VirginiaWeapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.
What it does
Weapons; possession prohibited in a hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to knowingly and intentionally possess in the building of any hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services in the Commonwealth, including an emergency department or other facility rendering emergency medical care, a (i) firearm, (ii) knife with a blade over three and one-half inches, or (iii) other dangerous weapon, including explosives and stun weapons. The bill also provides that notice of such prohibitions shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance of any hospital and that no person shall be convicted of the offense if such notice is not posted, unless such person had actual notice of the prohibitions.
More detail
The bill provides that such firearm, knife, explosive, or weapon shall be subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeited to the Commonwealth and specifies certain exceptions to the prohibition. This bill is identical to HB 229.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Substitute bill reprinted 26110156DLatest
- Apr 11Governor's recommendation received by SenateMinor
- Mar 10Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 10Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026Minor
- Feb 18Signed by PresidentMajor
- Feb 18Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Feb 18Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB173)
- Feb 18Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB173ER)Major
- Feb 18EnrolledMinor
- Feb 16Passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Read third timeMinor
- Feb 15Read second timeMinor
- Feb 13Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Public Safety. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12Referred to Committee on Public SafetyMinor
- Feb 12Read first timeMinor
- Feb 12Placed on Calendar
- Feb 9Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 6Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 6Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
- Feb 6Read second timeMinor
- Feb 6Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB173)
- Feb 5Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 5Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 5Rules suspended
- Feb 4Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 30Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/30/2026 1:45 pm)
- Jan 28Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB173)
- Jan 28Committee substitute printed 26106282D-S1Major
- Jan 26Senate committee offered
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 26Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)Minor
- Jan 22
- Vote recorded Stricken at request of Patron in Education and Health. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 12Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/12/2026 11:30 am)
- Jan 8Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Jan 8Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105103DIntroduced