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 SB 173.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 15Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/15/2026 7:32 am)Latest
- Apr 11Governor's recommendation received by HouseMinor
- Mar 25Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 25Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026Minor
- Mar 17Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)
- Mar 14Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 14Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 14Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB229ER)Major
- Mar 14EnrolledMinor
- Mar 9Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Read third timeMinor
- Mar 6Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Mar 5Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 5Rules suspended
- Mar 4Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 6Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Feb 6Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 5Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 4Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 4committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 4Read second timeMinor
- Feb 3Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)
- Feb 3Read first timeMinor
- Feb 2Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/2/2026 10:31 am)
- Feb 2Committee substitute printed 26106607D-H1Major
- Jan 30Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Public Safety with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 29Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)Major
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 29House subcommittee offered
- Jan 28Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)
- Jan 16Assigned HPS sub: FirearmsMinor
- Jan 8Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/8/2026 5:05 pm)
- Jan 8Referred to Committee on Public SafetyMinor
- Jan 8Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104503DIntroduced