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HB229Introduced in the House of Delegates

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

Passed

Introduced by Phil Hernandez, District 94

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.

Official description

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.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1108)

May 14, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) · March 9, 2026

21

Yes

19

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3No
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104503D

  2. Referred to Committee on Public Safety

  3. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/8/2026 5:05 pm)

  4. Assigned HPS sub: Firearms

  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)

  6. House subcommittee offered

  7. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)

  8. Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 6-N)

  9. Committee substitute printed 26106607D-H1

  10. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/2/2026 10:31 am)

  11. Read first time

  12. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)

  13. Read second time

  14. committee substitute agreed to

  15. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  16. Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)

  17. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  18. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  19. Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N)

  20. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

  21. Rules suspended

  22. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  23. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  24. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  25. Read third time

  26. Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  27. Enrolled

  28. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB229ER)

  29. Signed by Speaker

  30. Signed by President

  31. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)

  32. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

  33. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  34. Governor's recommendation received by House

  35. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/15/2026 7:32 am)

  36. Passed by for the day

  37. Passed by for the day

  38. Communicated to Governor

  39. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  40. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1108 (effective 7/1/2026)

  41. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1108)

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