Firearms Subcommittee

Thursday, January 22, 2026·1h 59m·▶ Watch / Listen

Virginia's Firearms Subcommittee took action on several bills — continuing HB 623 (forfeiture; Commonwealth's Attorney petition to return weapons) to 2027 by voice vote and passing HB 702 (firearm give-back programs) by for the day by voice vote, with limited action expected the following week — while reporting only HB 101 (online CHP applications) on a 21-1 vote, after which the subcommittee adjourned.

Key Actions

·HB 623 – Forfeiture; Commonwealth's Attorney Petition to Return WeaponsNo Vote

+ 3 more actions

Controversies

HB 623 – Whether existing statute already permits the commonwealth's attorney to petition for return of seized weapons

Delegate Helmer stated 'I don't actually see anything in the statute as written today that prevents the common laws attorney from doing this,' while Delegate Cherry responded that his commonwealth's attorney has 'at least three examples where he has tried to petition a court and three judges have told him he does not have that right as the code is written.' Greg Collins explained courts read legislative intent as requiring only the property owner to petition, and 'I can't give Notice to myself.'

+ 5 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“Basically what happens is when I file the petition with the court, the court reads the legislative intent as that it's only the owner of that property that can do it because it says notice with the. To the commonwealth. I can't give Notice to myself. And so the court has consistently ruled against us in trying to return property.”
Greg Collins, Commonwealth's Attorney, City of Colonial Heights — Collins was explaining why HB 623 is needed — under the current forfeiture statute, courts have ruled three times that only the property owner, not the commonwealth's attorney, can petition for return of a seized weapon, preventing him from proactively returning victims' guns.

+ 4 more quotes

Votes

HB 540 – Motion to pass by indefinitely (Delegate Helmer)Passed

HB 101 – Motion to report (Delegate Helmer)No Vote

HB 106 – Motion to pass by indefinitely (Delegate Helmer; substitute to Delegate Wilt's motion to report)Passed

HB 691 – Motion to pass by indefinitely (Delegate Helmer)Passed

HB 692 – Motion to lay on the tableFailed

HB 696 – Motion to pass by indefinitely (Delegate Helmer; substitute to Delegate Wilt's motion to report)Passed

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TranscriptPreview

Subcommittee on Firearms will come to order. Good afternoon, everyone. Just grab my little handy dandy notes right here. Awesome. Good afternoon and welcome to the Public Safety Subcommittee on Firearms. My name is Adarius Clark, delegate representing the 84th district. We will be hearing a large number of bills this in this committee this session, and we will have decorum and respect all parties when giving testimony. We will respect all members of this committee. Please be reminded that the committee moves by motion and that all dialogue goes through the chair. I ran down here, y'. All. I'm sorry. I'm out of breath trying to catch up. In order to keep this committee moving in a timely manner, all testimony will be in blocks. So please be mindful of the time that you take to testify, because other people may also want to speak. So just be mindful. Both sides will get five minutes of support and five minutes for opposition, and then the same online as well. So please be mindful that someone does want to speak. After you. Awesome. Now we'll introduce the committee. It will start to my far right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good…

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