Protect Healthcare Workers Act signed into law, honoring Sentara's years of advocacy

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed the Protect Healthcare Workers Act, which the Virginia General Assembly passed during the 2026 session after years of lobbying by hospital systems, led by Virginia-based Sentara Health.

Spanberger recreated the moment during a ceremonial signing at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital on Thursday, June 4, 2026. With 525 licensed beds, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is a regional Level I trauma center, the primary teaching hospital for Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University, and home base for the Sentara Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance.

“As a former federal law enforcement officer, I certainly understand the importance of keeping our communities safe from gun violence, particularly in the places where we are most vulnerable – in schools, places of worship, and, yes, in hospitals,” Gov. Spanberger said to the group of hospital employees and Sentara executives.

“Where can we feel safe? Where can we walk through the doors for healing of a loved one in a bed in front of us without that fear in the back of our minds? A hospital should be that place,” she said.

The Governor thanked Sentara for championing the legislation for three years in the Virginia General Assembly, and the two area lawmakers who co-sponsored it, Del. Phil Hernandez (D-Norfolk) and Sen. Angelia Williams Graves (D-Norfolk).

The new law bans firearms, knives more than 3½ inches long, tasers, mace, and other weapons from hospitals and free-standing emergency departments (EDs) that provide mental health and developmental services. This covers virtually all such facilities in Virginia, including Sentara’s 11 hospitals and five free-standing EDs in the state.

Sentara Health President and CEO Dennis Matheis.

“Sentara and other hospital systems have had weapon-free policies for years. But this legislation gives those policies the force of law,” said Dennis Matheis, president and CEO of Sentara Health. “Our goal has always been to protect our patients, visitors, and colleagues from violence in hospitals across Virginia.”

The new law makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to “knowingly and intentionally possess” a weapon in a hospital or ED. The only exceptions are for law enforcement and hospital security officers while on duty, and certain hospital support positions, such as cooks who use knives in their work.

“Healthcare workers show up for our communities at our most vulnerable moments, and they deserve a safe workplace,” said Del. Hernandez. “The number of weapons entering our hospitals underscores the urgent need for this legislation. Virginia should lead when it comes to workplace and public safety, and this bill moves us in that direction."

Del. Hernandez (left), Gov. Spanberger, and Sen. Williams Graves (right) with the Protect Healthcare Workers Act after the ceremonial signing at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. 

Sentara has intercepted more than 15,000 weapons since it began screening for weapons at hospital entrances in late 2022, including firearms, knives, tasers, chemical mace, even brass knuckles.

"Hospitals are places of peace, respite and renewal. They should be safe from weapons of all kinds,” said Sen. Williams Graves. “This legislation ensures that hospitals remain places of comfort and safety. I'm proud to have worked with Del. Hernandez for the third year, and I appreciate the governor's signature."

“We appreciate the courage and persistence of our two Norfolk lawmakers, Delegate Phil Hernandez and Senator Angelia Williams Graves, who co-patroned the bill for us,” Matheis said. “Their efforts are largely responsible for us being able to hold this ceremony today.”

Sentara is a leader in workplace violence prevention

Sentara has taken proactive steps to enhance hospital safety due to increasing levels of verbal abuse and violence against healthcare workers across the U.S. by patients and visitors.

“We heard our colleagues through daily conversations during leader rounding, and in our annual employee engagement surveys,” Matheis said. “Their jobs are demanding enough, and they’re concerned for their safety in the current environment in our society, and we resolved to do something about it.”

Sentara began installing weapon detection systems in hospital EDs beginning October 2022. These precautions are now in place at all ED and visitor entrances at all 12 Sentara hospitals in Virginia and North Carolina. Sentara hospitals also have visitor badging systems to photograph and document all visitors, which has been shown to increase civility and reduce verbal abuse against hospital workers.

Gov. Spanberger speaks with some of Sentara's clinical leaders at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Since October 2022, Sentara has intercepted more than 15,660 weapons. These include: 537 handguns, 111 long guns, 8,977 knives, 840 boxcutters, 1,136 tasers, 3,995 units of pepper spray, and 64 brass knuckles.

“We’re not suggesting that everyone carrying a weapon has ill-intent,” said Jeff Wills, system director of acute care security for Sentara. “But weapons can escalate emotional situations in hospitals and heighten the potential for violence and injuries.”

A comprehensive approach to workplace violence prevention

Matheis approved the establishment of a multidisciplinary system task force, which first quantified and categorized workplace violence incidents filed in the system’s internal reporting process, and established a benchmark.

The task force identified areas of concern in clinical and non-clinical areas and took steps to enhance safety in all sites of care and business, including modernized lighting on parking lots, pruned-back shrubbery to improve visibility, and new emergency phones. Proactive steps taken in Sentara hospitals include:

• A photo badging system for visitors at all hospitals
• Walk-through weapon detection systems at all ED and visitor entrances
• Firearm certification for security officers working at weapon screening stations
• Standardized uniforms and body armor for security officers to enhance their presence
• Banners throughout hospitals listing unacceptable behaviors
• A "Be Kind" campaign urging mutual respect among patients, caregivers, and visitors
• Establishment of divisional Core Threat Assessment Teams to review incidents of violence, respond as needed, and recommend systemic improvements
• Tele-magistrate services, where available, allow staff to request warrants against assailants remotely without leaving work. Staff are supported through the courts
• "Handle with Care" de-escalation training to help staff avert and avoid violence
• A home-grown video, narrated by staff, themed "See Something, Say Something"
• Monthly training packets with key topics to be discussed in team meetings
• Realistic active shooter training sessions in hospital settings and physician offices
  
  

“Sentara is committed to ensuring a safe workplace for our 35,000 colleagues, no matter what clinical or non-clinical division they work in,” Matheis said.

“I’m proud of the work our security and emergency planning teams have done to help achieve this goal, and our colleagues for supporting us in this effort. And I’m grateful to Governor Spanberger for signing this common-sense legislation to help reduce workplace violence in hospitals across Virginia.”

Sen. Williams Graves and Del. Hernandez (center) receive plaques of recognition from Sentara Health for their work pushing the Protect Healthcare Workers bill through the Virginia General Assembly.