Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Vetoed

HB 454 — Firearm/explosive material; carrying w/in Capitol Square or bldg. owned or leased by Commonwealth.

Last action — House sustained Governor's veto

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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 08, 2024. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 08, 2024.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 80% · 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.

  • 12 sponsors

    1 primary, 11 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 9 recorded votes so far.

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.

Summary

Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square or building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; exemptions; public institutions of higher education; penalty. Limits the exemption from the prohibition on the carrying of any firearm or explosive material within any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or agency thereof or any office where employees of the Commonwealth or any agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties that currently applies to any property owned or operated by a public institution of higher education to instead apply to any individual within a building owned or operated by a public institution of higher education who possesses a weapon as part of such public institution of higher education's curriculum or activities or as part of any organization authorized by such public institution of higher education to conduct its programs or activities within such building, as such uses are approved through the law-enforcement or public safety unit of such institution. This bill is identical to SB 383.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

57 added · 58 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Bill HB 454 clarify the rules surrounding carrying firearms or explosives in Capitol Square and certain state-owned buildings. It specifically defines the areas included in "Capitol Square" and outlines the penalties for violations. The changes emphasize public safety by tightening regulations on carrying weapons in sensitive places while still allowing necessary exemptions for law enforcement and security personnel. These updates aim to enhance security in state government areas, which is especially relevant in today's context of public safety concerns.

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SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 24105639D AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on Public Safety on January 19, 2024) (Patron Prior to Substitute––Delegate Callsen) A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-283.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square or building owned or leased by the Commonwealth;
SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E An Act to amend and reenact § 18.2-283.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to carrying a firearm or exemptions;
exemptions;
1.
leased by the Commonwealth;
R O [H 454] L Approved L Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
E 1.
§ 18.2-283.2.
D surrounding area, into a building owned or leased by the Commonwealth, etc.;
Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square and the surrounding area, into a building owned or leased by the Commonwealth, etc.;
penalty.he A.
penalty.
For the purposes of this section, "Capitol Square and the surrounding area" means (i) the grounds, land, real property, and improvements in the City of Richmond bounded by Bank, Governor, Broad, and Ninth Streets, and the sidewalks of Bank Street extending from 50 feet west of the Pocahontas Building entrance to 50 feet east of the entrance of the Capitol of Virginia.
A.
B.
For the purposes of this section, "Capitol Square and the surrounding area" means (i) the grounds, land, real property, and improvements in the City of Richmond bounded by Bank, Governor, Broad, and Ninth Streets, and the sidewalks of Bank Street extending from 50 feet west of the Pocahontas BOilding entB.
(ii) Capitol Square and the surrounding area;
(ii) Capitol Square andHthe surrounding area;
(iii) any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof;
(iii) any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any agency thereof;4or the purpose of performing their official duties.lth or any agency thereof are regularly present4for C.
or (iv) any office where employees of the Commonwealth or any agency thereof are regularly presentSfor the purpose of performing their official duties.
C.
Any firearm or explosEve forfeited to the Commonwealth and disposed of as provided in § 19.2-386.28.y a law-enforcement officer and D.
Any firearm or explosive material carried in violation of this section shall be subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeited to the Commonwealth and disposed of as provided in § 19.2-386.28.
D.
(ii) any autSorized security personnel;
(ii) any authorized security personnel;
or (v) any member of a cadet corps who is recognized by a public institution of higher education while such member is B parE.
or (v) any member of a participating in an official ceremonial event for the Commonwealth.cation while such member is E.
The provisions of clause (ii) of subsection B shall not apply to (i) any State Police officer who is off-duty or (ii) any retired State Police officer who has participated in annual firearms training and has qualified to the standards required of active law-enforcement officers in the Commonwealth, in T accordance with subsection C of § 18.2-308.016.
The provisions of clause (ii) of subsection B shall not apply to (i) any State Police officer who is off-duty or (ii) any retired State Police officer who has participated in annual firearms training and has qualified to the standards required of active law-enforcement officers in the Commonwealth, in accordance with subsection C of § 18.2-308.016.
I 35 The provisions of clauses (iii) and (iv) of subsection B shall not apply to (a) any State Police officer 36 who is off-duty;
The provisions of clauses (iii) and (iv) of subsection B shall not apply to (a) any State Police officer who is off-duty;
(b) any retired State Police officer who has participated in annual firearms tTaining and 38 accordance with subsection C of § 18.2-308.016;
(b) any retired State Police officer who has participated in annual firearms training and has qualified to the standards required of active law-enforcement officers in the Commonwealth, in participated in annual firearms training, has qualified pursuant to subsection C of § 18.2-308.016, who is visiting a gun range owned or leased by the Commonwealth;
(c) any retired law-enforcement officer who hasUin 39 participated in annual firearms training, has qualified pursuant to subsection C of § 18.2-308.016, who is 40 visiting a gun range owned or leased by the Commonwealth;
(d) any of the following employees authorized to carry a firearm while acting in the conduct of such employee's official duties:
(d) any of the following employees T authorized to carry a firearm while acting in the conduct of such employee's official duties:
(1) a bail bondsman as defined in § 9.1-185, (2) an employee of the Department of Corrections or a state juvenile correctional facility, (3) an employee of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, or (4) an employee of the Department of Wildlife Resources;
(E) a bail bondsman as defined in § 9.1-185, (2) an employee of the Department of Corrections or a state juvenile correctional facility, (3) an employee of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, or (4) an employee of the Department of Wildlife Resources;
(e) any individual carrying a weapon into a courthouse who is exempt under § 18.2-283.1;
(e) any individual carrying a weapon into a operated by a public institution of higher education who possesses a weapon as part of such publicr institution of higher education's curriculum or activities as approved through the law-enforcement or public safety unit of the institution or as part of any organization authorized by such public institution of higher education to possess weapons, as approved through the law-enforcement or public safetH unit of the institution, while conducting its programs or activities within such building;
(f) any property individual within a building owned or operated by a public institution of higher education who possesses a weapon as part of such public public safety unit of the institution or as part of any organization authorized by such public institution of higher education to possess weapons, as approved through the law-enforcement or public safety unit of the institution, while conducting its programs or activities within such building;
(g) any s4ate park;
(g) any state park;
4 Capitol Square and the surrounding area and at the public entrance of each location listed in subsection B, and no person shall be convicted of an offense under subsection B if such notice is not posted at such public entrance, unless such person had actual notice of the prohibitions in subsection B.
F.
2.
Notice of the provisions of this section shall be posted conspicuously along the boundary of Capitol Square and the surrounding area and at the public entrance of each location listed in subsection B, and no person shall be convicted of an offense under subsection B if such notice is not posted at such public entrance, unless such person had actual notice of the prohibitions in subsection B.
That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment.
commitment.
Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities;
Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of thent or necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult of 2 correctional facilities;
therefore, Chapter 1 of the Acts of Assembly of 2023, Special Session I, HB454H1 2 of 2 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000.
therefore, Chapter 1 of the Acts of Assembly of 2023, Special Session I, requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000.
View plain text versions (3)

Action History

  1. House sustained Governor's veto

  2. Vetoed by Governor

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024

  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024

  5. Signed by President

  6. Signed by Speaker

  7. Impact statement from DPB (HB454ER)

  8. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB454ER)

  9. Enrolled

  10. Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N)

  11. Read third time

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

  13. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

  14. Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

  15. Reported from Courts of Justice (6-Y 5-N)

  16. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  17. Constitutional reading dispensed

  18. VOTE: Passage (51-Y 48-N)

  19. Read third time and passed House (51-Y 48-N)

  20. Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB454H1

  21. Committee substitute agreed to 24105639D-H1

  22. Read second time

  23. Read first time

  24. Reported from Appropriations (11-Y 10-N)

  25. Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 3-N)

  26. Impact statement from DPB (HB454H1)

  27. Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety

  28. Impact statement from VCSC (HB454H1)

  29. Referred to Committee on Appropriations

  30. Committee substitute printed 24105639D-H1

  31. Reported from Public Safety with substitute (12-Y 9-N)

  32. Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations

  33. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)

  34. House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered

  35. Assigned PS sub: Firearms

  36. Impact statement from DPB (HB454)

  37. Referred to Committee on Public Safety

  38. Impact statement from VCSC (HB454)

  39. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103011D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 136 not signed on · 68 voted No

"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

Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N)

Passed 21 Yea · 19 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 211900
Total 211900
% of votes cast 53%48%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Passed 39 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 39001
Total 39001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Passed 10 Yea · 5 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 10500
Total 10500
% of votes cast 67%33%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Passed 6 Yea · 5 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 6504
Total 6504
% of votes cast 40%33%0%27%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Not Voting
Emily M. Jordan — Not Voting
Jennifer B. Boysko — Not Voting
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Not Voting
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Nay
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Nay

VOTE: Passage (51-Y 48-N)

Passed 50 Yea · 48 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 504801
Total 504801
% of votes cast 51%48%0%1%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Nay
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Nay
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Nay
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Nay
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Ennis, N. Baxter — Nay
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Nay
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Nay
Gilbert, C. Todd — Nay
Green, W. Chad — Nay
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Higgins, Geary — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Nay
Knight, Barry D. — Nay
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Nay
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Nay
Marty Martinez — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Milde, Paul V. — Nay
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Nay
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Nay
Owen, David — Nay
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Nay
R. Lee Ware — Nay
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Nay
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Not Voting
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Nay
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay
Terry L. Austin — Nay
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Nay
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Nay
Timothy P. Griffin — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Nay
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay
Passed 11 Yea · 10 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 111001
Total 111001
% of votes cast 50%45%0%5%
How each member voted (22)
Passed 12 Yea · 9 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 12901
Total 12901
% of votes cast 55%41%0%5%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Cordoza, A.C. — Nay
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
Delores Oates — Nay
Ennis, N. Baxter — Nay
Eric Phillips — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Nay
Owen, David — Nay
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Rae Cousins — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Not Voting
Passed 7 Yea · 3 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7301
Total 7301
% of votes cast 64%27%0%9%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Nay
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
Ennis, N. Baxter — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Not Voting
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Owen, David — Nay
Rae Cousins — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Nay

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 454 do?
Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square or building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; exemptions; public institutions of higher education; penalty. Limits the exemption from the prohibition on the carrying of any firearm or explosive material within any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or agency thereof or any office where employees of the Commonwealth or any agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties that currently applies to any property owned or operated by a public institution of higher education to instead apply to any individual within a building owned or operated by a public institution of higher education who possesses a weapon as part of such public institution of higher education's curriculum or activities or as part of any organization authorized by such public institution of higher education to conduct its programs or activities within such building, as such uses are approved through the law-enforcement or public safety unit of such institution. This bill is identical to SB 383.
Who sponsors HB 454?
HB 454 is sponsored by Katrina Callsen, Alex Q. Askew, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Laura Jane Cohen, Shelly A. Simonds, Joshua E. Thomas, Michael B. Feggans, Amy J. Laufer, Marty Martinez, David A. Reid, Holly M. Seibold, and Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler.
What is the current status of HB 454?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 08, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 454?
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