STATE BILLVA SB 173PASSED

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 HB 229.

Status
Passed
Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date
May 14, 2026
182 days ago
Current chamber
Senate
Session
2026 Regular Session
VA SB 173 · PassedMay 14

Follow the legislation that affects what you sell.

Get started free

Free account · 30-second setup · No credit card

What it means for vendors

Civic IQ reads each bill for what it would fund, require or change for the agencies that buy.

Bill details

Last action
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1109) · May 14, 2026

Sponsor

AWAngelia Williams GravesSenator · Democrat · SD-021Primary sponsor

Bill history

Newest first.

May 14, 2026Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1109)
May 14, 2026Approved by Governor-Chapter 1109 (effective 7/1/2026)
Apr 22, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026
Apr 22, 2026Communicated to GovernorSenate
Apr 22, 2026Passed by for the day (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Senate
Apr 13, 2026Substitute bill reprinted 26110156DSenate
Apr 11, 2026Governor's recommendation received by Senate
Mar 10, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Show 30 earlier actions
Mar 10, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026Senate
Feb 18, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate
Feb 18, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse
Feb 18, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB173)Senate
Feb 18, 2026Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB173ER)Senate
Feb 18, 2026EnrolledSenate
Feb 16, 2026Passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)House
Feb 16, 2026Read third timeHouse
Feb 15, 2026Read second timeHouse
Feb 13, 2026Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N)House
Feb 12, 2026Referred to Committee on Public SafetyHouse
Feb 12, 2026Read first timeHouse
Feb 12, 2026Placed on CalendarHouse
Feb 9, 2026Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Senate
Feb 6, 2026Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Senate
Feb 6, 2026Courts of Justice Substitute agreed toSenate
Feb 6, 2026Read second timeSenate
Feb 6, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB173)Senate
Feb 5, 2026Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)Senate
Feb 5, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate
Feb 5, 2026Rules suspendedSenate
Feb 4, 2026Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)Senate
Jan 30, 2026Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/30/2026 1:45 pm)Senate
Jan 28, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB173)Senate
Jan 28, 2026Committee substitute printed 26106282D-S1Senate
Jan 26, 2026Senate committee offeredSenate
Jan 26, 2026Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)Senate
Jan 12, 2026Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/12/2026 11:30 am)Senate
Jan 8, 2026Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeSenate
Jan 8, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105103DSenate

Recorded votes

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)Jan 26, 2026 · Senate · 9 yea · 5 nayPassed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)Feb 4, 2026 · Senate · 10 yea · 5 nayPassed
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Feb 5, 2026 · Senate · 40 yea · 0 nayPassed
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Feb 9, 2026 · Senate · 21 yea · 19 nayPassed
Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N)Feb 13, 2026 · House · 13 yea · 7 nayPassed
Passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)Feb 16, 2026 · House · 63 yea · 35 nayPassed
Passed by for the day (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Apr 22, 2026 · Senate · 21 yea · 18 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.

Work in government? Get Civic IQ free →

Start finding government buyers today.
It's free.

B2G and SLED sales intelligence. Surface government procurement signals from 100,000+ state, local, and education agencies months before the RFP.

Get started free

No credit card required