S 141

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1S.141
2 Introduced by Senators White and Clarkson
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Firearms and dangerous weapons; State buildings; possession
6prohibited
7 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to prohibit the
8 possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in State buildings.
9    An act relating to prohibiting possession of firearms and dangerous
10    weapons in State buildings
11 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
12 Sec. 1. 13 V.S.A. § 4028 is added to read
13 § 4028. POSSESSION OF FIREARMS AND DANGEROUS WEAPONS IN
14STATE BUILDINGS PROHIBITED
15    (a) A person shall not knowingly possess a firearm or dangerous weapon in
16 a State building.
17    (b)(1) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be
18 imprisoned for not more than one year or fined not more than $2,000.00, or
19 both.
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1(2) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section with the intent to
2 use the firearm or dangerous weapon to commit a crime shall be imprisoned
3 for not more than five years or fined not more than $10,000.00, or both.
4    (c) This section shall not apply to:
5(1) a firearm or dangerous weapon carried for legitimate law
6 enforcement purposes by a federal law enforcement officer or a law
7 enforcement officer certified as a law enforcement officer by the Vermont
8 Criminal Justice Council pursuant to 20 V.S.A. § 2358;
9(2) a firearm or dangerous weapon carried by a person while preforming
10 the person’s official duties as an employee of the United States; a department
11 or agency of the United States; a state; or a department, agency, or political
12 subdivision of a state if the person is authorized to carry a firearm or dangerous
13 weapon as part of the person’s official duties;
14(3) a firearm or dangerous weapon carried by a member of the Vermont
15 National Guard, of the National Guard of another state, or of the U.S. Armed
16 Forces who is on duty and acting under state or federal orders;
17(4) buildings or portions of buildings that are:
18(A) owned or leased by the Department of Buildings and General
19 Services; and
20(B) leased or subleased by the Department of Buildings and General
21 Services to private tenants for their exclusive use;
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1(5) the lawful carrying of a firearm or dangerous weapon into a State
2 building for a purpose authorized in advance by the Department of Buildings
3 and General Services or by the tenant agency occupying or using the building;
4 or
5(6) a firearm or dangerous weapon carried by an instructor, educator, or
6 participant in an educational or training class conducted by an agency or entity
7 of State government while engaging in the educational or training class or
8 activity, including the Agency of Natural Resources, the Department of Fish
9 and Wildlife, the Vermont Criminal Justice Council, and any other State
10 agency or entity that as part of its mission requires the use of firearms or other
11 dangerous weapons.
12      (d) As used in this section:
13(1) “Dangerous or deadly weapon” means a weapon, device, instrument,
14 material, or substance, whether animate or inanimate, that is used or readily
15 capable of being used to cause death or serious bodily injury, including an
16 explosive as defined in section 1603 of this title, except that “dangerous or
17 deadly weapon” does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than 2.5
18 inches in length.
19(2) “Firearm” has the same meaning as in subsection 4017(d) of this
20 title.
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1(3) “State building” means a building or part of a building owned or
2 leased by the Department of Buildings and General Services where State
3 employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official
4 duties and includes all owned or leased State buildings, structures, and
5 appurtenances under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Buildings and
6 General Services except as provided in 29 V.S.A. § 152(a)(9) and 29 V.S.A.
7 chapter 5A.
8 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
9    This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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