# Virginia SB360: Nitrous oxide; sale, distribution, etc., prohibited, penalties.

Virginia SB360, Nitrous oxide; sale, distribution, etc., prohibited, penalties., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Richard H. Stuart (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0192)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB360-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB360
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Nitrous oxide; sale, distribution, etc., prohibited, penalties.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0192)
- Sponsor: Richard H. Stuart (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (252 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

Distributing nitrous oxide prohibited; penalties. Prohibits the sale or distribution of (i) a device that is designed or intended to deliver a gas containing nitrous oxide through direct inhalation, with exceptions defined in the bill; (ii) nitrous oxide that has, or is marketed as having, the taste or smell of any food or beverage that is distinguishable by an ordinary consumer either prior to or during consumption or use of such nitrous oxide to any person not exempted in the bill; and (iii) a container of nitrous oxide that exceeds eight grams, with exceptions defined in the bill. A violation of such prohibitions is a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill is identical to HB 648.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Eight-gram cap on nitrous containers: cost, low. Sellers cannot sell or offer nitrous oxide containers larger than eight grams to non‑exempt buyers. Exemptions include health care providers; sellers of catering, food‑service, or food‑processing equipment; compressed‑gas suppliers for industrial, manufacturing, or research; higher‑education and re…
- Flavored nitrous oxide sales banned: cost, low. Sellers cannot sell nitrous oxide that has, or is marketed as having, the taste or smell of food or drink to non‑exempt buyers. Examples include fruit, candy, dessert, alcohol, herbs, or spices. Exemptions cover denatured products and businesses that only sell catering or food‑processing equipment,…
- No nitrous devices for minors: cost, low. Sellers cannot sell devices that deliver nitrous oxide for direct inhalation to anyone under 18, except people exempt under subdivision E 1. Sellers must make a diligent age check, including viewing a valid photo ID. If a seller skips the ID check or violates these rules, it is a Class 1 misdemeano…
- Criminal penalties for inhaling chemicals: cost, low. The law makes it illegal to inhale noxious chemical substances to get intoxicated, unless under the direction of a practitioner. Getting someone else to inhale them is also illegal. Inhaling is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Causing or inducing another person is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Richard H. Stuart (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | House | Passed House with substitute Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-18 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-23 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-23 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-21 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (33)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0192) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 192 (Effective - 07/01/2026) (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)
- 2026-02-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB360) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB360ER) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-25: House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Passed House with substitute Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-23: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-23: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-23: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-20: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB360) (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Committee substitute printed 26108201D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-18: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-03: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-01-27: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Engrossed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB360) (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Reported from Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104977D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216658.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216657.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181983.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181982.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-18: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169586.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169585.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089758.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089757.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/1216658.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216657.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181983.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181982.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169586.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169585.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089758.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089757.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-SB360-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).