Virginia Governor Signs 25 Bills, Including Marijuana Resentencing and Assault Weapons Ban

On May 15, 2026, Virginia’s governor enacted 25 new laws passed during the 2026 General Assembly session. The package addresses criminal justice, public safety, immigration, and election integrity.

More than 1,000 Virginians remain incarcerated or under community supervision for marijuana convictions that are no longer chargeable since 2021. The new law creates an automatic hearing for those individuals to seek sentence reduction unless the state shows it would not serve public safety. Governor Spanberger stated that firearms designed to cause maximum casualties have no place on streets and that the assault‑weapon ban protects families and supports law enforcement. The bill bars future sale and manufacture of such firearms and limits magazines to 15 rounds. Virginia will adopt a consistent, transparent process for voter‑roll maintenance. It specifies required identification data, outlines how officials review that data, and mandates that registrars notify voters before canceling a registration.

The resentencing measure could reduce the state’s supervised population by over a thousand people, potentially lowering correctional costs. The assault‑weapon ban aims to limit access to high‑capacity firearms, a move supporters say may decrease mass‑shooting risk. The voter‑roll procedure seeks to improve accuracy while providing notice to affected individuals, which could influence confidence in election administration. Observers will watch how officials implement the resentencing hearings, whether legal challenges arise against the weapons ban, and how the updated voter‑roll process impacts upcoming elections.