# Virginia SB272: Firearm or explosive material; exemptions, carrying in public institutions of higher education. Virginia SB272, Firearm or explosive material; exemptions, carrying in public institutions of higher education., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0644)) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB272-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB272 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Firearm or explosive material; exemptions, carrying in public institutions of higher education. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-12 - Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0644) - Sponsor: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 8 (156 yes, 71 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## 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. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Cadets can carry weapons during state ceremonies: benefit, low. Cadets in a corps recognized by a public college or university can carry firearms or explosive materials during official Virginia ceremonies. They must be performing their official duties. The exception covers the Capitol, Capitol Square and surrounding areas, and state-owned or leased buildings. I… - Weapons allowed for approved public college activities: benefit, low. People can possess weapons in buildings owned or operated by public colleges or universities for approved classes or activities. Approval goes through the school's law-enforcement or public-safety unit. Organizations can also hold approved programs there when the school authorizes them to possess w… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-16 | House | Passed House | pass | 63 | 35 | | | 2026-02-13 | House | Reported from Public Safety | pass | 13 | 7 | | | 2026-02-09 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 | | | 2026-02-06 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-04 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 5 | | | 2026-01-26 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 9 | 5 | | ## Actions (28) - 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0644) (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 644 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB272) (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB272ER) (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-02-16: Passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-16: Read third time (House) - 2026-02-15: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-13: Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N) (House) - 2026-02-12: Referred to Committee on Public Safety (House) - 2026-02-12: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-12: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-02-09: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB272) (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N) (Senate) - 2026-01-14: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/14/2026 6:52 pm) (Senate) - 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate) - 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100667D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221454.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221453.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-02-18: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1168691.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1168690.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087053.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087052.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/1221454.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221453.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1168691.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1168690.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087053.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087052.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) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB272-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).