SB 881 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Plastic firearms or receivers, unserialized firearms, etc.; transfer, etc., prohibited, penalties.

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, making it unlawful 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, making it unlawful 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 portions of the bill prohibiting unfinished frames or receivers and unserialized firearms have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026; however, the portions 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, 2026.
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2025
Vetoed
May 2025
Introduced Jan 3, 2025 Vetoed May 2, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Governor Substitute Not Adopted Enrolled · 6 edits · Feb 20, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was finalized as an Enrolled Act, moving from a Governor's substitute proposal to official law. It significantly expanded the scope of prohibited items beyond just 'plastic firearms' to include any firearm that cannot be detected by standard airport X-ray machines. The law also added strict new requirements for serializing unfinished frames and receivers, along with specific exemptions for law enforcement, military, and certain non-residents.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from targeting only plastic firearms to covering any nondetectable firearm and adding new prohibitions on unserialized unfinished frames and receivers.
SCOPE

The definition of prohibited items was broadened from just 'plastic firearms' to include any firearm that evades detection by common security screening devices like airport X-rays.

REQUIREMENT

New sections were added requiring all completed or unfinished frames and receivers to be imprinted with a valid serial number before they can be sold or possessed.

DEFINITION

Specific legal definitions were created for terms like 'major component,' 'unfinished frame or receiver,' and 'valid serial number' to clarify enforcement standards.

ENFORCEMENT

New penalties were established, including a Class 1 misdemeanor for first-time violations of the unserialized firearm rules and a Class 4 felony for repeat offenses.

TIMELINE

The law includes staggered effective dates, with most provisions taking effect on January 1, 2026, and the specific unserialized firearm possession ban taking effect on July 1, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY

A comprehensive list of exemptions was added, protecting law enforcement, military personnel, federally licensed gunsmiths, and non-residents traveling with firearms for sporting events.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2025

How they voted

390
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Jan 23, 2025
D Democratic21
20 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
36
Key actions
11
Committee
5
May 2, 2025
Vetoed
Vetoed by Governor
executive
Apr 2, 2025
Vetoed
Senate rejected Governor's recommendation (19-Y 21-N)
upper
Apr 2, 2025
Vetoed
Senate rejected Governor's recommendation (20-Y 20-N)
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Vetoed
Governor's recommendation received by Senate
executive
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB881ER)
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House (49-Y 47-N)
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Public Safety (11-Y 10-N)
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
lower
Jan 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 18-N)
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)
upper
Jan 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Adam Ebbin
Adam Ebbin
DDemocratic
VA
39