HB626Introduced in the House of Delegates
Firearm or explosive material; exemptions, carrying in public institutions of higher education.
Introduced by Katrina Callsen, District 54
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
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.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0643)
April 13, 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 2, 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
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | No |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | No |
| Chris Head | 3 | No |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | No |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | No |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | No |
| William Stanley | 7 | No |
| Mark Peake | 8 | No |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105402D
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/13/2026 3:34 pm)
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms
Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N)
Reported from Public Safety (15-Y 6-N)
Read first time
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB626)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N)
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed by for the day
Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB626ER)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB626)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 643 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0643)
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