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.
HB229 adds a new section to the Code of Virginia making it unlawful to knowingly and intentionally possess a firearm, a location-restricted knife, or another dangerous weapon, including explosives and stun weapons, inside the building of a hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services. The prohibition applies to the hospital building itself, including emergency departments and other areas providing emergency medical care. A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and the weapon is subject to seizure and forfeiture.
The bill defines key terms such as “hospital,” “mental health services,” “developmental services,” and “location-restricted knife” for purposes of the new offense. It also creates exceptions for law-enforcement officers, correctional officers, armed security officers, persons with written hospital authorization, and individuals brought to the hospital under an emergency custody order or involuntary detention order. Hospitals must post notice of the prohibition at each public entrance, and a person cannot be convicted unless the notice was posted or the person had actual notice.
HB229 changes Virginia law by creating a new weapons-offense statute specific to hospitals that provide mental health or developmental services. It expands existing weapons restrictions into a healthcare setting and authorizes seizure and forfeiture of prohibited weapons under the Commonwealth’s forfeiture procedures. The bill also carries a fiscal note indicating it may increase incarceration or commitment periods, with potential impacts on state correctional and juvenile justice systems.
The available record shows the bill was enacted as Chapter 1108, indicating it received sufficient support to pass both chambers and become law. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no detailed debate record here. Based on the final enactment, the overall sentiment appears to have been favorable or at least sufficiently broad to advance the measure without visible public opposition in the supplied materials.
The main policy issue is the balance between hospital safety and lawful access to weapons in and around facilities that treat mental health or developmental-service patients. Potential points of contention include the scope of the ban inside hospital buildings, the inclusion of emergency departments, the definition of “other dangerous weapon,” and whether the posting requirement is sufficient notice. Exceptions for law enforcement, armed security, hospital-authorized persons, and individuals subject to emergency custody or involuntary detention orders likely address operational concerns, but those carveouts may also have been areas of discussion if the bill was debated.