Bill Commons

VA HB 229

vetoed

Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did VA HB 229 pass?

No. VA HB 229 passed the legislature but was vetoed on 2026-04-15. Latest recorded action (2026-04-15): Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/15/2026 7:32 am)

What is VA HB 229 about?

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.

Who sponsors VA HB 229?

Phil M. Hernandez is the primary sponsor of VA HB 229, joined by 24 cosponsors.

Description

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.

Introduced
2026-01-08
Latest action
2026-04-15 — Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/15/2026 7:32 am)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Phil M. Hernandezprimary
  • Kathy K.L. Trancosponsor
  • Irene Shincosponsor
  • Briana D. Sewellcosponsor
  • Holly M. Seiboldcosponsor
  • Marcia S. "Cia" Pricecosponsor
  • Adele Y. McClurecosponsor
  • Marty Martinezcosponsor
  • Michelle Lopes Maldonadocosponsor
  • Amy J. Laufercosponsor
  • Karen Keys-Gamarracosponsor
  • Patrick A. Hopecosponsor
  • Vivian E. Wattscosponsor
  • Dan I. Helmercosponsor
  • Elizabeth R. Guzmancosponsor
  • Debra D. Gardnercosponsor
  • Michael B. Fegganscosponsor
  • Rae Cousinscosponsor
  • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowlercosponsor
  • Nadarius E. Clarkcosponsor
  • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegiecosponsor
  • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parkercosponsor
  • Bonita G. Anthonycosponsor
  • Jessica L. Andersoncosponsor
  • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.cosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-08

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104503D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2026-01-08

    Referred to Committee on Public Safety

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-01-08

    Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/8/2026 5:05 pm)

  4. 2026-01-16

    Assigned HPS sub: Firearms

    referral-committee

  5. 2026-01-28

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)

  6. 2026-01-29

    House subcommittee offered

  7. 2026-01-29

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)

    substitution

  8. 2026-01-30

    Reported from Public Safety with substitute (15-Y 6-N)

    committee-passage

  9. 2026-02-02

    Committee substitute printed 26106607D-H1

    substitution

  10. 2026-02-02

    Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/2/2026 10:31 am)

  11. 2026-02-03

    Read first time

    reading-1

  12. 2026-02-03

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)

  13. 2026-02-04

    Read second time

    reading-2

  14. 2026-02-04

    committee substitute agreed to

    substitution

  15. 2026-02-04

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    substitution

  16. 2026-02-05

    Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  17. 2026-02-06

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  18. 2026-02-06

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    referral-committee

  19. 2026-02-23

    Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N)

    committee-passage

  20. 2026-03-04

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

    committee-passage

  21. 2026-03-05

    Rules suspended

  22. 2026-03-05

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  23. 2026-03-05

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  24. 2026-03-06

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  25. 2026-03-09

    Read third time

    reading-3

  26. 2026-03-09

    Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    passage

  27. 2026-03-14

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  28. 2026-03-14

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB229ER)

    passage

  29. 2026-03-14

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  30. 2026-03-14

    Signed by President

    passage

  31. 2026-03-17

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB229)

  32. 2026-03-25

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  33. 2026-03-25

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

    executive-receipt

  34. 2026-04-11

    Governor's recommendation received by House

    executive-veto-line-item

  35. 2026-04-15

    Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/15/2026 7:32 am)

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

    2026-01-29 · pass · 7-3

    Member-level votes (10)
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

  • Reported from Public Safety with substitute

    2026-01-30 · pass · 15-6

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Michael J. Webert: not voting
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Eric Phillips: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Karen Hamilton: no

  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-05 · pass · 63-34

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: not voting
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: no
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: not voting
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: no
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: no
    • Justin Pence: no
    • Eric Phillips: no
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

  • Reported from Courts of Justice

    2026-02-23 · pass · 9-4

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: not voting
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: not voting
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes

  • Reported from Finance and Appropriations

    2026-03-04 · pass · 10-5

    Member-level votes (15)
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: no
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-03-05 · pass · 39-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: not voting
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Passage R

    2026-03-09 · pass · 21-19

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Christie New Craig: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB229

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Source and document changesStatus and relationship changes

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