Yea |
| Ryan T. McDougle | — | Yea |
| Scott A. Surovell | — | Yea |
| Todd E. Pillion | — | Yea |
| William M. Stanley, Jr. | — | Not Voting |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 64% | 36% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (14)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Edwards, John S. | — | Yea |
| Saslaw, Richard L. | — | Yea |
| Norment, Thomas K., Jr. | — | Nay |
| Petersen, J. Chapman | — | Yea |
| Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" | — | Nay |
| Morrissey, Joseph D. | — | Yea |
| McClellan, Jennifer L. | — | Yea |
| Jennifer B. Boysko | — | Yea |
| L. Louise Lucas | — | Yea |
| Mark D. Obenshain | — | Nay |
| R. Creigh Deeds | — | Yea |
| Richard H. Stuart | — | Nay |
| Ryan T. McDougle | — | Nay |
| Scott A. Surovell | — | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 35 do?
- Control of firearms by localities; permitted events. Authorizes any locality by ordinance to prohibit the possession or carrying of firearms, ammunition, or components or any combination thereof in (i) any building, or part thereof, owned or used by such locality for governmental purposes; (ii) any public park owned by the locality; (iii) any recreation or community center facility; or (iv) any public street, road, alley, sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit. Provisions limiting the authority of localities and state governmental entities to bring lawsuits against certain firearms manufacturers and others are also repealed. The bill also provides that any firearm received by the locality pursuant to a gun buy-back program shall be destroyed by the locality unless the person surrendering such firearm requests in writing that such surrendered firearm be sold. The bill contains technical amendments. This bill incorporates SB 450, SB 505, SB 506, and SB 615. This bill is identical to HB 421.
- Who sponsors SB 35?
- SB 35 is sponsored by Scott A. Surovell, Barbara A. Favola, R. Creigh Deeds, Jennifer B. Boysko, Jennifer L. McClellan, Joseph D. Morrissey, Adam P. Ebbin, and Edwards, John S..
- What is the current status of SB 35?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 18, 2019. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 35?
- Track SB 35 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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