Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB173: An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-283.3, relating to weapons; possession prohibited in a hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services; penalty.
Status: Chaptered, May 14, 2026
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.
What the bill says
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-283.3, relating to weapons; possession prohibited in a hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services; penalty. [S 173] Approved May 14, 2026 1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 18.2-283.3 as penalty. A. As used in this section: "Developmental services" means the same as that term is defined in § 37.2-100. "Hospital" means a public or private institution licensed pursuant to Chapter 5 (§ 32.1-123 et seq.) of Title 32.1 or Article 2 (§ 37.2-403 et seq.) of Chapter 4 o.
From the enrolled text, May 14, 2026:
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-283.3, relating to weapons; possession prohibited in a hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services; penalty. [S 173] Approved May 14, 2026 1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 18.2-283.3 as penalty. A. As used in this section: "Developmental services" means the same as that term is defined in § 37.2-100. "Hospital" means a public or private institution licensed pursuant to Chapter 5 (§ 32.1-123 et seq.) of Title 32.1 or Article 2 (§ 37.2-403 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 37.2. "Location-restricted knife" means a knife with a blade over three and one-half inches. "Mental health services" means the same as that term is defined in § 37.2-100. B. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly and intentionally possess a (i) firearm, (ii) location-restricted knife, or (iii) other dangerous weapon, including explosives and stun weapons as defined in § 18.2-308.1, 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. Any such firearm, knife, explosive, or weapon shall be subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeited to the Commonwealth and disposed of as provided in § …