Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB 173
Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Angelia Williams Graves (Democratic)
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 HB 229.
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 4:19 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 13, 2026 House | Reported from Public Safety | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 9, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 5, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 4, 2026 Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Jan 26, 2026 Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Jan 22, 2026 Senate | Stricken at request of Patron in Education and Health | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Apr 13, 2026 · Senate
Substitute bill reprinted 26110156D - Apr 11, 2026
Governor's recommendation received by Senate - Mar 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 - Mar 10, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 - Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
Signed by President - Feb 18, 2026 · House
Signed by Speaker - Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB173) - Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB173ER) - Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled - Feb 16, 2026 · House
Passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A) - Feb 16, 2026 · House
Read third time - Feb 15, 2026 · House
Read second time - Feb 13, 2026 · House
Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N) - Feb 12, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee on Public Safety - Feb 12, 2026 · House
Read first time - Feb 12, 2026 · House
Placed on Calendar - Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Read second time - Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB173) - Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) - Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Feb 4, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) - Jan 30, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/30/2026 1:45 pm) - Jan 28, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB173) - Jan 28, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute printed 26106282D-S1 - Jan 26, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee offered - Jan 26, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N) - Jan 12, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/12/2026 11:30 am) - Jan 8, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice - Jan 8, 2026 · Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105103D