RICHMOND, VA. — A controversial proposal that would have imposed a $500 excise tax on firearm suppressors in Virginia has been unanimously tabled by a House Finance Subcommittee during the 2026 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly.
House Bill 207, introduced by Delegate Karen Keys-Gamarra, sought to create a new chapter in Title 58.1 of the Code of Virginia establishing a firearm suppressor tax. The measure would have imposed a $500 tax per retail sale of any firearm suppressor by a firearms dealer, effective July 1, 2026. Revenue collected from the tax would have been directed to the state’s general fund.
According to the Virginia Legislative Information System, HB207 was referred to the House Committee on Finance and assigned to Finance Subcommittee No. 2. On February 10, 2026, the subcommittee voted 10 to 0 to lay the bill on the table, effectively halting its progress for the session. The bill remains listed as “In Committee” following the unanimous recommendation to table.
The proposed legislation defined a firearm suppressor as any device or combination of parts designed to silence, muffle, or diminish the report of a firearm. The tax would have applied in addition to all other existing taxes and fees and would not have included any dealer discount. Sales to federal, state, or local agencies and to law enforcement officers for official use were exempt under the bill.
The American Suppressor Association confirmed its involvement in opposing the measure. In a video statement posted from Richmond, ASA President Knox Williams said he had just left the House Finance Subcommittee hearing where testimony was presented regarding HB207.
Williams stated that the organization worked alongside other groups to provide expert testimony addressing the hearing and safety aspects of suppressors. Following the hearing, the subcommittee voted unanimously to table the bill.
According to Williams, tabling the bill means that, for all intents and purposes this session, there will not be a state-level $500 tax imposed on suppressors in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He also thanked committee members for the unanimous vote.
Suppressors remain legal to own in Virginia under federal and state law, subject to compliance with the National Firearms Act and applicable regulations. The proposed state tax would have added a significant additional cost at the point of retail sale.
With the subcommittee’s 10 to 0 vote, HB207 is effectively stalled for the 2026 legislative session unless revived through further legislative action.
For Virginia gun owners and prospective first-time suppressor buyers, the tabling of HB207 preserves the current legal and tax framework. Supporters of the measure’s defeat argue that suppressors are safety devices designed to reduce noise and mitigate hearing damage for lawful firearm users. The outcome underscores how coordinated testimony and engagement in the legislative process can influence firearm policy at the state level.
