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HB106 • 2026

Concealed handgun permit; lowers fee for processing an application.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-308.03 of the Code of Virginia, relating to concealed handgun permit fees.</p>

Firearms
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Ballard
Last action
2026-02-18
Official status
Failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on whether FBI fees are included within the total processing costs, so this claim was removed.

Lowering Fees for Concealed Handgun Permits

This bill reduces the fees that local law-enforcement agencies can charge when processing applications for concealed handgun permits.

What This Bill Does

  • Reduces the maximum fee a local law-enforcement agency can charge to $10 from $35 for conducting background investigations for concealed handgun permit applications.
  • Decreases the total amount allowed for processing an application to $25, down from $50.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local law-enforcement agencies that process concealed handgun permit applications.
  • People applying for concealed handgun permits.

Terms To Know

Concealed Handgun Permit
A document allowing a person to carry a hidden firearm in public places.
Background Investigation
An examination of someone's criminal history and personal information before issuing a permit.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the reduced fees will be funded.
  • It is unclear if there are any exceptions or additional costs that might still apply beyond the fee reductions.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 House

    Left in Committee Public Safety

  2. 2026-01-22 Firearms

    Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (7-Y 3-N)

  3. 2026-01-16 Firearms

    Assigned HPS sub: Firearms

  4. 2026-01-02 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103208D

  5. 2026-01-02 Public Safety

    Referred to Committee on Public Safety

Official Summary Text

Concealed handgun permit fees.
Lowers the maximum from $35 to $10 the fee that a local law-enforcement agency conducting a background investigation for the purpose of processing an application for a concealed handgun permit may charge to cover the cost of conducting such an investigation and lowers from $50 to $25 the maximum total amount for processing such an application.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
A BILL to amend and reenact §
18.2-308.03
of the Code of Virginia, relating to concealed handgun permit fees.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
18.2-308.03
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
18.2-308.03
. Fees for concealed handgun permits.

A. The clerk shall charge a fee of $10 for the processing of an application or issuing of a permit, including his costs associated with the consultation with law-enforcement agencies. The local law-enforcement agency conducting the background investigation may charge a fee not to exceed
$35
$10
to cover the cost of conducting an investigation pursuant to this article. The
$3
5
$10
fee shall include any amount assessed by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation for providing criminal history record information, and the local law-enforcement agency shall forward the amount assessed by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation to the State Police with the fingerprints taken from any nonresident applicant. The State Police may charge a fee not to exceed $5 to cover its costs associated with processing the application. The total amount assessed for processing an application for a permit shall not exceed
$50
$25
, with such fees to be paid in one sum to the person who receives the application. Payment may be made by any method accepted by that court for payment of other fees or penalties. No payment shall be required until the application is received by the court as a complete application.

B. No fee shall be charged for the issuance of such permit to a person who has retired from service (i) as a magistrate in the Commonwealth; (ii) as a special agent with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority or as a law-enforcement officer with the Department of State Police, the Department of Wildlife Resources, or a sheriff or police department, bureau, or force of any political subdivision of the Commonwealth, after completing 15 years of service or after reaching age 55; (iii) as a law-enforcement officer with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Secret Service Agency, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Marshals Service, or Naval Criminal Investigative Service, after completing 15 years of service or after reaching age 55; (iv) as a law-enforcement officer with any police or sheriff's department within the United States, the District of Columbia, or any of the territories of the United States, after completing 15 years of service; (v) as a law-enforcement officer with any combination of the agencies listed in clauses (ii) through (iv), after completing 15 years of service; (vi) as a designated boarding team member or boarding officer of the United States Coast Guard, after completing 15 years of service or after reaching age 55; (vii) as a correctional officer as defined in §
53.1-1
, after completing 15 years of service; or (viii) as a probation and parole officer authorized pursuant to §
53.1-143
, after completing 15 years of service.