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Virginia · 2025 Regular Session · Bill

HB 1977: Weapons; possession prohibited in a hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.

Vetoed Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted
  6. Vetoed

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 1977 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 7, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Weapons; possession prohibited in a hospital that provides mental health or developmental services. Primary sponsor: Phil Hernandez (Democratic). It lists 23 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (April 2, 2025): Requires 64 affirmative votes to override Governor's veto.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

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 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 any such firearm, knife, explosive, or weapon shall be subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeited to the Commonwealth and specifies exceptions to the prohibition. This bill is identical to SB 1110.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 24

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Phil HernandezPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse94
Bonita AnthonyCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse92
Alex AskewCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse95
Elizabeth Bennett-ParkerCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate39
Destiny LeVere BollingCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse80
Katrina CallsenCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse54
Nadarius ClarkCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse84
Laura Jane CohenCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse15
Josh ColeCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse65
Rae CousinsCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse79
Michael FeggansCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse97
Debra GardnerCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse76
Jackie GlassCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse93
J.R. HensonCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse19
Karen Keys-GamarraCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse7
Amy LauferCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse55
Marty MartinezCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse29
Cia PriceCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse85
Atoosa ReaserCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse27
Irene ShinCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse8
Josh ThomasCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse21
Kathy TranCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse18
Vivian WattsCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse14
Rod WillettCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse58

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Requires 64 affirmative votes to override Governor's veto
  2. House sustained Governor's veto (50-Y 46-N)
  3. Vetoed by Governor
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 3, 2025
  6. Signed by President
  7. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1977)
  8. Signed by Speaker
  9. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1977ER)
  10. Enrolled
  11. Passed Senate (21-Y 15-N)
  12. Read third time

Showing 12 most recent of 32 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source