VA HB229 | 2026 | Regular Regular Session
Status
Completed Legislative Action
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 25)
Status: Passed on May 14 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-05-14 - Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1108)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [HTML]
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 25)
Status: Passed on May 14 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-05-14 - Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1108)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [HTML]
Summary
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. 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.
Title
Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.
Sponsors
Roll Calls
2026-03-09 - Senate - Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Y: 21 N: 19 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-05 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 39 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-03-04 - Senate - Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) (Y: 10 N: 5 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-23 - Senate - Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N) (Y: 9 N: 4 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2026-02-05 - House - Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A) (Y: 63 N: 34 NV: 0 Abs: 3) [PASS]
2026-01-30 - House - Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (15-Y 6-N) (Y: 15 N: 6 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-01-29 - House - Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 3-N) (Y: 7 N: 3 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-05 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 39 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-03-04 - Senate - Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) (Y: 10 N: 5 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-23 - Senate - Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N) (Y: 9 N: 4 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2026-02-05 - House - Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A) (Y: 63 N: 34 NV: 0 Abs: 3) [PASS]
2026-01-30 - House - Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (15-Y 6-N) (Y: 15 N: 6 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-01-29 - House - Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 3-N) (Y: 7 N: 3 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-14 | Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1108) | |
| 2026-05-14 | Approved by Governor-Chapter 1108 (effective 7/1/2026) | |
| 2026-04-23 | Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026 | |
| 2026-04-23 | House | Communicated to Governor |
| 2026-04-23 | House | Passed by for the day |
| 2026-04-22 | House | Passed by for the day |
| 2026-04-15 | House | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/15/2026 7:32 am) |
| 2026-04-11 | Governor's recommendation received by House | |
| 2026-03-25 | Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 | |
| 2026-03-25 | House | Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026 |
| 2026-03-17 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229) |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Signed by President |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Signed by Speaker |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB229ER) |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Enrolled |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Read third time |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Rules suspended |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N) |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Engrossed by House - committee substitute |
| 2026-02-04 | House | committee substitute agreed to |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Read second time |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229) |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Read first time |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/2/2026 10:31 am) |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Committee substitute printed 26106607D-H1 |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 6-N) |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) |
| 2026-01-29 | House | House subcommittee offered |
| 2026-01-28 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229) |
| 2026-01-16 | House | Assigned HPS sub: Firearms |
| 2026-01-08 | House | Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/8/2026 5:05 pm) |
| 2026-01-08 | House | Referred to Committee on Public Safety |
| 2026-01-08 | House | Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104503D |
