By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—The Death of Operation Choke Point; Massachusetts: A budget bill, H.5377, includes repealing the ban on Sunday hunting; North Carolina: The legislature has convened; New York: Anti-gun legislators have now set their sights on restricting air rifles, pellet guns, and BB guns; Vermont: In the final days of the legislative session, the Democrats are trying to add more anti-gun laws; Virginia: On April 21, Virginia voted by a narrow margin to adopt the new gerrymandered map for the 2026 election. The legislature accepted Gov Spanberger’s amendments to HB1527 and SB727/HB1524, which she quickly signed. Awaiting her decision on whether to sign SB173/HB229 and SB749/HB217. One day after the vote, a Tazewell County circuit judge blocked the certification of a special election referendum.
Trump Administration
The Death of Operation Choke Point
A new final rule issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation removes “reputation risk” from the agencies’ supervisory framework and prohibits regulators from using it as a basis for adverse action against financial institutions. The rule also bars the agencies from requiring, instructing, or encouraging banks to terminate accounts or services based on a customer’s political, social, cultural, or religious views, constitutionally protected speech, or lawful but politically disfavored business activity. The rule was published by the agencies and appears in the Federal Register, with an effective date of June 9.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) was the driving force behind this effort. Over ten years ago, we covered Operation Choke Point, a Department of Justice initiative launched around 2013 during the Obama Administration. Hundreds, if not thousands, of firearms companies were harassed and/or put out of business during that period, as banks refused to issue credit.
After President Trump issued Executive Order 14331, “Guaranteeing Fair Banking for All Americans,” which directed federal banking regulators to address “debanking” based on political, religious, or lawful-business considerations rather than traditional safety-and-soundness risks as the Order required OCC, FDIC, and other agencies to review whether banks were denying or terminating services on those grounds and to report back. The 2025 notice-and-comment rulemaking culminated in the new rule.
Legislatures adjourned sine die:
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
State legislatures not in session: Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas.
Connecticut: The House approved Governor Lamont’s H5043, which bans the future manufacture, sale, and importation of many commonly owned handguns in Connecticut with a vote of 86-64. Despite 15 Democrats joining Republicans in opposition, the vote count did not change the outcome due to the skewed Democrat to Republican ratio. The bill also limits unfinished frames and receivers.
Kentucky: The legislature adjourned.
Nebraska: The Nebraska legislature adjourned.
Massachusetts: A budget bill, H.5377, includes repealing the ban on Sunday hunting.
Mississippi: The legislature adjourned.
North Carolina: The legislature has convened.
New York: Anti-gun lawmakers have now targeted restricting air rifles, pellet guns, and BB guns—S9215 and A10701 have been introduced.
Tennessee: The legislature adjourned.
Vermont: In the final days of the legislative session, the Democrats are using legislative tricks to try to add more anti-gun laws. S.329 is being pushed to be included in H.606, which has already had many anti-Second Amendment measures removed.
Virginia: On April 21, Virginia voted by a narrow margin to adopt the new gerrymandered map for the 2026 election. This makes it highly likely that in November’s election, the Virginia delegation’s makeup could be 9 Democrats and 1 Republican.
On April 22, 2026, the legislature convened and took action on the bills that Governor Spanberger had vetoed. She signed those bills the following day.
The legislature accepted her amendments on the following 2 bills:
HB1527 prohibits anyone under 21, including those who already own a firearm, from possessing any firearms. Spanberger added an emergency clause; it will take effect on July 1, 2026.
SB727/HB1524 prohibits carrying and transporting many common types of firearms on public property. This includes any semiautomatic centerfire rifle or pistol with a fixed magazine capacity of 15 or more rounds.
The legislature did not approve her amendments on the remaining two bills. She can either sign, veto, or let the bills become law without her signature.
SB173/HB229, banning the possession of any weapons in a hospital.
SB749/HB217 bans certain semi-automatic firearms, including many semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns. It prohibits the sale of magazines holding more than 15 rounds and restricts possession by legal adults under age 21.
One day after the vote, a Tazewell County circuit judge blocked the certification of a special election referendum. The legal battle over Virginia’s congressional map escalated Wednesday as the state attorney general’s office announced it would immediately appeal that ruling. The State Supreme Court will ultimately make the final decision.
