A number of new laws go into effect across the region.

Tyrone Turner / WAMU/DCist

Annapolis and Richmond statehouse officials are tightening security after a warning of armed protests at all 50 state capitals and D.C. from the FBI this week.

Security officials at statehouses in Maryland and Virginia are bracing for the possibility of pro-Trump extremist groups attacking statehouses on Sunday and “storming” state, local, and federal government courthouses and administrative buildings if President Donald Trump is removed before the inauguration.

Meanwhile, both Maryland and Virginia legislators convened for the start of their sessions Wednesday with some meetings taking place in-person and others virtually due to the pandemic. Increased security measures at these locations come just one week after insurrectionists attacked the U.S. Capitol Building, leaving five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan told reporters earlier this week that Maryland state and capitol police are acting on advice from the FBI by taking additional security measures at the Annapolis Statehouse complex.

“We don’t have any credible, detailed threats here,” said the governor, a Republican. “I’m sure various people will show up to protest, but we don’t have a specific threat we’ve zeroed in on.”

Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) told reporters Wednesday that law enforcement officers are “taking remote threats extremely seriously.”

“If people do choose to make bad decisions and try to use fear and violence to intimidate democracy, they’ll regret it if they come to Annapolis because we are well prepared,” Ferguson said.

The Maryland State Police said in a statement that they are upping the number of officers and state troopers throughout the statehouse complex throughout the next week, though would not go into detail about the enhanced security measures. Public access to the statehouse and other government buildings in Annapolis is prohibited due to the pandemic.

Over in Richmond, the state’s Department of General Services is also taking precautionary measures to protect employees, visitors, buildings, and grounds at the historic Capitol Square, according to a department spokesperson.

Virginia delegates convened virtually Wednesday, while some state senators had the option to meet in the Science Museum of Virginia. State senators are required to get weekly COVID tests and wear masks on the floor.

Prince William County Senator Jeremy McPike, a Democrat, says police told lawmakers they should avoid working at the capitol if they can and not gather in large groups. McPike said the security advisory “is already how we planned to operate prior to the attack on the capitol.”

The department is restricting public access to all buildings including the Virginia Capitol, lawmakers’ offices, and the executive mansion from Saturday, Jan. 16 through Jan. 21. Capitol Square will also be closed from Thursday, Jan. 14 through Jan. 21. Additional fencing and other fortifications are being installed around government buildings.

Last year’s lobby day in Richmond drew tens of thousands of armed gun rights advocates. Protest permits for a similar event scheduled for Monday have been denied by Virginia Capitol Police.

Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran is aware of the FBI warnings and told The Richmond-Times Dispatch that they’re preparing “for the worst.”

“Last lobby day, we shut everything down, and everybody went home safely,” Moran said.

WAMU’s Daniella Cheslow contributed reporting to this story, which has been updated to reflect that the name of the museum where Virginia state senators met is the Science Museum of Virginia.