Virginia 2023 Regular Session Status: Enacted

HB 2298 — Concealed weapons; exceptions, penalty.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0611)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 11, 2023. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 26, 2023.

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Failed a recorded vote

    Failed 7 recorded votes so far — a real headwind.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

62 added · 60 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill was amended to clarify the definition of certain weapons and the conditions under which they are considered concealed. Specifically, the phrase "consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely" was removed from the definition of flailing instruments. Additionally, the text streamlined the description of concealed weapons without altering their definitions significantly. These changes help ensure clarity in the law regarding what constitutes a concealed weapon and the penalties associated with violations.

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SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E An Act to amend and reenact § 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia, relating to carrying concealed N weapons;
VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- 2023 SESSION CHAPTER 611 An Act to amend and reenact § 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia, relating to carrying concealed weapons;
R O [H 2298] Approved L L Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
[H 2298] Approved March 26, 2023 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
E § 18.2-308.
§ 18.2-308.
D or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind by action of an explosion of anyr, combustible material;
A.
If any person carries about his person, hidden from common observation, (i) any pistol, revolver, or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind by action of an explosion of any combustible material;
(iii) any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain;
(iii) any flailing instrument consisting of two or a nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain;
(iv) any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart;
(iv) any disc, of whatever known as configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart;
or (v) any weapon of like kind as tHose enumerated in this subsection, he is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
or (v) any weapon of like kind as those enumerated in this subsection, he is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
A second violation of thi2 section of any county, city, or town shall be punishable as a Class 6 felony, and a third or subsequent suchnance violation shall be punishable as a Class 5 felony.
A second violation of this section or a conviction under this section subsequent to any conviction under any substantially similar ordinance of any county, city, or town shall be punishable as a Class 6 felony, and a third or subsequent such violation shall be punishable as a Class 5 felony.
For the purpose of this section, a weapon shall be deemed to be hidden from common observation when it is observable but is of such deceptive R appearance as to disguise the weapon's true nature.
For the purpose of this section, a weapon shall be deemed to be hidden from common observation when it is observable but is of such deceptive appearance as to disguise the weapon's true nature.
C.
Except as provided in subsection A of § 18.2-308.012, this section shall not apply to:
Any person while in his own place of business;08.012, this section shall not apply to:
Any person while in his own place of business;
provided the weapons are unloaded and securely wrapped while being transported;f purchase or repair, 6.
5.
Any person carrying such weapons between his place of abode and a place of purchase or repair, provided the weapons are unloaded and securely wrapped while being transported;
6.
Any person who may lawfully possess a firearm and is carrying a handgun while in a personal, vehicle or vessel;cle or vessel and such handgun is secured in a container or compartment in the 9.
Any person who may lawfully possess a firearm and is carrying a handgun while in a personal, private motor vehicle or vessel and such handgun is secured in a container or compartment in the vehicle or vessel;
9.
2.
Officers or guards of any state correctional institution;
Conservators of the peace, except that a judge or justice of the Commonwealth, an attorney for the Commonwealth, or an assistant attorney for the Commonwealth may carry a concealed handgun pursuant of 2 to subdivisions C 7 and 10.
Conservators of the peace, except that a judge or justice of the Commonwealth, an attorney for the Commonwealth, or an assistant attorney for the Commonwealth may carry a concealed handgun pursuant to subdivisions C 7 and 10.
(ii) registrars;
(ii) of 2 registrars;
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (3)
  • CHAP0611 View text Current pdf March 26, 2023
  • HB2298ER View text pdf March 07, 2023
  • Presented and ordered printed 23103436D View text pdf January 11, 2023

Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0611)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 611 (effective 7/1/23)

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 27, 2023

  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 13, 2023

  5. Impact statement from DPB (HB2298ER)

  6. Signed by President

  7. Signed by Speaker

  8. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2298ER)

  9. Enrolled

  10. VOTE: Adoption (61-Y 32-N)

  11. Senate amendment agreed to by House (61-Y 32-N)

  12. Passed by temporarily until after House recess

  13. Passed Senate with amendment (40-Y 0-N)

  14. Engrossed by Senate as amended

  15. Committee amendment agreed to

  16. Reading of amendment waived

  17. Read third time

  18. Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)

  19. Reported from Judiciary with amendment (12-Y 0-N)

  20. Referred to Committee on the Judiciary

  21. Constitutional reading dispensed

  22. VOTE: Passage (66-Y 32-N)

  23. Read third time and passed House (66-Y 32-N)

  24. Read second time and engrossed

  25. Read first time

  26. Reported from Courts of Justice (16-Y 4-N)

  27. Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 1-N)

  28. Assigned Courts sub: Subcommittee #2

  29. Impact statement from DPB (HB2298)

  30. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  31. Presented and ordered printed 23103436D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 2298?
HB 2298 is sponsored by R. Lee Ware.
What is the current status of HB 2298?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 11, 2023. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 2298?
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