Weapons; possession prohibited in hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.
Summary
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 HB 229.
Bill status
vetoed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2026
Vetoed
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 8, 2026
Vetoed Apr 11, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Courts of Justice Substitute
→
Governor Substitute
·
2 edits
MINOR
The bill was revised from a Senate Substitute to a Governor Substitute, primarily changing the list of people exempt from the weapon ban in hospitals. The original version allowed armed security guards and police to carry weapons, while the new version restricts exemptions to sworn law enforcement officers and specific correctional officers, removing the exemption for armed security guards.
Scope change
The scope of the exemption for carrying weapons in hospitals was narrowed to exclude armed security officers.
ELIGIBILITY
The exemption for armed security officers was removed. Previously, armed security officers could legally carry weapons in hospitals; now, only sworn law enforcement officers and specific correctional officers are exempt.
ENFORCEMENT
The definition of who is exempt from the prohibition was altered to align with specific statutory definitions for law enforcement and correctional officers, rather than a broader list including security guards.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 5, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026
How they voted
39–0
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 5, 2026
D
Democratic20
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
33
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Apr 11, 2026
Vetoed
Governor's recommendation received by Senate
executive
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB173ER)
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Public Safety (13-Y 7-N)
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Public Safety
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
upper
Jan 8, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Angelia Graves
DDemocratic
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