Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia HB 626
Firearm or explosive material; exemptions, carrying in public institutions of higher education.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Katrina Callsen (Democratic)
Cosponsors (10)
- Kathy K.L. Tran (Democratic)
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic)
- Marty Martinez (Democratic)
- Lily V. Franklin
- Rae Cousins (Democratic)
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic)
- Amy J. Laufer (Democratic)
- Mark C. Downey
- Nicole Cole (Democratic)
- Jessica L. Anderson
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED
Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square or building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; exemptions; public institutions of higher education; penalty. Limits the exemption from the prohibition on the carrying of any firearm or explosive material within any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or agency thereof or any office where employees of the Commonwealth or any agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties that currently applies to any property owned or operated by a public institution of higher education to instead apply to any individual within a building owned or operated by a public institution of higher education who possesses a weapon as part of such public institution of higher education's curriculum or activities or as part of any organization authorized by such public institution of higher education to conduct its programs or activities within such building, as such uses are approved through the law-enforcement or public safety unit of such institution. This bill is identical to SB 272.
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 26, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 25, 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 | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Jan 29, 2026 House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Apr 13, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0643) - Apr 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 643 (effective 7/1/2026) - Mar 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 - Mar 10, 2026 · House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 - Mar 6, 2026 · Senate
Signed by President - Mar 6, 2026 · House
Signed by Speaker - Mar 6, 2026 · House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB626) - Mar 6, 2026 · House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB626ER) - Mar 6, 2026 · House
Enrolled - Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) - Feb 27, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day - Feb 27, 2026 · Senate
Read third time - Feb 26, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Feb 26, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 26, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Feb 25, 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
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB626) - Feb 5, 2026 · House
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A) - Feb 4, 2026 · House
Read second time and engrossed - Feb 3, 2026 · House
Read first time - Jan 30, 2026 · House
Reported from Public Safety (15-Y 6-N) - Jan 29, 2026 · House
Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N) - Jan 27, 2026 · House
Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms - Jan 13, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee on Public Safety - Jan 13, 2026 · House
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/13/2026 3:34 pm) - Jan 13, 2026 · House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105402D