Virginia · 2026 Regular Session

HB201 School boards; safe storage of prescription drugs and firearms in the household.

Direction

Firearms storage minorsAI label

Restricts gun access model confidence 80%

Requires schools to notify parents annually about their responsibility to safely store firearms in the household and provide information on safe storage laws, child access prevention, and youth firearm fatality statistics, so more households are informed about and likely to follow safe storage rules

the parent's responsibility, in accordance with § 18.2-56.2, to safely store any firearm present in the household. Such parental notification shall include information on (a) relevant state laws and regulations relating to safe firearm storage and child access to firearms and (b) firearm-related accidents, injuries, and deaths, including the role of firearms in suicides, including youth suicides, tips and resources for seeking help for a child that may be a danger to himself or others, and current statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or an equivalent nationall

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Filed (completed)
Committee (completed)
Passed one chamber (completed)
Passed both (completed)
Governor (completed)
Law

Stage: Law · step 6 of 6

Last action: 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0088)
Filed: 2026-01-07
Sponsor: Laura Jane Cohen D + 7 cosponsors (7 D)

Read official text (Chaptered)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill adds a new requirement for school boards to send annual parental notifications about the importance of securely storing prescription drugs and firearms, the legal responsibility to safely store firearms per § 18.2-56.2, relevant safe storage laws, child access prevention, firearm accidents/injuries/deaths (including suicides), help resources, and youth firearm fatality statistics. This directly addresses safe firearm storage around minors and is classified under firearms/storage-minors as it promotes restrictions on unsecured access. No other listed topics are substantively addressed.

Related bills

HB871 Firearms; storage in residence where minor or person prohibited from possessing is present, penalty.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
SB348 Firearms; storage in residence where minor or person prohibited from possessing is present, penalty.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
HB110 Handguns in unattended motor vehicle; definitions, penalty.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law
SB496 Handguns in unattended motor vehicle; definitions, penalty.Restricts gun access Restricts gun access Law

Hearings and calendar

2026-01-27 07:30 · Hearing · House Education: K-12 Subcommittee Hearing House Room A (7:30 AM) / House Room C (4:00 PM)
2026-01-28 08:00 · Hearing · House Education Hearing House Committee Room A - 008
2026-02-19 08:30 · Hearing · Senate Education and Health Hearing Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building

Votes

Date	Chamber	Motion	Yea-Nay
2026-01-27	H	Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N)	7-3	Passed
2026-01-28	H	Reported from Education (14-Y 7-N)	14-7	Passed
2026-02-03	H	Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)	62-35	Passed
2026-02-19	S	Reported from Education and Health with substitute (9-Y 6-N)	9-6	Passed
2026-02-20	S	Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)	40-0	Passed
2026-02-23	S	Passed Senate with substitute (20-Y 18-N 0-A)	20-18	Passed
2026-02-25	H	Senate substitute agreed to by House (64-Y 33-N 0-A)	64-33	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2026-01-07
Comm Sub 2026-02-19
Comm Sub 2026-02-19
Enrolled 2026-03-02
Chaptered 2026-04-06

History (32 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-04-06		Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0088)
2026-04-06		Approved by Governor-Chapter 88 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-03-10		Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-10	H	Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-03	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB201)
2026-03-02	S	Signed by President
2026-03-02	H	Signed by Speaker
2026-03-02	H	Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB201ER)
2026-03-02	H	Enrolled
2026-02-25	H	Senate substitute agreed to by House (64-Y 33-N 0-A)
2026-02-23	S	Passed Senate with substitute (20-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-02-23	S	Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
2026-02-23	S	Education and Health Substitute agreed to
2026-02-23	S	Read third time
2026-02-22	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB201)
2026-02-20	S	Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-20	S	Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-20	S	Rules suspended
2026-02-19	S	Committee substitute printed 26108236D-S1
2026-02-19	S	Senate committee offered
2026-02-19	S	Reported from Education and Health with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
2026-02-04	S	Referred to Committee on Education and Health
2026-02-04	S	Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-03	H	Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
2026-02-02	H	Read second time and engrossed
2026-01-30	H	Read first time
2026-01-28	H	Reported from Education (14-Y 7-N)
2026-01-27	H	Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N)
2026-01-23	H	Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
2026-01-14	H	Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB201)
2026-01-07	H	Referred to Committee on Education
2026-01-07	H	Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101358D