# Virginia HB229: Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.

Virginia HB229, Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Phil M. Hernandez (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-14 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1108)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB229-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB229
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-08
- Last action: 2026-05-14, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1108)
- Sponsor: Phil M. Hernandez (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (164 yes, 71 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

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.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Virginia hospital weapon ban and penalties: mixed, low. Virginia law adds weapon restrictions to protect people inside licensed public and private hospitals providing mental health or developmental services. People cannot knowingly and intentionally possess firearms, knives with blades over 3.5 inches, or other dangerous weapons inside these buildings.…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Phil M. Hernandez (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 5 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 9 | 4 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 63 | 34 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Public Safety with substitute | pass | 15 | 6 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 7 | 3 |   |

## Actions (41)

- 2026-05-14: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1108) (Governor)
- 2026-05-14: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1108 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-23: Passed by for the day (House)
- 2026-04-23: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-04-23: Communicated to Governor (House)
- 2026-04-22: Passed by for the day (House)
- 2026-04-15: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/15/2026 7:32 am) (House)
- 2026-04-11: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2026-03-25: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-25: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-17: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229) (House)
- 2026-03-14: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB229ER) (House)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-14: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-09: Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-04: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-02: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/2/2026 10:31 am) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Committee substitute printed 26106607D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-01-29: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229) (House)
- 2026-01-16: Assigned HPS sub: Firearms (House)
- 2026-01-08: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/8/2026 5:05 pm) (House)
- 2026-01-08: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House)
- 2026-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104503D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-05-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225676.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225675.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218714.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218722.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218721.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1208780.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1208779.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105527.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105526.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103786.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103785.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103296.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103295.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083177.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083176.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225676.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225675.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218714.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218722.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218721.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1208780.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1208779.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105527.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105526.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103786.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103785.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103296.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103295.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083177.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083176.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB229-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).