HB 626 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

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

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 SB 272.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 2 edits
MINOR
This bill converts the legislative text from a draft format to the official 'Chaptered' status, indicating it has been signed into law. The substantive legal content regarding firearm restrictions in Capitol Square remains identical, with no changes to penalties, exemptions, or definitions.
Scope change
No change in the scope of the law; the bill now has the force of law.
TECHNICAL

Removed draft session headers and replaced them with official chapter information, including the chapter number (643) and the approval date (April 13, 2026).

Adjusted line breaks and spacing to conform to the standard layout of official Virginia Acts of Assembly.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 26, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 26, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
12
Committee
7
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 643 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB626ER)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N)
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Public Safety (15-Y 6-N)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N)
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Committee
Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
lower
1 primary · 7 co-sponsors

Sponsors