STATE BILLVA HB 229PASSED

Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.

Commonwealth of Virginia

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.

Status
Passed
Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date
May 14, 2026
182 days ago
Current chamber
House of Delegates
Session
2026 Regular Session
VA HB 229 · PassedMay 14

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Bill details

Last action
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1108) · May 14, 2026

Sponsors

PHPhil HernandezRepresentative · Democrat · HD-094Primary sponsor
JAJessica AndersonRepresentative · Democrat · HD-071
BABonita AnthonyRepresentative · Democrat · HD-092
EBElizabeth Bennett-ParkerSenator · Democrat · SD-005
KCKaren CarnegieRepresentative · Democrat · HD-089
NCNadarius ClarkRepresentative · Democrat · HD-084
KCKelly Convirs-FowlerRepresentative · Democrat · HD-096
RCRae CousinsRepresentative · Democrat · HD-079
Show 17 more sponsors
MFMichael FeggansRepresentative · Democrat · HD-097
DGDebra GardnerRepresentative · Democrat · HD-076
EGElizabeth GuzmanRepresentative · Democrat · HD-031
DHDan HelmerRepresentative · Democrat · HD-010
RHRozia HensonRepresentative · Democrat · HD-019
PHPatrick HopeRepresentative · Democrat · HD-001
KKKaren Keys-GamarraRepresentative · Democrat · HD-007
ALAmy LauferRepresentative · Democrat · HD-055
MMMichelle MaldonadoRepresentative · Democrat · HD-020
MMMarty MartinezRepresentative · Democrat · HD-029
AMAdele McClureRepresentative · Democrat · HD-002
MPMarcia PriceRepresentative · Democrat · HD-085
HSHolly SeiboldRepresentative · Democrat · HD-012
BSBriana SewellRepresentative · Democrat · HD-025
ISIrene ShinRepresentative · Democrat · HD-008
KTKathy TranRepresentative · Democrat · HD-018
VWVivian WattsRepresentative · Democrat · HD-014

Bill history

Newest first.

May 14, 2026Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1108)
May 14, 2026Approved by Governor-Chapter 1108 (effective 7/1/2026)
Apr 23, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026
Apr 23, 2026Communicated to GovernorHouse
Apr 23, 2026Passed by for the dayHouse
Apr 22, 2026Passed by for the dayHouse
Apr 15, 2026Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/15/2026 7:32 am)House
Apr 11, 2026Governor's recommendation received by House
Show 33 earlier actions
Mar 25, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Mar 25, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026House
Mar 17, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)House
Mar 14, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate
Mar 14, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse
Mar 14, 2026Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB229ER)House
Mar 14, 2026EnrolledHouse
Mar 9, 2026Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Senate
Mar 9, 2026Read third timeSenate
Mar 6, 2026Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate
Mar 5, 2026Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate
Mar 5, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate
Mar 5, 2026Rules suspendedSenate
Mar 4, 2026Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)Senate
Feb 23, 2026Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N)Senate
Feb 6, 2026Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeSenate
Feb 6, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)Senate
Feb 5, 2026Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)House
Feb 4, 2026Engrossed by House - committee substituteHouse
Feb 4, 2026committee substitute agreed toHouse
Feb 4, 2026Read second timeHouse
Feb 3, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)House
Feb 3, 2026Read first timeHouse
Feb 2, 2026Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/2/2026 10:31 am)House
Feb 2, 2026Committee substitute printed 26106607D-H1House
Jan 30, 2026Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 6-N)House
Jan 29, 2026Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)House
Jan 29, 2026House subcommittee offeredHouse
Jan 28, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)House
Jan 16, 2026Assigned HPS sub: FirearmsHouse
Jan 8, 2026Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/8/2026 5:05 pm)House
Jan 8, 2026Referred to Committee on Public SafetyHouse
Jan 8, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104503DHouse

Recorded votes

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 3-N)Jan 29, 2026 · House · 7 yea · 3 nayPassed
Reported from Public Safety with amendment(s) (15-Y 6-N)Jan 30, 2026 · House · 15 yea · 6 nayPassed
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)Feb 5, 2026 · House · 63 yea · 34 nayPassed
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N)Feb 23, 2026 · Senate · 9 yea · 4 nayPassed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)Mar 4, 2026 · Senate · 10 yea · 5 nayPassed
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Mar 5, 2026 · Senate · 39 yea · 0 nayPassed
Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Mar 9, 2026 · Senate · 21 yea · 19 nayPassed

Read the bill at the source

This page follows the bill as the legislature records it. For the bill's full text and the official record, use the legislature's own site.

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