All Roll Calls
Yes: 156 • No: 71
Sponsored By: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic)
Became Law
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.
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3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
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.
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.
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.
R. Creigh Deeds
Democratic • Senate
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
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
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0644)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 644 (effective 7/1/2026)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB272)
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB272ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)
Read third time
Read second time
Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N)
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
Read first time
Placed on Calendar
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
Read second time
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB272)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Rules suspended
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
Chaptered
4/13/2026
Enrolled
2/18/2026
Introduced
1/12/2026
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