The General Assembly Week 5 Wrap Up

Dear Friends,

We are approaching the midpoint of the 2026 General Assembly session, commonly referred to as “Crossover,” when each chamber must complete work on its own bills before they move to the other body.

This week, I am pleased to report on several of my bills that have cleared the Senate — each focused on protecting those who cannot always protect themselves.

Protecting Nursing Home Residents – SB535
SB535 strengthens protections for nursing home residents and holds facilities accountable for neglect and abuse. Our seniors deserve dignity, safety, and proper care. This bill reinforces those basic standards.(Passed Senate 40-0)

Protecting Children – SB778
SB778 increases safeguards against sexual predators targeting children. It closes gaps in current law and strengthens penalties to ensure predators are held accountable. (Passed Senate 40-0)

Protecting Elders from Financial Exploitation – SB540
SB540 enhances tools to prevent and prosecute financial exploitation of older Virginians. Scammers who prey on seniors’ life savings must face real consequences. (Passed Senate 40-0)

These are common-sense measures rooted in a simple principle: protect the vulnerable and enforce the law.

REDISTRICTING UPDATE: THE FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER

In 2020, Virginians overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment creating a bipartisan redistricting commission to remove partisan map-drawing from the General Assembly.

Now, Democrats are attempting to sidestep the very guardrails voters put in place — including the statutory requirements in § 24.2-304.04 that districts be compact, contiguous, and not drawn to unduly favor a political party.

This effort to dismantle the nonpartisan redistricting system is still being challenged in court.

A Virginia Circuit Court ruled that Democrats violated multiple legal requirements in advancing the constitutional amendment to repeal the commission and held that the referendum should not proceed. That ruling is now on appeal to the Supreme Court of Virginia.

This week, the Supreme Court announced that it will allow the referendum to move forward on April 21. That is not a ruling on the merits. It is a practical decision. Canceling a statewide vote cannot easily be undone. Much like officials allowing a disputed play to run its course before review, the Court is permitting the process to continue while it considers the legal issues.

That means Virginians will go to the polls on April 21 to vote on whether to undo the bipartisan redistricting reform they overwhelmingly approved in 2020 — even though the legality of how this amendment was advanced remains under active review.

On April 21, Virginians will decide whether to preserve the reform they approved — or return the power to draw congressional districts to partisan politicians in Richmond.

This vote matters. It will determine whether the rules are applied fairly to both parties or rewritten when they become inconvenient. I encourage you to study the issue carefully and make your voice heard at the ballot box on April 21.

A WAVE OF OVERREACHING GUN BILLS

This week and last, the Senate considered — and in most cases passed — a series of sweeping gun-control proposals. None of them target criminals. All of them burden law-abiding citizens.

SB763 — 10% Firearms and Ammunition Tax
One bill would impose a 10% tax on all firearms and ammunition — on top of the existing 5% sales tax. This is not a “sin tax.” It is a penalty on responsible gun owners. (Passed Senate 21-19)

SB348 — Mandatory Biometric Safe Storage in Homes
Another proposal would require firearms in homes to be stored in a locked gun safe. The initial version of the bill required storage in biometric safes, despite existing tax credits helping citizens purchase gun safes that would not qualify under the proposed requirements. (Passed Senate 21-19)

SB496 — Unattended Vehicle Storage Mandates
A proposal creates new criminal penalties for firearm storage in unattended vehicles. An amendment requiring containers to be welded or steel-cabled to the vehicle frame failed, but the underlying bill passed. The result is an overly prescriptive law that may discourage honest reporting of stolen firearms if citizens fear they could face prosecution for a violation. (Passed Senate 21-19)

SB27 — Lawsuits Against Manufacturers and Retailers
Another bill would expand lawsuits against firearm manufacturers and sellers when a third party misuses a firearm, inviting litigation against lawful businesses. (Passed Senate 21-19)

SB643 — License to Purchase Any Firearm
A sweeping proposal would require a government-issued license before purchasing any firearm, with fingerprinting, live-fire and “conflict resolution” training, database tracking, and fees estimated between $200 and $300, with renewals every five years. (Pending Senate vote)

SB749 – The “Assault Weapons” Ban
The Senate has passed SB749, banning commonly owned semi-automatic firearms, and the bill is on its way to the House. I spoke in opposition (Link). The legislation criminalizes firearms based largely on cosmetic features — what they look like, not what they do. These firearms fire one round per trigger pull, like many lawful sporting firearms. Banning them will not reduce crime but will penalize law-abiding Virginians. (Passed Senate 21-19)

LOOKING AHEAD

This week, both the House and Senate will release their respective budget proposals. That will tell us a great deal. We will see whether the Governor and her allies intend to live within the multi-billion-dollar surplus Virginians have already provided — or whether the plethora of new tax proposals introduced by Democrats this session quietly reappear in the budgets.

We are also hearing that some of the Democrats most expensive initiatives may be structured so the real costs do not take effect during this two-year budget cycle, but only after the 2027 General Assembly elections. If true, that would mean asking voters to render judgment before the financial consequences ever arrive. Virginians deserve transparency about not only what these proposals cost — but when the bill will actually come due.

A CLEAR CONTRAST

The contrast in priorities is unmistakable.

My Republican colleagues and I are advancing legislation to protect seniors, protect children, and protect constitutional rights. We are fighting to keep taxes low and energy affordable.

Meanwhile, our new Governor and her legislative allies continue to push a polarizing agenda — redrawing congressional districts, expanding government mandates, and advancing gun control proposals that burden law-abiding citizens instead of criminals.

As we move into the second half of session, these debates will intensify. I will continue standing firm for limited government, fiscal responsibility, and the constitutional freedoms that define our Commonwealth.

If you have thoughts, concerns, or suggestions, I want to hear from you. If you are in Richmond during session, please stop by the office.

It is an honor to serve you.

Sincerely,

Mark Obenshain 

Virginia State Senate