HB229
Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 17, 2026
House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)
Chief Patron:
Phil Hernandez (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. 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 ... (More) 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 exceptions to the prohibition. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/08/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104503D
- 01/08/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety
- 01/08/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/8/2026 5:05 pm)
- 01/16/2026 - House: Assigned HPS sub: Firearms
- 01/27/2026 - House: Placed on Public Safety Agenda
- 01/28/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)
- 01/29/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 01/29/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)
- 01/29/2026 - House: Placed on Public Safety Agenda
- 01/30/2026 - House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 6-N)
- 02/02/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26106607D-H1
- 02/02/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/2/2026 10:31 am)
- 02/03/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/03/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)
- 02/04/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/04/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 02/04/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 02/05/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 02/23/2026 - Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N)
- 02/23/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/14/2026 - House: Enrolled
- 03/14/2026 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB229ER)
- 03/14/2026 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/14/2026 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/17/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)
