SB173
Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Chief Patron:
Angelia Williams Graves (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 certain exceptions to the prohibition. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/08/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105103D
- 01/08/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 01/12/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/12/2026 11:30 am)
- 01/26/2026 - Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
- 01/26/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
- 01/26/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 01/28/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26106282D-S1
- 01/28/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB173)
- 01/30/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/30/2026 1:45 pm)
- 02/04/2026 - Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
- 02/05/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/05/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/05/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB173)
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
- 02/09/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/12/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/12/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/12/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety
- 02/12/2026 - House: Placed on Public Safety Agenda
- 02/13/2026 - House: Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N)
- 02/15/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/16/2026 - House: Read third time
- 02/16/2026 - House: Passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Enrolled
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB173ER)
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB173)
- 02/18/2026 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
- 03/10/2026 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
