Virginia 2026 Session Status: Enacted

HB626 — Firearm or explosive material; exemptions, carrying in public institutions of higher education.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0643)

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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 13, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 06, 2026.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · 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.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 7 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

Firearm or explosive material; exemptions, carrying in public institutions of higher education.

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read HB626 on the official Virginia source →

How this bill changes current law

14 changes Share ↗

Compared against the Code of Virginia as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 1 section(s) of the Code of Virginia: 18.2-283.2.

  • 18.2-283.2

    property → individual within a building

    Replaces “property” with “individual within a building”.

  • 18.2-283.2

    who possesses a weapon as part of such public institution of higher education's curriculum or activities

    Inserts “who possesses a weapon as part of such public institution of higher education's curriculum or activities”.

  • 18.2-283.2

    as approved through the law

    Inserts “as approved through the law”.

  • 18.2-283.2

    -

    Inserts “-”.

  • 18.2-283.2

    enforcement or public safety unit of the institution

    Inserts “enforcement or public safety unit of the institution”.

  • 18.2-283.2

    or as part of any organization authorized by

    Inserts “or as part of any organization authorized by”.

  • 18.2-283.2

    such

    Inserts “such”.

  • 18.2-283.2

    public institution of higher education to

    Inserts “public institution of higher education to”.

  • 18.2-283.2

    possess weapons, as approved through the law

    Inserts “possess weapons, as approved through the law”.

  • 18.2-283.2

    -

    Inserts “-”.

  • 18.2-283.2

    enforcement or public safety unit of the institution, while

    Inserts “enforcement or public safety unit of the institution, while”.

  • 18.2-283.2

    conduct

    Inserts “conduct”.

  • 18.2-283.2

    ing

    Inserts “ing”.

  • 18.2-283.2

    its programs or activities within such building

    Inserts “its programs or activities within such building”.

Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0643)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 643 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  4. H Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  5. S Signed by President

  6. H Signed by Speaker

  7. H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB626)

  8. H Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB626ER)

  9. H Enrolled

  10. S Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  11. S Passed by for the day

  12. S Read third time

  13. S Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  14. S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  15. S Rules suspended

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

  17. S Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

  18. S Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 4-N)

  19. S Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  20. S Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  21. H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB626)

  22. H Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)

  23. H Read second time and engrossed

  24. H Read first time

  25. H Reported from Public Safety (15-Y 6-N)

  26. H Placed on Public Safety Agenda

  27. H Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N)

  28. H Placed on Public Safety Agenda

  29. H Assigned HMPPS sub: Firearms

  30. H Referred to Committee on Public Safety

  31. H Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/13/2026 3:34 pm)

  32. H Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105402D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 54 voted No

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

Passed Senate

Passed 21 Yea · 19 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 211900
Total 211900
% of votes cast 53%48%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Nay
Bryce E. Reeves — Nay
Christie New Craig — Nay
Christopher T. Head — Nay
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Nay
David W. Marsden — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Nay
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Nay
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Nay
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Luther Cifers, III — Nay
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
Michael J. Jones — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Nay
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Nay
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Nay
Tara A. Durant — Nay
Timmy French — Nay
Todd E. Pillion — Nay
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Nay

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 40000
Total 40000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Luther Cifers, III — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Passed 10 Yea · 5 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 10500
Total 10500
% of votes cast 67%33%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Nay
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Nay
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Nay

Official roll call →

Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Passed 9 Yea · 4 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 9402
Total 9402
% of votes cast 60%27%0%13%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Nay
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
Michael J. Jones — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Not Voting
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Not Voting

Official roll call →

Read third time and passed House

Passed 63 Yea · 35 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 633502
Total 633502
% of votes cast 63%35%0%2%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Barry D. Knight — Not Voting
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charlie Schmidt — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Nay
Destiny LeVere Bolling — Yea
Don Scott — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Elizabeth R. Guzman — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Garrett McGuire — Yea
Gretchen M. Bulova — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Hillary Pugh Kent — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. — Nay
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
JJ Singh — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Jessica L. Anderson — Yea
John Chilton McAuliff — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Justin Pence — Nay
Karen Hamilton — Nay
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler — Yea
Kimberly Pope Adams — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
Leslie Chambers Mehta — Yea
Lily V. Franklin — Yea
Lindsey Dougherty — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Madison Whittle — Nay
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Margaret A. Franklin — Not Voting
Mark C. Downey — Yea
Marty Martinez — Yea
May Nivar — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Michelle Lopes Maldonado — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Mitchell Cornett — Nay
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Nicole Cole — Yea
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. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Stacey Annie Carroll — Yea
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
Virgil Thornton — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Reported from Public Safety

Passed 15 Yea · 6 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 15601
Total 15601
% of votes cast 68%27%0%5%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores Oates — Nay
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Jessica L. Anderson — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Karen Hamilton — Nay
Kimberly Pope Adams — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Not Voting
Mitchell Cornett — Nay
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Rae Cousins — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety education
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

What does HB626 do?
Firearm or explosive material; exemptions, carrying in public institutions of higher education.
Who sponsors HB626?
HB626 is sponsored by Katrina Callsen.
What is the current status of HB626?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 13, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB626?
Track HB626 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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