Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia HB 229
Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Phil M. Hernandez (Democratic)
Cosponsors (24)
- Vivian E. Watts (Democratic)
- Kathy K.L. Tran (Democratic)
- Irene Shin (Democratic)
- Briana D. Sewell (Democratic)
- Holly M. Seibold (Democratic)
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic)
- Adele Y. McClure (Democratic)
- Marty Martinez (Democratic)
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado
- Amy J. Laufer (Democratic)
- Karen Keys-Gamarra (Democratic)
- Patrick A. Hope (Democratic)
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr. (Democratic)
- Dan I. Helmer (Democratic)
- Elizabeth R. Guzman (Democratic)
- Debra D. Gardner (Democratic)
- Michael B. Feggans (Democratic)
- Rae Cousins (Democratic)
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler (Democratic)
- Nadarius E. Clark (Democratic)
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic)
- Bonita G. Anthony (Democratic)
- Jessica L. Anderson
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED
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.
Text versions
- Introduced
- Firearms Subcommittee Substitute
- Public Safety Substitute
- Enrolled
- Governor Substitute
- Governor's Recommendation
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 4:08 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 9, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 5, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 4, 2026 Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 23, 2026 Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 5, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Jan 30, 2026 House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Jan 29, 2026 House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Apr 15, 2026 · House
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/15/2026 7:32 am) - Apr 11, 2026
Governor's recommendation received by House - Mar 25, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 - Mar 25, 2026 · House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026 - Mar 17, 2026 · House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229) - Mar 14, 2026 · Senate
Signed by President - Mar 14, 2026 · House
Signed by Speaker - Mar 14, 2026 · House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB229ER) - Mar 14, 2026 · House
Enrolled - Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) - Mar 9, 2026 · Senate
Read third time - Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Mar 5, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Mar 5, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) - Mar 5, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Mar 4, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) - Feb 23, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N) - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) - Feb 5, 2026 · House
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A) - Feb 4, 2026 · House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute - Feb 4, 2026 · House
committee substitute agreed to - Feb 4, 2026 · House
Read second time - Feb 3, 2026 · House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229) - Feb 3, 2026 · House
Read first time - Feb 2, 2026 · House
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/2/2026 10:31 am) - Feb 2, 2026 · House
Committee substitute printed 26106607D-H1 - Jan 30, 2026 · House
Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 6-N) - Jan 29, 2026 · House
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) - Jan 29, 2026 · House
House subcommittee offered - Jan 28, 2026 · House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229) - Jan 16, 2026 · House
Assigned HPS sub: Firearms - Jan 8, 2026 · House
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/8/2026 5:05 pm) - Jan 8, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee on Public Safety - Jan 8, 2026 · House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104503D