VirginiaSB2722026 Regular SessionSenate

Firearm or explosive material; exemptions, carrying in public institutions of higher education.

Sponsored By: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

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 HB 626.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Who is exempt from the gun ban

Some people are exempt while doing official work. This includes law-enforcement officers, authorized security, active military, and fire marshals with police powers. Cadet corps members at public colleges are exempt during official ceremonies. Off-duty State Police may carry in Capitol Square. Retired State Police may carry there if they do annual firearms training and meet active-officer standards. In state buildings or offices, more exceptions apply. Off-duty State Police and qualified retired officers, and retired officers visiting state-owned or leased gun ranges, are exempt. Certain workers may carry while on duty, including bail bondsmen, Corrections and juvenile facility staff, Conservation and Recreation staff, and Wildlife Resources staff. People exempt under courthouse rules may carry into a courthouse. In public college buildings, approved class or activity use is allowed only during those programs and with campus approval. State parks are exempt from the building and office ban. Magistrates may carry while performing official duties.

State lists $50,000 minimum impact

The Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission must record at least $50,000 as this law’s fiscal impact. This reflects possible longer jail or commitment periods. It is a reporting estimate under state law, not a spending appropriation.

No guns in Capitol and state buildings

The law bans carrying guns or explosives in the Capitol of Virginia. It also bans them in Capitol Square and the surrounding area in Richmond. That area is bounded by Bank, Governor, Broad, and Ninth Streets, plus the Bank Street sidewalks from 50 feet west of the Pocahontas Building entrance to 50 feet east of the Capitol entrance. The ban also covers any building the Commonwealth owns or leases, and any office where state employees regularly work. A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Police can seize the gun or explosive, and it is forfeited to the Commonwealth. Signs must be posted along the Capitol Square boundary and at public entrances to covered places. If no sign is at the public entrance, you cannot be convicted unless you had actual notice of the ban.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • R. Creigh Deeds

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 156 • No: 71

House vote 2/16/2026

Passed House

Yes: 63 • No: 35

House vote 2/13/2026

Reported from Public Safety

Yes: 13 • No: 7

Senate vote 2/9/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 19

Senate vote 2/6/2026

Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/5/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/5/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/4/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 10 • No: 5

Senate vote 1/26/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 9 • No: 5

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0644)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 644 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026Senate
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB272)

    2/18/2026Senate
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB272ER)

    2/18/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    2/18/2026Senate
  8. Signed by President

    2/18/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    2/18/2026House
  10. Passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)

    2/16/2026House
  11. Read third time

    2/16/2026House
  12. Read second time

    2/15/2026House
  13. Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N)

    2/13/2026House
  14. Referred to Committee on Public Safety

    2/12/2026House
  15. Read first time

    2/12/2026House
  16. Placed on Calendar

    2/12/2026House
  17. Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    2/9/2026Senate
  18. Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

    2/6/2026Senate
  19. Read second time

    2/6/2026Senate
  20. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB272)

    2/5/2026Senate
  21. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/5/2026Senate
  22. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/5/2026Senate
  23. Rules suspended

    2/5/2026Senate
  24. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

    2/4/2026Senate
  25. Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)

    1/26/2026Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation