VirginiaConcealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.
What it does
Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states. Provides that the Office of the Attorney General shall determine whether other states' concealed handgun permit requirements are substantially similar to the statutory qualifications for Virginia to recognize the concealed handgun permit of a person from such other state. Under current law, any out-of-state permit is recognized in the Commonwealth, provided that (i) the issuing authority provides the means for instantaneous verification of the validity of all such permits or licenses issued within that state accessible 24 hours a day, (ii) the permit or license holder carries a photo identification issued by a government agency of any state or by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Department of State and displays the permit or license and such identification upon demand by a law-enforcement officer, and (iii) the permit or license holder has not previously had a Virginia concealed handgun permit revoked.
More detail
The bill exempts an active duty service member or such service member's spouse from the requirements of the bill. The foregoing provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.The bill also directs the Office of the Attorney General to review any agreements for reciprocal recognition that are in place with any other states as of July 1, 2026, to determine whether the requirements of those states' laws are substantially similar to the Commonwealth's concealed carry permit requirements and revoke any reciprocity agreement or recognition of any states that do not meet such requirements by December 1, 2026. The bill requires the Attorney General to provide a written explanation for any determination that a state's laws are substantially similar to the requirements of the bill to prevent possession of such permit or license by persons who would be denied such permit in the Commonwealth.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 879 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Apr 1Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB115)
- Mar 31Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 31Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Minor
- Mar 31Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 30Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB115ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 23Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB115)
- Mar 13Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)Minor
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt Conference Committee Report R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 13Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 33-N 0-A)Minor
- Mar 13Conference Report released
- Mar 12House Conferees: Helmer, Simon, Wilt
- Vote recorded Accede Conference Committee R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 12Senate Conferees: Pekarsky, Surovell, Sturtevant
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 12Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 11House requested conference committeeMinor
- Mar 11House insisted on substituteMajor
- Mar 10House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
- Vote recorded Concur House Substitute R. Result: fail.Upper
- Mar 9Passed House with substitute (61-Y 34-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 9committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Mar 9committee substitute rejected
- Mar 9Read third timeMinor
- Mar 6Read second timeMinor
- Mar 4Committee substitute printed 26108978D-H2Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Appropriations with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Reported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 7-N)Minor
- Mar 4House committee offered
- Mar 1Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public SafetyMinor
- Feb 27Committee substitute printed 26108804D-H1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Public Safety with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27Reported from Public Safety with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)Minor
- Feb 27House committee offered
- Feb 26House subcommittee offered
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 26Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)
- Feb 17Assigned HMPPS sub: FirearmsMinor
- Feb 16Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB115)
- Feb 13Referred to Committee on Public SafetyMinor
- Feb 13Read first timeMinor
- Feb 13Placed on Calendar
- Feb 10Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 9Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)
- Feb 9Finance and Appropriations Amendments agreed toMajor
- Feb 9Senator Pekarsky Amendment withdrawnMajor
- Feb 9Floor offered Senator Pekarsky Amendment
- Feb 9Read second timeMinor
- Feb 6Passed by for the day
- Feb 6Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
- Feb 6Read second timeMinor
- Feb 5Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 5Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 5Rules suspended
- Feb 4Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendments (10-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendments. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 28Committee substitute printed 26106296D-S1Major
- Jan 26Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 26Senate committee offered
- Jan 5Referred to Committee for Courts of JusticeMinor
- Jan 5Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100698DIntroduced