Subcommittee adopts substitute to conform SB 643 to HB 1525, reports bill 6–3
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Summary
The House Public Safety subcommittee voted 6–3 to conform Senate Bill 643 to House Bill 1525. The measure would bar persons under 18 from knowingly possessing or transporting handguns or assault firearms and restrict certain purchases by those nearing 21; violations would be a Class 1 misdemeanor.
The House Public Safety subcommittee on firearms voted to report Senate Bill 643, with a substitute conforming it to House Bill 1525, on a 6–3 roll call.
Delegate Helm presented the bill to the subcommittee, explaining that SB 643 "prohibits any person younger than 18 years of age from knowingly intentionally possessing or transporting a handgun or assault firearm within the commonwealth" and that it "prohibits any person nearing the 21 years of age with certain exceptions ... purchasing a handgun or assault firearm in the commonwealth." He added the proposal incorporates language from Senate Bill 797 and that a violation would be a Class 1 misdemeanor.
A motion to conform SB 643 to HB 1525 was made and seconded; the committee opened the electronic scoring board and the substitute passed by a vote of 6 to 3. The Chair said the bill was conformed in the Senate and House and is likely to proceed to a conference committee to reconcile House and Senate language.
No formal fiscal impact discussion specific to SB 643 was recorded in the subcommittee transcript; the committee moved on after the vote.
The bill will proceed to the next legislative steps through the House process as reported by the subcommittee.
