Virginia SB 27: Firearm industry members; definitions, standards of responsible conduct, civil liability.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26100568D

SENATE BILL NO. 27

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled November 17, 2025

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 59.1 a chapter numbered 11.2, consisting of sections numbered 59.1-148.5, 59.1-148.6, and 59.1-148.7, relating to firearm industry members; standards of responsible conduct; civil liability.

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Patrons—Carroll Foy, Perry, Salim, Srinivasan and Surovell

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Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 59.1 a chapter numbered 11.2, consisting of sections numbered 59.1-148.5, 59.1-148.6, and 59.1-148.7, as follows:

CHAPTER 11.2.

VIRGINIA FIREARM INDUSTRY STANDARDS OF RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT.

§ 59.1-148.5. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Firearm" means any handgun, shotgun, or rifle that will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material.

"Firearm accessory" means an attachment or device designed or adapted to be inserted into, affixed onto, or used in conjunction with a firearm that is designed, is intended, or functions to alter or enhance the firing capabilities of a firearm, the lethality of the firearm, or a shooter's ability to hold and use a firearm.

"Firearm industry member" means a person engaged in the sale, manufacturing, distribution, importing, or marketing of a firearm-related product.

"Firearm-related product" means a firearm, ammunition, a firearm component, including unfinished frames or receivers, or a firearm accessory that was (i) sold, made, distributed, or marketed in the Commonwealth; (ii) intended to be sold, made, distributed, or marketed in the Commonwealth; or (iii) possessed in the Commonwealth, and it was reasonably foreseeable that the product would be possessed or used in the Commonwealth.

"Firearm trafficker" means a person who acquires, transfers, or attempts to acquire or transfer a firearm for purposes of unlawful commerce.

"Frame" and "receiver" have the same meanings attributed to them in 18 U.S.C. § 921 et seq. and regulations issued pursuant thereto.

"Public nuisance" means a condition that injures, endangers, or threatens to injure or endanger or contributes to the injury or endangerment of the health, safety, peace, comfort, or convenience of others or otherwise constitutes a public nuisance under common law.

"Reasonable controls" means reasonable procedures, safeguards, and business practices that are designed to (i) prevent the sale or distribution of a firearm-related product to a straw purchaser, a firearm trafficker, a person prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, or a person who the firearm industry member has reasonable cause to believe is at substantial risk of using a firearm-related product to harm themselves or unlawfully harm another or of unlawfully possessing or using a firearm-related product; (ii) prevent the loss of a firearm-related product or theft of a firearm-related product from a firearm industry member; (iii) ensure that the firearm industry member complies with all provisions of state and federal law and does not otherwise promote the unlawful manufacture, sale, possession, marketing, or use of a firearm-related product; or (iv) ensure that the firearm industry member does not engage in an act or practice in violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (§ 59.1-196 et seq.).

"Straw purchaser" means an individual who conceals, or intends to conceal, from a person that the purchase of a firearm-related product is being made on behalf of a third party. A "straw purchaser" does not include a bona fide gift to a person who is not prohibited by law from possessing or receiving a firearm-related product. For purposes of this chapter, a gift to a person is not a bona fide gift if the person has offered or given the purchaser a service or thing of value to acquire the firearm-related product for the person.

"Unfinished frame or receiver" means a forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body, or similar item that (i) is designed to or may readily be completed, assembled, or otherwise converted to function as a frame or receiver or (ii) is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed, assembled, or otherwise converted. However, "unfinished frame or receiver" does not include a component designed and intended for use in an antique weapon.

§ 59.1-148.6. Firearm industry standards of responsible conduct; civil liability.

A. A firearm industry member, by conduct unlawful in itself or unreasonable under all the circumstances, may not knowingly or recklessly create, maintain, or contribute to a public nuisance through the sale, manufacturing, importing, or marketing of a firearm-related product.

B. A firearm in