Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 23.1-1301.1 as follows:
§23.1-1301.1. Possession of concealed handguns by permit holders.
A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no governing board of a public institution of higher education shall adopt or enforce any rule, regulation, or policy, and no appointee, employee, or agent of the institution shall take any administrative action, governing the carrying of a concealed handgun on the property of, in buildings owned by, or at events hosted at the institution by any person who has a valid concealed handgun permit.
B. Any rule, regulation, or policy adopted by a board of visitors or governing body of a public institution of higher education prior to July 1, 2018, that would prohibit any person who has a valid concealed handgun permit from carrying a concealed handgun on the property of, in the buildings owned by, or at events hosted at the institution is invalid.
C. As used in this section, a "valid concealed handgun permit" means a permit issued pursuant to Article 6.1 (§18.2-307.1 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 or a concealed weapon permit issued by another state recognized by the Commonwealth pursuant to § 18.2-308.014.
D. Nothing contained in this section shall affect any rule, regulation, or policy implemented by the State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, or a campus police department of a public institution of higher education governing the carrying of a firearm in a facility operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or a campus police department of a public institution of higher education if such facility is located on the property of or in buildings owned by a public institution of higher education.